Stabbing leads to new program
The stabbing of a 5-year-old Lincoln boy by a man living in a neighborhood group home has led to creation of a new program at the Hastings Regional Center.
The program will serve five to 15 adults with developmental disabilities who need a "more structured, secure environment," according to a news release from Gov. Mike Johanns' office.
State leaders took a new look at people in group homes after an April incident in which 56-year-old Roger Einspahr allegedly used a knife he bought at a garage sale to stab a neighbor boy.
Einspahr was charged with kidnapping, second-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony but has been initially determined to be not mentally competent to stand trial.
After a re-evaluation, Health and Human Services System division leaders identified 22 developmentally disabled men and women in the state with a history of violence who probably need to be in a locked facility for the safety of others.
Some of those people lived at the Beatrice State Developmental Center, where there is a program for people who are developmentally disabled and have behaviors that make it difficult for them to live in a community. Some were at the Lincoln Regional Center or in jail.
But three lived in group homes at the time because their guardians didn't want them moved.
The new program at Hastings is a response to the Lincoln incident and the subsequent evaluation, said Terri Teuber, aide to Johanns.
The governor is still reviewing the need for a legislative proposal, Teuber said. State law may need to be changed in order to commit people to a locked facility when they or their guardian won't voluntarily agree.
"The vast majority of individuals with developmental disabilities are excellent neighbors who are well-served by community programs," Johanns said in the news release. "The new program will meet the needs of a very small number of adults with a developmental disability who need a more structured, secure environment."
The new program, expected to begin this fall, will be on the campus of the Hastings Regional Center, a state psychiatric hospital that is losing patients as part of a move to local placement for people with serious mental health issues.
Health and Human Services is anticipating that 16-20 employees will be needed to operate the program. These jobs will be available to employees who may be losing their jobs because of the changes at the regional center, according to the news release.
Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@;journalstar.com.
The program will serve five to 15 adults with developmental disabilities who need a "more structured, secure environment," according to a news release from Gov. Mike Johanns' office.
State leaders took a new look at people in group homes after an April incident in which 56-year-old Roger Einspahr allegedly used a knife he bought at a garage sale to stab a neighbor boy.
Einspahr was charged with kidnapping, second-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony but has been initially determined to be not mentally competent to stand trial.
After a re-evaluation, Health and Human Services System division leaders identified 22 developmentally disabled men and women in the state with a history of violence who probably need to be in a locked facility for the safety of others.
Some of those people lived at the Beatrice State Developmental Center, where there is a program for people who are developmentally disabled and have behaviors that make it difficult for them to live in a community. Some were at the Lincoln Regional Center or in jail.
But three lived in group homes at the time because their guardians didn't want them moved.
The new program at Hastings is a response to the Lincoln incident and the subsequent evaluation, said Terri Teuber, aide to Johanns.
The governor is still reviewing the need for a legislative proposal, Teuber said. State law may need to be changed in order to commit people to a locked facility when they or their guardian won't voluntarily agree.
"The vast majority of individuals with developmental disabilities are excellent neighbors who are well-served by community programs," Johanns said in the news release. "The new program will meet the needs of a very small number of adults with a developmental disability who need a more structured, secure environment."
The new program, expected to begin this fall, will be on the campus of the Hastings Regional Center, a state psychiatric hospital that is losing patients as part of a move to local placement for people with serious mental health issues.
Health and Human Services is anticipating that 16-20 employees will be needed to operate the program. These jobs will be available to employees who may be losing their jobs because of the changes at the regional center, according to the news release.
Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@;journalstar.com.
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