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8 Open Sky Community Services The Bridge of Central Massachusetts • 1990 The Bridge's Vernon Street Boys Home opens in Worcester. • 1991 The Bridge's Supportive Housing services begin in Southbridge. • 1991 CTC renames high school for special needs "The G. Stanley Hall School" and opens the School House program for children ages 8 to 12. • 1995 A new home sharing program "Shared Living" is initiated at The Bridge. • 1996 The Bridge and CTC merge to form The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Inc. • 1998 The Safe Homes program for LGBTQIA+ youth is established in Worcester. • 1999 The Bridge of Central MA is awarded a contract from HUD to provide services for homeless individuals and families in the South County area (SCHAP). • 2001 The Safe Homes program merges with The Bridge. • 2001 The Bridge receives national accreditation from the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services. • 2001 The Bridge implements state of the art clinical innovations including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Project Adventure and specialized Dual Diagnosis treatments.. • 2003 Following a successful capital campaign led by J. Christopher Collins and Meredith Wesby, a factory building on Mann Street is renovated to become the new headquarters for The Bridge and the new home for the G. Stanley Hall School. • 2006 Buildings named in honor of longtime Bridge trustees – the J. Christopher Collins building at 4 Mann St and the Holt House in honor of Nita Holt. • 2007 The Saunders Street program serving four brain injured women opens in Gardner. • 2009 The Bridge opens the Bridge Training Institute. • 2009 The Bridge in collaboration with Alternatives Unlimited is awarded contracts for five new programs in north county by DMH. • 2010 Supported Employment program to help individuals find and keep jobs implemented by The Bridge. Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. • 1991 Alternatives Unlimited creates two seats on their Board of Directors for individuals served. • 1992 Alternatives Unlimited Supported Living program receives Dept. of Mental Health Quality Award. • 1995 Alternatives offers "Shared Living" for the first time. • 1996 Alternative acquires the North County residential network through DMH, adding $1.9 million in new funding. Total budget is $10 million with 280 employees. • 2000 Alternatives Unlimited embraces a community engagement paradigm shift to maximize real community membership – real homes, real jobs and real relationships. • 2000 Alternatives acquires a Worcester residential network through DMH. • 2000 Boston Globe lists Alternatives among the top 100 non-profits in Massachusetts. • 2001 Alternatives closes the sheltered workshop in Whitinsville and shifts to store-front career centers. • 2003 Board votes to renovate the Whitin Mill into a multi-purpose, inclusive, community treasure for the region to enjoy. • 2008 ValleyCAST (Blackstone Valley Culture, Arts and Sciences Together) is incorporated by Alternatives Unlimited. • 2008 Alternatives Unlimited renovates Whitin Mill, after completing successful $4m capital campaign. THROUGH THE YEARS 2000s 1990s