THE MARLBOROUGH (MA) INITIATIVE

In 1994, The CARLISLE Foundation entered into a collaborative partnership with the CARLISLE Education Center and the city of Marlborough, MA to assess community needs and to formulate new programs to benefit the city's children, youth and families. The initiative draws on the talents and strengths of Marlborough's residents and organizations and represents a community-wide effort toward problem solving and service delivery. Although our commitment to Marlborough is scheduled to end in December of 2001, the CARLISLE Foundation will continue to direct a number of its annual grants to Marlborough based projects over the next several years. The process, strategies and results of this exciting new community partnership will be reviewed and evaluated on an ongoing basis. For further information about community problem solving, you are encouraged to contact Susan Flint, Marlborough Project Coordinator. For more information:

Ms. Susan Flint, Marlborough Project Coordinator.
Phone: (508) 620-0390; Fax: (508) 620-0391;
E-Mail: sflint@carlislefoundation.org

BOSTON UNIVERSITY RESIDENTIAL CHARTER SCHOOL (BURCS)

The first in the country residential charter school was officially opened in the fall of 1997. The Boston University Residential Charter School was located in Granby, MA, a small rural community in Western Massachusetts. The school accepted middle and high school aged students. While some day students were accommodated by the school, its residential component was the innovative aspect of the project.

The Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Youth Services (DYS) were the primary referring resources of residential students. Payment for the residential costs for these students came via a unique arrangement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Educational costs for each student were paid via the MA Department of Education (DOE).

In spite of remarkable academic success, the school was forced to close it’s doors in the summer of 2000 when Boston University, the school’s primary sponsor determined that it would no longer provide financial support. This was particularly frustrating in light of the fact that a major funding coup occurred earlier in the year when the Massachusetts legislature committed $2 million dollars of funding to underwrite the school. In fact, however, the above cited referral agencies were unable (read unwilling) to make the appropriate number of referrals each year to keep the school from needing University subsidy. The total population of the school never actually exceeded thirty students while the breakeven point was projected to be forty-five.

The CARLISLE Foundation remains committed to the concept of residential education in spite of the reluctance of Boston University to continue as a player in this field.  Additional information about residential education in the United States or internationally can be obtained by contacting Heidi Goldsmith, International Center for Residential Education, 3726 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 109, Washington, DC 20008. Phone: (202)966-4304; Fax: (202)244-0820; icrehg@aol.com

SPIN USA

The CARLISLE Foundation has entered into an agreement to act as the primary financial support, over a two-year period, for the development of SPIN USA as an independent and freestanding organization. Originally established in the mid-90’s as a subsidiary of Concord Assabet Family and Adolescent Services of Acton, MA, SPIN USA was spun off on it’s own in 2000. The headquarters of SPIN USA is in Carlisle, MA.

SPIN USA, the nonprofit national training and dissemination center for SPIN Video Home Training (VHT) and Video Interaction Guidance (VIG), is seeking support to bring this powerful tool for helping families and children to organizations around the country.

Developed more than 25 years ago in the Netherlands and now being used throughout Holland and in countries throughout Europe and the Middle East, the SPIN model has universal application in strengthening troubled families in a variety of helping environments. The model also fosters sound supervision, strong communication and superior team building when used as an organizational training and management tool.

Under the auspices and supervision of SPIN USA, the SPIN model is currently in use in Kentucky, southern California and eastern Massachusetts. Other locations to be added within the year include: Western MA, New York, and northern California.

For further information about SPIN USA you should contact Jane Nestle-Patt, President/CEO. Jane can be reached at 978/371-3120 or via e-mail at spinusa@ziplink.net