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Prairie fire: A proposed juvenile treatment facility ignites Tarkington residents
By ALEX WUKMAN
A one-column wide, 140-word legal notice on the back page of the July 30 Cleveland Advocate’s classified section has set Tarkington ablaze.
The small and unassuming notice begins with the sentence: “You are invited to attend a public hearing regarding a 14-bed residential treatment facility location to be 1270 CR 2293 Cleveland, TX 77327, Liberty County, Tarkington ISD.”
That one sentence has sparked a seemingly endless supply of rumors, innuendo and fear.
“We feel this facility is being slipped by the community,” said Floyd Wheeler. Wheeler, a 44-year resident of Tarkington and former TISD school board member, said that he and many other residents feel that they weren’t treated with the proper respect.
“They haven’t canvassed any of the neighbors to see if they wanted to be friendly neighbors,” said Wheeler. Wheeler is hardly alone in his sentiments. A petition he is circulating has already gathered over 100 signatures.
Included in the signatures is that of former Liberty County Judge Lloyd “Tookie” Kirkham.
“We know the need [for a juvenile treatment facility] is there,” said Kirkham, “but it’s not going to benefit our community. These kids are going to come from all over.”
The children in question are boys ages 9-17 who will be sent to the facility from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), formerly Children’s Protective Services. One of the biggest concerns some residents have is the education of these children.
“Our school district is going to be liable for their education,” said Wheeler. Wheeler’s views on the requirement to educate the children are shared by many area residents.
Margaret Files, who lives approximately a mile from the proposed facility, wrote in a letter to the DFPS that the opening of the facility “would put an unfair burden on our small school district as our district would be required to educate these children.”
Tarkington ISD, on the other hand, does not have as many problems with the idea of admitting 14 more students. Superintendent John Kirchner does have some reservations regarding who these potential students might be.
“My main concern right now is the unknown,” said Kirchner. “If they come with 14 regular ed students, it wouldn’t be a problem. If they have 14 special ed students, we’ll have to hire staff.”
The lack of knowledge about who these 14 boys might be, coupled with the fact that they conceivably could be sent to Tarkington by the DFPS from all over the state, are the things that concern residents the most. However, not many of them have been moved to act on their concern.
“One of the school board members called, the superintendent of schools called, Mr. Wheeler called and a lady called to ask if I had a website but that’s it,” Rosalyn “Roz” Ruffin Barboza said, when asked about the response she’s had from the community. Barboza is the director of Lifestream Behavioral Health, which is the company seeking the license to open and operate the single-sex facility.
Part of the reason for Barboza’s surprise that no one has contacted her to find out more information about the proposed facility, the staff or the children is because her phone number ran in the ad.
“Everybody’s got the option to call me. If they call me, we could defuse the situation,” said Barboza.
Barboza stated that the children she is proposing to house will be those that are being “treated for emotional disorders.” When asked what she meant by an emotional disorder, Barboza paused and then said, “I’m trying to name an emotional disorder; maybe depression or anxiety would qualify.”
The National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC) lists severe depression and anxiety as two of the nine mental, emotional and behavioral disorders that are recognized by the federal government as being common in children. The NMHIC bases its assessment of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders on the U.S. government’s criteria for Social Security Disability, which was last updated in 1999.
The nine disorders listed are anxiety disorders; severe depression; bipolar disorder; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); learning disorders, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia; conduct disorder; eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia; autism and schizophrenia.
Barboza is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been in private practice since 1987. She also is a contracted sex offender therapy provider.
“It’s a matter of public record what I’m licensed for. I understand that people would see my name as a therapy provider for sex offenders and think I’m going to bring sex offenders to their community, but that’s not what I’m doing,” she said. Barboza treats sex offenders in the Beaumont, Houston and Galveston area in Texas Department of Parole Offices and halfway houses.
Barboza also has a contract to provide therapeutic services to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). She said that the terms of her contract with the TYC state her services be “outpatient, not residential.” She stated that at the proposed facility “there won’t be any TYC children.”
She also said that the children who will be placed there may have histories with drug and alcohol.
“It’s possible that they could have substance abuse issues,” she said.
She also stated that the ultimate decision about what type of children will be placed in the home rests with DFPS and that it is up to them to determine who they will send.
