Northeast Parent and Child Society in Schenectady New York Needs to Be Investigated December 07, 2008 by Dan Weaver
Note: This article first appeared in the Sunday Gazette in January of 2008. Since a sixteen year old resident molested an eleven year old boy several times last week, I believe this article needs grea ter distribution and that Northeast Parent & Child Society's homes in Schenectady, New York need to be investigated and changes made.
I was both pleased and dismayed by Kathleen Moore's article (The Daily Gazette, December 7) about problems at Northeast Parent and Child Society's Park Avenue children's home in Schenectady. I was pleased because someone in the media had finally taken a look at what many of us have considered a long standing problem. I was dismayed because I have been trying to get government officials to investigate the home for three years. Not only have they not done so, it appears from Moore's article that the situation has gotten worse.
One of my children was a resident at the Park Street home for eight months in 2004-2005. During that time I visited the home approximately twenty-five times. Initially, I was assured by officials in Montgomery County's Department of Social Services (DSS) that the home was a safe and secure environment for children with mental health problems. Within a matter of weeks I realized that I had not been told the truth.
In a meeting with Bob Lennon, Nicole Wells and Marsha Benjamin of Montgomery County's DSS on February 1, 2005, I complained about practices at the Schenectady home. I specifically mentioned that residents ran away frequently and that it was so commonplace, the police didn't hurry to find them. I also mentioned the place was not a locked facility, when I had been assured that it was. Not only was it easy for children to run away (Northeast uses the euphemism "out of program"), it was easy for anyone to bring contraband into the building since packages and bags were never checked. Finally, I said that children with mental health problems and no criminal background were placed with children that have a criminal background. Specifically, one wing of the building held juvenile sex offenders and arsonists, who were allowed to mingle with the other residents during the day..........................http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1279452/northeast_parent_and_child_society.html?cat=9
James Johans, president and CEO of Northeast Parent & Child Society, resigned yesterday but the organization isn't saying what led to the decision.
Northeast Parent, based in Schenectady, said it was "in the best interests of Northeast and Dr. Johans and the board to accept Dr. Johans resignation, effective immediately."
Johans has been Northeast’s president and CEO for the past 6 1/2 years.
Foster-care agency head quits Resignation follows Parent & Child Society directors’ meeting BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.
The CEO of the city’s largest foster-care agency resigned abruptly Wednesday after a meeting with his board of directors. Jim Johans, who led Northeast Parent & Child Society for six years, turned in his immediate resignation after Wednesday’s meeting. Board president Donald Noland Jr. said afterward that the board wanted “a change in direction.” He declined to explain why Johans could not, or would not, lead that change. He also said the board has not yet decided what changes will take place and admitted that the decision to move on without Johans was made quickly. “Decisions sometimes happen suddenly,” he said. Agency spokeswoman Laura Alpert characterized the resignation as a mutual decision. “Jim and the board both decided it’s in the best interest of Northeast, that it was best for him to resign,” she said. No changes have been made yet, she said. The agency has two large projects going on now: the building of a new, larger dorm to replace its entire Children’s Home; and the creation of a career development center for young adults without high school diplomas. That center is already working with 3,100 people between the ages of 18 and 24. “That’s all moving forward as planned,” she said. Northeast employees said they were “stunned” and “shocked” by Thursday’s announcement. They said they liked Johans’ experience — he came to Northeast in 2002 from West Virginia, where he spent 12 years running foster care programs. Johans was also loved by the children in Northeast’s care, staffers said. Even Noland issued a statement that praised Johans. “His visionary leadership allowed Northeast to expand its facilities to serve more children and families in need,” Noland said. In just the last two years of Johans’ tenure, the agency grew 25 percent, serving more than 5,000 children in 2008. It 2006, it served 4,000. Under Johans’ leadership, the agency’s budget also grew from $14.5 million to $33 million, primarily through funding from the local departments of social services and school districts that referred children to Northeast. Donations rose from $300,000 in 2005 to $1.6 million in 2008. But his final year’s tally may have been seen as a slight loss — Northeast collected $1.8 million in donations in 2007. The agency did come under strong criticism during Johans’ leadership. A series of criminal events caused by children under the agency’s supervision led to criticism from police, residents and local officials. An average of one child a day ran away from the Children’s Home in 2006 and 2007. While away, children burned down two buildings — one a historic school, the other an occupied house — and raped a girl. ..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01501
The fact that this terrible group grew 25% in 2 years should shock every taxpayer. Yes, help the children in need in this County but this group is a magnet for troubled youths Statewide. Industrial jobs flee and social service jobs grow. No wonder this County is in the toilet.
