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Uta Halee Girls Village closing December 16

Uta Halee Girls Village
photo courtesy Google Images
Uta Halee Girls Village

By Katie Schubert

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kios/local-kios-993858.mp3

Omaha, NE – After six decades providing residential and day treatment to troubled girls, Uta Halee Girls Village in Omaha is closing.

Uta Halee officials announced Tuesday that the village will close December 16. 14 girls were in Uta Halee's residential treatment program as of this month. Another 115 boys and girls are receiving treatment through community-based programs.

Mary Fraser Meints, president of Uta Halee Girls Village, says cutbacks at the state level and changes to the application process led to a dramatic drop in the number of girls receiving services. Fewer referrals to Uta Halee also means fewer reimbursements from the state.

Last year, 124 girls were served through Uta Halee's residential program. Another 707 troubled youth received services through community-based programs.

The Village is working with other agencies to get some of the girls in residential treatment in to other programs.