“You don’t really know what type of child you’re getting in advance,” said Barboza.
Even though Barboza has been a licensed therapist for over 20 years, she has never operated a residential care facility. When asked why she chose Tarkington as the place to open a treatment facility, she said “My objective was to look for a wholesome rural environment and remove them [the children to be placed with the facility] from a chaotic environment.”
Many Tarkington area residents feel that Barboza perpetuated fraud on them. In Files’ letter to the DFPS she wrote, “The quiet underhanded way in which this facility has been planned is very disturbing. This property was purchased under the guise of being used as a ‘weekend home.’”
Barboza, who lives in the Katy area, feels that she never misled the community. She said that the house “was bought as a weekender and it was used as a weekender. Then I thought, why not do something meaningful with my practice and do something more fulfilling?”
This led her to begin bringing the 4,100-square foot home in line with the DFPS requirements for a residential facility. She converted the former four bedroom home into a five bedroom, and included six toilets.
The inclusion of so many toilets is also worrisome to some residents.
“Having known the former owners, we know for a fact there have been problems with the well and septic system,” wrote Files.
When asked about the water and wastewater capacity of the facility, Barboza said, “My well and septic system are in good working order and the water has been tested.”
She quickly explained that “I don’t have the technical background to tell you the specifics but I have been told that they are in good working order.”
In addition to the concerns about a possible septic system leak, some residents have worried about staff and supervision. Barboza said the ratio of staff to children will be 1:5, except at nights. “When children are sleeping, it gets to 1:8.”
Another issue that has angered area residents and some elected officials is the way they feel that they have been blindsided by the facility’s proposal.
“I heard about it when I got a letter,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Lee Groce.
Groce was not the only elected official who was not informed prior to construction. County Judge Phil Fitzgerald’s office confirmed that they were not contacted prior to the licensing proposal being filed.
“I wasn’t trying to slip something in the community. I sent letters to the sheriff, the superintendent of schools, the police chief, the fire chief, a high school guidance counselor, a commissioner. It was six or seven officials,” Barboza said. She also stated that the letters were sent out in conjunction with the purchase of the newspaper ad.
Barboza did speak to Kirchner over a year ago about her idea to create a facility.
“I remember she either called or came by,” said Kirchner. “She didn’t really have a plan then.”
The lack of prior notification is something that has upset many in the community.
“I have some issues with this,” said Groce. He also put forth a motion to accept Wheeler’s petition opposing the facility on the agenda for the August 12 commissioners court meeting.
Barboza explained that the notifications were done in conjunction with DFPS requirements.
“The licensing department has it kind of backwards,” she said., “You have all these good intentions and then you have a public hearing at the end and the dam breaks.”
Attempts to reach Chuong Khuat, the DFPS licensing representative handling Barboza’s proposal, were unsuccessful. However a local DFPS case manager in Liberty County, is pleased that the facility is being constructed.
“We’ve neeeded something like this for years,” she said. As word of the controversy surrounding the proposed facility spread, Barboza said she would reconsider housing boys.
“If the community is so worried about boys, I’ll get girls,” said Barboza. Whether it is boys or girls, Tarkington ISD is preparing.
“If they live here, we’re going to take care of them. I just may have to go out and find people to take care of them,” said Kirchner. Not everyone is ready to be so accommodating though.
“We don’t want the facility there,” said Floyd Wheeler. He went a little further in print.
The petition that Wheeler had an attorney draw up states that the signatories aren’t just opposed to the construction of the facility on County Road 2293, but that they “oppose the location of such a facility at any other address in the Tarkington Independent School District.”
“I’m not concerned about what’s there now. I’m worried about what will be there next year,” said Wheeler. Wheeler explained that he is afraid that after the 14-bed facility opens that Barboza will expand.
According to Barboza, that’s not going to happen.
“I can barely get past the public hearing with 14 beds,” she said.
ACCEPT PETITION
The Liberty County Commissioners Court is scheduled to accept the petition opposing the proposed juvenile treatment facility at its Aug. 12 meeting. The meeting will be held at the Liberty County Courthouse at 1923 Sam Houston Street in Liberty. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.
