THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 25, 1995 TAG: 9509250075
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Concerned that cutbacks in state and federal funding will hurt programs for the mentally retarded, the Methodist Church is exploring the possibility of opening group homes for disabled adults in Virginia.
At 21 public hearings across the state Sunday, including meetings in Virginia Beach and Suffolk, the church sought input from its members.
There is a ``strong possibility'' the state will not be able to care for all the mentally retarded people who need services, said Arthur Wolz Jr., director of the Commission on Ministry to Persons with Handicapping Conditions for the United Methodist Church in Virginia.
And, Wolz said from his Richmond office, ``the Tidewater area seems to be a place'' where there is a need.
The question he is repeatedly asked disturbs him. Callers want to know: ``Where's my child going to live when I'm gone?''
The church already runs group homes for the mentally retarded in the other eight states which, with Virginia, comprise its southeast jurisdiction, said Robert Pitzer, director of the Southeast United Methodist Agency for Rehabilitation.
Methodists operate 34 group homes serving about 250 adults in Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, said Pitzer. Ten homes are being developed.
The Methodist homes, the first of which opened in 1974, are small, serving no more than five adults. Residents need not be Methodist. Money for the homes comes from private donations and public sources, including Medicaid and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In Virginia, ``We were studying the possibility before the state had to cut back, looking at the possibility of the church developing residential alternatives . . .,'' said Pitzer. ``We know there's a need, but area-wise, want to know where they may be falling through the cracks.''
About 25 people attended the public hearing in Virginia Beach at Heritage United Methodist Church.
``I have a feeling the Virginia Conference is going to be doing something in this area,'' said Steve Bradley, pastor of Virginia Beach's Resurrection United Methodist Church.
Bradley led the discussion at Heritage, where the speakers strongly supported church-operated group homes.
``It's the opportune time for the church to do something,'' said Robert Armstrong of Norfolk, the parent of a mentally retarded adult. ``The state is in a privatizing mood. We need to get involved. . . . (We) want a Christian influence.''
Ada Peele of Norfolk said that without high-quality care, the mentally retrarded will regress. And for people like her daughter, Peele said, ``Christianity is a big part of home.''
``The dream program'' would be community-based and would include programs for varying degrees of retardation, said Pat MacKeil of Norfolk, whose son is mentally retarded.
Speakers at the public hearing in Suffolk were equally supportive of the church's involvement, said Robert Vaughn, pastor of Providence United Methodist Church in Suffolk.
``We heard that there is an enormous need and great support,'' said Vaughn. By one professional's estimate, said Vaughn, 10,000 residential beds for mentally disabled people are needed in Virginia.
Wolz said he expected to make recommendations Wednesday to the Virginia Conference's commission.
The feedback from Sunday's hearings statewide will be used to advise the Virginia Conference about what action to take at its annual conference session in Virginia Beach next June.
KEYWORDS: GROUP HOME MENTALLY RETARDED by CNB