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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-02-14, Page 5�ry it Deal' Editor,• This Fetter • is being written ' in response to -a. press release regarding Pe -closing of the CASTLE Program in November 1979, .an -in- dependence setting rim byFamily and Children's Services of Huron Cot,tnty for - the past four years. We are concerned as we found the press release 'misguiding and 'inac- curate. In fact, there were - three residents in the program at the time of its closing, not one as stated by John Penn. There was one Ward .of. Family and Children's Services and two other residents; one -who, had been ' in the program' for over a year, the other approximately four months. The statement that the program averaged three children per year is misleading. The program provided a home, at one time, for seven youths, one child, plus the adult model. At other times, the• program housed as low as two -three. residents for short periods of time. The per diem cost of the program was less than that of the agency's two group homes operating in 1979. The program was closed after the Family and. Children's • Services transferred workers paia-s-i-ble- er the program. We in- dependently decided that we did not want another worker to be •responsible for the program; we did, Letters... • from page 4 counselling - and other this day worthy of serious ' services. The Agency investigation. . - received no financial Sincerely, support from " the Phyllis Durst government because of �a the age of these girls. Good coverage It is •somewhat sur - rising, therefore, to ' Dear Editor, --realize that these people O.n behalf of the have such negative Goderich Garden CIub, feelings about the Agency our sincere thanks to you, which' attempted to Signal -Star for the respond generously to "continued' and excellent. needs. coverage of • our . Garden • � . _ y"their .,._?_'.Au1ts_vxy truly�, "—Club activities. . John V. Penn ' Yours truly, Director Mrs. Annette E. not want tohand over our trust and our problems to a new worker. We spent months and Months working together, learning to trust each other, learning it is okay to make mistakes, learning to express our feelings, to probl.eltn solve. 'and take responsibility for our own actions. Most of . us ,residing in •tile program had learned not to trust adults, not to respect their decisions and have learned it is not very safe - to be emotionally committed to anyone. Parents and adults often . make decisions for children;.. Decisions are. not discussed: Children have no .input into the decisions even .though they are expected to follow through on these decisions. CASTLE provided 'a home, companionship, a great deal of love, un- derstanding: and a true commitment for all of us, a basis from. which we all jointly worked well from. We all cared enough to trust each other, to try to understand each other, to help face our problems, take criticism and make changes in our lives because we wanted to, not because we had •to.., It is easier to make changes if someone cares. residents ixrihe program' at the time of its. closing, as welLas several residents who had been living on their own for over a year, wrote letters e in `to John Penn, Director, Family and Children's Services and the Board of Directors, saying we did not want to *ori with another worker and why we did not want to, - We told how- valuable the program as it.existed was to each of us. All 'letters were ignored: We were informed that should the transfer not go smoothly, the program would be closed. Therefore, since we wished to 'remain together, we decided to move out of the house. One society ward was moved to another setting. The rest of us are living together elsewhere. We still have, our group meetings, house rules and try to help each other out. We take offense at Mr. Penn's statement as quoted:. "There has been talk about promiscuous behaviour in the home." He said he has heard vague comments about the CASTLE program, buthas never had a complaint officially. We, ourselves, have heard rumours regarding the CASTLE Program. We have heard rumours regarding Family and Children's Services, regarding. officials, regarding private 8 citizens, rumour -s regarding the,young...the old.., rumours of every shape and size. 'From the time the CASTLE Program first opened, we had littre community support and had . many snide com- ments and rude remarks, either made; directly, or•• indirectly to us. We quickly learned we had only ourselves to rely on, and that no matter how hard you tried, or how many good things were happening, there were always those who continuously had nothing better to do than to pass judgement on something they knew nothing about. Mr. Penn, Direotor, Family and Children's Services took no interest in the program, even to the point of never having been to " the' house. Instead, he seems to have chosen to accept ap- parent rumours without any basisand fact. We think it very sad that more consideration is given to unfounded rumours by those who love gossip, by those who know absolutely nothing about the program, about the people who live there, how they live, what their