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[Anonymous]

Actually, the people of Cedar City probably do care about the kids now that they understand that it isn't just kids who are at-risk of serious injury and even death.  As for Ken Stettler, it appears that he has advocated for stricter rules and regulations and that his biggest problem is lack of resources to properly monitor the programs and enforce existing laws. If jobs are the problem, the state of Utah should raise funds to hire more DHS staff to monitor the nearly 200 programs operating in the state.  Doesn't that make more sense than granting more licenses?

[Deborah]

***Stettler is not the problem, the problem is UTAH needs jobs. This is ecomonics 101. Getting rid of Stettler is like putting a band-aid on a severed artery. It ain't gonna stop the bleeding.

That may be true, but there's also a chance that the person who replaces him could be more inclined to enforce the regulations, for what that is worth. A new Lic Dir may not have close ties with the program owners. Chances are that a new Lic Dir will not have a background in Youth Corrections.

**As for Ken Stettler, it appears that he has advocated for stricter rules and regulations and that his biggest problem is lack of resources to properly monitor the programs and enforce existing laws.

I don't think 'lack of resources' is the problem. Overlooking violations and not investigating claims of abuse is the problem.
Trusting 'fellow saints' to clean up violations is a problem.

Yes, it 'appears' that he advocated stricter rules. What choice did he have when so many teens were dying? I consider his action to be a political move to 'appear' to be addressing the problem. If the DHS can't properly monitor the programs they issue licenses to, that is a serious problem. They are are not in compliance with state laws that mandate the requirements for their agency.

I imagine that 'inadequate resources' is just the next excuse in a long line of excuses, which will change when more resource doesn't prevent the next child from dying.

[cherish wisdom]

ken Stettler is a major problem.  I personally communicated with him. He was arrogant and insensitive. I'd love to cut and paste part of his letter here for all to see just how he responds to not only parents, but licensed professionals who report abuse at these programs.
He supports and defends these programs. He was rude and condescending.

The authorities in Utah, including Stettler, are as guilty as those who abuse the children in these programs.  They only act when someone dies in an effort to wipe pie off their faces.  They are not SAINTS - they are DEMONS who allow children to be tortured and abused in these for-profit programs.  

[1971 - 2001] the darkest chapter in Federal law enforcement history.
http://www.house.gov/reform/press/02.01.07.htm' target='_new'>Committee on Government Reform

[cherish wisdom]

This is something for those who are reluctant to believe that beatings and abuse take place in problem youth centers: (This was taken from the Youth Rights Forum - name witheld)

The California Youth Authority (CYA)needs to be shut down! Here is an article on how the attorney general of California refuses to prosecute "counselors" that beat two youths. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... ADTC29.DTL
These bastards were even caught on tape (imagine what happens that we don't see), which you can see for yourself at:
http://www.ellabakercenter.org/page.php?pageid=182

The day before this happened (in January) two other teenagers where found hanged in their cells. Here is more information on some of the abuses (including putting youth into cages where they can barely turn around).
http://www.indybay.org/police/#1959

He who laughs lasts
--Crazy Mac

[Anonymous]

K Arnold,

how were you made aware of that meeting in SLC?

did you go?

what transpired?

were any more meetings scheduled for the future?

how can the family of Anson be kept abreast of things like that - since they had NO foreknowledge of that meeting?

thanks

[Anonymous]

SO WHAT'S THE SCOOP ON THE BIG MEETING IN SALT LAKE CITY?

[Anonymous]

"Now - in exchange for this information I would like to know your purpose. I was fair and open with this - can't you do the same? I have no beef with this guy, but you asked for info. Why are you asking questions about him? I suspect you've been thrown a name, but I think you are barking up the wrong tree. Do tell - I might be able to help you.

If you tell what you're up to - that might be worth some more information....

Internet has lot's of info - just have to know where to look..."

===============
Hi Anon,

you sound like you have information;  would you mind suggesting how the Arnett family can gain access to what you might have, or to other sources, please?  They would be most interested in any and all information that may be out there that is relevant to this whole subject;  the good and the bad, both.

If any reform is to ever take place, it must start with having lots of reliable information.

If the family of Anson are ever going to be able to exercise their rights regarding seeking compensation for their loss, they will need lots of good information.

any help they can get will be most appreciated,

thanks!

[Antigen]

On 2004-06-19 04:03:00, Anonymous wrote:

"SO WHAT'S THE SCOOP ON THE BIG MEETING IN SALT LAKE CITY?"

This landed in my box the other day.

Here is an article reporting on the Wednesday meeting of the Utah Health and Human Services Interim Committee:  agenda item "Group Homes".
 
