Todd S. Willis

The organization is shutting down its children's day treatment facility in Highland within 30 days, according to Todd S. Willis, director of children's services for Porter-Starke.

The shutdown has prompted the non-profit group to ask its employees in the children's services department to reapply for their jobs.

There are 35 to 40 employees in the department, Willis said.

"The number of staff that will experience layoffs will be very minimal," Willis said.He declined to be more specific.

Every position in the department is up for grabs.

In fact, Willis was promoted to his position as director after applying for it under the new initiative.

"We have great people working for us and (they) are dedicated to the people we serve and we want to be fair to all of them," he said.

"All positions in (the) children's (department) have been opened for all our children's services employees to interview," he said.

The positions that are open are located in Porter County's ACT program and the Bridges residential unit.

Porter-Starke is in the process of restructuring the department, Willis said.

The organization officials hope to merge Highland employees with the Porter County programs.

This also might be an opportunity for the non-profit organization to expand its service offerings as well, Willis said.

Only the Highland program is closing, he said.

The program suffered after a decline in funding from the Indiana Department of Education, Willis said.

"Our current programming, which is meeting a need in the community, is continuing," Willis said.

Todd Willis of Porter-Starke Services will be the featured presenter.

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