Restore the Old Lauderdale County Training School

The purpose of this fund is to help restore the historic Lauderdale -County Training school property . This Outreach is to address the mental health needs of families , adolescents and children in Lauderdale county, city of Ripley, TN. We will target adults and children.
 
Our Program services will cover the following:
 
Skills Development & Job Placement Services

-       An individual service strategy will be completed for each individual. This assessment will   lead to links with education, training and employers.
-       Individualized training .
-       Development of an education and employment plan.
-       Assessment of individual skills, abilities and interest and job readiness.
 
Substance Abuse Services
 
- Because substance dependence is a relapsing disease , protocols will be developed to retain participant in the program when participants test positive for drug or alcohol use.
-       Integrated treatment with mental health for those with co-occuring disorders.
-       Substance abuse education for youth and adults who are not abusers of or dependent on alcohol.
 
Mental Health Services for Adults and Youth

As is true for anyone with a serious mental illness for individuals  the fundamentals of effective service delivery are integrated  community-based services, continuity of service providers and treatment , and culturally sensitive and high quality empowering services. Models of treatment that are most effective include the following components:
 
-       Regular screening and assessment with appropriate referrals and follow up.
-       Crisis intervention, often carried out by mobile crisis teams trained in mental health.
-       Integrated treatment with substance abuse for those with co-occuring disorders.
-       Family support Respite
-       Consumer operated and peer- support groups
 
Support Services and Resources
 
Adults/ Youth  need a broad base of support  services that must include assistance with locating employment and affordable housing along with the following:
 
-       Family preservation and reunification services, including family and child support and restoration custody
-       Medical care and welfare
-       Schools, including alternative and postsecondary
 
Veteran Resource Services

- Health Care Information
- Crisis Prevention
- Mental Health
- PTSD


Lauderdale High School was originally known as the Lauderdale County Training School. It was a school only for African Americans in Ripley and it dates back to the early 1900s and perhaps even earlier. The last graduating class of the school was in 1969, 15 years after Brown vs. BOE declared separate but  equal schools unconstitutional. As was the case with most schools for African Americans only it was closed and the students were sent to the previously all White Ripley High School. 
Technically the building isn't lost because it is still standing, but it is still a former shell of itself. Years ago I had read in the Lauderdale County Enterprise that there was a group trying to restore the school and turn it into an African American history museum. I'm not sure why the words "Ripley _____ High School" appear on the building. Maybe the school for African Americans was moved into the former Ripley Junior High School for Whites? Maybe the building was used as a junior high school after it ceased being Lauderdale High School. 
If you would like to visit the site where African Americans in Lauderdale County were educated it is located on Spring Street. I have a grand vision to rebuild this property. However it requires more money than I have to build originally. While great effort has been put to get it to its current state, there is a long way to go. This project will require 100,000 dollars to completely restore. Please contact me if you are interested.