State won’t renew Glade Run license
Child facility to close- One of Glad Run Lutheran Services’ residential buildings will soon no longer be in service following incidents of staff negligence.
The Department of Human Services issues a non-renewal notice last week to the child residential facility operated by Glade Run at 70 Beaver Road.
“If an appeal is not received by November 18, the department will be working with Glade Run and county agencies, payers and families to plan for the transition of the children served in that facility,” said DHS spokeswoman Rachel Kostelac.
The agency had incidents this year involving staff negligence, including one in which a resident was found hanging him.herself with a bed sheet after being left alone and another where an employee was found on a bathroom floor after overdosing on heroin.
The facility serves 33 children, according to DHS documents.
Sheila Talarico, executive director of the Glade Run Foundation, said the decision by the state was not expected, but that Glade Run will not appeal the decision, “knowing that the state’s agenda is to close residential beds throughout the state.”
“We submitted a corrective action plan, which we agreed to, signed and implemented,” Talarico said. “Receiving the ‘non-renewal’ for the license of one of our buildings was not expected.”
Glade Run will retain a residential license, as well as all of its schools and community based programs.
“Glade Run will continue, but our primary concern always is and continues to be the welfare of the children we serve,” Talarico said. “With residential beds closing across the state, there are few options left for this level of placement.”
Glade Run earlier this year settled with the DHS regarding an alleged child-on-child sex abuse incident that occurred in 2015. The settlement included adopting new guidelines with staff monitoring of residents.
One of the alleged victims of the incident sued Glade Run this year.
“We need to send them a message that what they have been doing and what they have done is wrong,” said Attorney Michael Pisanchyn, who said the plaintiffs have no intention of settling out of court. “In essence, the agreement with the state in regard to them and their licensure is they will do what they should have been doing in the first place.”
Pisanchyn also said another alleged victim has come forward and is also expected to file suit.
He said a brief has been filed and within “The next 60 to 90 days” a ruling will be made as to whether or not the case will be tried in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, where the suit was filed.
Article written by Aaron McKrell, the Butler Eagle
