The closing came after the state passed new legislation, geared toward saving money, and imposed new restrictions and guidelines for level three and level four group homes for juveniles with mental disability or behavioral problems.
“It all came down to the almighty dollar,” said Dr. Wendell Wells, owner and board member of Horizons. “We did all we could do.”
Wells said at one point, there were up to 50 private group homes in Richmond County serving up to 250 teens at any one time.
“These homes provided a safe environment for children with behavioral problems,” Wells said.
These homes also provide a refuge for children with chronic mental disorders that impaired their ability to live independently, as well as those with physical disabilities such as impairments of vision, communication, etc.
He said the state initially just wanted to cut Medicaid funding from all private group homes, effectively shutting them all down. But later, the state decided to rewrite the requirements to operate group homes and mandated that no child be admitted into a group home for more than 120 days and every child be evaluated by a licensed psychiatrist every month.
Neither one of those things would normally be a problem, but Wells said it’s near impossible to get an appointment with a licensed pediatric psychiatrist, which is why for years the state had been OK with group homes getting evaluations from doctors who have worked in the mental health profession, psychologists or nurse practitioners. Upon reevaluation a child would either continue their stay at the group home or be released into proper care.
Under the state’s new plan, if a child does not receive evaluation by a licensed psychiatrist the home will not receive the Medicaid funding they need to serve that child.
Wells said his group home kept the kids an extra week after they were ordered to close, at their own expense, because they tried to find somewhere for the children to go.
Wells said he’s upset because the state didn’t put enough thought behind their actions in this matter.
“There was no thinking things through,” he said. “They’re just coming up with quick fixes because of the economy.”
Wells said the state proposed level three children be placed in foster homes if their homes weren’t suitable, but Wells said because of a level-three child’s behavioral problems, a foster home was a terrible idea.
“And where else are you going to send a level four besides jail?” Wells asked. “It wasn’t a very well thought out plan.”
Little fuss has been raised about the closing of group homes and Wells said it’s because people are tired.
“This was an easy cut for the state,” Wells said. “You think there are advocates out there but there really aren’t. We had a feeling this would happen, but not this quickly.”
Wells said his main concern now is what will happen to these children once served and protected by group homes.
“I talked to law enforcement yesterday, and people need to understand that, contrary to what people might feel, these homes are more of an asset to the community than a liability because we’re getting these kids off the street,” Wells said.
Wells said over half of the children in the group home weren’t accepted into public schools so their education was tied into the group home as well. The group home also provided children with services they may have needed like vocational training, occupational therapy, physical therapy and medical care.
Wells said most of the private “mom and pop” group homes are the ones that will suffer, and that larger, corporate-owned group homes will be the ones to survive the new legislation.
But the group this legislation will impact the most is the children, Wells said.
“It will effect primarily the ones that need behavioral modification, that need structure,” Wells said. “They’ll be homeless, gangs will be more prevalent than they are now, the crime rate will go up tremendously, it’s already happening. It’s just going to make the job tougher for law enforcement.”
Police Chief Robert Voorhees said, however, that this isn’t a law enforcement issue because the juvenile justice system is already in place with the courts.
“The issue is, do you think a juvenile is better served by their family or by these programs, it’s not a law enforcement issue,” Voorhees said.
Voorhees said in the event a juvenile was ordered into police custody for committing a serious crime, he wouldn’t be held in Richmond County anyway.
“It’s not a day-to-day concern,” Voorhees said. “If in the long term the juvenile crime rate will be effected, well, we’ll have to take the wait and see approach. But I’ve haven’t seen anything that said there was a big difference in the juvenile crime rate with these programs anyway. I haven’t seen any evidence one way or the other.”
I think Dr. Wells is so on point with this article. In my opinion, I do not really think that the public is aware of the impact that closing these Level III and IV Groups Homes are going to have on the local community and the State. First, of all for a youth to be in a Level III or IV group home it is because of some mental health behavioral issues that exist and the child needs to be removed from their home in order to receive on going treatment and etc. Group homes also provides structure through consistent role modeling, discipline, safety and etc. The list goes on and on. These youth often times have had difficulties at home and in schools and are at risk of dropping out due to them being so far behind academically. The group home gives these youth an opportunity to be successful by providing appropriate services for the right child; at the right time and the right place. Locking up these youth in juvenile detention centers, training schools and prisons isn't the answer. Taxpayers will pay a lot more later. For example, did you know that it cost the county about $94.00 a day to house a youth in a juvenile detention center and it cost about $100,000 to house a youth in a training school facility. So in essence, you the tax payers are having to pay for the expenses of a youth admissions to a juvenile detention center and the State pays for a youth to stay in a Training School. Now you tell me what would be better. Group Home vs Juvenile Detention/Training Schools/Jails/Prison. With the direction that our State is heading, we are looking at another Willie M lawsuit to the State. I do not want to have to burden that financial hardship again. So, what would a law suit against the State mean? As I remember, there was a freeze on State and School Employees pay increase; rise in taxes and etc. In my opinion, it seems that the State should keep the effective group homes open and close the ineffective group homes. Also, I am not surprise at Robert Voorhees position on this article. I completely disagree with his position. There will be a rise in the juvenile crime rate; there will be more youth going gangs and their will be more students dropping out of school because there are not enough community resources. I would invite Robert Voorhees; his staff and any concerned citizen to get involved with the county's Juvenile Crime Prevention Council for this is where the rubber meets the road. The meet on the 3rd Monday at 12:00pm in the large Conference Room at the Richmond County Human Services Building. By the way, this is a legislative mandate. I personally have not seen the involvement. Before anyone speak on issues, at least have a clue what you are talking about and at least be involved in community as it relates to juveniles.
Thank God MOST American people are starting to rally and say ...NOT SO FAST! It's SPEND, SPEND SPEND in ALL the WRONG PLACES !!!!!!
When O'bama is done, ALL OUR Grand childrens'....children, will be so in debt they will have NO chance for survival.
The children always suffer !
This current administration had rather spend OUR money studying fish and turtles and ALL kinds of craziness they "hide" in these bills than get down to the REAL problems.
Thank God Larry Kissell voted against that O'bama care health bill. That was a start in the RIGHT direction for him.
Don't people understand that these are NOT kids who have "techs" babysitting them in school? These are kids who have already been removed from violence & abuse in their homes, & will find some way of getting away from it.
Voorhees has lost his gourd if he thinks these budget cuts won't have an adverse effect on juvenille crime rates. But, it's not his problem until someone gets hurt.
I guess it's up to the churches to take care of the children. Any takers?