PUBLIC HEARING
The public hearing and open house for the proposed 14-bed facility will be held Aug. 15 at the facility, which is located at 1270 CR 2293. The hearing is scheduled to last from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The small and unassuming notice begins with the sentence: “You are invited to attend a public hearing regarding a 14-bed residential treatment facility location to be 1270 CR 2293 Cleveland, TX 77327, Liberty County, Tarkington ISD.”
That one sentence has sparked a seemingly endless supply of rumors, innuendo and fear.
“We feel this facility is being slipped by the community,” said Floyd Wheeler. Wheeler, a 44-year resident of Tarkington and former TISD school board member, said that he and many other residents feel that they weren’t treated with the proper respect.
“They haven’t canvassed any of the neighbors to see if they wanted to be friendly neighbors,” said Wheeler. Wheeler is hardly alone in his sentiments. A petition he is circulating has already gathered over 100 signatures.
Included in the signatures is that of former Liberty County Judge Lloyd “Tookie” Kirkham.
“We know the need [for a juvenile treatment facility] is there,” said Kirkham, “but it’s not going to benefit our community. These kids are going to come from all over.”
The children in question are boys ages 9-17 who will be sent to the facility from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), formerly Children’s Protective Services. One of the biggest concerns some residents have is the education of these children.
“Our school district is going to be liable for their education,” said Wheeler. Wheeler’s views on the requirement to educate the children are shared by many area residents.
Margaret Files, who lives approximately a mile from the proposed facility, wrote in a letter to the DFPS that the opening of the facility “would put an unfair burden on our small school district as our district would be required to educate these children.”
Tarkington ISD, on the other hand, does not have as many problems with the idea of admitting 14 more students. Superintendent John Kirchner does have some reservations regarding who these potential students might be.
“My main concern right now is the unknown,” said Kirchner. “If they come with 14 regular ed students, it wouldn’t be a problem. If they have 14 special ed students, we’ll have to hire staff.”
The lack of knowledge about who these 14 boys might be, coupled with the fact that they conceivably could be sent to Tarkington by the DFPS from all over the state, are the things that concern residents the most. However, not many of them have been moved to act on their concern.
“One of the school board members called, the superintendent of schools called, Mr. Wheeler called and a lady called to ask if I had a website but that’s it,” Rosalyn “Roz” Ruffin Barboza said, when asked about the response she’s had from the community. Barboza is the director of Lifestream Behavioral Health, which is the company seeking the license to open and operate the single-sex facility.
Part of the reason for Barboza’s surprise that no one has contacted her to find out more information about the proposed facility, the staff or the children is because her phone number ran in the ad.
“Everybody’s got the option to call me. If they call me, we could defuse the situation,” said Barboza.
Barboza stated that the children she is proposing to house will be those that are being “treated for emotional disorders.” When asked what she meant by an emotional disorder, Barboza paused and then said, “I’m trying to name an emotional disorder; maybe depression or anxiety would qualify.”
The National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC) lists severe depression and anxiety as two of the nine mental, emotional and behavioral disorders that are recognized by the federal government as being common in children. The NMHIC bases its assessment of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders on the U.S. government’s criteria for Social Security Disability, which was last updated in 1999.
The nine disorders listed are anxiety disorders; severe depression; bipolar disorder; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); learning disorders, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia; conduct disorder; eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia; autism and schizophrenia.
Barboza is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been in private practice since 1987. She also is a contracted sex offender therapy provider.
“It’s a matter of public record what I’m licensed for. I understand that people would see my name as a therapy provider for sex offenders and think I’m going to bring sex offenders to their community, but that’s not what I’m doing,” she said. Barboza treats sex offenders in the Beaumont, Houston and Galveston area in Texas Department of Parole Offices and halfway houses.
Barboza also has a contract to provide therapeutic services to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). She said that the terms of her contract with the TYC state her services be “outpatient, not residential.” She stated that at the proposed facility “there won’t be any TYC children.”
She also said that the children who will be placed there may have histories with drug and alcohol.
“It’s possible that they could have substance abuse issues,” she said.
She also stated that the ultimate decision about what type of children will be placed in the home rests with DFPS and that it is up to them to determine who they will send.
“You don’t really know what type of child you’re getting in advance,” said Barboza.
Even though Barboza has been a licensed therapist for over 20 years, she has never operated a residential care facility. When asked why she chose Tarkington as the place to open a treatment facility, she said “My objective was to look for a wholesome rural environment and remove them [the children to be placed with the facility] from a chaotic environment.”
