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CHANCE Residential Center

for girls, located in Putnam County, opened in the summer of 1988 and has served over 900 girls to date. This site, formerly known as DeBerry Military Academy, used to prepare young men for adulthood and / or military service, is now helping young ladies find normalcy and peace of mind.


The Center can serve a total of 24 female youth whose average length of stay is four to six months.


CHANCE housingThe spacious campus has several sizeable structures that serve unique purposes. The dining hall, dorm, administrative building, all provide environments that reflect the commitment of caring in providing a safe, nurturing, family-like environment. Not only does the dining hall serve as a place for meals, it is used for large group activities, a game room, weekend visitation for the families and a staff training area.




Dorm loungeThe dorm has a very welcoming feeling with bright colors and friendly décor. The group room contains large over stuffed furniture with TV/ VCR/DVD and game stations for the girls use during free time.  A large mural depicting family, recreation and sports, different landscape scenes showing country life and the lights of the big city, covers the walls in the group room reflecting the girls’ path through life. This mural was painted by the Art Students from Tennessee Tech University. The bedrooms continue in the scheme of bright colors but serve as a place for solitude and individual reflection.



CHANCE libraryThe CHANCE Transitional School is located in the administrative building which contains the auditorium/library and several offices for staff.  The girls also use the auditorium for Music and Art classes, group activities, and an exercise area. The staff utilizes this area for many of the required in-service training's. The grounds are well maintained and have plenty of space for outdoor games and activities. There is a basketball and volleyball court.




The CHANCE staff is dedicated to meeting the needs of the young females that are placed in our care having the ability to provide the youth with the skills and services to address long term life changing goals.  In a safe, family-like environment young women can grow, find out who they are, what they want out of life, and become successful educationally, emotionally, and socially.  The primary focus is to help each youth succeed in transitioning back to their perspective families and communities with a strength of character they can use to achieve the success in life that they desire and deserve.


The staff undergoes significant initial training before working directly with the girls. Mandatory annual in-service must be completed, as well as several other required training's: Crisis Intervention, CPR, Positive Discipline, and Suicide Prevention.


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With commitment, effort, and integrity, trust can be regained;
With compassion, hope and resolve, relationships can be restored;
Trust and Relationships grow when youth are given a
CHANCE to show that they can CHANGE!



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Program Services

For specific information in regards to the services provided, please visit Residential Services.


Contact Information:

Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency
580 South Jefferson Avenue
Suite B
Cookeville, TN  38501
(931) 528-1127
Contact Person: Wm. Brian Swearengen


Or


CHANCE Residential Center
1744 Deberry Road
Bloomington Springs, TN 38545
(931) 526-4565
Contact Person: Jamie Hickey

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Member of the Council on Accreditation, a national organization.

COA accreditation is an objective and reliable verification that provides confidence and support to an organization's service recipients, board members, staff and community partners.