Youngstown Developmental Center to close in June 2017

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

The Youngstown Developmental Center is slated for closure in two years.

The center, at 4891 E. County Line Road, near Mineral Ridge in Trumbull County, has a staff of 272 who serve about 85 individuals with developmental disabilities in seven homes on campus.

The majority of people who live at YDC are diagnosed with severe and profound challenges and need extensive supports in the areas of daily living, health care and social-skills development, officials said.

On Tuesday, John Martin, director of Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, said he informed individuals, families and staff of the department’s intent to close YDC and the Montgomery County Developmental Center by June 30, 2017.

The state’s other eight developmental centers will remain open, which includes the Warrensville Developmental Center near Cleveland, where clients from the YDC service area will go, said Kerry Francis, DODD chief public-information officer.

Counties in the YDC’s service area are Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula, Geauga, Trumbull, Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland, Wayne, Stark, Mahoning and Columbiana.

“The decision to close two developmental centers was not made easily,” Martin said. “But because the number of people living in state-operated DCs has declined by more than 40 percent during the last eight years, and will continue to decrease by about 90 people each year, it no longer makes sense to continue operating 10 centers.”

YDC staff members will receive assistance in finding employment at another center or in the public or private sector, Francis said.

YDC residents will have the option to move to another center, a small intermediate-care facility, or another community-based residential setting.