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New CGRC facility offers options for troubled kids
HAVERFORD -- Child Guidance Resource Center celebrated a recent move to the former
Mercy Haverford Hospital site Sunday with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Over 100 guests participated in guided tours of the newly renovated, 40,000-square-foot
facility at 2000 Old West Chester Pike, which houses attractive classrooms, offices,
therapy, training and conference rooms and waiting areas for patients and their families.
"We’re really happy to be here; it’s thrilling," said Ginny Smith, vice-president
of facilities and administrative services. Smith said it took years to locate an
appropriate site for consolidating four separate CGRC branches. The move comes just
in time to celebrate the private, non-profit agency’s 50th anniversary, Smith said.
CGRC offers therapeutic, supportive and preventive behavioral health-care services
to over 3,000 children, adolescents and families in the region. It operates 25 different
programs in 23 locations, with plans for expansion to New Jersey and Maryland.
In addition to administrative headquarters and staff facilities, the Havertown site
supports three elementary-school classes for 24 children with special-education,
behavior health-care and autism issues.
Case and Safety Manager Kevin Olivo said students attend for one year, with the goal
of returning to their school districts.
There’s also an autism after-school program from 3:30-6:30 p.m. weekdays, as well
as outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Outside, the Jennifer Kearney Memorial Therapeutic Playground -- named for a former
employee who died of cystic fibrosis -- provides a safe environment designed to develop
children’s physical, social, intellectual and emotional skills.
U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon, R-7, of Thornbury, performed the ribbon-cutting, praising
the agency for its service.
"If you look at the challenges of our society over the next 50 years, it all
ends up with the family and children; with having the resources to meet the needs
that parents are not always able to meet; or special challenges with kids at risk,
which only trained professionals can properly deal with," he said. "That’s
what we have here. This is a crown jewel in the region that we want to promote, nurture
and help expand."
Commissioners Stephen D’Emilio and Jim McGarrity attended. Although D’Emilio initially
opposed CGRC’s plans -- he went so far as to propose a restrictive zoning change
-- he said he was pleased with developments.
"It’s an area that was vacant," he said. "I like what they accomplished.
They did a lot to alleviate residents’ concerns."
Those concerns had centered on fears that CGRC would offer drug/alcohol rehab at
the facility, and adult or inpatient psychiatric care. CGRC sued the township in
August 2004, after commissioners shot down its conditional-use application.
A settlement agreement was reached in November 2004. The agency said it would not
provide inpatient psychiatric services or drug-and-alcohol rehab for adults or children.
It also pledged not to provide outpatient psychiatric services or drug and alcohol
programs for adults.
CGRC opened its doors at the new site in January. The building is co-occupied by
Kindred Hospital.
©DelcoTimes 2006 |
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