One Hope United has announced plans to close its residential campus on East McCord Street in Centralia.
The nonprofit organization says the closure is part of a broader effort to align its services with evolving approaches to care for youth with complex behavioral and emotional needs. The closure is expected to be completed by June 30th.
Across the child welfare system, One Hope says there is a growing shift away from large residential settings and toward smaller, community-based, family-style environment that provide more individualized car and stronger long-term outcomes for youth. One Hope United has been part of leading this shift through its Hope House model.
“For generations, the Centralia campus has been a place where young people found care, support, and stability during some of the most di9icult moments in their lives,” said Damon Cates, President and CEO of One Hope United. “We are deeply grateful to the state and the Centralia community for their decades of partnership and compassion. This decision reflects how care is evolving, and our commitment to ensuring that youth receive the most effective support possible.”
One Hope United is working closely with its partners to develop individualized transition plans for each youth currently residing on the campus. The priority is to ensure continuity of care and a smooth transition process that supports each young person’s safety, wellbeing, and long-term success.
The Centralia campus has been part of the local community for more than 100 years, and its closure will be felt beyond the organization. One Hope United expressed appreciation for the many community partners—including schools, healthcare providers, and local agencies—who have supported youth over the years.
“We know this change will have an impact in Centralia,” Cates said. “We are grateful for the role this community has played in supporting young people and for the dedication of those who have worked here over generations.”
The release did not indicate the number of workers impacted and if they would be able to transfer to a different One Hope Facility. WJBD-WSIQ has reached out to One Hope for additional information.
The facility is owned by the Centralia Foundation. President Dave Agee says they will have a walkthrough of the buildings and decide how they can best be used in the future.
One Hope and the agency that refers many of children to the program, DCFS, have come under critism by Centralia Police and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department on how the facility has operated. Centralia Police say residents leaving campus have been involved in a large number of criminal activities. If a decision is made to detain one of the residents in juvenile detention, the county is responsible for the cost which is now upwards of $300 a day. Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps and State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth have been trying to get the state or One Hope to pay at least part of the cost with no success.
