OREGON, Ohio — Some Oregon residents are concerned about a proposed mental health services facility next to a childcare center.
Midwest Behavioral wants to bring mental and behavioral health services to Landings of Oregon, an assisted living facility off of Seaman Road.
The companies held two public meetings on Wednesday to hear community thoughts on the proposal, and many of the residents who showed up say they're frustrated with the idea of the facility being near Thrive Childcare, also off of Seaman Road.
Tacee Graff was one of several parents who attended a meeting.
"I wanted to come and get informed about what kind of population they would be serving, what kind of security measures they were going to be taking," Graff, whose son goes to Thrive, said.
Angelica Bowser, another parent, shared her concern about factors like security and the patients that would be at the facility.
"It's a great deed, but who's advocating for the children?" Bowser said. "Who's protecting the children?"
Landings of Oregon and Midwest Behavioral declined to comment. But at the meeting, facility leaders said they would focus on senior mental health, not on addiction treatment, and that unarmed security guards would be on the facility's property.
But leaders admitted the information wasn't in their initial zoning application to the city, which raised concerns.
"Unless a lot changes, I think it has very little chance of passing," said Oregon Mayor Michael Seferian.
Seferian is on the city's planning commission. In order for these services to be added, it has to pass through the commission and then city council.
"They were scheduled to come to the planning commission earlier than this, and we the city notified them to say that they have some work to do if they hope to prevail," Seferian said. "That's why they called these meetings to try to explain to the residents just what they're about."
Many in the community left the meeting still frustrated. Parents left with thoughts of potentially changing childcare services.
"If it seems like it's just thrown there with nothing in place, I couldn't as a parent in good faith send my kid there," Bowser said.
Landings of Oregon and Midwest Behavioral are set to present their proposal to the planning commission on May 21.