Rockville law firm provides recreation room for group home

Poolesville facility will offer therapeutic activities for boys

The $4,000 recreation room, funded by the firm of Stein, Sperling, Bennett, De Jong, Driscoll & Greenfeig PC, includes an air hockey table, a foosball table, a television, and a table and chairs, said Stephen Liggett-Creel, Hearts and Homes administrator of therapeutic group homes and services.

The home serves boys ages 6 to 12 who have had a traumatic experience, such as abuse or sexual abuse, Liggett-Creel said. The boys tend to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.

‘‘They often struggle more finding employment, in school, and peer interaction than the average population in group homes and foster care, which I think adds to value of this room,” Liggett-Creel said. ‘‘They have the opportunity to do something they’re going to enjoy, not knowing that what we’re doing is therapeutic with them.”

The privileges of using the room will be rewarded for completing chores or doing homework, he said. It is also more accessible so the boys do not have to travel somewhere or pay extra fees to use off-site recreation centers.

Paul T. Stein, a principal with Stein Sperling, said the firm decided to make the donation for the recreation room in lieu of a party to celebrate the firm’s 30th anniversary.

‘‘And Hearts and Homes, with this new house that they’re going into for younger boys, needed a [recreation] room and we decided it would be a good place for our money,” Stein, who is also on the Hearts on Homes for Youth Board of Directors, said. ‘‘A good investment, actually.”

Stein Sperling also made a donation around Christmas time for new musical instruments for one of the organization’s group homes, Stein said.

Three boys who are new to Hearts and Homes will move into the home by the end of this week.

‘‘They are excited about coming to the location and excited about the resources we have, this room being one of those resources,” Liggett-Creel said. ‘‘They’re excited about the opportunity to move on with their life growth and development and for many of them this is another stage in that development.”