Veronica Torrejón
The Morning Call
May 2, 2008
The New Jersey Department of Children and Families has suspended referrals to KidsPeace after two teenage girls in a group home overdosed on methadone that one of them allegedly stole from a counselor.
That's the second state agency in less than a year to stop sending youths to KidsPeace, the North Whitehall Township agency for troubled youths. Last September, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare temporarily closed admissions to KidsPeace after youths suffered broken bones while being restrained by staff.
One of the 16-year-old girls involved in the overdose incident remained in critical condition Thursday, according to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. It was unclear if the other girl, previously listed in satisfactory condition, has been released from the hospital.
The April 17 incident involving the girls at the KidsPeace Saylorsburg group home prompted the Pennsylvania welfare department to close admissions to the home while it investigates how the teens got the pills and why the counselor had them.
KidsPeace spokesman Mark Stubis previously said the nonprofit agency's investigation showed the counselor was legally prescribed methadone for pain relief.
"We believe that this was an isolated incident in one small program," Stubis said Thursday. "We know of no other risks to youngsters."
The Pennsylvania investigation is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, said welfare department spokeswoman Ann Bale.
While awaiting those results, no referrals will be made to KidsPeace, said Kate Bernyk, a spokeswoman for New Jersey's Department of Children and Families. She said neither of the girls involved in the incident was referred by the state of New Jersey.
"Once we get the results of the investigation, we will use that in reviewing the program and in making a decision on whether we want to reinstate admissions," she said.
State police at Lehighton are continuing to investigate the incident and had nothing new to report on Thursday, Trooper Jamie Sgarlat said.
Stubis said that in the early morning hours of April 17, KidsPeace called 911 for an ambulance when the two girls could not be awakened. KidsPeace also contacted the welfare department, which began an investigation.
The counselor was so upset about what happened to the girls, she had to be admitted to a hospital, Stubis said. A KidsPeace administrator called state police to report the counselor's pills had been stolen. A trooper told the administrator the counselor had to contact them to file a report, and she did so at the barracks on April 20, Stubis said.
KidsPeace immediately notified the agencies that referred the girls, Stubis said, and later notified other referral agencies, including the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, which suspended referrals on Tuesday.
No other agency has suspended referrals, Stubis said, adding, "It's understandable to take precautions until everything is resolved."
KidsPeace serves 10,000 youths with behavioral problems each year in 65 centers and hundreds of foster homes in 10 states. It has "hundreds" of agencies that refer youths, Stubis said.
"Our hope is that our friends in New Jersey will continue to refer youngsters that need help to all of our many programs, as they have been doing for decades," Stubis said.
For now, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families won't pull out teens it has already referred to KidsPeace. The state has referred a total of 46 teens to the agency in the last 12 months, but only five of those in the last six months, Bernyk said.
In the last two years, New Jersey has been trying to reduce the number of children referred to agencies outside the state. "We have been making the effort to bring kids home," Bernyk said.
The overdose incident comes as KidsPeace tries to rebound from a turbulent year. The number of youths at the KidsPeace main campus fell after the Pennsylvania welfare department closed admissions last September. With admissions down, KidsPeace had to lay off 79 workers and slash its $170 million budget by $20 million.
The referral suspension by New Jersey should not have that type of effect, Stubis said. "Referrals are down compared to last year, but we are trending upward," he said.
veronica.torrejon@mcall.com
610-861-3634
Several incidents have caused turmoil at KidsPeace recently:
July 2006 - July 2007: State police respond 159 times and staff members physically restrain out-of-control youths 2,900 times.
September 2007: The state closes Pennsylvania admissions at KidsPeace after several youths suffer broken bones while being restrained by staff.
October 2007: With fewer youths entering KidsPeace, the agency lays off 79 workers and slashes its budget by $20 million.
December 2007: C.T. O'Donnell II resigns as KidsPeace president and chief executive officer.
December 2007: The state Department of Public Welfare restores KidsPeace's full operating license.
April 17: Two teenage girls overdose on methadone one of them allegedly stole from a counselor at KidsPeace group home in Saylorsburg.
April 24: The state welfare department closes the Saylorsburg home to new residents pending an investigation.
April 25: KidsPeace notifies referral agencies of the overdose incident and the investigation.
Tuesday: New Jersey Department of Children and Families suspends referrals to KidsPeace.
Source: Morning Call files