Many Tarkington area residents feel that Barboza perpetuated fraud on them. In Files’ letter to the DFPS she wrote, “The quiet underhanded way in which this facility has been planned is very disturbing. This property was purchased under the guise of being used as a ‘weekend home.’”
Barboza, who lives in the Katy area, feels that she never misled the community. She said that the house “was bought as a weekender and it was used as a weekender. Then I thought, why not do something meaningful with my practice and do something more fulfilling?”
This led her to begin bringing the 4,100-square foot home in line with the DFPS requirements for a residential facility. She converted the former four bedroom home into a five bedroom, and included six toilets.
The inclusion of so many toilets is also worrisome to some residents.
“Having known the former owners, we know for a fact there have been problems with the well and septic system,” wrote Files.
When asked about the water and wastewater capacity of the facility, Barboza said, “My well and septic system are in good working order and the water has been tested.”
She quickly explained that “I don’t have the technical background to tell you the specifics but I have been told that they are in good working order.”
In addition to the concerns about a possible septic system leak, some residents have worried about staff and supervision. Barboza said the ratio of staff to children will be 1:5, except at nights. “When children are sleeping, it gets to 1:8.”
Another issue that has angered area residents and some elected officials is the way they feel that they have been blindsided by the facility’s proposal.
“I heard about it when I got a letter,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Lee Groce.
Groce was not the only elected official who was not informed prior to construction. County Judge Phil Fitzgerald’s office confirmed that they were not contacted prior to the licensing proposal being filed.
“I wasn’t trying to slip something in the community. I sent letters to the sheriff, the superintendent of schools, the police chief, the fire chief, a high school guidance counselor, a commissioner. It was six or seven officials,” Barboza said. She also stated that the letters were sent out in conjunction with the purchase of the newspaper ad.
Barboza did speak to Kirchner over a year ago about her idea to create a facility.
“I remember she either called or came by,” said Kirchner. “She didn’t really have a plan then.”
The lack of prior notification is something that has upset many in the community.
“I have some issues with this,” said Groce. He also put forth a motion to accept Wheeler’s petition opposing the facility on the agenda for the August 12 commissioners court meeting.
Barboza explained that the notifications were done in conjunction with DFPS requirements.
“The licensing department has it kind of backwards,” she said., “You have all these good intentions and then you have a public hearing at the end and the dam breaks.”
Attempts to reach Chuong Khuat, the DFPS licensing representative handling Barboza’s proposal, were unsuccessful. However a local DFPS case manager in Liberty County, is pleased that the facility is being constructed.
“We’ve neeeded something like this for years,” she said. As word of the controversy surrounding the proposed facility spread, Barboza said she would reconsider housing boys.
“If the community is so worried about boys, I’ll get girls,” said Barboza. Whether it is boys or girls, Tarkington ISD is preparing.
“If they live here, we’re going to take care of them. I just may have to go out and find people to take care of them,” said Kirchner. Not everyone is ready to be so accommodating though.
“We don’t want the facility there,” said Floyd Wheeler. He went a little further in print.
The petition that Wheeler had an attorney draw up states that the signatories aren’t just opposed to the construction of the facility on County Road 2293, but that they “oppose the location of such a facility at any other address in the Tarkington Independent School District.”
“I’m not concerned about what’s there now. I’m worried about what will be there next year,” said Wheeler. Wheeler explained that he is afraid that after the 14-bed facility opens that Barboza will expand.
According to Barboza, that’s not going to happen.
“I can barely get past the public hearing with 14 beds,” she said.
ACCEPT PETITION
The Liberty County Commissioners Court is scheduled to accept the petition opposing the proposed juvenile treatment facility at its Aug. 12 meeting. The meeting will be held at the Liberty County Courthouse at 1923 Sam Houston Street in Liberty. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.
