Damar to take over East Chicago treatment home
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Damar Services is set to take over operations at a more than century-old residential treatment home in East Chicago.
The Indianapolis-based not-for-profit said Wednesday it will provide services to children with intellectual, developmental and behavioral disabilities at the former St. Joseph Carmelite Home.
The historic home was originally opened as an orphanage in 1913 by the Catholic order of the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. Damar announced last fall that it was acquiring the home with plans for expanded services, though financial terms were not disclosed.
The transition will begin on Thursday. The home, which is being rebranded as Damar North, will continue to provide the same services as in the past, with the addition of new services for children with autism.
“Damar is honored to build on the Carmelite Sisters’ century-plus mission of compassion” Damar President and CEO Dr. Jim Dalton said in a news release. “We’re eager to share our staff’s experience and expertise helping children with some of life’s most challenging situations.”
Damar North will be led by Executive Director Janelle Reed and Development Specialist Yursley Garcia, both of whom relocated to East Chicago from Damar’s main campus in Indianapolis.
The organization said all 50 Carmelite Home employees are being retained. Additionally, Damar North is hiring for several positions, including nursing, education and autism-specific technicians.
The new location builds on Damar’s footprint, which is primarily in central Indiana. The organization operates a 205-bed residential treatment facility at its main campus on the southwest side of Indianapolis.