Center for Human Services gives look at new facility

The Center for Human Services of Modesto gave “hard hat” tours of its new building Tuesday and reached a milestone in the campaign to frame its future.

Stephanie Gallo, chairwoman of the effort to raise funds for the new building, said the campaign has amassed almost $850,000 in donations. “A huge accomplishment,” she called it.

The nonprofit group needs to raise $1 million for interior improvements to the 18,600-square-foot building, which once was part of the Roller King skating rink on Briggsmore Avenue.

The Center for Human Services bought the building for $1.4 million in September to move its main office from the McHenry Village shopping center, where the organization leases office space. A charter school uses the other half of the former skating rink.

The building is being remodeled to create large rooms for substance-abuse groups, counseling rooms, drug-testing bathrooms, an administrative hub for coordinators, and a data-entry department.

“It will allow us to work smarter, and we have designed it so there is no wasted space,” said Executive Director Cindy Duenas, who was leading a tour.

Archie LeVias, pastor of Seed of Joy Worship Center, said he liked the design and color scheme for the counseling rooms. “It has a good ambiance and atmosphere for people to come here with their problems,” he said.

The Center for Human Services has programs for young people, adults and families in every community in Stanislaus County, including the Hutton House shelter for teenagers in crisis, Pathways transitional housing for homeless young adults, substance-abuse and mental health counseling, and family resource centers.

It serves more than 23,000 children, adults and families.

In the past five years, the nonprofit group garnered more revenue and expanded its staff by 35 percent. It has one-third more space at the new location. About 130 of the organization’s 200-plus staff members will work at the new main office, spokeswoman Kate Trompetter said.

The center will have more room for counseling and drug and alcohol treatment groups and other services, enabling it to provide 7,500 additional hours of counseling, Trompetter said. The new location is near Highway 99 and bus routes.

Paradigm Construction expects to complete the remodeling so the main office can move in mid-June. The nonprofit center has reserves to help pay for the $2.4 million project but has needed to raise about 40 percent from donations.

The Center for Human Services predicts the “Framing Our Future” capital campaign will reach the $1 million goal in a month or two. “I believe people understand the impact we have in the community and the kind of support we are providing to young people and families,” Trompetter said. “They understand the need we have for a new facility.”

For more information on the capital campaign, call Monica Ojcius at (209) 526-1476 or email her at mojcius@centerforhumanservices.org.

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 7:16 PM with the headline "Center for Human Services gives look at new facility."