Sacred Heart School in Youngstown closed June, but a program for the entire community has given the building new life.

Saint Vincent College Prevention Projects, an outreach program aimed at preventing alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse, as well as violence and destructive behavior, has moved into the school building. The organization moved from offices on the Saint Vincent campus to the school, making the project more visible in the community, said Dr. Mary Beth Spore, dean of the School of Social Sciences, Communication and Prevention Projects.

Open house dates have been set for 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Ribbon cutting ceremonies and another open house will be 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Donna Kean, executive director of Prevention Projects, the program was established in 1978 and serves more than 30,000 students each year throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.

The school building setting is a good fit for the outreach program because it is 700 square feet larger than the former facility, allowing for more storage space for outreach materials and more space for meetings with other agencies, Ms. Kean said.

Trent Bocan, superintendent of the Office for Catholic Schools, was concerned about the parish after the school, which housed pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, closed, said Jerry Zufelt, head of communications for the Diocese of Greensburg.

His office helped coordinate the move, while Sacred Heart staff members and the Rev. Aaron Buzzelli prepared the building for the organization. Father Buzzelli is the church's pastor.

Some space was turned into offices, and the heating and cooling systems were upgraded.