Hoffman Estates teen center funding cut

Officials at the Schaumburg Township teen center say the center's future is uncertain since the village and park district cut its funding -- even though village and park officials say the center will not close.

"We're not exactly sure of the status of everything yet," said Julie DeFalco, the township's assistant director for youth services.

The township sent a letter out over the weekend asking for support for the Vogelei Teen Center, which provides counseling and social services for clients ages 12 to 19. DeFalco said without a clear source of money, closing the center is a possibility.

The Hoffman Estates Park District donates the teen center space at 650 W. Higgins Road and $15,000 annually. The village of Hoffman Estates provides another $46,642.

The teen center has a $144,000 budget. The township provides the rest of the operating money.

Village and park district officials said they're committed to keeping teen services uninterrupted. They said they want to help the township find new money to fund the program and make it more efficient.

"We're not going to be throwing any kids out onto the street," said park board member Craig Bernacki.

Those teens include ones living across the street from the center in low-income housing, DeFalco said. The center provides counseling in anger management, social skills and gives teens alternatives to joining a street gang, she added.

Park District Executive Director Dean Bostrom said pulling the money and terminating the agreement is only the first step to creating a new pact with the township. Park district officials want to be better informed where their $15,000 is going.

"When you encounter an economic crisis, whether it's business or governmental, it forces you to take a closer look a things," Bostrom said.

Mayor William McLeod said the village is thinking the money can be spent where it would help a larger segment of village residents.

"We felt we could get more bang for the buck working with the park district and some other agencies to put some new programs together," McLeod said.

DeFalco said the township understands the need for budget reductions, but the center, which has three full-time and three part-time staffers, already runs on a lean budget. The center sees about 30 teens per day and is open three times a week, serving about 500 teens a year.

"We don't bear any negative feelings about the financial situation, I understand the village is having a really hard time and they have to make cuts where they have to make cuts," DeFalco said.

She is hoping to sit down with village and park district officials so the township can get some of that money back.

A former township intern has established an online petition for residents to show their support for the center. View the petition at ipetitions.com/petition/vogeleiteencenter.