FAMILY PROBLEM: 23 TEENAGERS

Post-Tribune (IN)

Author: The Associated Press

Dateline: SHELBYVILLE

A pair of former missionaries trying to raise 28 Haitian children say the youngsters - 23 of whom are teenagers - are becoming difficult to handle.

"I am so afraid that by admitting I need some help I will lose my children," said Kathy Blackburn, who adopted the youngsters with her husband, Dan, and brought them back to the United States five years ago.

"I just don't know what else to do."

Two of the family's 17 boys have been arrested, one for stealing a television from a neighbor and one for criminal mischief and intimidation after pointing a BB pistol at another teenager, The Shelbyville News reported.

Shelby County Sheriff Mike Herndon said his department had received complaints and that officers were working with the family.

"If you consider the ratio, having two or three

'bad' teens out of 28 children is really not bad," the sheriff said. "But I am afraid people will think all of the children are bad because the ones with problems are not being addressed."

Kathy Blackburn acknowledged the concerns of neighbors, some of whom said they are uncomfortable living so close to the Blackburn children. Mrs. Blackburn said the situation is "very, very difficult."

Neighbors, some of whom asked not to be identified, said the children often harass people trying to drive down the road near the family's rural home.

"We've lived here for years without even locking our doors, but now we are constantly afraid that something will happen," said Sharon Mays, who lives next to the extended family and has given them food from their garden.

"For the children's own good and our own good, they need more supervision," Mays said.

Mrs. Blackburn said the children themselves understand part of the difficulty.

"Imagine wanting a glass of juice, but you know if you ask your mom for something to drink she will have to fix something to drink for 27 others. They know things are very difficult."

Supervising the children became harder when Dan Blackburn moved about 40 miles south to North Vernon for several months to take a job to help raise badly needed money, his wife said. A typical electric bill at the home is $500 a month.

"The boys, especially, really need a good male role model," Mrs. Blackburn said. "Dan was an excellent role model when the children were younger, but when they reached the age that they started challenging him, he just became exhausted."

Blackburn took one of the older boys with him to straighten the youngster out, but quickly realized the boy was more than he could handle, Kathy Blackburn said. The youth's return to Shelbyville brought more problems, she said.

Kathy Blackburn said she cannot continue without help from someone.

"Every second that I don't have to spend doing something else gives me one more second to concentrate on the kids - possibly to avert more problems before they start," she said.

On Friday, Mrs. Blackburn said the family had received numerous offers of help, including job offers for the teens who have been in trouble and an offer of professional counseling on issues involved with raising children.

Caption:

PHOTO

Thaddeus, right, and Rose Blackburn, center, serve lunch to their brother, Jim, at the Blackburn home near Shelbyville Friday. The Blackburns, a missionary couple with 28 adopted Haitian children, say the youngsters are becoming difficult to handle. (ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO)