The mission of Mohican Youth Academy is “to create an opportunity for children to make positive changes in their attitudes and behaviors in order to become productive members of society,” according to its website. Among its programs are anger management, behavioral and mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment, and juvenile sexual offender treatment.
While the Butler County children did not have any complaints about the treatment center, they were moved to other facilities as a precaution, according to Bill Morrison, executive director of Butler County Job and Family Services.
“We sent a worker up to it because we had a couple of kids in it to interview the kids, just to see if they had any complaints or concerns,” Morrison said. “They didn’t express anything but we decided to move them out anyway.”
Children placed at the facility in the past have had a lot of success with its program, but “we didn’t want to take a chance,” Morrison told this news outlet.
The center is on notice its license may be revoked, according to documents obtained by this news outlet from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
A report details several instances when staff physically abused children at the center and on one occasion a child was taken to the emergency room.
“On or about May 1, 2017, there was a physical interaction between Staff 4 and Child 2, which resulted in physical injury to Child 2. MYA staff transported Child 2 to the Emergency room where Child 2 received three stitches above his eye,” the report reads. “Within 48 hours MYA staff took Child 2 back to the emergency room due to complaints of blood draining from his sinus cavity. Hospital staff identified a facial area fracture and tissue swelling. Lucas County substantiated physical abuse of Child 2 by Staff 4 on May 19, 2017.”
There are other incidents cited of physical and verbal abuse, invasion of privacy and other infractions.
This news outlet has reached out to the facility for comment, but has not yet received a response.
All agencies that have placed children at the center have been notified about the state’s investigation into abuse allegations, according to Bret Crow, communications director for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
“We have notified our partners and placing agencies about the allegations of abuse and neglect,” Crow said. “Under state law, Tri-State requested a hearing regarding our proposed adjudication order to revoke its license. That hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6.”
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