PUBLIC HEARING
The public hearing and open house for the proposed 14-bed facility will be held Aug. 15 at the facility, which is located at 1270 CR 2293. The hearing is scheduled to last from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Reader Comments
trf1963 wrote on Aug 9, 2008 7:45 AM:
" I have jumped on the band wagon of NOT wanting this facility in my community, let alone half a mile from my home!!!! I take my daughter to school , could not imageine having to put her on the bus with God knows what. Will the bus drivers receive some type of special training to deal with these children. How will you know weather or not the child sitting next to yours has committed sex crimes, or has a violent back ground? Thats right, you will not know because the law protects the history of those children. As far as the school having to hire extra help... we'll soon be plagued with having to pay even more taxes. I say go away to Roz Roffin... Please everyone attend the meeting. "
Hdad wrote on Aug 9, 2008 11:47 AM:
" Of course, no kid in Tarkington now has ever committed a theft, had a substance abuse problem or made out with another kid. C'mon, let's get real. These problems already exist in our community and in our schools, and we are dealing with them pretty well.
Gump 24 and trf1963, if either of you had read the story you are commenting on, you would know that none of these kids is going to be a sex offender or have a violent background. Those kids all are part of another program and are treated separately elsewhere; so of course you know right up front that none of these kids are going to have those backgrounds even if that becomes your stated reason for "jumping on the band wagon" of knee jerk opposition. These are going to be just kids that need to escape their current situations. The facility can take 14 of them and is not going to be expanded next year or 5 years from now. Couldn't be, even if the operator wanted to, which she doesn't, without a whole new round of community acceptance hearings and permits. It isn't planned or built as a facility for special ed kids, and 14 additional supervised adolescents in Tarkington isn't going to put a strain on any school or community resources. And why are you even worrying about the kids on the bus you don't let her ride? The school superintendent already said that there would be no need to hire additional staff or raise taxes unless this group turned out all to be special ed kids -- which the operator says won't be the case although she admits that she would not refuse help for an occasional special ed kid needing it. I hate to think that any of us would. Well, obviously, you two would.
These are kids that need a more wholesome environment of caring and concerned people (not just a building in which to eat and sleep although that, too) to help them develop their lives as they work through adolescent depression, family problems and, yes, for some of them alcohol and drug abuse they have turned to in an attempt to escape their previous conditions. Roz Barboza's error was in thinking that Tarkington was such a community (wholesome environment, caring and concerned people). I thought so, too, but I see I may have been disappointingly wrong. "
Gump 24 and trf1963, if either of you had read the story you are commenting on, you would know that none of these kids is going to be a sex offender or have a violent background. Those kids all are part of another program and are treated separately elsewhere; so of course you know right up front that none of these kids are going to have those backgrounds even if that becomes your stated reason for "jumping on the band wagon" of knee jerk opposition. These are going to be just kids that need to escape their current situations. The facility can take 14 of them and is not going to be expanded next year or 5 years from now. Couldn't be, even if the operator wanted to, which she doesn't, without a whole new round of community acceptance hearings and permits. It isn't planned or built as a facility for special ed kids, and 14 additional supervised adolescents in Tarkington isn't going to put a strain on any school or community resources. And why are you even worrying about the kids on the bus you don't let her ride? The school superintendent already said that there would be no need to hire additional staff or raise taxes unless this group turned out all to be special ed kids -- which the operator says won't be the case although she admits that she would not refuse help for an occasional special ed kid needing it. I hate to think that any of us would. Well, obviously, you two would.
These are kids that need a more wholesome environment of caring and concerned people (not just a building in which to eat and sleep although that, too) to help them develop their lives as they work through adolescent depression, family problems and, yes, for some of them alcohol and drug abuse they have turned to in an attempt to escape their previous conditions. Roz Barboza's error was in thinking that Tarkington was such a community (wholesome environment, caring and concerned people). I thought so, too, but I see I may have been disappointingly wrong. "
bluebery wrote on Aug 10, 2008 3:54 PM:
" I have always been an advocate of youth. I can not in good faith turn my back on these young people that need extra help. I do believe our community is a more wholesome environment than most especially where these boys probably come from. Our school system has good mentors with good morals and discipline. I think we owe it to these young men to give them a fighting chance. Can't we help nurture them instead of labeling them outcasts before they've had a chance? I too agree that had the article been read thoroughly, it states that these young people are not sex offenders. Tarkington is not without it's own troubled youth. We need to try and help our future generations. If you tell a child he is nothing, he may live up to that expectation. If you tell him he is of value, he may strive to live up to that. I think all children are of value. "
angeleye wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:05 PM:
" You can imaging the emotion of a young mother putting her child on the bus with children who she has been informed are possibly 14 emotionally disturbed children from 9-17 on the bus. If anyone has a child they can understand. Or the husband telling his wife goodbye have a nice day knowing that she could possibly have a child in her classroom to which she cannot disclose to anyone what the emotional problem is.....
