Advocates want Missouri centers kept open
Source: By FRANK TANKARD, The Kansas City Star (MO), August 7, 2006
......... Blunt has since announced plans to close the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center in St. Louis, where widespread abuse and neglect were reported. The center is one of six large state-run group homes for disabled adults. The closure could force many of its residents into private group homes overseen by the state.
Jean Barrett of Independence was one of several speakers at the hearing who expressed fear that the mentally disabled would not receive adequate care in private group homes if the state closes its habilitation centers and the smaller group homes associated with them.