By Richard Smith
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City officials intended to create a common home for Glendale’s entire Community Services Department when they were presented with an opportunity to join a hub for need throughout the community.

On Aug. 21, the city unveiled its new department home in a renovated former classroom  building. The community services center is the final piece to the Glendale Elementary School District System of Care Center, 7677 W. Bethany Home Road.

Offices for these city programs were scattered throughout Glendale. Now the crisis assistance, housing programs, emergency home repair and community development investments programs are under one roof.

“The gaps we saw were referrals to medical services, referrals to workforce development and, specifically, referrals to mental health services,” said Jean Moreno, Glendale Community Services Director. “All of this is physically located on this campus.”

Campus is the former site of Coyote Ridge School. Enrollment dropped in this area, and this was a way to give back to the community with a community center, said Louis Laffitte, assistant superintendent for the Glendale Elementary School District.

The GESD System of Care was envisioned as a one-stop shop for community needs. Services provided include.

Mental health services
Social services
Educational services
Health services
Substance abuse services
Vocational services
Recreational services
Juvenile justice services

Soon after GESD opened the care system, the district realized few clients were there for only one service.

“We know that once they leave, they’re probably not going to get the rest of the services they need,” Laffitte said. “They can’t access it, can’t get there or get tired of running around.”

A Glendale capital improvement project drafted in 2017 envisioned this type of building. Moreno said that plan was very cost prohibitive so it ended up being abandoned>

She and other city officials started talking with the school district when it opened the system of care in late 2022.

Conversations accelerated as Glendale began to tear down its old city hall building in 2023.

“One thing we didn’t have was this true city connection. When we had people visiting and touring, I think we saw that we both had the opportunity,” Laffitte said.

Glendale designed the space to be safe and welcoming for clients.. It includes a community room for private meetings with clients.

A lot of clients will not need just one service and transportation to multiple community service centers is often difficult.

“This is normally the kind of project that sits on your CIP books and typically takes a long time to get done. I think from the inception and initial discussion to today was 18 months I think,” Moreno said Aug. 21. “It moved very quickly because there was a belief in the mission and the vision.”

What Laffitte said is an easy working relationship with the city will get even easier. The facility allows the city’s entire community services team to be together and cross train and collaborate.

City crisis assistance services includes rent and utilities assistance.

Glendale’s THRIVE program offers a safety net for people and families nearing homelessness. It includes success coaching on housing instability and offers some transportation help.

Homeowner programs include emergency repairs.

But Glendale doesn’t directly provide food boxes and literacy program like the GESD System of Care.

The city does not have a family health building providing child care for ages 0-5. Now it is across a breezeway.

“Most importantly for us was the presence of other partners on the campus. The city doesn’t provide all the services our clients need, so we rely on those referrals to other organization,” Moreno said.

The new offices are technically not in council member Leandro Baldenegro’s Ocotillo District, but that district picks up on the northeast corner of 75th Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

Baldenegro also works as a welder for the district.

“A lot of people fell through the cracks. Fortunately, they had a good group of individuals around them that recognized it and were professionals in that field,” Baldenegro said. “This place is amazing. They have a prom closed here, and they have Lamaze classes.”

This campus of care is in the Yucca District, represented by council member Joyce Clark.

And non-residents are welcome.

“If you never ask, the answer’s always no. So why not just ask? If the answer’s no, instead of taking a step backwards, can we take a step sideways,” Baldenegro said. “People that genuinely want to help will find a way. And people that need the help can still have their dignity and pride. They’re not looking down at you. They want to help you.”