VINDY.COM
Home for boys won't be trouble
Saturday, July 22, 2006
The proposed group facility would
serve up to 10 boys ages 12 to 17.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
ELLSWORTH — George and Beth
Syrianoudis wanted to have representatives from various children's
agencies see the steps they have taken to get a residence they own
ready to be converted to a group home for troubled male teenagers.
The Syrianoudises also wanted to
clear up what they say are misconceptions about their facility. The
Canfield couple hosted an open house Friday to show those from
children's services agencies in Mahoning, Portage, Geauga, Trumbull,
Stark and Columbiana counties what programs and other offerings will
be available at Redemption House, 11780 Western Reserve Road.
The eight-hour event also was
designed to give the agencies an opportunity to see work that has
been done to the home.
The proposed group home would serve
up to 10 boys ages 12 to 17 who have certain emotional and behavior
problems.
For several months, many people in
the area have voiced opposition to the idea at meetings and other
public gatherings. Those who are against the group home contend
that, among other things, area schools don't have the resources for
the kids' needs, that sexual offenders could end up in the mix, and
that some could escape and commit crimes. The township does not have
its own police department.
Assurances of safety
"The kids will be well monitored,"
Beth Syrianoudis countered. "We will do everything we can to ensure
there's no problems."
Mrs. Syrianoudis, a special-education
teacher licensed to work with children with learning disabilities
and emotional disturbances, said she and her husband will be
selective with regard to who they accept.
They will not take sexual offenders
and teens who commit crimes that would be considered felonies if
they were adults, Mrs. Syrianoudis stressed, adding that she and her
husband will have access to the teens' medical histories, any recent
criminal records and psychiatric evaluations.
Most of the facility's proposed staff
will be women, and accepting sexual offenders could place the women
at risk, she pointed out. Mrs. Syrianoudis added that her staff is
in place, but they can't be hired until the facility receives its
license.
Workers will consist of about 10
employees, two to four of whom will be at the home on any given day
with one at night, as well as an administrative assistant, a house
manager and a psychologist. All personnel have been subjected to
background checks through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification
and Investigation, she noted.
Beth Syrianoudis said a goal of
Redemption House will be to get the kids it serves to attend area
public schools. If a teen is unable to handle such a setting,
arrangements will be made to keep the boy at Redemption House or
send him to an alternative school, she explained.
Partial approval
The couple got a building permit
through the county and state, but need to obtain a certificate of
occupancy, George Syrianoudis noted. To receive the certificate, he
continued, the facility has to undergo a series of inspections for
plumbing, electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, he
said.
The Syrianoudises said they spent
their own money to get the home ready and to remodel the basement,
which consists of an office, new drywall and space for an online
charter school. A $4,000 security system is installed to protect the
premises and monitor the kids.
Mr. Syrianoudis said that offsite
recreational activities will be planned for the boys, who will be
accompanied by staff. Bible studies also will be available, he
added.
The couple said a love for kids and a
strong belief in God are the main reasons they decided to open
Redemption House. They have seven children of their own.
"I believe in kids, and that every
child deserves a chance," George Syrianoudis said.
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