Adolescent Treatment Program at the Center for Human Development Receives 2019 Community Partnership Spirit Award

This award, established in December 2017, is bestowed upon an individual, team, or organization who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the Bay Path community, student body, and mission of the University. The recipient is a community partner who has played an integral role in student success by means of mentorship, leadership, and career development, and who has captured the spirit and essence of the Bay Path University (BPU) mission.

At a recent Bay Path University community gathering, Robert Jreaswec, assistant director at the Center for Human Development (CHD), as well as the CHD organization, were recognized for their work with at-risk adolescents by receiving the 2019 Community Partnership Spirit Award.

It was 11 years ago that Bay Path’s Psychology of Criminal Behavior class first visited CHD and their Community Adolescent Treatment Program (CATP). CATP provides residential, community-based clinical and other services to prepare at-risk male youth clients, who previously were in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services’ secure detention facility, for successful reintegration back into their communities. Inspired by the visit, the class conducted a book drive. Much to the delight of the students, it netted over 1000 books for CATP, and as a result, CATP established an on-site, free-standing library room. This library is extremely popular with all of the youth at the program and is a well-used source of reading material for CATP’s Book Club members.

This initiative has continued every single year. More important, Bay Path students also participate in the Book Club, which in turn provides them with a unique opportunity to gain real-life experience working with adjudicated youth.

As the co-facilitator for the Book Club, Bob serves as a model for BPU students to learn how to engage and motivate at-risk youth.

In presenting the Spirit Award, President Leary shared these words on the partnership between CHD and Bay Path: “Bob’s dedication to the youth he serves and the students of BPU is unrelenting. On a continual basis, he provides opportunities for our students to grow both personally and professionally. Whether it is coming to a class, talking about the work he does, supervising an intern, interacting with students at the CHD Through Her Eyes conference, or the Book Club, Bob is nothing short but a master mentor to our students.”

Bob’s acceptance remarks also saluted this joint effort that has persisted for over a decade: “I am so honored to receive this award. I am also proud of the successful partnership between Bay Path University and the CHD Community Adolescent Treatment Program. It has resulted in the development of resources, services, and opportunities for my program’s clients, as well as enhancing the educational and career development experiences of BPU students.

I want to thank in particular President Leary, Professor Diane Hall from the psychology department, current and former students of Bay Path and everyone else at this University whose commitment and generous contributions of their time, talent and resources have helped to create this successful partnership. Also, I want to thank my colleagues at CHD for their unwavering support, and THEIR hard work and commitment to achieve our program’s mission to promote positive youth development.”