Historical Timeline
People’s Place began in 1972 as a true grass roots effort spearheaded by a group of local residents concerned about the lack of activities and programs for the youth of Milford. Throughout the years People’s Place evolved into youth counseling and related services. Eventually the Counseling Center was established and flourished throughout the decades serving children, adults, and families.
Today, People’s Place continues to meet the needs and requests of the residents in lower Delaware by offering a wide variety of programs and services true to its founding cornerstone--counseling. People’s Place is the premier not-for-profit organization for counseling and case management serving residents in Kent, Sussex, and lower New Castle Counties. In 2009, we served more than 9,000 people with a staff of approximately 170 and an annual budget of more than $6,000,000. Our programs include:
1. Counseling Center with Satellite Locations—services to children and adults at its four locations in Milford, Millsboro, Seaford, and Smyrna. Evaluation, individual, family, marital therapy and medication management are provided to clients of all ages. Specialized therapists are available for a wide-range of debilitating issues.
2. Domestic Violence Shelters and Advocacy—includes three shelters one in Kent (S.A.F.E.—Shelter, Advocacy, Freedom & Empowerment) and two in Sussex Counties (S.A.F.E. and Abriendo Puertas, the domestic violence program for Latina women.)
3. Center for Community Justice—provides victim-offender mediation for non-violent offenses referred by the justice system. Mediation services, employer-employee dispute resolution, and serious offender mediation are also offered.
4. Family Visitation Centers—offers a safe and neutral environment for children to access parents they might otherwise not see.
5. Turning Point—offers a broad range of services for adults and children affected by domestic violence including support groups.
6. Group Homes for Adolescents—a home-like environment for teens, ages 12-18, in the foster care system.
7. Non-Secure Detention—a structured residential and education program for young people ages 8-19 who have been arrested and are awaiting a court date.
8. Independent Living—helps young people ages 16-21, currently or formerly in the foster care system, get started in life.
9. Whatcoat Social Services—consists of the following services:
a. Ruth Dorsey Emergency Homeless Shelter—a 46-bed shelter for men, women, and families for up to 30-day stay.
b. Vera’s Haven transitional Housing—10 townhomes for households who commit to working and continuing their education for up to two years.
c. New Start Case Management—for low income households in Kent County providing case management and crisis alleviation.
10. Listening Post-Lower Delaware—a program for veterans providing peer counseling, outreach and referral services, plus non-traditional and in-home services and transportation to VA hospitals for veterans in Southern Delaware.
