Georgia’s Youth Villages is undertaking its largest capital project ever, a $70 million “Elevate Campaign” that will transform the Inner Harbour campus into a modern therapeutic healing community for children and teens with serious emotional and behavioral challenges.
What the expansion includes
The plan adds over 100,000 square feet of new space, raising the number of residential beds from 128 to 172. A state‑of‑the‑art 32,000‑square‑foot school building, called the Inner Harbour Learning Academy, will provide a regular‑school environment with 18 classrooms, a media center, a STEM lab and occupational‑therapy space. A 19,500‑square‑foot wellness center will feature a yoga studio, drumming room, indoor basketball court, swimming pool, nursing station and on‑site optometrist.
Phase one, already completed, delivered a new 17,300‑square‑foot administration building and a cottage for up to 16 residents, each with a lake view. Phase two has added four additional cottages and the school building, which is slated to open for the 2027‑2028 school year. Phase three, slated for completion by the end of 2029, will finish the wellness center, remodel the campus cafeteria (“The Lodge”) and add a family visitation pavilion.
Funding and community support
The campaign is being financed largely through philanthropy. Youth Villages contributed $35 million, half of the goal, and the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation added $7 million. Long‑time partner Steven Tyler raised $4.1 million for all‑girl “Janie’s Houses” cottages. The expansion is being built without shutting down existing services, allowing current residents to continue receiving round‑the‑clock care.
Inner Harbour operates under Medicaid reimbursement, which in Georgia now averages about $649 per day per resident, placing the state in the middle tier of per‑diem rates. This steady funding stream helps ensure the sustainability of the expanded program.
Why the expansion matters for families
For families struggling with children who have not responded to other interventions, Inner Harbour offers a five‑to‑six‑month residential program that combines therapeutic care, education and nature‑based activities. Executive Director Tanya Anderson emphasizes that a nurturing environment—natural lighting, lake views and spacious design—supports healing while maintaining strict safety protocols.
Residents, such as 15‑year‑old Isabella Bolding from Tennessee, describe the campus as “rustic in a good way” with a “pretty view of the lake.” Anderson notes that involving youth in the design process helps ensure the new facilities meet their needs and convey that they are “absolutely deserving” of a supportive, beautiful space.
Community impact
The expansion will increase the campus’s ability to serve hundreds of referrals each year, addressing a growing demand for high‑quality, evidence‑based residential treatment in the Southeast. By creating a school that mirrors a private‑school setting, Youth Villages aims to ease the transition for residents back to their home communities, reinforcing family stability and long‑term success.
Local leaders and donors have praised the project as a vital investment in the next generation’s mental health and well‑being, aligning with broader efforts to strengthen families and uphold the values of faith, responsibility and personal liberty.
Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.