It is amazing how the Tarkington Community has came together. It is very refreshing to see what one one neighbor will do for another, how a mother/father will stand up for the protection of her child, what a member of the community will do even when he/she does not have a child attending the school or riding the bus or live in the area where the facility is being proposed.
Also, if you live in Tarkington ISD, and know a few people, you know that we have familes that foster children from the CPS system. We have families that have had CPS children and further went to adopt the children. There are quite a few success stories of this in our community. This is the way our community families have stood up to and have helped and are helping children that have been caught up in the system. We are a family oriented community. I would urge anyone, if you really do not want to leave any child behind...search your heart call CPS today, you can help a child right in your own home, in fact you can help up to four children without having a liscense. It will most likely be a most rewarding experience for you to help show a child the love of a family, and what community is about. My heart goes out to any child that have to be in a facility, if your heart goes out why not help a child by helping them by fostering or adopting. " "
It is amazing how the Tarkington Community has came together. It is very refreshing to see what one one neighbor will do for another, how a mother/father will stand up for the protection of her child, what a member of the community will do even when he/she does not have a child attending the school or riding the bus or live in the area where the facility is being proposed.
Also, if you live in Tarkington ISD, and know a few people, you know that we have familes that foster children from the CPS system. We have families that have had CPS children and further went to adopt the children. There are quite a few success stories of this in our community. This is the way our community families have stood up to and have helped and are helping children that have been caught up in the system. We are a family oriented community. I would urge anyone, if you really do not want to leave any child behind...search your heart call CPS today, you can help a child right in your own home, in fact you can help up to four children without having a liscense. It will most likely be a most rewarding experience for you to help show a child the love of a family, and what community is about. My heart goes out to any child that have to be in a facility, if your heart goes out why not help a child by helping them by fostering or adopting. " "
Perse wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:41 PM:
" Really great imagination, angeleye. Once you get past the fiction you are asking us to imagine, try taking a look at reality. There is absolutely no indication that these kids are going to be any more emotionally disturbed than any of the other kids already on that bus. No one's kids are in any greater danger from them than from the rest of the general population of adolescents already living here.
But I am pleased to see that you are eager to take four of these youngsters into your own home -- oh, maybe you were just saying somebody else should do this. If you are willing to take them into your own home or have your neighbors take them in, what exactly is your problem with having them living under somebody else's supervision in the community? I applaud your enthusiasm for finding people to bring the kids into their own homes, but my home actually isn't physically laid out to house any more that the family I have myself. My wife and I stopped having kids when we filled up the available room we had for them, and they haven't moved out to make room for more yet. And when they do, we may be a bit worn out to be up to the challenge of another batch of adolescents in the home. We love them, but adolescents can be a wearing experience even with all that familial love. More power to Roz Barboza for being willing to try to leap into the fray here with a facility like this. "
But I am pleased to see that you are eager to take four of these youngsters into your own home -- oh, maybe you were just saying somebody else should do this. If you are willing to take them into your own home or have your neighbors take them in, what exactly is your problem with having them living under somebody else's supervision in the community? I applaud your enthusiasm for finding people to bring the kids into their own homes, but my home actually isn't physically laid out to house any more that the family I have myself. My wife and I stopped having kids when we filled up the available room we had for them, and they haven't moved out to make room for more yet. And when they do, we may be a bit worn out to be up to the challenge of another batch of adolescents in the home. We love them, but adolescents can be a wearing experience even with all that familial love. More power to Roz Barboza for being willing to try to leap into the fray here with a facility like this. "
earsup4321 wrote on Aug 12, 2008 11:13 AM:
" Angeleye, I understand, I have kids, not sure if they will be on the route with the possible 14 Juveniles Receiving Treatment..
Perse, are u joking? You just had enough kids to fill up the available space. What a bunch of hogwash!! I bet your kids feel real special knowing that!
Perse, more power is gonna go to the For Profit Business that is trying to get the facility open. They will be compensated heavily...it is called George Washington Power...The All Mighty Dollar! So hold on tight to your "purse" perse. "
Perse, are u joking? You just had enough kids to fill up the available space. What a bunch of hogwash!! I bet your kids feel real special knowing that!
