The Center for Children & Young Adults (CCYA) was incorporated in 1981 with a vision to provide safe housing, support, and hope for vulnerable children and youth in Cobb County. In 1984, CCYA opened its first residential program at 325 Fairground Street in Marietta, serving children and youth through an emergency shelter known as Open Gate, which accommodated up to 12 residents at a time.
The development of Open Gate was made possible through the dedication and collaboration of numerous community leaders and organizations, including Senator Johnny Isakson, the Marietta-Cobb Junior League, local Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, and the Cobb County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Their shared commitment laid the foundation for what would become one of Georgia's leading residential programs for youth.
During the late 1980s, CCYA relocated to its current Austell Road campus, significantly expanding its facilities, residential capacity, and service offerings. As community needs evolved, so did CCYA. In 2000, the organization launched a coeducational Transitional Living Program for young adults ages 17-20, providing life skills development and support for a successful transition to independence.
In 2007, CCYA shifted its focus from short-term emergency shelter services to longer-term residential care, with youth remaining in the program for 90 days or longer. Two years later, in 2009, the organization refined its mission to exclusively serve adolescents and young adults ages 12-20, addressing a growing need for specialized services for older youth.
A new chapter began in 2010 under new leadership, as CCYA transformed its culture of care from a traditional shelter model into a therapeutic healing and development center. This shift emphasized trauma-informed care, behavioral health support, life skills development, and individualized treatment designed to help young people heal, grow, and thrive.
In 2019, CCYA launched Rise Up Academy, an accelerated transitional living program designed for youth and young adults ages 16-20 who demonstrate higher levels of social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. The program provides increased independence, leadership opportunities, and advanced life-skills training to help participants reach their full potential.
Building upon that success, CCYA introduced Rise Up Studios in 2024 by converting the historic Open Gate residence into seven Transitional Living Practice Apartments, including one double-occupancy and six single-occupancy efficiency units. This practice apartment model bridges the gap between residential care and independent community living. Residents learn essential life skills such as medication management, maintaining a household, meal preparation, budgeting, scheduling, employment readiness, and community engagement while still benefiting from the support and structure of a campus environment.
Today, CCYA continues to provide a small number of emergency shelter placements and temporary housing for youth pursuing family reunification or traditional foster care placements. However, the majority of residents participate in CCYA's longer-term housing programs, including the Transitional Living Program (TLP), which can support youth for up to five years, and the Independent Living Program (ILP) for young adults ages 18-20, which provides housing and support for one to three years. Youth remain eligible for services until age 21.
For more than four decades, CCYA has remained committed to helping youth overcome adversity, develop resilience, and build the skills necessary for successful, independent adulthood. What began as a small emergency shelter has evolved into a comprehensive residential treatment and transitional living organization that continues to transform young lives throughout our community.