Family visits strengthen bonds and the space where those visits happen matters more than people might realize. A physical environment shapes our emotional responses and intuitions. Environments signal how we should feel inside.

A sterile space with gray neutral furniture, steel cabinets, and office chairs give a rigid impression. It’s the principal’s office. It’s the meeting room at work. It’s the place to be on your best behavior. It’s not a place to connect with family.

When we worked with our partners at Roundel47 and Groom Construction to design our new campus, the goal was to create dignified spaces that represent the trauma-informed approach that guides our programs.

Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from, “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” It recognizes the young person’s life experiences that have shaped their perspective and recognizes the need for safety, transparency, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, humility, and responsiveness to help a young person heal.

Creating a space with a trauma-informed lens means every detail of the space is chosen with care, so the environment is soothing for the people who need it most.

The new campus was designed with intention. Single bedrooms and bathrooms for privacy and ownership of space. Storage for precious belongings. And a powerful part of our campus: the Infinity Loop, a half-mile walking path that runs along the shoreline of our property.

The path curves back on itself, forming a continuous loop. A design guided by a trauma-informed care specialist, who advised that a loop with no beginning and no end creates a more therapeutic walking experience than a straight path that requires turning back.

From natural light coming through the skylights in the halls to comfortable furniture with small touches like activity books and toys in the family visiting spaces- these elements work together to form a natural environment to ease anxiety and create opportunities for connection.

Prior to our renovation, we only had space to host family visits in a staff office or our conference room. The new space allows us to imitate a home environment that feels welcoming and familiar.

In the early spring, our permanency workers coordinated a small party at Plummer for Harvey, a young man celebrating a promotion at his grocery store job. His foster family and younger sister came to celebrate this exciting milestone. The family brought his favorite Margherita pizza from Flying Saucer, and he split a slice with his sister on the couch.

Harvey’s sister brought her Nintendo Switch so they could play together like they would at home. Having the new Family Visiting Space has helped create natural, loving moments with family. The comfortable, welcoming space allowed Harvey to reconnect with his loved ones in a place that felt warm and personal.

Building off the success of the family visits with his sister, Harvey felt more open to reconnecting with his mother. It started off with video calls on Zoom and transitioned to meetings together with his biological mom and foster family at Plummer.

Reunification requires immense emotional work. Youth and their loved ones must learn how to be a family again and hold space for difficult conversations about the past. A strong support system is essential to help in this transition. We believe in a family-driven teaming approach, where a network of support is built around both professionals and important people in a young person’s life.

Harvey’s foster parents collaborating with his mom has helped Harvey become more open and trusting. Even though the goal is to reunite a young person with their biological family, continuing to stay present with a supportive relationship goes a long way. During a visit to Plummer, Harvey and his mom walked together on the infinity path. They reconnected and made up for lost time with each step they took.

Recently, Harvey has been approved for visits off-site with his mother. A big step for their goals of reunification. There are still many steps along the way to reach this goal. For now, we’re happy to offer a peaceful environment for Harvey to heal as he continues his path back to family.