A mattress fire at the Youth Crisis Center in Casper did little damage and according to Y-C-C's executive director the responsible individual was identified.  The fire Monday also did little to extinguish optimism for the Crisis Center's future as they prepare for expansion.

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Funding scenarios for a new Youth Crisis Center in Casper are falling into place and tonight both Casper City Council and Natrona County Commissioners are expected to approve their portion of a funding package.

"There are One Cent Funds and there are Juvenile Justice Funds and the State Land and Investment Board funds. So there are quite a few entities putting money into the project."

Youth Crisis Center Executive Director, Stacy Nelson, says the $2 million building project will go on to city property near Lifesteps Campus and Meals on Wheels. The new facility will bring all Crisis Center programs under one roof after years of operating out of separate locations.

"The building plans will allow us to have different wings so we can serve the crisis kids in a wing. Then they other facilities we were talking about are group homes. So that will allow us to go back to having a group home for females and a group home for males."

Nelson says they may also be asked to provide accommodations for minors moving through the municipal and circuit court system.

"They've been pushing a long time for us to expand. That's where the original idea came up for the expansion of the crisis center, just to allow us to take some more of those kids who truly should not be in a detention center setting."

The funding package includes $350 thousand in City One Cent funds. The city will also advance dollars expected to come in from the sale of county owned YCC buildings valued at around $ 240 thousand.

Natrona County will also contribute $250 thousand from a Juvenile Justice Fund, plus $1 million dollars comes through the State Land and Investment Board.

Nelson suggests they may break ground as early as next Spring.

 

 

 

 

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