Parks Place is one of Windham County United Way’s community partners, and the first of many agencies we will feature in our “Partner Profiles.” Funds raised in the community by United Way help to support the Parks Place operating budget.

For the past 14 years, Parks Place has housed multiple social service agencies in one convenient location on a leafy street in Bellows Falls. “Sometimes I think of us as a ‘holding company,’” says director Barbara Ternes. “Parks Place holds all these different organizations together in one place.” More than 30 organizations, from the Springfield Area Parent Child Center to Vermont Adult Learning, make use of the offices and meeting rooms in the building.

All about access
It is often difficult for residents of Bellows Falls to reach agencies headquartered in Brattleboro or Springfield. Parks Place addresses this need by giving social services a local presence. Their mission is “to open doors to opportunity by connecting people in the Greater Falls community with the programs, resources and information they need to move their lives forward.”

“It’s one thing to have services, quite another to access them,” Ternes says. “What we hear all the time from low income people is that transportation and childcare are major issues. If you don’t have transportation, or you don’t have childcare, you can’t get services. Parks Place is all about providing access.”

With the exception of a lead safety initiative, Parks Place does not run programs; instead, its role is to facilitate the work of other agencies. According to Ternes, this makes United Way funding critical. Most donors prefer to fund highly visible programs; few are willing to support the day-to-day, behind-the-scenes operations that allows an organization like Parks Place to run. “No one wants to fund cleaning, or the copy machine. United Way covers administrative expenses, which is a godsend for us,” says Ternes. Development director Robyn Weisel adds “Other donors like to see that Parks Place has United Way support.”

A welcoming feel
The staff at Parks Place works hard to make the space welcoming. “We are deliberately noninstitutional,” Ternes says. “People like coming here.” Clients feel at ease in the building, says Youth Services case manager Bianca Fernandez, who has an office in Parks Place. “They have a sense that it is truly everyone’s space.”

Curtains, wallpaper, rugs, artwork, photographs, plants and a domestic clutter warm up the historic home. Many of the rooms have toys in the corner for younger visitors. Outside, volunteers have created a beautiful perennial garden encircling the grounds.

“One of our core values is that we treat everyone with respect,” says Ternes. Everyone who visits Parks Place comes through the same door: staff, clients and volunteers; children, youth and adults; people there for counseling, an AA group, Youth Services, adult education or a meeting with a probation officer. The multiplicity of services allows visitors a measure of privacy and dignity, says Weisel.

It also allows people to interact on a variety of levels and come to know each other as whole people, not just faceless clients. Weisel recalls: “One day I ran into a man in the hallway who was here to attend an AA meeting. I knew he was also a painter, and so I said, ‘Hey, I have a painting question for you!’ and he helped out. Everyone has something to give.”

Creating community
By bringing a wide range of people and services together in one place, Parks Place actively nurtures community. This happens informally as people get to know each other and share information, concerns and ideas. “Sometimes what happens in the hallways is as important as what happens inside the offices!” Ternes says.

Networking also happens more formally during the monthly “Patch Team” meetings held around a big table in Parks Place. The Patch Team is a diverse group of community members and service providers who meet face-to-face to discuss local concerns, share information and resources, and work towards effective solutions.

Problem-solving at Patch meetings is creative and action-oriented. According to Weisel, the approach is to say “There is a problem; what can we do right now to solve it?” For example, a recent gathering dealt with the fact that there was no emergency shelter in Bellows Falls for the winter. “How can we solve this problem now? What can we do?” Ideas are discussed, resources offered, collaborative solutions developed.

“I can change my life”
“This is Ashley. Ashley is very smart.” Ternes says, proudly introducing the woman behind the front desk. Ashley is a volunteer receptionist at Parks Place, responsible for answering the phones, greeting visitors, and managing the data base. All the receptionists at Parks Place are volunteers, exemplifying the agency’s commitment to stretch their available resources to the full extent. They do a great job; a recent survey found 100% satisfaction with assistance given by the receptionists. Four out of five respondents rated the service “excellent.”

Often the receptionists are young women just getting their feet on the ground. At Parks Place, they learn new skills and develop new confidence. Ultimately, most leave to take paying jobs in the community.

“Parks Place gives people hope,” Ternes says. “It helps people believe ‘I can change my life.’ Here people know there’s someone who can help.”