A commitment to the whole child:
At the Carrie Steele - Pitts Home, we believe in making a difference in the lives of children, in every possible way. We recognize that our ability to help children develop into productive adults is only as good as the quality of our programming, our staff and our facilities. We have been incredibly successful in developing excellent programs while training and retaining highly qualified staff.

As the children's needs have grown, there existed a greater need for additional space and enhanced resources. We have responded to these needs to help our children to strengthen their minds, bodies, and spirits. Because children learn through their play, we have provided them with a safe, constructive environment where learning can take place. We have offered appropriate opportunities for our children to explore new ideas, to practice team building, to test their limits and reach their goals.

We have ensured the future of our children by building a Life Learning Center at the Carne Steele - Pitts Home. This multipurpose facility will meet the various needs of at-risk youth, and all activities will be centered on learning important life skills. It is a welcoming place where children can develop their talents and discover their abilities in a well-supervised environment. The Center's recreation activities will allow children to have an outlet for their energies while participating in fun, educational, inspirational activities. Children take part in experiences that will shape their characters and prepare them for the challenges they will face.

Since completion, the Life Learning Center has added a vital new dimension to the Carrie Steele - Pitts Home campus. CSPH Board President and Southwest Hospital surgeon Dr. Dennis Turner points out the real need for such a facility: "Children are often placed into care with many emotional, physical, social and educational needs. With the activities that are conducted in the Life Learning Center, the Carrie Steele - Pitts Home has greatly enhanced our services to children who are placed in the Home".

For over a decade, the existing buildings on campus were utilized to the fullest extent. The overcrowded Samuel L. Jones Administration Building has many spaces that served two or three functions. For example, the central dining area served as the music room, where approximately 35% of CSPH residents take music or voice lessons. The dining area was also the only space large enough to hold large gatherings of people, and such meetings had to be scheduled so that they don't interfere with meal preparation or service. In the Administration Building's basement, the recreation room also served as a game room, performance hall, and storage room. Spaces for therapy and parental visitation rooms were cramped and they lacked the privacy that we would like to provide for children and families.