DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 29, 2004
CONTACT: Virgena Wieseler, DSS Child Protection Services, 773-3227

Plankinton Residential Treatment Center 
Licensed to Treat Troubled Youth

PIERRE, S.D. – The former Plankinton State Training School at Plankinton, SD will be licensed as a residential treatment center for children effective Sunday, August 1, according to Department of Social Services Secretary, James W. Ellenbecker.

“Cornell Companies has completed all State requirements for licensing the Plankinton Residential Treatment Center,” Ellenbecker said.  The one-year license will allow the Plankinton Residential Treatment Center to house 24 residents.   

“By granting this new residential facility a license to operate in South Dakota, the Plankinton Residential Treatment Center joins 13 other in-state facilities offering structured treatment programs for the youth of our state,” Ellenbecker said.

“The young people who may be served at this facility require a very structured treatment setting,” Ellenbecker said, “such as children who’ve suffered abuse and neglect, children in need of supervision and juvenile delinquents.”

“The facility will initially be able to provide treatment for 16 boys and 8 girls, although it is my understanding Cornell plans to expand its capacity in the future to 82 residents,” Ellenbecker said.

Plankinton Residential Treatment facility will receive $125.27 per child per day, the highest rate paid for residential treatment care in South Dakota.   Only one other South Dakota facility receives this rate.  

Cornell Companies, Inc. is a private provider of corrections, treatment and educational services.  It operates programs for juveniles in ten states.

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