Incident summaries - 1998 - 2005

The following table summarizes records that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette received by filing requests under the provisions of the state Right to Know law with the state Department of Public Welfare. These records deal with violations of state regulations and laws by Allegheny County institutions housing abused, neglected, delinquent and mentally ill children. These are the only institutions that DPW determined violated regulations or laws during the period from 1998 to July of 2005.

Date: Date of the letter from DPW to the institution citing a violation of state regulation or law and asking for a plan of remedy.

Description: A summary of the violation as described in the letter from DPW and the letters of response from the institutions.

Response by agency: The agency's reply to DPW listing actions it had taken or planned to take to prevent the violation from recurring. In some cases, DPW did not provide the institution's response.

Holy Family Institute Total incidents - 20
Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	2
Date / Response by agency	Aug. 2000 / Worker to be retrained.
Description of incident	Worker sends name-calling child upstairs, then accosts him, scratching neck, bruising finger.
	April 2002 / Worker fired.
	Worker tells one child to hit another child, which is done.

Sexual abuse by staff	2
Date/response by agency	Aug. 2002 / Worker fired; staff reminded of appropriate relationships with children.
Description of incident	Worker sexually abuses child.
	May 2003 / DPW did not provide response.
	Worker sexually abuses child.

Restraint by staff	11
Date/response by agency	Nov. 1999/Two workers retrained; mediation with staff and children.
Description of incident	Worker restrains child improperly; drags another by his pants; second staff member doesn't help.
	May 2000/One worker fired, one given verbal warning.
	Youth restrained in a closed room, counseled inappropriately and openly about sexuality; no one intervenes. Also, DPW reports that a worker made it clear to children he would permit them to handle their disputes by hitting each other. And, DPW said, he pushed, shoved and screamed at a child when the youth said he was going to file a grievance against him.



	May 2000/Worker given written warning; his moodiness discussed; retraining.
	Worker restrains child unnecessarily; child is verbally but not physically aggressive. Worker admits that as child attempted to walk past him, he shoved her backward as he had to "stand his ground." Other children report this worker frequently provokes youngsters, then restrains them. They fear his bad moods.


	May 2000/Workers retrained; two-person escorts and "takedowns" discussed.
	Staff restrains child refusing to go to quiet room; second staff doesn't help at first.
	June 2000/Worker warned, suspended 2.5 days and retrained.
	Worker, who was visibly angered and swearing during a personal phone call, hangs up, then chases, restrains, curses at and threatens a child who was not being aggressive.

	Jan. 2002/Worker to be retrained.
	Hall monitor, by himself, restrains child, blackening eye.
	July 2002/DPW did not provide response
	Worker grabs child by throat, then restrains him. Child suffers brush burns and abrasions to face.
	Sept. 2002/Worker given written warning.
	Worker restrains youth with unapproved technique, bruising his shoulder by "chicken winging."
	March 2003/Worker to be retrained, denied overtime.
	Worker restrains child who is not aggressive, then kicks and punches child.
	March 2003 /Staff to be retrained, given three-day suspension and written warning.
	Worker "takes down" child with unapproved "leg sweep," causing bruising and brush burns. Worker threatens to cancel child's visits with relatives, an action prohibited by state law.

	July 2005/Worker given written warning and three-day suspension.
	Worker injures girl in one-woman restraint.


Other	5
Date/response by agency	Dec. 1998/Formal policy issued forbidding workers to take children home.
Description of incident	Worker takes youngsters home for holidays, continues contact with children who have left Holy Family. Worker rejects DPW warning that this puts him in vulnerable position.

	July 1999/Two workers who did not protect child fired, third suspended 40 hours; horseplay policy re-issued
	Child seriously bruised while wrestling with others in activity encouraged by staff
	May 2000/Worker suspended five days, to be retrained.
	Worker pulls girl's pony tail; she pushes him, confrontation ensues, her finger is broken.
	Aug. 2000/Worker trained to be alone with children; notification requirements reviewed.
	Workers give child mixed messages over whether she can use a pencil sharpener. DPW report is unclear how child is injured, but suggests the incident was not responded to or reported immediately and one worker did not have sufficient training to be alone with child.


	April 2002/Three workers fired; bed check logs upgraded.
	Two youths have consensual sex two days in a row.


Shuman Juvenile Detention Center - 15
Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	4
Date/response by agency	Oct. 2002/Worker suspended a day without pay.
Description of incident	Worker spits on child and locks her in room
	Nov. 2002 Worker given one day suspension.
	Worker out of control verbally and physically.
	March 2003/Worker fired.
	Worker grabs child around neck, leaves scratches.
	April 2005/DPW did not provide response.
	Child may have been hit by worker.

Restraint by staff	5
Date/response by agency	Sept. 1998/Worker suspended one day; retrained.
Description of incident	Unacceptable restraint by worker who is an instructor in "passive restraint techniques." Worker injures child in restraint. Worker fails to try to de-escalate child. Worker pushes child down hall and jams him into a corner. In another restraint, this same worker "applied excessive force to the resident's neck and throat, thus choking him." Supervisor described it as "clearly out of bounds."






