VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – The Vigo County Group Homes for Children program will continue to operate, according to an announcement from Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer on Friday.
Vigo County Commissioners previously announced about a month ago that the program was going to close. However, Switzer said that since then, many in the community have voiced that these group homes are needed.
Switzer said the Vigo County Commissioners worked with Vigo County Juvenile Justice Center Director Norm Loudermilk, as well as the Indiana Department of Child Services, to come up with a plan to re-open the homes.
Switzer explained the program’s three homes will need remodeling, but he said the goal is for them to be able to house more children. He added that the vision is for these homes to be able to offer emergency shelter to children.
“A lot of times Department of Child Services gets involved and they need immediate placement or somewhere for them to go to get them out of the situation of either a parent going to jail, or a drug issue, or alcoholism, or something like that. So, it’s hard to find those places in Vigo County and under new leadership and a new plan, and vision working in partnership with DCS, we hope to be able to house a lot more kids,” said Switzer.
According to Switzer, the hope is to have the first home remodeled and ready by the end of January.
