By PATRICK CLOONAN
Daily News Staff Writer

In a residential neighborhood in the McKeesport area, youngsters ages 7-12 can find shelter in a new home operated by Auberle.
"It's a nice facility for the children," Auberle CEO John Lydon said at its grand opening Monday. "It has a nice, safe play area as well as a good interior for kids that age."
The co-ed facility is the latest development for a faith-based Catholic agency with a mission to heal troubled children and families.
"We're continuing to expand our programs to meet a number of different needs," Auberle spokesman Glenn Ryerson said. "We just opened a transitional housing program in Duquesne (Jan. 30)."
The McKeesport program is unique in Allegheny County, Auberle officials said.
"Parents could be missing and there are no relatives to take in the children," Auberle Administrator of Shelters Arnie Levine said. "Sometimes children are allegedly abused and have to be removed from a home until (the county Office of Children, Youth and Families) can investigate."
Sometimes the parents are there but, as Levine put it, "children are beyond their parents' control. Everything they've done hasn't worked."
Eight can be housed at the newest shelter, while 11 can be placed at another shelter.
In all, Auberle expects to handle 75-100 children each year at either shelter.
Auberle Program Manager Dennis Robinson said there is 24-hour supervision by a staff that has to coordinate schedules to include schooling — as well as needed court-related appointments.
Some youngsters need not be under Auberle's supervision long — the stay could be as short as one day. Ryerson said the usual stay is around 30 days.
However, Levine said, one girl with special needs remained under Auberle supervision for a year and a half.
Those attending the grand opening event included foster parents. Sometimes, a foster stay also is brief — but, the parents said, in several cases it has resulted in adoptions.
Auberle operates facilities for youngsters in eight Southwestern Pennsylvania counties, including contracts for foster care in Allegheny, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
However, the home for those 7-12 is just for Allegheny County youngsters.
The home dedicated Monday originally was for boys ages 16-18.
However, in August, McKeesport Planning Commission accepted Pauline Auberle Foundation's request for a variance to allow for conversion of the home.