Bryson Manor to remain operating

By William K. Alcorn

Officials rescinded an earlier announcement saying Bryson would close.

YOUNGSTOWN — Bryson Manor, a group home for people with mental illnesses, has found a funding source to make improvements to the facility and will remain open, officials said.

Charlene Crissman, home administrator, said in a June 23 letter that the facility, which had 50 to 60 clients, would close Sept. 1, causing Mahoning County mental health officials and others to begin looking for new placements for the Bryson clients they fund.

In a July 8 letter, however, Crissman rescinded the closing letter, saying “donated assistance for much-needed repairs” would allow the facility, at 115 Illinois Ave., to remain open. Crissman would not identify the funding source.

At the time of the closing announcement, Crissman and Katheryn Carlisle, Bryson director of care, said they were attempting to find a new location so their clients could be kept together.

“We have a location in mind. We hope someone will come forward and help,” Crissman said at the time.

In addition to 50 to 60 clients, closing of the facility, owned by Robert Van Sickle, would have displaced 11 full- and 13 part-time employees, Crissman said.

At the time of the closing announcement, the Mahoning County Mental Health Board began evaluating the 40 people it housed at Bryson to see if they qualify for nursing homes or independent living.

That process will continue, despite Bryson’s saying it will remain open, said Ronald Marian, executive director of the mental health board.

alcorn@vindy.com