New Start for Oak Hill Youth Center

LAUREL, Md. - A Laurel, Maryland youth rehabilitation center has gotten a major makeover and a brand new location—and, many say, they hope a new image will come right along with it.

The razor wire is history, along with the old name and a bad reputation. The youth rehabilitation center known as Oak Hill as closed for good. A half-mile down the road, a new facility called The New Beginnings Youth Development Center has officially opened in its place.

New Beginnings is hoping to open a new chapter for the region's troubled youth. One step inside and you feel more like you're on a college campus rather than a youth rehabilitation center.

The old facility -- called Oak Hill -- is just around the corner, but feels and looks worlds away. The center was plagued with problems such as deplorable living conditions, teens running away and violent staff members. Mayor Adrian Fenty says it just didn't serve the youth.

"Having the youth warehoused-- essentially put into a big institutional facility-- was an outdated model and never a good one from the beginning," said Mayor Fenty.

The director of the D.C Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services isn't shy about what he thought of the old facility.

"I have said a lot of bad things about Oak Hill," said Vincent Schiraldi. "I know it upsets my staff, but I said I wouldn't kennel my dog at Oak Hill."

New Beginnings can house up to but no more than 60 young people ages 15 to 18. There are no barb wire fences there—they've been replaced with new technology. There is now climb-free fencing, and instead of bars on windows, there are detention-grade windows.

"One of the big differences between Oak Hill and New Beginnings is that everything centers around a courtyard, so the students can easily walk from where they live to where they learn," said Leontay Butler, who has lived there for more than a year.

Butler says he sees his new environment as a huge improvement.

"When I wake up, I feel like I am in a new place-- like I am at home or something," said Butler.

The students live in units much like dorm rooms. Inside the students can express themselves on a chalkboard-style wall.

The day is heavily structured with school, meeting with counselors and meal time-- but there is also time for recreation. There's a cafeteria and a gym.

Officials say the point is provide an environment that helps these young people learn and grow and move onto a new way of life—a life outside of those walls.

The new facility also has all new staff and teachers. The building cost $44.4 million to build.