Damar Services started providing services in the former St. Joseph Carmelite Home, a residential treatment site in East Chicago, earlier this year.
Indianapolis-based Damar Services provides services to children and adults challenged by intellectual, developmental and behavioral disabilities. The Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus started the Carmelite Home as an orphanage in 1913.
“Our order is grateful to have provided more than 100 years of service to children in Northwest Indiana, but the needs of the children have grown more complex, and we’re being called to a new ministry in another state,” said Sr. Maria Giuseppe, leader of the St. Joseph Carmelite Home, in a press release.
Rev. Robert McClory, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Gary, expressed his gratitude for the ministry and years of devoted service provided by the Carmelite Sisters to young people and their families.
“The impact of the St. Joseph Carmelite home has been enormous in the community of East Chicago and beyond,” McClory said.
Now called Damar North, the center retained all 50 Carmelite Home employees, who now work for Damar Services.
“Damar is honored to build on the Carmelite Sisters' century-plus mission of compassion,” Dr. Jim Dalton, Damar Services president and CEO, said. “We are eager to share our staff's experience and expertise helping children with some of life's most challenging situations.”
Damar hired Whiting-based Vavrek Architects to make updates to the building. Updates include a new entrance canopy, offices and family gathering spaces. The former convent will be a group home for 10 children.
Damar operates a residential treatment facility in Indianapolis, autism clinics and community-based treatment across the state. The nonprofit operates two schools for children with disabilities and independent housing for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Damar Services started as Damar Homes in 1967 by Theodore and Beverly Farkas. They named it Damar after their children David and Martha, both of whom had developmental disabilities.
