Shelter for at-risk girls to close; needs funding, repairs to reopen
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A state-run shelter for at-risk girls in Sykesville will temporarily close June 30 until repairs are fixed and funds become available, state officials said.
“We’re not indefinitely closing, but we have to suspend operations because of budgetary concerns,” said Tammy Brown, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Juvenile Services, which oversees the Sykesville Girls Group Home. “We don’t have the funds to make the necessary repairs.”
Brown said she was unsure of the number of girls who have been relocated to San Mar Children’s Home in Boonsboro. San Mar Children’s Home is a nonprofit for at-risk girls, said spokesman Dan Day. Day said 30 girls currently stay at the facility.
Brown said DJS licenses San Mar. That means DJS is responsible for making sure the program meets all state laws and requirements, she said.
Day said different agencies license and maintain different programs. They also pay for youths they refer to the program, he said.The Sykesville Girls Group Home provides services to at-risk, court-involved girls who need a temporary home. Located on Cooper Drive, the Sykesville Girls Group Home housed about 10 girls for up to 90 days and was run by the Massachusetts-based nonprofit North American Family Institute.
The organization did not return phone calls by 6 p. m. Tuesday.
State officials recently considered moving the shelter to a cottage on the campus of Springfield Hospital Center because of costly renovation work, but didn’t because of funding.
Del. Susan Krebs, R District 9-B, said she wasn’t sure if the move was a permanent one but praised DJS officials for reevaluating the money aspect of the home, something she wasn’t expecting.
“It was a surprise to me, but I’m glad they’re looking at consolidating and the best use of resources,” she said. “I hope that they will take a good look at financing and the financial impact.”Krebs has been concerned about the shelter’s condition. Its main problem is a crack in its foundation, which would have cost about $150,000 to fix, she said.
The shelter was also in need of painting, carpet replacement, handrail repairs and patio patching, and there’s a water infiltration problem, according to Elizabeth Wright, assistant secretary of business services with DJS.
Krebs said all renovations would cost about $230,000. It cost about $700,000 for fiscal year 2008 to run the shelter.
Brown said she’s unsure of what’s next for the shelter.
“We’re not making any decisions about it,” she said. “We’re just waiting to see if we could potentially have it reopened, depending on the budget issues.”
Reach staff writer Jennifer Jiggetts at 410-857-7873 or jennifer.jiggetts@carrollcountytimes.com.