FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 23, 2004
Jerry Topping
Director, Eckerd Girls’ Treatment Program
800-847-6061
jtopping@eckerd.org
Media Contact:
Rhonda Carpenter
Corporate Communications Specialist
727-461-1236, ext. 336
rhondac@eckerd.org
New Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program to Help Ohio’s Troubled and At-Risk Teen Girls
MCARTHUR, Ohio — Nature will provide a soothing setting for the new Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program, a residential therapeutic treatment program for at-risk girls ages 12-18. Opening in October on 12 acres in the scenic Zaleski State Forest near McArthur, the Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program will be the first program in Ohio operated by Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc., the nation’s leading non-profit provider of services for troubled youth.
The Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program will provide a caring, structured environment enabling girls to identify and solve behavioral problems, and gain the skills and self-confidence to live without further agency or government intervention. Regardless of distance from the home community, the Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program will work closely with parents and/or guardians, and community agencies to help ensure that its graduates ultimately succeed in school and community.
Housed at the former Civilian Conservation Corp Camp, the program will serve up to 52 at-risk girls from across Ohio, and bring fifty new jobs into Vinton County.
“We are pleased that the Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program will bring much-needed jobs to our community, boost the economic development of Vinton County, and provide such a high-quality program for Ohio’s youth,” said Sen. John Carey, 17th District.
Vinton County Commissioners, Senator Carey and Rep. Clyde Evans, 87th District, have worked closely with Eckerd Youth Alternatives to establish the camp in Vinton County.
“Youth across the state will benefit from this program and from Eckerd Youth Alternatives’ proven history of making a difference in the lives of kids. We need more programs like this one, focused on giving Ohio youth a chance to succeed,” said Rep. Evans.
“Eckerd Youth Alternatives is proud to have this opportunity to expand our services to Ohio and Vinton County. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the community as we take care of kids in Vinton County and explore other opportunities to help youth throughout the state,” said Gerry Luse, regional director, Eckerd Youth Alternatives.
Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program offers campus-style facilities that include classrooms, a computer lab, kitchen and cafeteria, activity spaces, gymnasium, offices and dormitories. A staff of 50 will include counselors, teachers, clinical professionals and administrative staff. Girls are referred to the program from counties throughout the state, working in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Youth Services and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.
For more information about the Eckerd Girls’ Challenge Program, please call 800-847-6061 or 740-596-5230 or visit www.eckerd.org/ohio.html.
About Eckerd Youth Alternatives
Eckerd Youth Alternatives is a private non-profit organization that serves more than 9,500 at-risk and troubled youth each year. Since 1968, more than 60,000 young people have been helped through a range of 41 residential and community-based Eckerd youth programs: outdoor therapeutic treatment programs, juvenile justice programs, follow-up ReEntry programs and Hi-Five early intervention and prevention services. Headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., Eckerd Youth Alternatives provides youth programs in eight states: Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. For more information, call 727-461-2990 or visit our Web site at www.eckerd.org.