Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Franklinton, Washington Parish, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-11-9

Duration: 00:25:52

Subjects: Group homes for people with mental disabilities

Contributors:

• Masingale, Sonya Host
• Boyle, Tim Interviewee
• Tate, Barbara Interviewee
• Barbre, Charles Interviewee
• Richard, Dave Interviewee

This episode of the series “Folks” from November 9, 1986, features Sonya Masingale’s report on group homes for people with mental disabilities. Her report touches on the resistance to allowing group homes in private neighborhoods. She first visits a group home in a neighborhood in Franklinton, Louisiana, and interviews Tim Boyle, the area supervisor for Res-Care, and Barbara Tate, the community living manager. They discuss the services provided to the six adults living in the group home. Masingale then conducts an in-studio interview with Charles Barbre, a past president of the Baton Rouge Federation of Civic Associations. He discusses the reasons why his organization opposes group homes in private neighborhoods. Masingale also interviews Dave Richard, the director of the Louisiana Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens. He discusses: why it is important to have group homes in private neighborhoods; the operation of the group homes; the effectiveness of the group home concept in Louisiana; the importance of people with mental disabilities interacting with other people in the neighborhood; and the need for transparency.