Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD — Monday evening marked the official opening of RISE Teen Space at 109 W. Catherine St., Milford - LITE Recovery's new space for teens to hang out, share struggles and find community.
Living In Transition Effectively (LITE) is a regional recovery hub, with offices in Milford and Warsaw, serving adults in Kosciusko and surrounding counties. LITE has also been branching out into addressing the issues faced by local teenagers, something deeply personal to Youth Advocate Crystal Lewallen.
"I'm relieved. It's been a lot of work, and I'm super excited ... It's been something I've wanted to do for years," Lewallen said.
She joined LITE after her youngest son was put on probation and recommended to RISE. Since then, she has been dedicated to creating sanctuary for teens.
The building was already serving as a once-weekly meeting place for Resiliency, Inspiration, Support and Empowerment (RISE). The support group is open to all teens 13-17, with a focus on dealing with mental health issues and substance abuse. With help from a $27,500 K21 Health Foundation grant and a local donation, LITE has been able to make over the space and outfit it with new amenities.
Now that renovations are complete, the space includes a working kitchen, a lounge area with video games and board games, a reading nook, and plenty of space for crafts and other activities.
The first hour RISE Teen Space is open in the evenings will be free time for teens to work on homework, socialize, game or read before meetings officially start.
"We'll be doing circle time - that is just where each teen will go over a good thing from the week, a struggle, and then set a goal for the following week. We will have life skills classes ... and we're going to be serving a meal," Lewallen said.
Meals will be served every day RISE is open.
Lewallen's goal is for the space to provide "a good community" for teens who visit, and "for them to know that they have a safe place that they can come to, and be themselves, have a voice," she said.
RISE Teen Space will be open 4-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; and 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sundays.
The Warsaw RISE group meets 4-5 p.m. Wednesdays at Trinity United Methodist Church, 832 E. Center St.
