A Department of Public Welfare official reinspected Shuman Juvenile Detention Center yesterday, as Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato gave assurances that "every one" of the violations previously found has been addressed.

Those violations, including inadequate staffing, poor medical record keeping and inoperable fire extinguishers, as well as a leaky roof and dusty vents, prompted the state to downgrade Shuman to a provisional license following a June inspection, the first time the Lincoln-Lemington facility has been found out of compliance.

At a news briefing at Shuman yesterday, Mr. Onorato said, "We're very optimistic you're going to see a permanent license in the very near future."

Department of welfare spokeswoman Stacey Witalec confirmed an inspector was at Shuman yesterday, but said Shuman's license will not be immediately reinstated.

"This will go through the typical process. We'll inspect and write up a report of any deficiencies found. Once we have that report drafted, we'll determine what the status of the facility is and what licensing action we should take," whether that is to reissue a provisional license or a regular license.

It is not known how long that process might take.

Meanwhile, work to replace the leaky roof, which has caused black mold in the Shuman cantina, is not expected to start until next month. Mr. Onorato said the center has been hampered by a $5 million reduction in federal funding but funding is now in place to get the work done.

Shuman Director William T. Simmons also said they plan to address staffing and overcrowding concerns by hiring six more staff members. In a previously announced agreement, up to 24 teens will be moved from Shuman to the Auberle Home for Boys in McKeesport this fall.

For now, complying with state-required minimum of one staff member for every six residents has meant designating "floaters" to fill in and, when that's not possible, requiring staff to work overtime.

Mr. Simmons called the state's report a wake-up call, and last week he sent a letter to Richard Gold, deputy secretary for the Office of Children, Youth and Families, inviting him and his staff "to visit the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center as soon as possible to view and re-inspect the progress we have made."

He reiterated that point yesterday. "We want to impress upon them that we take this seriously."

Mr. Simmons said he took some comfort that inspectors found no evidence that Shuman's teen residents have been mistreated or reported that they fear for their safety.

The report did say some staff "do not feel that issues that are brought to administrative staff attention are being addressed." Mr. Simmons said he has been holding one-on-one meetings with staff since he came to Shuman a year ago, and will continue to do that.

With the corrections and changes that are under way, he said, "I'm very optimistic about the direction that Shuman is going."