 
   
  document.writeln(AAMB1);

 
 
 deseretnews.com
Utah
 Thursday, June 17, 2004
 
     

E-mail story


   
 
 
     
 
     
 
 
 
     

    Oversight of group homes targeted

By Amy Joi Bryson
Deseret Morning News

      Cedar City officials and residents, asserting the March slaying of a group home counselor was a "needless death," reached out Wednesday to an interim committee of lawmakers, saying more stringent oversight needs to be imposed.
      Whether that is through state government or giving counties and cities broader discretion in making sure homes live up to their promises is still left unsettled.
      "We don't want to shut down these homes, we want to make them better," said Karyn Arnold of Cedar City.
      Arnold pointed to an example of a sex offender treatment program that located its offices within 500 feet of an elementary school. Clients of the program would often visit the offices while school was in session and in other instances hand out water bottles to participants in a youth athletic program, she said.
      "The cops have been there three times in a couple week period," she said. "I don't understand how they can stay in business this way."
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
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       Testimony Wednesday before the Health and Human Services Interim Committee pointed to the need to do three things: Increase the specificity of state rules governing residential treatment programs; empower state inspectors to enforce the regulations by levying fines; give local government more control over the regulation of treatment facilities.
      The concern, rests in part, after the March death of 31-year-old Anson Arnett, who prosecutors say was killed by two teenage residents of Maxim Life Skills Academy. The facility had several licensing violations, authorities say.
      While the state used to have more regulatory authority over such programs, Rep. Judy Buffmire, D-Salt Lake, pointed out it was the 1998 Legislature that rescinded the extent of the state's oversight via its licensing division.
      "We need to start looking at ourselves because they had much tighter control," Buffmire said. "I think we all know there is a problem, but it is our problem."
      Ken Stettler, director of the Office of Licensing in the state Department of Human Services, said the problem of demanding facilities' meeting licensure requirements also is compounded by limited staff.
      His employees include 20 licensure workers who handle the 1,250 programs out there that range from foster care to homes specializing in treatment for mental health issues or substance abuse.
      The homes can range from as little as four clients to 400. Five employees conducted more than 50,000 background checks last year.
      "We have our hands full," Stettler said.
      The committee agreed to have a work group tackle the variety of possibilities that could be implemented through legislation or via administrative rule.
      It is expected that lawmakers will discuss the topic again at its August meeting.

 
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Guard with jealous attention the public Liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that Jewel. Unfortunately, Nothing will Preserve it but downright Force. Whenever you Give Up that Force, you are ruined.....The Great Object is that every man be armed.....Everyone who is able may have a gun.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1888952229/circlofmiamithem' target='_new'>- Patrick Henry

[Anonymous]

While no one is under any obligation to keep the Arnett family informed about these things, I can assure you that no one is as passionate and as determined to set things straight as they are.  

So, please, if anyone knows about any of these events or hearings in advance, please post them so everyone who has an interest can make preparations to attend and speak for some reform.

thanks!

[Antigen]

I did post about this hearing a few days ago. Someone had emailed it to me anonymously and asked that I do so. I can't promise to always be able to fwd info in a timely manner, but I do try to make public everything appropriate as soon as I know of it.

I bet the Arnett family is quite interested in reforming the industry right about now. I just wonder if they can be open minded about properly assigning the cause of the problems, given that they're grieving the loss of a loved one. But, of course, they certainly are at least as entitled as anyone to take a crack at improving the situation.

History gives us a kind of chart, and we dare not surrender even a small rushlight in the darkness. The hasty reformer who does not remember the past will find himself condemned to repeat it.
--John Buchan

[cherish wisdom]

Thanks for the information regarding the long-overdue meeting.  It looks as though the 1998 Utah legislature made it easier for facilities to circumvent laws and rules.  
Being short handed should not be an excuse every time a child or staff member dies as a result of violations of laws. The state needs to start charging more for licensing.  $300 per year is not enough. I pay $100 for my license.  They should increase the fees to $3000 - then they could hire additional staff. They should also have monetary penalties for violations of rules. This could put facilities out of business who are not in compliance.  
There's much more that could be done.  Making lame excuses is not sufficient when human lives are at issue.

If we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion by education

--Thomas Jefferson

[Deborah]

What I would like to hear is a projection regarding how many employees it would take to monitor the facilties appropriately. And why they have not historically issued fines for violations. It would be interesting to know if that is consistent with all facilities or just the teen warehouses.



1250 programs/20 employees = 63 programs per employee. 250 days a year. That's 4 days devoted to each facility, per year. Perhaps Utah is run differently, but it's very probable that some of these facilties aren't visited but every 1-3 years unless a complaint is filed.



50,000 background checks?!  That's 1,000 background checks per week--200 per day--or 40 per day for each of the 5 employees. Each facility is hiring 4 new employees per week?

Must be a very high rate of turnover in the human service field?



Perhaps the fee to run checks should be increased. In Tx it's 2 bucks, indicating that DHS is loosing money or background checks are not time consuming to conduct. Come to think of it, it cost more than 2 bucks to type and mail the results. Seems that the fee could be increased to cover the costs of temps to that grunt work, freeing up reps to monitor.

