Cove Forge Staff Takes to Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Walk-Off Issues

"What are we supposed to do when these walk-offs come to our property and they don't listen when we say to keep walking?" This was one of many complaints brought up to Cove Forge employees during Aug. 4's town hall meeting at the Grace Pointe Community Church of God.

On the panel was Cove Forge CEO Bobbi Jo Glunt, Tom Callahan, Cove Forge Medical Director Dr. Kenny Hershey, Cove Forge COO Kelly Steele, Cove Forge Security Consultant James Walstrom, and Trooper Joe Dunsmore.

In all, the Cove Forge facility located in Woodbury Township houses 288 adults. Of those beds, 35 are for the detox program, 193 for residential, and 60 for partial hospitalization. Steele talked in reference to many other programs offered at the site: HOPE program – helping the brain recover from opiate addiction; River of Life – faith-based religious groups; Mental Health Education; ROPES course – counseling through adventure; and a music program, which plays a full concert on Fridays.

Hershey talked about addiction, especially opiate addiction.

"This magnifies happiness times 10 and the brain dulls for everything else," Hershey said. "Our job is to get them to a place where their brain can recover."

He then went on to talk about opiate and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

However, most of the crowd in attendance was there to discuss the problem of walk-offs. The borough has been having discussions with Cove Forge to try to combat these walk-offs from getting into the borough and doing damage and illegal acts. The walk-offs are reported to the Williamsburg Police Department, but as panelists agreed, there is a small number of those at Cove Forge who are "court-ordered," so many can leave when they want.

Security Consultant James Walstrom discussed at length the security measures in place at Cove Forge.

"We are trying to make the campus safe," Walstrom said, discussing the security station, canine searches four times a month, more cameras and lighting, and using the Uber app for security. "We are trying to mitigate walk-offs but none of us can make them stay here."

At the campus, usually 5,000 residents come through yearly. Residents asked about if there are any kind of assessments/screenings done on those entering the program. Glunt discussed that no child abuse convictions or violent offenders are allowed in the campus and that there are multiple screening tools done before a client is accepted into program.

Many residents discussed walk-offs being a problem doing damage to property, stealing cars, sleeping in cars, etc.

"We are always trying to get them a ride," Callahan said.

The panel urged residents to use the private cell phone numbers of Glunt and Steele when they see walk-offs walking roads or coming onto porches, as well as calling the Pennsylvania State Police.

Williamsburg Chief of Police Rowdy Kagarise stood up during town hall saying the walk-offs are "a major issue, we are really concerned for the safety of all Williamsburg residents."

According to records, there were 25-30 walk-offs daily with it decreasing to only four in June, only for it to rise once again in July. Callahan said within the first 11 days is when walk-offs are most likely to occur.

Sherry Clapper, who lives near the campus, said that she attended "just to know what to do when these walk-offs come to my porch or come into my house with my kids there."

"What we have to do is unite," said Callahan. "Work together to make this safer."

Editor's Note: The Herald plans to have further coverage of the Cove Forge walk-off issue in coming editions. Please continue to check the Herald for more information.