OCFS announces closures without input from task force

By DEBORAH A. MILES
The state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the state’s juvenile justice agency, announced in November plans to close and downsize six facilities. If it comes to fruition, this action will result in closing doors to troubled juveniles and cutting 255 jobs from the OCFS work force.

The six facilities recommended for closure include the Adirondack Residential Center in Clinton County, the Cattaraugus Residential Center and Great Valley Residential Center in Cattaraugus County, the Pyramid Reception Center in the Bronx, the Rochester Community Residential Home in Monroe County, and the Syracuse Community Residential Home in Onondaga County.

OCFS also plans to downsize the Allen Residential Center in Delaware County and the Tryon Residential Center in Fulton County.

The facilities recommended for closure or downsizing have an average vacancy rate of 63 percent. Great Valley and Rochester have 100 percent vacancy rates, as OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion has been deliberately emptying facilities.

“Since she was appointed by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Commissioner Carrion has had her own vision of the juvenile justice system,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.

Let task force respond
“It seems ironic for the governor to agree to this action, especially since he recently appointed a task force to transform the state’s juvenile justice system and determine a direction OCFS should take in addressing the needs of the state’s troubled youths,” Brynien said. “The task force has barely gotten off the ground and already the facilities are being dismantled.”

Gov. David Paterson decided to take another approach, to rely on the expertise of task force members to determine the future of the juvenile justice system. “This latest move by Commissioner Carrion is a clear contradiction of that decision,” Brynien said.

“As a member of the task force, I remain committed to working with the governor to identify the appropriate model for New York’s juvenile justice system. We need the commissioner to make the same commitment.”

Consider alternatives
“It’s a shame OCFS can’t come up with another solution,” said PEF Vice President Pat Baker. “OCFS plays a very important role in this state. The children and families who are a part of the OCFS system want a second chance. They need the specialized treatment our teachers and counselors provide. They need and deserve a chance to re-enter their communities and live non-violent, productive lives. Shifting these juveniles around is a clear sign the agency doesn’t care. The commissioner should let the task force do its job, review its recommendations and work with us to serve everyone’s best interest.”

The Cattaraugus and Great Valley Residential Centers in Cattaraugus County serve the western part of the state. PEF Region 1 Coordinator Kevin Hintz said it would be a big mistake to close them.

“The closing of these facilities would be a huge loss for western New York,” Hintz said. “The services these centers provide are essential. Without them, we would have no facilities for troubled juveniles in this area. PEF is fighting to keep them.”

PEF Region 10 Coordinator Vernetta Chesimard said services provided by staff at the Pyramid Reception Center are greatly needed and benefit the Bronx community.

Last spring, PEF persuaded lawmakers to join the fight to keep the facility open.

“More than a year ago, PEF met with Bronx Assembly Member Michael Benjamin to discuss the value of the Pyramid staff and the necessity to assemble a local task force of the stakeholders,” Chesimard said. “This new threat to the center heightens the importance and urgency to get a local task force in place.