[Anonymous]

I was at the meeting in Salt Lake and felt that things went very well it was also farily well attended. There will be another meeting in August
that I will also attend. I felt that there was some very strong statments made about what needs to be changed. I am hopeful that the laws can be changed because right now there is very little
regulations in place to protect the children and the people that are employed with these programs.
I also think that the State Health and Human Interim Committee that we went before realize there is a big problem. They were also very well informed about the different situations that are occuring in these homes. There were people from different cities from around the state that are dealing with the same problem.And it all comes down to the fact that these programs are nothing more than money makers
bottom line and no amount of money can bring back a life that has been taken and in this case there were three.

[cherish wisdom]

Anon in Cedar City:
It's good that you are taking an interest in this. Something needs to be done and nothing will be done unless the people of Utah continue to demand it.  Is there an initiative process in Utah - where the people can vote for changes?  It seems as though many people who are elected to serve you are in the back pockets of the owners of these programs. This is why programs conitinue to operate even when there are violations.
A wrongful death suit should be filed against the State of Utah for the death of Anson. They knew there were violations and did nothing. This is the policy though. I personally received a letter indicating that it was the policy to go in - determine if there were any violations and then ask the facility to correct it. IT IS NOT THE POLICY TO SHUT PROGRAMS DOWN AND SEND CHILDREN HOME -even though their safety and mental health may be at stake as a result of violations of State, Federal and Core rules.
The DHS has promoted these programs and they have defended them even when children have died as a result of gross negligence and violations of rules.
They do little to nothing when former students or their parents make reports of violations of laws, rules and regulations.
Some programs are litterally torturing children in their care, some have diagnosed mental illnesses.
The world was shocked when they actually saw photos of the cruel and degrading treatment of the Iraqi prisoners. I can tell you that the same types of things are going on in some of the youth programs in Utah and elsewhere. My own child was abused and injured and your State Attorney General did not believe the abusive acts were criminal - even though there were violations of codes, rules and laws.
Why are their laws, codes and rules? They are there to protect us. They are there to assure that children in these programs are cared for properly and not abused.  They are using isolation and seclusion as a form of punishment. Many have reported being in I&S for weeks. My own child was in I& S for an entire week.  The Core rules state that isolation can not be used for more than four hours.  This is just an example of one of the violations.
Many children have reported being stripped naked as punishment. They have been denied medical care, water and proper food. Many have been deprived of using the restroom for hours. Some have reported being beaten and drugged with injections of powerful psychotropic agents against their will.  This is all done to humiliate,dominate and abuse.  
Anson is dead - and you can't bring him back. But you can reform this industry. Just before he died he was lamenting to his family about the treatment of the youth in his facility. He would want nothing less.  What is happening in Utah is pure evil. Your government is corrupt when it comes to these programs. We can't do anything about it.  This is a matter that must be addressed and demanded by the people of the State of Utah. I urge you to continue to do this before someone else dies in your state as a result of insufficient governmental oversight.  
Best Wishes....

To err is human; to forgive is simply not our policy.

 

[ This Message was edited by: cherish wisdom on 2004-06-23 01:04 ]

[k_arnold1974]

I have been active in the situation in Cedar for the last 2 years, Alot of people think the citazens are just getting involved since the death Of Anson Arnett, this is not true. We have been fighting to get changes made in our state for a long time. We have had some new ordinances created locally and are happy that we were able to go before state officials to make better legislation. We have had support from our local state representatives for as long as i have been involved and if it wasn't for them we would not have been able to get scheduled into the interim committee meeting. We only found out about the meeting days before it was to happen and I personally contacted Anson Arnett's Sister and Brother, but the Family had prior commitments that made it unable for them to attend but they want to attend the next meeting in august where we will be able to present actuall legislation to be sent before the State legislature. A work group consisting of officials and some of the industries representatives will be working on this, a little scary but hopefully our officials won't be bullied into things they don't want. I know they feel the strong need for reform that alot of us do. I got to speak at the meeting and it was (scary) very insightful for the committee to hear how it is for the citizens dealing with these places.
Our city attorney who has been very helpfull let us know we finally got a spot before the committee. and probably the best part was towards the end when the committee members suggested that we get some representatives from the industry in to give their views and opinions and several of us said they had representation there who were in the back just listening. Several lawyers from group homes were in attendance but did not want to speak. The committee head sounded quite peturbed that they had not made themselves known from the begining.
At the start of the meeting Senator Hatch spoke followed by our city attorney Paul Bittmen and then followed Ken Stettler and Shannon Delaney from our school district and then a Duschene county resident and then myself. Virgin residents sent a memorandum since no one could attend. It was nice to actually have our voices heard. This is not a new problem for Cedar and we have been working for such a long time to get things accomplished.