Projects and Programs

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Creek to College: Provides Long Creek residents with an opportunity for higher education by paying for college prep classes and regular college classes at the freshman level including English, mathematics, psychology and more. This program is a collaboration with Southern Maine Community College. C2C has given many dozens of our youngsters a dose of optimism and confidence in their own abilities that will stick with them for a lifetime.

For more detailed info on the C2C program, please click here.

Click here for a letter from a C2C participant.

Vocational Training: Employment opportunities that pay a living wage are a key part of successful transition back to the community. The Friends of Long Creek Youth Development Center provided funds to start up its new Culinary Arts Program and supports other vocational training at the facility as well as technical school training for residents on aftercare status. The Friends work collaboratively with Long Creek’s new Career and College Center to advance this goal.

Our role in facilitating the donation of approximately $500,000 in used culinary equipment and starting up the culinary program at LCYDC was a game-changer for the facility. We participated in a leading role in developing the program as a trainer of gourmet chefs – not institution cooks! We provided chefs’ attire and participated in the hiring process for the head of this program, which has resulted in the hiring of highly skilled Head Chefs into Long Creek. We are proud that one of the LCYDC residents was accepted at the Culinary Institute of America.

Our resume includes starting up a small-engine repair vocational training program at LCYDC by purchasing the engines, equipment and tools, and in return, the State funded the instructor. We have also offered help to residents leaving Long Creek, or who are out on probation take vocational training classes that include welding, tractor-trailer driving, beauty school,and more.

Juvenile Community Corrections Officer Support: The Friends provides restaurant gift certificates, movie tickets, etc. to Juvenile Community Corrections Officers (JCCOs). The JCCOs use these gifts as rewards for good behavior in the community and for youth  who are achieving their goals while under JCCO supervision in the community.

Emmy’s Closet is stocked with donated clothing, name-brand personal care products, and other items that youth do not receive through the facility. Long Creek residents often need personal items like these when they are released or if they have to leave the facility to attend a funeral or job interview. In addition, items in Emmy’s closet like books and art supplies are often used by staff to reward  youth for good behavior or achieving goals.

Music has come to Long Creek through the work of the Friends, by recruiting the donation instruments and paying for music instruction and instrument rehabilitation and repairs for years. We once had a young resident who was taking the music lessons come to a Friends board meeting and played his violin, donated by the Friends.

Sports and Extracurricular Activities are an important aspect of the high school experience and provide an opportunity for personal growth and productive leisure time. For many years we provided uniforms and equipment while the A.R.Gould School competed in the secondary school league. These activities emphasize sportsmanship, team-building, and stress reduction. We kicked off 2023 by securing a donation for a new treadmill for the new girl's outbuilding on the LCYDC campus.

Library Books, a combination of recreational fiction and non-fiction books outside of the basic school curriculum, were funded for the residents to enjoy, while fostering their enthusiasm reading and learning

Successful Transitions:  Many residents leave Long  Creek with no resources to start their new lives. As needed, the Friends help with first month's rent and security deposits, basic civilian clothing, personal care products,and  household items — all of which can cost many hundreds of dollars.  For youth with little or no family to rely on, this aid is essential. We have also provided bicycles for modest transportation, as well as some housing assistance. 

“Thanks to [FOLC] support, youth have practiced public speaking,  gained confidence in interacting with the public, and have had the  opportunity to reflect thoughtfully on their personal goals and  challenges in the weeks before leaving Long Creek. As a result, they’re  feeling more prepared to pursue their goals when they walk out those  doors.” – Tessy Seward, Co-Director, Maine Inside Out