Illinois Catholic-run home for youths might become academic center

Published: 2003-10-07

CHICAGO (CNS) -- A Catholic-run home for troubled youths may get new life as an academic enrichment center under a plan announced Oct. 3 by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Maryville Academy in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines -- a 270-bed facility run by the Chicago Archdiocese for abused, neglected and otherwise troubled children -- had faced the possible loss of 130 children who were living at the home as wards of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. In September, Illinois officials announced they would remove all wards of the state at the facility over questions about its handling of the suicide of a 14-year-old girl in 2002 and reports of physical and sexual assaults against residents by other residents. Many of the children at Maryville have been sent there after multiple foster-care and group home placements for them failed. Under the newly announced plan, Maryville would become home to a maximum of 130 high-school-age state wards who have been successful in previous placements and appear to be on track to graduate from high school.

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