Schuylkill County formally dedicated its new Children and Youth Services agency building Wednesday.

County commissioners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the building at 324 N. Centre St., Pottsville.Among the key speakers at the ceremony was Maggie Maskerines, an abused and neglected baby who was adopted by the foster family who cared for her from the age of 22 months."Children and Youth and her new family worked very hard to make sure she would never have to go back to the people that hurt her. Her caseworker Kate fought very hard and was her voice when she was 6 years old, and on Oct. 10, 1993, she was adopted into a loving family who has helped set her on the right path for an amazing life," Maskerines wrote in a description of her life that was read at the ceremony."The caseworkers at Children and Youth are amazing. I can't thank them enough for all they did for me. My family means the world to me. I have my forever family. I pray every night for the children like me who wait for homes. They just want someone to love them. I will always continue to give back to all the children in my life. As long as God allows I will be here to help them find their wings. Children need a chance and love and they will fly. My second chance at life saved me," she wrote.County Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. also spoke."We are proud of our whole team at the county who have assisted us in making this project a reality," he said. "The Children and Youth Services agency is so vital to the well-being of our county, and its employees serve some of the most vulnerable members of our community.""Our employees are outstanding, and this new space will help enhance the services they are presently providing," Halcovage said.The new building is across the street from the cramped quarters at 410 N. Centre St. the agency had occupied until about a month ago.In October 2012, the county floated a $21 million bond issue to fund building projects; $2.6 million of that was earmarked to buy and renovate the building.The county acquired the new building, the former Empire Beauty School, in 2012 from brothers Dale and Franklin Schoeneman for $740,000.It took the county about two years and $2 million to renovate the building.Commissioners have said last year's revamping of state child abuse reporting forced the agency to expand.