Services suspended at Family Resource Ctr.

The Center for Family Resources in Malden is strangely silent these days. No pots and pans clanging in the kitchen as meals are prepared for shelter residents. No sounds of fingers tapping away on computer keyboards. No muffled voices of staffers and clients coming from meeting rooms and offices.

Services at the Center were suspended on Monday, Jan. 18, according to the Center's only remaining employee, Stephanie Telker, fiscal/administrative director at the center. Seven full-time employees and one Experience Works employee were laid off in the sudden, if not unexpected, shut down.

"Services were suspended for restructuring," said Natalie Griffith, chairman of the board, who only came into that position a week before the board made the heart-wrenching decision.

For nearly 25 years, the Center for Family Resources, formerly known as The Children's Place, has served as a safe haven for families, especially women and children, in crisis situations.

"Just this morning, we had a mother with five kids call; she was crying," said Telker, who could only suggest the woman find help at other shelters in the region. That's a problem, Telker indicated, because most of the women who come to us don't have access to transportation.

Since 1986, the Center for Family Resources has served women and children from Dunklin, Mississippi, Stoddard, Scott, New Madrid and Pemiscot counties. It's been a 'safety net' for those in crisis situations, such as domestic violence, child abuse or homelessness, and who have no other place to turn.

Among the specific services the CFR provides are an emergency shelter for homeless families, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, parenting and child care classes held on site or outreach into the homes of clients, educational workshops, crisis intervention, counseling and victim advocacy.

"As a result of federal and state grant cuts and dwindling donations, it was decided to temporarily lay off all employees of the Center and suspend their benefits with the exception of one employee (Telker). The homeless shelter for mothers and their children was shut down as was the shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence. Because no services are available at the Center, the Domestic Violence Hotline was disconnected. Parent aid services also were suspended, along with the Victim Advocate Program," said Stoddard County Juvenile Officer Mike Davis.

To help in sustaining the Center's operations, any individual, business, church, civic group or family is invited to send a contribution to or contact the Center at: The Center for Family Resources, 2770 N. Douglas, Malden, MO 63863. The phone number to reach personnel at the Center is (573) 276-5500.

Michael Davis, Stoddard County juvenile officer and CFR board consultant, and Noreen Hyslop, editor of the Dexter Daily Statesman, contributed to this report