SHELTERING CHANGE; CASA PACIFICA TO SEGREGATE BOYS, GIRLS IN RESTRUCTURING.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Daily News Staff Writer A $150,000 renovation project that will allow the segregation of adolescent boys and girls boys and girls mercurialisannua. at Casa Pacifica is slated to begin next month - one of many improvements designed to placate pla·cate tr.v. pla·cat·ed, pla·cat·ing, pla·cates To allay the anger of, especially by making concessions; appease. See Synonyms at pacify. concerns by state officials. Staff increases, better training and enhanced communication with county officials are at the heart of a restructuring plan for the group home and shelter, which was placed on three-year probation this fall by the state Department of Social Services social services Noun, pl welfare services provided by local authorities or a state agency for people with particular social needs social services npl → servicios mpl sociales . ``(State officials) have from the get-go recognized this is a very important resource for Ventura County,'' said Steve Elson, Casa Pacifica's executive director. ``Their goal is to make sure this is a safe place for kids. That's our goal, too.'' The state launched its investigation in October 1996 in the wake of three serious incidents: a 15-year-old boy's jaw was broken as staff members tried to restrain him; a 16-year-old boy was hit by a car while fooling around on Lewis Road, where the facility is located; and a 9-year-old boy molested mo·lest tr.v. mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests 1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy. 2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity. a 3-year-old toddler. Under an agreement reached with the state, Casa Pacific will begin renovating its two live-in cottages next month. The cottage for short-term clients will be divided into three parts: boys and girls ages 2-6; girls ages 6-13; and girls ages 14-17. The long-term cottage will be split into facilities for boys ages 6-13 and those ages 14-17. The cottages are currently co-ed; one houses youngsters 2-9, the other is for ages 10-17. The agreement also stipulates that the shelter may accept children under 6 only when there is a compelling reason for the child to remain with a teen-age mother or a sibling sibling /sib·ling/ (sib´ling) any of two or more offspring of the same parents; a brother or sister. sib·ling n. and requires a level of care that can't be provided elsewhere in Ventura County. The state generally shies shies 1 v. Third person singular present tense of shy1. n. Plural of shy1. away from placing children under 6 in shelters, because it believes the youths would be better off in a foster home. ``There are not enough foster homes qualified to care for these kids with the level of emotional disturbance Noun 1. emotional disturbance - any mental disorder not caused by detectable organic abnormalities of the brain and in which a major disturbance of emotions is predominant affective disorder, emotional disorder, major affective disorder that many of them have,'' said Tanya Gonzales, Casa Pacifica's director of fund development. ``It means the county needs to train and identify more foster families in order to care for a large influx of kids.'' The private, nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. facility offers two programs: shelter crisis care, for youths staying 30 to 45 days while county officials try to place them in permanent foster or group homes; and residential treatment, for those with more serious behavioral problems who require a stay of 12 to 18 months. Due to a shortage of permanent homes, Casa Pacifica must frequently contend with short-term care recipients who frequently return - some as many as 10 times. The facility is working closely with county health officials to find additional permanent housing, Elson said. ``We don't function in a vacuum,'' he said. ``Some of the issues we deal with are system issues. They are not Casa Pacifica issues.'' An advisory board consisting of state government officials, area philanthropists and community leaders was established last month to support the facility. Casa Pacifica has also replaced two managers and hired 17 staff members in the last two years. These additional costs will be absorbed in a $6.1 million budget. Staff members must raise $650,000 through donations. ``As time goes on, we will continue to monitor them,'' said Myron Taylor, a state licensing program supervisor A Program Supervisor is the chief administrator of a school program, such as the high school, elementary school, middle school or pre-school. A Program Supervisor is comparable to a Principal (school), with the responsibility of enrolling students, hiring new teachers, placing . ``I'm optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op because the county is playing a much more active role in defining ways to improve the system of care for children in Ventura County.'' Casa Pacifica has 63 beds and is usually near or at capacity. Although most children are placed there by the state Department of Social Services, a few enter the short-term program through county health workers at the request of their parents. One of those youngsters is a 13-year-old boy from Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , who was a good student until he fell in with the wrong crowd. He took his first drag from a marijuana marijuana or marihuana, drug obtained from the flowering tops, stems, and leaves of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa (see hemp) or C. indica; the latter species can withstand colder climates. cigarette two years ago, and soon was getting stoned every other day. On occasion, he swilled cheap wine. His grades plunged from A's to D-minuses. The boy entered Casa Pacifica six months ago and has since turned his life around. His grades are up and his peers recently elected him president of the Associate Student Body. ``I've gotten my life back on track,'' he said. State and county officials hope Casa Pacific gets its program back on track as well. County Supervisor Frank Schillo, one of the facility's strongest critics during its troubled times, said he is encouraged by the changes. ``If they don't change after going through this,'' he said, ``they might as well close the place.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--color) A boy raises his hand in Tony Becker's class at Casa Pacifica in Camarillo. (2) Paul, 13, is a resident of Casa Pacifica, which is set for a series of improvements. Phil McCarten/Daily News |
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