Stephanie Weaver
The Cumberland Times-News Sun Aug 21, 2011, 09:30 PM EDT
GRANTSVILLE — When 13-year-old Adam first came to Salem Children’s Trust, he was in third grade. Recalling his time at the school, he can’t pick one favorite memory. Instead, it’s the horses, his peers, and the staff that has made an impact.
“We always have fun,” he said.
Over the years, Todd Mechem, executive director of Salem, has seen major improvements in Adam’s behavior and considers him a “Salem success story.”
“He has wonderful social skills, he will hold a door for a lady, and says ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ ” Mechem said.
This character-building is part of the curriculum at Salem, according to Mechem, along with their regular classroom education. “We train them how to react in social situations,” he explained.
Salem, a nonprofit charity, is licensed by the Maryland Department of Human Resources as a long-term group home or short-term shelter care facility for youth ages 6 to 18. However, the school can receive children from the Department of Juvenile Services, Department of Social Services or parent referral. DJS youth, like Adam, make up 40 percent of Salem’s students, according to Mechem.
DJS children who go to Salem are “very similar to children in the welfare system,” according to Jay Cleary, director of communication at the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. These children are facing minor offenses, if any, and have a higher level of needs.
With many youth lacking a “home,” Salem provides a “family-like” environment, according to Mechem. The youth live in one of four houses on Salem’s 380 acres of woods, “similar to (houses) you’d see in Garrett County,” Mechem said.
Unlike other residential programs, youth at Salem have their own rooms, with free rein to decorate them. They also have daily chores and family meals — emphasizing relationships between peers and “teaching parents,” adults who live with the youth in the home.
According to Mechem, these relationships are essential. Salem staff is encouraged to joke around and reach out to make youth feel comfortable. “It’s not uncommon for a staff person to take a student out to lunch,” he said.
Salem is both a residential and educational facility — not all students live there— that places emphasis on nature and Christian principles. Although Salem is a Christian-based program, the staff recognizes and respects all religions. The goal of the spiritual aspect is to show kids they have “internal worth,” according to Mechem.
“It’s the best school I’ve ever been to,” a Salem School student said.
Statistics show the school’s therapeutic model is working. According to DJS statistics, three males were released during the 2009 fiscal year, while no youth came back for referral or rearrest. Although Salem can’t contact students once they leave the school, Mechem said that many students keep in contact by writing letters or visiting. For many, Salem is the only family they know.
On the wall in his office, Mechem has pictures of every student who has been to Salem. As he points out, you can’t tell which student has come to Salem through DJS or DSS. To him, each picture is a reminder of the mission of Salem.
“It gives kids a chance to have a fresh start,” Mechem said.
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