Perse, more power is gonna go to the For Profit Business that is trying to get the facility open. They will be compensated heavily...it is called George Washington Power...The All Mighty Dollar! So hold on tight to your "purse" perse. "
perse wrote on Aug 12, 2008 3:23 PM:
" Yep. They all feel special -- wanted and not just happenings. They are not being forced to give up something because we can't afford to feed, house or educate them. We hope that they will grow up to be equally self-reliant and responsible, and that indeed seems to be the case so far. Not every kid is this fortunate. And not every individual trying to offer help is doing so because there might be a dollar attached to it. Somehow, I don't think, despite your implications, that Roz Barboza is going to get rich off her efforts to provide a supervised environment for adolescents needing it. I could be wrong, but she doesn't appear to have struck such a financial windfall yet.
Sorry that you feel family planning is hogwash, but please don't judge all of us by yourself. We are not all unthinking idiots incapable of seeing the consequences of our actions. We are not all greedy. We are not all uncompassionate. And I did not think those less than desirable traits were norms in Tarkington until all of you NIMBYs started sounding off on the fact that "outsiders" might come into the community and despoil our little darlings. Looks like there are plenty of people already here fully capable of turning our kids into self-centered, greedy bigots; so those of us that don't want this are just going to have to be even more aware of some of the "adult" community influences our kids are being exposed to. "
Sorry that you feel family planning is hogwash, but please don't judge all of us by yourself. We are not all unthinking idiots incapable of seeing the consequences of our actions. We are not all greedy. We are not all uncompassionate. And I did not think those less than desirable traits were norms in Tarkington until all of you NIMBYs started sounding off on the fact that "outsiders" might come into the community and despoil our little darlings. Looks like there are plenty of people already here fully capable of turning our kids into self-centered, greedy bigots; so those of us that don't want this are just going to have to be even more aware of some of the "adult" community influences our kids are being exposed to. "
earsup wrote on Aug 13, 2008 10:54 AM:
" Perse, OK, so you don't want any of the kids in your residential home because you don't have the means.
Public record indicted the house and 32 acres she purchased was somewhere between 350,000 and 400,000 dollars, doesn't look like she is hurting too much financially. Her intentions she indicated, in the article, quoted, "She said that the house “was bought as a weekender and it was used as a weekender. Then I thought, why not do something meaningful with my practice and do something more fulfilling?” Then in article a few lines down she indicated “My objective was to look for a wholesome rural environment and remove them [the children to be placed with the facility] from a chaotic environment.” Why will she contradict herself? Please, do you really think that someone purchasing a weekend home in the neighborhood of 300,000 plus dollars does not already live in a wholesome community. Wonder why the community she lives in is not good enough for such a facility?
As you will see in the article she is already quick to pass the responsibilty on to someone else about not having the technical knowledge about the restrooms, and thats fine but she should learn to take responsibilty for the adequateness of her facility, just like your saying I don't have the space, that is responsibility. She most likely will not take responsibitly for any situations with the patients receiving treatment, if she is so quick to pass the buck on a toilet!! "
Public record indicted the house and 32 acres she purchased was somewhere between 350,000 and 400,000 dollars, doesn't look like she is hurting too much financially. Her intentions she indicated, in the article, quoted, "She said that the house “was bought as a weekender and it was used as a weekender. Then I thought, why not do something meaningful with my practice and do something more fulfilling?” Then in article a few lines down she indicated “My objective was to look for a wholesome rural environment and remove them [the children to be placed with the facility] from a chaotic environment.” Why will she contradict herself? Please, do you really think that someone purchasing a weekend home in the neighborhood of 300,000 plus dollars does not already live in a wholesome community. Wonder why the community she lives in is not good enough for such a facility?
As you will see in the article she is already quick to pass the responsibilty on to someone else about not having the technical knowledge about the restrooms, and thats fine but she should learn to take responsibilty for the adequateness of her facility, just like your saying I don't have the space, that is responsibility. She most likely will not take responsibitly for any situations with the patients receiving treatment, if she is so quick to pass the buck on a toilet!! "
Gump24 wrote on Aug 8, 2008 4:16 PM:
SM#40QLD "