Rehab facility for boys opens in Burke





Teenage boys heading down the wrong path will soon have a place to go that’s 100 percent dedicated to helping them.

Katherine Lewis appeared at the Burke County Board of Commissioners meeting last Tuesday, Sept. 11, to announce that WestCare, a group of nonprofit organizations that offers treatment for adults and children with substance abuse problems, will be locating in Burke County at the historic Boggs Academy. Lewis will serve as program director at the facility.

According to Michael Langford, WestCare vicepresident, who also attended the meeting, the center, which is funded through the Department of Human Resources, will provide substance abuse treatment to nonviolent males in this area, as well as surrounding counties, who are 13- 17 years of age.

The 16-bed facility will treat them for drug and/or alcohol abuse, will teach life skills and offer counseling at no cost to the patient or his family.

“There is a revolving door in our court systems for young men with substance abuse problems,” Langford said, “and our goal is to get them back in our communities … we will do our outreach here and will receive recommendations from the juvenile court judge … (this) will be an option as opposed to jail.”

Langford said he has been very pleased with the county’s support and was ecstatic with the response of various members throughout the community, especially the board at Boggs Academy, who, he says, shares in their mission to “uplift the human spirit.”

“We are ready to move forward,” Langford said, adding that the facility is expected to open its doors at the beginning of next month.

WestCare will celebrate its 35th year of service this year. It has treatment facilities located in seven states as well as in the Virgin Islands.


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