The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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October 8, 2009

A grand opening for Youth & Family Services

By Joe Malan, Staff Writer

Past



Youth and Family Services was founded by Thelma J. Gungoll in 1974 as a youth shelter where kids could go if they were having family problems. The shelter was funded through local donations during its first five years.

The building used for the shelter was a former World War II barracks. The old building was torn down after everything was moved to the new building next door. The old barracks were torn down in May, and the space was turned into a parking lot.



Present



The new Thelma J. Gungoll Youth & Family Services Center encompasses 12,100 square feet, which is approximately 4,000 more than its old counterpart. It cost just over $2 million to build. Of that, $1 million was from local donations, $500,000 was donated from various Oklahoma foundations and the other $500,000 was financed through Security National Bank.

Services offered by Youth and Family Services at the facility include prevention health education classes, out-patient, home-based, school-based counseling, mental health and substance abuse services, education classes, foster care and youth shelter.

The shelter wing provides 18 beds for boys and girls who have left their homes due to a family situation. The old facility had only 12 beds. The new rooms, which house three beds each are much nicer and larger, said Beverly Bellar, a counselor at the center.

The new building also has more rooms than the other had. There are more offices, meeting and storage spaces for staff. There’s also a storm shelter, education room and even a video game area for the children.



Future



Staff will continue to make improvements to the facility in the near future. Those improvements include a playground on the south side of the parking lot, a privacy fence on the south side of the shelter, a light on the flag pole and evergreen bushes on the north end.

The center also is looking for more foster parents, said Kelli Osburn, a treatment foster care coordinator. She said there are many children who need short or long-term placements, depending on what the parents are able to offer.

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