People First of Oregon
Fairview: The Closing Chapter
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Treatment program for mentally retarded sex offenders ends with relocation
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Fairview Training Center has ended a treatment program for mentally retarded sex offenders with the relocation of most of the men into community group homes in Salem and Eugene, including one near a preschool.
Earlier plans to move 17 men with histories of sexual deviancy or convictions into group homes had prompted outcries from critics and a legislative hearing in January.
Mental health planners decided that two vacant homes on the grounds of the Oregon State Hospital would be a housing option for some of those men.
As a result, the last eight residents from Fairview's Cascade Cottage, the institution's home for sex offenders, recently moved into two group homes adjacent to the hospital.
The two homes stand less than a block away from a Head Start program where nearly 60 preschoolers are enrolled.
But Head Start officials said group home supervisors assured them that the men, including some with histories of sexually molesting children or fixating on them, would be watched closely.
"Basically, these guys are being monitored a lot," Head Start Director Judy Cooper said. "So people are not feeling concerned. Nobody has withdrawn their child, and none of the parents has complained or expressed concern to the staff."
Mental health planners said the longtime Fairview residents appeared to be making a good adjustment to their new surroundings.
"Obviously, this is kind of the honeymoon period as people move into a new home. People are on their best behavior when that occurs. But at this point, I think it's gone pretty smoothly," said James Toews, assistant administrator of the state Office of Developmental Disability Services.
Closure of Fairview's Cascade Cottage signals another milestone in phasing out Oregon's biggest and oldest center for people with developmental disabilities.
Once home to several thousand retarded residents, Fairview now shelters about 240. The 90-year-old institution is scheduled to close by July 2000.
Fairview has relocated former residents into community group homes and foster care homes throughout the state. But moving some residents with sexual histories, ranging from rape to public masturbation, proved to be a troublesome issue for state mental health planners.
But officials say supervision will prevent problems.
"I feel very clear that staff are doing everything they need to do," Cooper said.