NEW YORK
Upgrades needed at treatment facility
A safe haven. That is how people at Stillwater Residential Treatment Facility view their center. A safe haven for the most troubled children. Children with intense emotional or psychiatric problems. "They act out physically, aggressively, they often have serious self harming behavoirs," said Stillwater Executive Director, Karen Wright.
Stillwater is for youth who don't need to be in a psychiatric hospital, but aren't quite ready for a group home setting. Since 1992 , it's been a place for these children to live while getting the help they need and an education in a comfortable setting. "This is your home and we're going to make it a beautiful, comfortable and safe home while you're here with us," said Wright.
About 99% of the funding for Stillwater comes from Medicaid. What that pays for is food, shelter and other necessities. What it doesn't pay for is updates that need to be made after 20 years of wear and tear.
"We have some code issues and also it just really needs a full update. We need new carpeting, we want it to be a little more homey, we need new furniture," said Wright.
Updates that will also help the development of those living at the center. "It gives them a little bit more of a sense of self confidence that the space around them is nice, that the people around them care enough to make it comfortable for them," said Angela Kehoe, an Interior Designer with Bearsch Compeau Knudson.
Once started the renovations will take about 3 months to complete and cost about $200 thousand. Wright says it's a move towards creating a better environment for healing to happen.
Grace Charles
18 March 2010
