Massive survey results in sanctions against 106 group homes

A thorough examination of all children’s residential treatment facilities in North Carolina by the Division of Facility Services in collaboration with the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services concluded in early June and resulted in issuance of 106 sanctions against group homes.

The primary purpose of the inspections was to determine compliance with the North Carolina Administrative Rules governing child residential facilities and provide information relative to the treatment needs of the children and adolescents in these homes.

The focused surveys were conducted at the request of Gov. Mike Easley and DHHS Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom following the death of a child at a group home, and concerns that rules were not sufficient to support treatment needs of children in the homes. As a control measure, licensing of these homes, under N.C. Administrative Code 27G.1300, has been temporarily suspended while rule revisions are under study.

DFS collaborated with the DMH/DD/SAS to complete this project. Forty-three surveyors from DFS and 13 surveyors from the DMH/DD/SAS were assigned to survey 1,054 facilities. Surveyors began entering facilities on Jan. 29 and completed the surveys on June 3.

Throughout the survey, the client vacancy rate held at about 30 percent and the number of homes vacant that never had clients also held at about 30 percent. The final figures are as follows:

• 105 facilities surrendered their licenses.
• 29 percent of the total number of facilities was vacant (305 homes)
• 27 percent of the vacant facilities had never had clients (83 homes)

Of the remaining 949 facilities, 71 received 106 administrative sanctions and 458
received standard deficiencies.

The large majority of the standard deficiencies were found in the administrative rule 10A NCAC 27G .0202: Personnel Requirements. Personnel Requirements include: (1) training requirements, (2) minimum education, skills, experience, and licensure requirements, (3) criminal conviction disclosure, and (4) checking the N.C. Health Care Personnel Registry for findings of abuse or neglect. All of these are directly related to three of the areas of concern:

• Staff training,
• Staff qualifications and
• Criminal record background checks.

The 106 administrative sanctions issued to 71 facilities included:

• 38 Type A violations
• 41 Type B violations
• 11 suspensions of admissions
• Four summary suspensions
• Two provisional licenses
• 10 revocations

Next story

Last Modified: June 29, 2005 July 29, 2005