Their "students" burned the Brandywine School to the ground and nobody cared. No charges were filed by the City Attorney? There have been rapes and armed robberies on the Muni course. We don't need to attract future criminals and welfare cases here. We are up to our necks in home grown crazies.
Under Johans’ leadership, the agency’s budget also grew from $14.5 million to $33 million, primarily through funding from the local departments of social services and school districts that referred children to Northeast. Donations rose from $300,000 in 2005 to $1.6 million in 2008. But his final year’s tally may have been seen as a slight loss — Northeast collected $1.8 million in donations in 2007.
WOW! Does this guy know how to raise our taxes or what? My question is............what did we get for it? Burned down school, run-a-ways and rapes! I would also like to know what the success rate is for these kids. How many of these kids leave as productive citizens? Or is it just an expensive babysitting service? IMHO
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Under Johans’ leadership, the agency’s budget also grew from $14.5 million to $33 million, primarily through funding from the local departments of social services and school districts that referred children to Northeast. Donations rose from $300,000 in 2005 to $1.6 million in 2008. But his final year’s tally may have been seen as a slight loss — Northeast collected $1.8 million in donations in 2007. The agency did come under strong criticism during Johans’ leadership. A series of criminal events caused by children under the agency’s supervision led to criticism from police, residents and local officials.
Let us not forget that the Schenectady Metroplex, chaired by Ray Gillen who stated that the Metroplex does not support not-for-profit organizations when being asked about the plans for the YMCA, not only provided a loan for the Northeast Parent and Child Society, but forgave $228,500 of the loan principle when the not-for-profit reportedly discontinued making payments on the loan. The decision to forgive the loan was made "to induce the Child Center to make loan payments again". Is this $228,500 included in the category referred to as donations?
Some of this discussion is available on the thread at the URL below. Note that the link to the project plan and meeting minutes that once appeared on the Metroplex web site is now inactive. It appears that the "transparency" of the operations and decisions of the public authority has been further reduced with the removal of information from the Metroplex web site.
Good point Brad. And has anyone told the plex that Proctors is a NON-PROFIT also?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Let us not forget that the Schenectady Metroplex, chaired by Ray Gillen who stated that the Metroplex does not support not-for-profit organizations when being asked about the plans for the YMCA, not only provided a loan for the Northeast Parent and Child Society, but forgave $228,500 of the loan principle when the not-for-profit reportedly discontinued making payments on the loan. The decision to forgive the loan was made "to induce the Child Center to make loan payments again". Is this $228,500 included in the category referred to as donations?
Some of this discussion is available on the thread at the URL below. Note that the link to the project plan and meeting minutes that once appeared on the Metroplex web site is now inactive. It appears that the "transparency" of the operations and decisions of the public authority has been further reduced with the removal of information from the Metroplex web site.
Bravo Brad. Transparency at Metrograft? lol. The money was used to locate to a taxpayer funded Taj Mahal HQ Downtown-displacing a taxpaying private business! No outrage-no demands for Death Ray's immediate firing-no nothing. The silence is deafening-like on the completely empty flop called Clinton's {Ditch} Square.
The County sheeple can't afford it anymore---if they ever could. This horrible non-profit is attracting arsonists and rapists from all over the State, who go on welfare and stay here. When the DA is done "investigating" the pathetic Schenectady School Bored he should investigate this cesspool. On second thought bring in the FBI.
The D.A.? You must be kidding. That department is IMHO another act in the three ring Schenectady County government circus.
I like the idea of bringing in the F.B.I. Remember, however, that today we have a one-party government. The few Republicans in local office govern like liberal Democrats, if they engage at all. Nothing will be done because they all eat from the same trough.
The only thing they will be able to teach these kids to do is 'feed people and make them dance for 5 hours'. Cause those are about the only jobs that are being created by our plex with our tax dollars.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
ROTFLMAO!! 2 gems-but BT where is this taxpayer financed dancehouse of which you speak? La Dolce Vita, on Upper State St is packed with dancers but did not receive a nickle in sheeple tax money {unlike joke Big Hose}.
Workers? This horrible nonprofit is bringing the lowest form of criminals who are feasting on the over generous benes from this Krat run County. Let other Counties take care of their young criminals-we are full up here. With their current "fundraising" they should repay the County sheeple taxpayers.
Logged
The fact that this terrible group grew 25% in 2 years should shock every taxpayer. Yes, help the children in need in this County but this group is a magnet for troubled youths Statewide. Industrial jobs flee and social service jobs grow. No wonder this County is in the toilet.
Investigated? This place needs to be closed. 
