YOUTH TREATMENT CENTER COMING

A Division of Youth Services facility, to provide a day treatment center for youths under supervision of Department of Social Services, will open in Cape Girardeau this winter.

The 8,274 square foot structure is under construction at 3445 Armstrong Drive, on the west side of Interstate 55, by Drury Southwest Inc., which will lease the facility to the Missouri Office of Administration's Division of Facilities Management.

The building is one of two in the vicinity of the Interstate 55-Highway 74 intersection, which will be leased to the state.

The Board of Probation and Parole (P&P Board), now located on West Mt. Auburn Road, will occupy the second building.

The two buildings will share the same parking lot, said Larry J. Westrich, director of real estate and leasing at Drury Southwest and DSW Development, which will lease the buildings.

"The P&P office will have about 6,700 square feet," said Thomas J. Shea, state leasing coordinator for the Office of Administration in Southeast Missouri.

The day treatment center will offer educational programs, said Vicky Weimholt, deputy director of the DYS, headquartered in Jefferson City.

"A lot of youngsters, of all ages will prepare for GED tests," said Weimholt. "The center will also offers counseling and help in career planning."

The combined cost of the two building to the state will be about $17,100 a month.

The contract calls for an annual lease of $127,872 on the DYM building, and $77,350 on the P&P building.

Shea said the Division of Youth Services (DYS) building should be ready for occupancy this winter, probably in December. The P&P office building will be ready next spring.

At least three DYS buildings have been contracted for lease in the Southeast Missouri this year -- a 5,100 square foot structure at Ironton; a 3,646 square foot building at Perryville; and the Cape Girardeau facility.

Another Department of Social Services building recently opened at New Madrid.

"The New Madrid facility is a residential center," said Weimholt. The residential facilities are for youth who are not serious offenders but require continuous structure to mature.

The youths live in the residential center, which has 24-hour staff supervision.