State of Michigan DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Transcription

1 RICK SNYDER GOVERNOR State of Michigan DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING MAURA D. CORRIGAN DIRECTOR January 16, 2013 Cathey Prudhomme Eagle Village Inc th Avenue Hersey, MI RE: License #: Investigation #: CB C Eagle Village, Inc. Dear Ms. Prudhomme: Attached is the Special Investigation Report for the above referenced facility. substantial violations were found. No Please review the enclosed documentation for accuracy and feel free to contact me with any questions. In the event that I am not available and you need to speak to someone immediately, please feel free to contact Greg Corrigan, Area Manager at Sincerely, Doug Turrill, Licensing Consultant Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing Suite S. Elmwood Traverse City, MI (231) enclosure P.O. BOX LANSING, MICHIGAN (517)

2 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION License #: Investigation #: CB C Complaint Receipt Date: 12/06/2012 Investigation Initiation Date: 12/06/2012 Report Due Date: 02/04/2013 Licensee Name: Licensee Address: Eagle Village Inc th Avenue Hersey, MI Licensee Telephone #: (231) Administrator: Cathey Prudhomme, Administrator Licensee Designee: Name of Facility: Facility Address: Eagle Village, Inc th Avenue Hersey, MI Facility Telephone #: (231) Original Issuance Date: 03/24/1993 License Status: REGULAR Effective Date: 04/01/2011 Expiration Date: 03/31/2013 Capacity: Program Type: Unknown CHILD PLACING AGENCY, PRIVATE 1

3 II. ALLEGATION(S) The agency is failing to listen to the biological mothers and stepfathers concerns about the foster parents giving their children food that they are allergic to; Eagle Village has failed to follow an order by a Judge stipulating that the biological mother and step father can have unsupervised visits with their children; The biological mother and step father are being required by the agency to attend more classes and programs before there would be changes in visitation, but the classes and programs aren t being provided in a timely fashion. III. METHODOLOGY 12/06/2012 Special Investigation Intake 2013C /06/2012 Special Investigation Initiated - Telephone PC to biological mother and step father. 01/08/2013 Contact - Face to Face Interviews/Biological mother and stepfather. 01/14/2013 Contact - Face to Face Interviews/Eagle Village staff 01/14/13 Review files/records. 01/15/13 PC to Brenda Bolin 01/15/13 PC to Nicki Straus 01/15/13 PC to Foster Parent 01/16/13 PC to Nicki Straus ALLEGATION: It is alleged that the agency is failing to listen to the biological mother and step fathers concerns that the foster parents are giving their children food they are allergic to. INVESTIGATION: On January 8, 2013 this writer interviewed the biological mother and the children s stepfather at their home. The biological mother reported that the foster mother has been giving each of her two children foods that the children are intolerant of. She said that Child A cannot have foods such as milk, apples or foods with red dye in them. She reported that Child A had a rash on his face and torso due to the foster 2

4 mother giving him the aforementioned foods. She further reported that Nicki, the foster care specialist, is not listening to their concerns. On this writer interviewed Nicki Straus, Foster Care Specialist, Brenda Bolin, Foster Care Program Manager and Shelly Mitchell, Adoption and Licensing Manager. Medical records were also reviewed. Ms. Straus stated the children were removed from the home on Ms. Straus reports that she and the CPS worker did not have knowledge at that time of the food intolerances that Child A was reported to have. On Ms. Straus interviewed the biological mother and completed a Personal and Family Medical History Form. A review of the social work contacts documents that this meeting took place. Ms. Straus reports that at that time the biological mother reported the food intolerances that the children have. This writer reviewed the form and it was noted that Child A was reported by the biological mother to have food intolerance to apples, bananas, spaghetti sauce and juices with red dye in them. Ms. Straus reports that she informed the foster mother on of the reported food intolerance of Child A. The foster mother was interviewed on The foster mother reports that she became aware of Child A s food intolerance on She stated that this information was given to her by Ms. Straus. The foster mother reported she scheduled an appointment for Child A with Dr. Jonathan Williams of Pediatric Associates of Big Rapids, P.C. for The foster mother reported that since the children had been placed in her care on that she had been giving them the foods identified above. She reports that she had not observed the children experiencing any ill effects. This writer reviewed two written statements by Dr. Williams from the appointment. Dr. Williams states in part, Patient is tolerating apples, bananas, and red dyes without any ill effects. Child A is able to have these in his diet. Dr. Williams wrote a similar note for Child B. The foster mother reports that she has not observed the children experiencing problems with these food items in their diet. This writer asked the foster mother if she had observed any rash on the children since they entered into care with her. She reported that Child B had a rash around his mouth in early November She reported that this appeared to be because of Halloween make up the child had used as part of a costume for Halloween. She also believed that the rash could have been caused by the use of the child s nebulizer for asthma. She reports that the rash had cleared after a few days. APPLICABLE RULE R Foster parent information. (1) An agency shall provide a foster parent with all of the following information before the placement of a child: (c) Available known information about the child's health. 3

