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Thursday, August 20, 2009
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She sees hope for troubled youths
Staff Writer When Desiree Montonye was growing up in the little town of Turtle Lake, N.D., she was drawn to the criminal mind.
She wanted to know what made all the notorious serial killers, such as Ted Bundy and Charles Manson, tick.
Montonye put her interest to work and attended North Dakota State University to study sociology and criminal justice as well as psychology. She also has a master's in criminal justice with an emphasis in law from Kaplan University and she's working on a doctorate degree in criminal justice with an emphasis in public safety.
And since November Montonye has been in a position that she says fits her interest and experience well. No, Montonye doesn't work with hard criminals, or for that matter criminals at all. Montonye is more interested in preventing people from going down the wrong path.
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Desiree Montonye, who wears two hats now at PORT Group Homes, discussed her role as the executive director. She also is program director for the Boys Group Home. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Montonye has been helping boys at PORT Group Homes in Brainerd as its program director. PORT has four group homes geared for at risk girls and boys ages 10-18 who need a structured and nurturing environment. PORT's goal is to help children make healthy choices by providing consistency and teaching responsibility.
"These kids aren't bad kids," Montonye said Monday at the PORT administration building in Brainerd. "They have problems or they've made bad decisions and we're here to help them."
Montonye has enjoyed her time at PORT and she's been wearing two hats since July 24 - when she was named PORT's new executive director. Montonye replaces Karen Johnston, who served as executive director for about a dozen years.
"I'm doing both jobs right now and we'll see how to handle the director position later," said Montonye. "I can do both jobs now ... The numbers at the boys home are low right now."
Montonye said her duties as the executive director are to oversee operations and the budget at all the PORT sites.
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The Girls PORT Group Home is now located in PORT's existing administration building housed behind the Dairy Queen on Washington Street. The buildings that housed the girls were located south of Riverside Elementary School and has since been sold. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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The girl sites have had some changes. The girls group home that was south of Riverside Elementary School for years is no longer. PORT sold the buildings in late July and the girls have been housed in the lower level of the new Girls PORT Home located in the administration building behind the Dairy Queen on Washington Street in Brainerd. This home serves between 10-12 girls.
"The buildings were getting old and it was not cost-effective for us to keep them," said Montonye.
PORT also has two home residential sites for girls. A year ago, Kade Point Home, south of Brainerd, opened and in May Girls PORT South opened on St. Mathias Road. Montonye said these two southerly sites offer a home setting and are for girls who've advanced out of the main girls' program. Up to eight girls can stay in these residential houses.
"These homes have several bedrooms and bathrooms and staff is always there," said Montonye. "The homes here are to help transition the girls from a more structured PORT environment to a more home-like environment to help them have a better feel for what they can expect in the real world."
Montonye said referral agencies are looking for sites that are more like a home and the homes so far have been good for the girls. Montonye said most girls will go to the main Girls Group Home first, but if they qualify for the advanced programming at the residential homes they can go to those homes.
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The Boys PORT Group Home is on Laurel Street behind the Northern Pacific Center in Brainerd. Desiree Montonye is maintaining her position as the boys' program director, while executing her new role as the executive director. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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The Boys PORT Group Home, which serves up to 14 boys, is located on Laurel Street behind the Northern Pacific Center.
Montonye said summer tends to have fewer boys and girls at PORT. Montonye said the reason is because there are fewer people in authority to report the child's behavior.
The numbers of boys and girls at PORT have been down. Montonye said the year-to-date number of girls at PORT was between 14.25 to 15.4 in 2000-05; just under 13 in 2006-08; and nine so far this year. For boys, 12.5-20 in 2000-05, 10.5 to 11.2 in 2006-08; and 7.23 in 2009.
Montonye said the economy is behind the decline. Montonye said agencies are trying to keep children out of the out-of-home-placement programs as long as possible to save money. She said agencies instead are referring children to other programs, such as having an in-home health worker come into the home to work with the family, sending a child to a foster care home for a respite weekend or to other various other counseling programs.
Montonye said with the economy there are even more children in need.
"These children had issues before the economy and those issues are still there," Montonye said. "The economy is just adding more stressors onto the families and it gets passed onto the children ... And some of these kids are falling through the cracks. I want people out there to know that we can meet the needs of the entire family, not just the child."
Montonye said the average stay for girls and boys at PORT is six to nine months. Montonye said the most common issues girls at PORT have are depression, anxiety and poor coping skills, such as having a hard time making the right decision. Montonye said boys mainly have conduct disorders, anger issues or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Montonye said children at PORT come from all over Minnesota, but primarily from Crow Wing, Wadena, Todd, Cass and St. Louis counties. Montonye said the average age of children at PORT is 15, for boys and girls.
Montonye said the main challenge PORT faces is "riding" out the economy.
"But we've been around for a long time so I'm confident that we'll do fine," said Montonye. "It's a bump in the road and everyone is experiencing it, not just us."
Montonye said PORT mainly receives revenue from counties that refer children to PORT. Montonye said PORT also receives donations and some grants.
Montonye said her goal is to make sure PORT stays afloat and that it keeps its valuable programs to meet the needs of the children. Montonye said PORT just started a consequence program that is used for respite. Montonye said children will be in the consequence program for up to 30 days.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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