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They're Just Wild About The County

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By HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

LAKE MAGDALENE - Some form of children's services has existed on a 35-acre plot in the neighborhood since at least 1934, William Hogan estimates.

Hogan, program manager for Hillsborough County's Department of Children's Services, said he unearthed a plaque from a garden club circa 1934. Magnolia trees from more than 70 years ago still bloom.

Nowadays, the department continues to help children in need at its campus at 3110 Clay Mangum Lane, just west of Lake Magdalene Boulevard.

Many of the campus staff - totaling 175 for three shifts - are gearing up for a celebration on Friday that will include county commissioners. Thomas Papin, director of children's services, said the party is in gratitude for the money allotted to the department.

The first phase of renovations costing $600,000 was completed this month. Most notably, a covered outdoor basketball court where most of the campus' special events will take place was finished.

Hogan said a baseball diamond also was relocated on the campus.

"We just want to tell them thanks for what they've done," Papin said.

A $1 million gymnasium was completed in 2001, but Hogan said the outdoor facility replaces a much-used outdoor court that has been in disrepair for several years. Hogan said the first-phase funding includes planning for campus-wide renovations, including new classrooms, homes for the center's 80 live-in children, better clinical services and a dining hall that will feature culinary classes, adding to the campus' special education programs.
Papin said an additional 100 students from county schools utilize the center's special education programs. Renovations will replace buildings from the 1950s and 1960s.

For those additional renovations, $9.3 million was assigned two years ago through the Community Investment Tax. Papin added that money is for capital improvement projects and does not affect money for county programs, recently reduced because of an $88 million deficit.

"We were able to get this, in part, because the county has really slowed down in building libraries and fire halls," Papin said. "If you build a new fire hall, you've got to hire new firemen, whereas here we're replacing old buildings for the same number of kids and staff."
Papin said he hopes renovations will begin in October or November. Hogan added most of the construction will be done at the same time, reducing costs and the inconveniences of rebuilding.

He said the county's recently restructured budget cuts $1 million from his department. Papin said service for children will not change, but more cuts may result in a loss of a few programs.

Three additional buildings will supplement the children's living quarters. Despite more space, Papin said the campus will not take on more children as residents. He said the idea is to give children there a more homelike experience.

Hogan said most of the children living there are runaways, physically abused or severely emotionally disturbed.

"From our experience in working with kids, especially the younger kids, we feel they can gain more in a homelike environment rather than a more institutional dormitory environment," Papin said.

Hogan said young children and teenagers residing at the campus average a stay of nine months, though many have remained for 18 months. He said the goal is to get children, especially the youngest, back in the homes of their families or relatives.

Festivities for the celebration, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, include games for resident children under the new, covered pavilion.

Hogan said the department works with most children's organizations in the county.

"If they have anything to do with kids in this community, we probably have some linkage to them," Hogan said.

They include the Dorothy Thomas Special Day School (located on the campus), The Children's Home, the state's Department of Children & Families, Hillsborough Kids Inc. and many others.

ABOUT THE CAMPUS

WHAT: Hillsborough County's Children's Services Department

MAIN CAMPUS: 3110 Clay Mangum Lane

DIRECTOR: Thomas Papin
NUMBER OF CHILDREN: About 80 children reside at the main Lake Magdalene campus, and 100 special education students use the campus during the school year.

SERVICES: The Dorothy Thomas Special Day School, Kids and Canines program, Emergency Shelter Care, Child & Family Counseling, Clinical Services and Head Start, among others.

CALL: (813) 264-3821

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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