WestCare Georgia Joins Gov. Sonny Purdue and DHR In Announcing a
NEW DeKalb Children’s Center
August 8, 2003

STONE MOUNTAIN -- WestCare is pleased to join Gov. Sonny Purdue, Commissioner Jim Martin, CEO Vernon Jones and DeKalb DFACS Director Wayne Drummond in announcing the launch of a NEW DeKalb Children’s Center designed to serve some of the county’s troubled and needy youths.

WestCare, a non-profit organization, was selected earlier this year by the Georgia Department of Human Resources to operate the new children’s facility in Stone Mountain, Ga. The new center, which opened in April, is a residential treatment facility for 12- to 17-year-olds in need of support and treatment to address emotional and behavioral concerns. The 44-bed facility replaces an older school building that was demolished in June 2003 after the new facility was constructed.

The new facility of six cottages housing up to 12 youths is matched with a new mission: To join in partnership with WestCare, an established provider of children’s services to deliver treatment and support in a way that helps to meet all the needs of the children in residence.

WestCare boasts 30 years of experience in treating troubled youths, and currently serves more than 20,000 individuals in five states, and provides a wide spectrum of health and human services in both residential and outpatient environments. Our services include substance abuse and addiction treatment, homeless and runaway shelters, domestic violence treatment and prevention, and behavioral and mental health programs. These services are available to adults, children, adolescents, and families; we specialize in helping people who are traditionally considered difficult to treat such as those who are indigent, have multiple disorders or are involved with the criminal justice system.

“WestCare is pleased to have been selected to operate this important facility in DeKalb County,” said Richard Steinberg, president of the non-profit foundation.
“Shifting the day-to-day operation of the DeKalb facility to a private group represents a significant shift in policy and practice for the Georgia Division of Family and Children’s Services. We are determined to ensure that the partnership is one that helps DFACS meets the needs of citizens – and that helps to meet the emotional and behavioral needs of DeKalb’s children with compassion and caring.”