	March 2002/Worker fired, supervisor disciplined.
	During a restraint, a worker smacks and pinches girl in face, causing scratches and bruises. Thi is verified by three witnesses who also say they were prohibited from writing witness statements, and given this message: "What happens on this unit stays on this unit."




	May 2003/Worker suspended three days; supervisor one day
	Worker restrains inappropriately with forearm to chest. DPW says this is "not an approved method for safe physical management." Worker also asked the child, who was on suicide watch, if he "was ready to die." Supervisor later tells DPW that he told the worker to stop when he saw worker place his hands around the child's throat, but the supervisor failed to include that in the incident report.






	Aug. 2003/Worker will be reminded not to do this.
	Child locked in room while in mechanical restraint, violating state law forbidding simultaneous use of locking and restraint

	Sept. 2004/Worker suspended for 5 days without pay.
	Child inappropriately restrained, DPW says: "It appears that [worker] used unauthorized restraint methods to control the resident and then falsely wrote up an incident report about the way it transpired."




Non-accidental serious injury by staff	2
Date/response by agency	June 2004/Worker fired.
Description of incident	Worker punches child in eye; sticks buttocks toward child and yells sexually suggestive remarks. Child pushes worker away. Worker says punch was accidental while he was deflecting punches from child.



	July 2003/No response given.
	Worker seriously injures child by kicking her in the head. Child's version corroborated by two other residents and her injuries.




Other	4
Date/response by agency	Aug. 1999/Two workers suspended for a day without pay.
Description of incident	Child says staff let boys in his room to rough him up.
	July 2002/Workers told to stop this; to be retrained.
	Children forced to strip and stay in rooms.
	Nov. 2004/Worker to be trained.
	Worker does not have required training.
	June 2004/Worker to be trained.
	Worker without proper training dispensing medications.


Auberle - 12
Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	2
Date/response by agency	April 2004/Worker removed from counseling duties.
Description of incident	Worker mistreats child, using "serious lack of good judgment," DPW says.
	July 2005/Worker suspended and moved to different unit.
	Worker mistreats child, using "serious lack of good judgment," DPW says.

Sexual abuse by staff	1
Date/response by agency	July 2002/Worker fired; criminally charged.
Description of incident	Child sexually assaulted by staff member. Auberle wrote DPW: "Auberle's management believes this situation to be unfortunate."


Restraint by staff	7
Date/response by agency	April 1998/Response not provided by DPW.
Description of incident	Improper physical restraint used without assistance, under questionable circumstances.

	April 1999/Retraining; review de-escalation with supervisor
	Child restrained; injures self while trying to escape; restrained again.
	June 1999/Staffing to be improved.
	Staff member with hand injury restrains child by himself because of understaffing.

	March 2000/Response not given.
	Child's ear lacerated during restraint, stitches required.
	Feb. 2002/Worker given verbal warning; retraining.
	Child restrained by worker from another unit after an earlier confrontation. DPW wrote, "worker unilaterally create[d] a confrontation with the statement, 'Do you have a problem with me?'"


	Feb. 2003/Worker removed from counseling duties
	Worker punches child during a restraint.
	Aug. 2003/Worker to be retrained, closely supervised.
	Worker chokes child during restraint. "Inappropriate use of restrictive procedures," DPW writes.


Non-accidential serious injury by staff	2
Date/response by agency	Nov. 1999/Worker fired.
Description of incident	Worker punches child in chest to shut him up at bedtime.
	Aug. 2003/Worker fired.
	Child's ear drum perforated during "physical encounter" with worker.


Family Links, Inc. - 9
Inappropriate contact	1
Date/response by agency	Aug. 2000/Worker quit; departures with children to be logged.
Description of incident	Worker allows youngsters to go to his home, smoke and watch pornographic movies.

Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	3
Date/response by agency	March 1999/Staffer fired.
Description of incident	Worker and child get in "street fight"; another worker hurt breaking it up; toddler witnesses.
	Dec. 2001/Worker reprimanded, given one-day leave.
	Child spits on counselor who then slaps her in face.
	Aug. 2002/Worker resigned.
	Child and worker engage in shoving and punching match.

Restraint by staff	2
Date/response by agency	Feb. 2000/Better training and supervision of inexperienced worker.
Description of incident	Questionable restraint of girl, leading to injury to worker and child.
	Jan. 2001/Supervisor placed on night duty.
	Both night staff restrain child, leaving 15 unattended.



Non-accidental serious injury by staff	1
date/response by agency	March 2001/Worker quit.
description of incident	Worker "indicated" as abuser on state ChildLine registry of abusers for incident at facility. Letters leave unclear what happened.


Other	2
date/response by agency	July 1999/Workers told not to do it again.
description of incident	Workers lock selves in and children out; youngsters throw rocks; try to break in; workers call police.
	Dec. 1999/Worker moved to new unit; retrained.
	Worker swears at resident and challenges him to physical fight.


