Damar to acquire, expand St. Joseph Carmelite Home in East Chicago
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Damar Services announced Thursday it plans to acquire and expand the St. Joseph Carmelite Home in East Chicago, hiring dozens of employees and expanding autism services.
The Catholic order of the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus opened the home as an orphanage in 1913. Today, it serves as a residential treatment center for children with disabilities across northwest Indiana.
Damar Services, an Indiana-based not-for-profit, has provided services to children and adults with disabilities for more than 55 years. Its leaders say none of the 45 employees currently working at the Carmelite Home will be laid off in the acquisition.
“Damar is happy to step in to serve a community need and share our staff’s experience and expertise helping children with some of life’s most challenging situations,” Damar Services CEO Jim Dalton said in a news release. “With the sisters’ century-plus mission of compassion as our foundation, we look forward to meeting the needs of East Chicago-area families and children requiring specialized services.”
The Carmelite Sisters are expected to continue serving in the home until Damar assumes services later this year or early next year at which time Damar will take over residential operations and establish new autism services.
“I am most grateful for the beautiful ministry and years of devoted service provided by the Carmelite Sisters to countless young people and their families,” Gary diocese Bishop Rev. Robert J. McClory said in a news release. “The impact of the St. Joseph Carmelite home has been enormous in the community of East Chicago and beyond.”
Damar representatives said the nonprofit expects to hire about 60 new employees to handle residential treatment and autism therapies.
Damar has experience in residential care. The not-for-profit runs a 205-bed residential facility on Indianapolis’ southwest side. It also operates five autism clinics and provides other community-based treatment services across the state.