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New London, CT (September 8, 2022) – Sound Community Services, Inc. will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting event on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at 21 Montauk Ave., New London for its newest young adult residential program, Jason Hyatt Center. The ribbon cutting will be from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm with a light lunch served from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Sound Community Services has a rich history of providing Southeastern Connecticut with outstanding mental health and substance abuse supports through their outpatient clinic, social rehab, community support, and residential programs. Their five residential programs have transitioned hundreds of people successfully into the community on a foundation of skill-building, while incorporating their core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. The Jason Hyatt Center, a residential program for young adults between the ages of 18-25, was created in memory of Sound Community Services former Chief Program Officer Jason Hyatt. In March of 2022, Jason lost his battle to brain cancer. In memory of Jason Hyatt’s 17 years of service to Sound Community Services and his love for bettering the young adult community, Sound Community has named their new residential after Jason. The Jason Hyatt Center will serve a population of young adults who have been displaced from past programs; are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness; are facing the early onset of mental health barriers; and who may have various levels of trauma and the uncertainties of young adulthood which have never been addressed. Many at-risk young adults have aged out of DCF services, or bounce around from couch to couch, failing to develop a clear path beyond high school. Within our community, barriers that this population face are employability, substance abuse, little to no structure, lack of opportunity, education, legal challenges, deficient independent living skills, and identifying their ‘place’ in the world. Sound Community is engaged in regional planning efforts to improve local capacity, safety, and stability for young adults. New London County has a significant youth homelessness challenge in which minimal services, including transitional living, are available. Sound Community Services, Inc. believes creating a foundation of supports and services for this diverse population of 18–25-year-olds will eliminate long term homelessness within our region. The Jason Hyatt Center will provide 12-18 months of transitional housing to not only combat youth homelessness, but individuals served will benefit from Sound’s AXS Center and other peer related YAS (Young Adult Services) programs at SCSI that will create a community for young adults. # # # # # About Sound Community Services Sound Community Services, Inc. (SCSI) is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating, assisting, and supporting individuals with persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders. We work tirelessly to create a culture and environment in which recovery and wellness are possible. To learn more about Sound Community Services, visit them at: https://soundcommunityservices.org/