5 ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION: The agency became aware of the reported food intolerances on and documented this on the Personal and Family Medical History Form. Ms. Straus reported that she informed the foster mother of the food intolerances on When interviewed the foster mother confirmed that she was informed of this by Ms. Straus on Documents from the medical visit on were reviewed. Dr. Williams stated in the documents that Child A and Child B were able to tolerate and have in their diets the food items in question. VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED ALLEGATION: It is alleged that Eagle Village has failed to follow an order by a Judge stipulating that the biological mother and step father can have unsupervised visits with their children. INVESTIGATION: On this writer interviewed the biological mother and the children s stepfather at their home. The stepfather reported that when he attended the December 5, 2012 Court Hearing regarding his step children the presiding Judge granted him and his wife, the biological mother, unsupervised visits with their children. He further reports that Nicki Straus, the worker from Eagle Village, was subsequently denying them unsupervised visits following the Court Hearing. The stepfather and biological mother also reported that Ms. Straus had reduced their visitation time from 2 hours twice weekly to1 hour twice weekly. This writer reviewed the December 5, 2012 Court Order. The order stipulates that parenting time is at the discretion of the Department of Human Services. On Eagle Village Foster Care Specialist Nicki Straus, Foster Care Program Manager Brenda Bolin and Adoption and Licensing Manager Shelly Mitchell were interviewed at the agency. Ms. Straus reports that parenting time is supervised due to various clinical reasons. Ms. Straus also reports that visitation was reduced to 1 hour twice weekly for two reasons. She reports that the children frequently become agitated during and after the visits, and therefore a reduced visitation time was in the best interests of the children. Secondly, she reports that the children had been having visitation scheduled 4 times weekly between the biological mother and the biological father. Ms. Straus stated that this was becoming too much for the children and therefore reduced the amount of time per visit for each parent. Ms. Bolin confirmed that it was in the best interests of the children to have supervised visits as well as reduced visitation hours. 4

6 APPLICABLE RULE R Service plans; initial and updated. (5)The initial service plan shall include all of the following information: (f) Plans for visits between the child, the child's family, and any other person. ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION: The Court Order stipulates that visitation is at the discretion of DHS. The agency treatment team established that it is in the best interests of the children to have supervised visits and that hours per week of visitation be reduced. VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED ALLEGATION: It is alleged that the biological mother and step father are being required by the agency to attend more classes and programs before there would be changes in visitation, but the classes and programs aren t being provided in a timely fashion. INVESTIGATION: On this writer interviewed the biological mother and stepfather. The stepfather reported that he was being required to attend anger management and domestic violence classes and that Eagle Village staff person Nicki Straus has been slow to schedule these classes. The biological mother reported that she was being required by Eagle Village to attend parenting classes and Ms. Straus had not yet scheduled them. Each parent stated that since they were not yet attending classes that this would negatively affect their visitation time and their ability to regain custody of their children. On Nicki Straus, Brenda Bolin and Shelly Mitchell were interviewed. Ms. Straus reported that the anger management and parenting classes are part of the treatment plan and the goal towards permanency. Ms. Straus did state that it has taken some time to schedule the classes, as the Department of Human Services has the contract with Inland Seas Counseling in Cadillac, and approval for the counseling has to be granted by DHS. Ms. Straus reported that she had informed the parents that the delay in counseling services would not affect their attempts to regain custody of their children, as the scheduling of classes was beyond their control. This writer examined correspondence between Ms. Straus and DHS. Efforts by Ms. Straus to work with DHS to schedule counseling began on November 5

7 26, s continued through On Ms. Straus produced a DHS-93 form authorizing counseling services through Inland Seas Counseling. APPLICABLE RULE R Service plans; initial and updated. (6) An updated service plan shall include all of the following information: (d) Assessment of progress in achieving the permanency goal for the child. ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION: The parents of the children are being required to attend anger management and parenting classes as part of the treatment plan and goal towards reunification. The agency had made appropriate efforts to schedule counseling. The agency denied that the parents would be held accountable for the time it took to procure counseling services. VIOLATION NOT ESTABLISHED IV. RECOMMENDATION I Recommend continuance of the regular license. January 15, 2013 Doug Turrill Date Licensing Consultant Approved By: January 16, 2013 Gregory V. Corrigan Date Area Manager 6