problems are and how they are worked out than to the fact, that a • Ste mo , Gratifying Sec., Goderich Garden Club Surprising Dear Editor, • I am writing in response to the letter from the two • young people who were residents in the group home program known as CASTLE. - These tworesidents are legally adults4 and, as such, this Agency has no obligation to provide any service to them. However, they were provided with a home, 'Variety night to be held Variety Night '80 will 'be presented at G.D.C.I. on Friday,_Febr ary 29 and Saturday, March 1 with all proceeds going directly into a CARE fund for Cambodian refugees. Variety Night '80 will be held in the auditorium and will include the high school concert band, instrumental, dance and vocal solos, songs by - students and teachers, mimes, small scenes, and numbers by 6 the high school, choir, teachers' groups and •the dance troupe. It promises to offer a little something for everyone. Admission is children- tist; students42 and adults --$2.50. Civic Corner TheGoderich Economic Development Committee will meet on Wednesday, February' 20 at noon in the town hall. The Big Brothers Association will meet on Wedrlesflay, February 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the mayor's office. The Goderich 1V,iunicipal Airport Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 2Q at 7:30' p,m. In the town council chambers. Dear Editor: It is gratifying to see types like Tony McQuail entering politics. His practical experience with energy conservation and grass-roots' farming, his clear thinking and generalknowledge is a refreshing relief from the diet of mumbo -jumbo and double-talk we are usually treated to at election time. I am one of the rapidly growing group who just cannot grasp any significant difference between the major parties, and feel the NDP deserve a chan- ce...Thanks for running, Tony, and good luck. (P.S. Thanks also for not defacing our trees and roadsides with campaign signs). J. C. Hindmarsh where the action is! Dancing six nights a week - 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Now,appearing at the Elm Haven EXOTIC DANCERS Continuous Shows - Monday - Saturday us"' RECREATION CORNER Billiard Table Pinball Machine ELM,HAVEN MOTOR HOTEL HIGHWAY 8 WEST, CLINTON IT'S OUR ANNUAL WINTER :'44 PERM SPECIAL REGULAR S50 PERM - REGULAR $45 PERM - REGULAR 540 PERM - REGULAR 535 PERM - REGULAR 530 PERM - REGULAR 525 PERM - program was suc- cessfully operating, providing a home for many adolescents, teaching us how to relate to each other as well as to adults helping us to live independently. Froth: the • CASTLE program we learned that 'swat eene w -as always }there who really cared about us, even when we made mistakes. All of the kids who haverioved out used to come back to visit regularly, or to spend Christmas with us because for many, - CASTLE was still their only home. . We used to think FamilyandChildren's Services was there to help adolescents with their problems, not create them. CASTLE helped us with our problems and CASTLE is closed. Wehave learned that once again decisions were made which af- fected us, decisions in which we were not allowed to participate. Once again we learned we have no rights, that once again we only have each other • to lean on; ODE' RICJ SIGNAL-STAR,,TWJRS A'S FEB ove that once again because of adults who do not at- tempt to understand what is, happening, the program was closed. There is not another program in the county for teenagers 'over sixteen years of age.,,Once again. we have nowhere, to go; there are no services provided for kids 16, 17 and 18 years of age. Of course, .no one will talk or gosaip about this fact; no one will. be concerned enough; no one interested enough. Sincerely the Ex -Residents "ofthe CASTLE Program LAST CHANCE TO SAVE ON DECORATOR CUSHIONS CURRENT, PRICE NEW PRICE LIST MAR. 1/.80 THROW 14" $2e° $300 CUSHION 18"$3es $4Z5 SIT -UPON 30 512?o $1 foo Limited Colour & Sizes Evening call Doris Drays call Sue 524-9902 524-8985 SUZADOR 88 Newgate'St- Goderich ELCOMES YOUI AFTERNOON TEA 2:30 to 4:30 7 DAYS A WEEK SOMETHING FOR THE LADIES... Come, visit our unusual country resort for Tea today! We've prepared buttered toast, freshly made scones, home made j ih Devon cream,,caice, cults and -Earl Grey tea for the occasion. Relax and enjoy as we serve you in front of an open hearth log fire in one of our two lounges.. (reservations not required) $500 just • per person Complement your outing with a visit to THE HOLLOW. A unique gift shop just steps from our Inn Benmiller Inn NMIed . in Benmiller. Ont.. just kilometres east of Goderich ,on Huron County.. Road 1.. just • f Highway 8. phone 524-2191. • • • •- No Ertehaugeor Refund on Sale Merchandise SPECIAL $45.00 SPECIAL 40.°° SPECIAL 35.00 SPECIAL 30.°0 SPECIAL 25.00 SPECIAL 20.°° CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR EXPERIENCED STYLISTS TODAY — JUDY, JOANIE, LIZ, VICKI, OR GALE MEN NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY HEATHER BEAUTY SALON 108 LIGHTHOUSPST. 524-7461 North til Shnppery Square ° Indrrieh 524-8572 Via clothes close tfi OPEN -WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS ALL YEAR ROUND) e