The Academy - 8
Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	5
Date/response by agency	Aug. 2001/DPW did not provide response
Description of incident	Worker upends child's desk, child bruised on elbow.
	Jan. 2002/Worker suspended for week without pay.
	Worker slaps child, scratching her face
	March 2005/Worker to be retrained.
	Worker shoves child into desk
	May 2005/Worker fired.
	Worker throws child into wall.
	July 2005/Worker to be retrained.
	Worker hits boy on left cheek.

Sexual abuse by staff	1
Date/response by agency	March 2003/Worker fired.
Description of incident	Child reports inappropriate contact with worker.


Restraint by staff	1
Date/response by agency	Feb. 2002/Worker fired.
Description of incident	Worker injures child in a restraint. DPW describes it as "non-accidental serious injury," and files with the ChildLine abuse registry an indicated report of abuse against the worker.





Other	1
Date/response by agency	Nov. 2003/Academy promises to follow rules.
Description of incident	DPW cites program for falsifying bed check log and for filing incomplete incident report after three teens run away, and one dies in a car crash




Cornell - 7
Inappropriate contact	1
Date/response by agency	July 2000/Response not provided by DPW.
Description of incident	Workers wash girls' breasts when she refuses to.

Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	2
Date/response by agency	Jan. 1999/Response not provided by DPW.
Description of incident	Child bruised, no one will document it with photos
	Oct. 2004/Worker fired, others retrained
	Worker slaps child.

Restraint by staff	1
Date/response by agency	June 2003/Staff to be retrained.
Description of incident	Worker uses inappropriate restraint "in a situation where it was unwarranted."





Non-accidental serious injury by staff	1
Date/response by agency	Aug. 2001/Worker fired.
Description of incident	Worker punches child in face.

Other	2
Date/response by agency	July 2004/Proper bed checks to be done.
Description of incident	Child runs away without anyone noticing for hours because workers failed to conduct proper bed checks.


	Aug. 2004/Staffing to be increased; prescriptions locked.
	In unannounced visit, DPW finds inadequate staffing, inappropriately stored medications, children feel their complaints not answered.




Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic - 4
Inappropriate contact	1
Date/response by agency	Dec. 2000/Worker disciplined
Description of incident	Staff member who'd worked 148 hours in pay period swats child on buttocks. He also grabbed another child by the shirt after the youngster threw soap at him.


Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	1
Date/response by agency	Jan. 2001/DPW did not provide response.
Description of incident	Child has bruises that don't match those on "bodily injury tracking" form. Child is unable to talk, so can't explain how injuries occurred.


Non-accidental serious injury by staff	2
Date/response by agency	Nov. 1999/WPIC defends use of injured worker.
Description of incident	Worker with injured knee breaks child's arm in a restraint.
	Sept. 2003/ Worker fired.
	It is unclear from the letters how the child was injured in this case involving worker "misconduct." But DPW did "substantiate" that the worker abused the child.


Three Rivers Youth - 3
Sexual abuse by staff	2
Date/response by agency	Nov. 1999/DPW did not provide response.
Description of incident	Male worker takes four girls on outing; girl alleges sexual abuse.
	Oct. 2003/Three Rivers will report in future.
	Girl alleges improper contact; recants; Three Rivers fails to report allegation to DPW.


Restraint by staff	1
Date/response by agency	April 2003/Worker retrained and "disciplined."
Description of incident	Worker improperly restrains child, injuring her. Incident not reported on time.





Pressley Ridge - 2
Non-accidental non-serious injury by staff	1
Date/response by agency	Oct. 2001/DPW did not provide response.
Description of incident	Worker picks up child by pressure points under arms, bruising him, and backs him into a wall.



Other	1
Date/response by agency	June 2001/Program to ensure no contact.
Description of incident	Worker accused of abusing child talks to girl although contact is forbidden.



Spectrum Family Network (formerly APA and CATY)- 1
Restraint by staff	1
Date/response by agency	Nov. 1999/Worker to be retrained and not get new cases until then.
Description of incident	Worker has altercation with and restrains child not on her caseload.

Non-accidental serious injury by staff	1
Date/response by agency	June 2003/Worker fired.
Description of incident	Worker punches child multiple times in face.


Bradley residential treatment facilities - 1
Sexual abuse by staff	1
Date/response by agency	May 2005/Worker fired, program supervision improved
Description of incident	Child says worker molested her repeatedly.


Circle C - 1
Non-accidental serious injury by staff	1
Date/response by agency	Sept. 2004/Staffing to be improved, smoking prohibited.
Description of incident	Child is physically assaulted by other children; children permitted to smoke outside, with some getting cigarettes from workers; children permitted to get alcohol and remain out unsupervised until 2 a.m. during Ocean City field trip; worker teaching children lap dancing; children permitted to bring alcohol into the home.

Southwood residential treatment facility 1
Non-accidental serious injury by staff	1
Date/response by agency	Jan. 2003/Worker fired.
Description of incident	Worker grabs child by neck and carries him to bench, erythema to sternum