Jean Childs Young Middle School, part of Atlanta Public Schools, has completed its transformation of an entire school wing dedicated to a new on-site wraparound support initiative named “The Den.” As one of the first middle schools in Georgia to offer wraparound services, The Den provides on-site comprehensive, holistic support to over 800 students in four focus areas: social-emotional well-being, academic success, basic needs support, and access and exposure to the world.
By partnering with Young Middle School administrators, faculty, students, and community stakeholders, Perkins&Will was able to design a space that met students’ mental and physical health needs. Dedicated spaces for hairstyling, laundry, mentoring, tutoring, career exploration, and basic needs are the foundation of self-care in The Den’s aspirational mantra: “I Am. I Can. I Will.”