Ecker Center to run former Larkin Center adult housing programs
The Ecker Center for Mental Health has taken on Larkin Center’s two adult residential programs, after the Center closed Friday.
“People are being taken care of,” Ecker Center Executive Director Karen Beyer said Monday.
Beyer said Ecker, which has offices in Elgin, St. Charles and Streamwood, intends to run the programs permanently.
The paperwork on the formal transfer of contracts is being worked out with the federal Housing and Urban Development Department and the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Larkin Center ran therapeutic group homes for young adults 17½ to 21, and a shared apartment program. Clients with chronic mental illness or severe emotional disturbance work to become emotionally, mentally, socially and financially independent.
State Rep. Keith Farnham said he was asked by Larkin Center officials last Thursday to facilitate the transfer of the state contract to Ecker.
“It made a lot of sense for them (Ecker) to take them (Larkin Center) over,” he said.
The adult clients are referred from the Elgin Mental Health Center, Ecker Center, the McHenry County Mental Health Board, Metro Suburban Network, private hospitals, homeless shelters, self-referrals and other treatment facilities.
Larkin Center closed with just three days’ notice last week, citing financial difficulties. According to a news release, it had tried for 18 months to merge with another organization.
Lawrence Hall Youth Services of Chicago has taken over four of Larkin’s group homes for children.