Sun Q&A on group homes

Clifford Collins, Randallstown: Have you analyzed the negative impact of group homes on local public schools? Most public schools in the Randallstown and Woodlawn areas do not have the resources to adequately serve agency-based students with special needs.

Rockoff: When we began reporting on children's group homes, the impact on schools -- and, in particular, in Baltimore County schools -- was expected to be our focus. However, many principals and teachers told us that youths living in group homes were good kids, and the educators were reluctant to specify issues except to say that group homes tried to enroll the kids without complete paperwork from their former schools. That said, some educators told us that the youths present serious discipline problems and drain the Baltimore County school system's time and resources.

Veronica C. Jefferson, Baltimore: I understand there is a manpower issue due to hiring not enough staff or staff that are not qualified. I have a bachelor's degree in Human Resources and over 20 years' experience working with youth.

Who do I have to contact to get a position with the group home organization of DHR? I have a master's in Christian counseling and I am getting my doctorate in pastoral counseling. I am also in school to become a licensed therapist in Christian counseling and certified in Creation Therapy this year. How do I get hired with that branch of DHR or one similar? I also want to run a group home myself, yet given the problems that are plaguing the agencies now, it seems I should start working from the inside first.

Rockoff: Veronica, if you're interested in starting a group home, you should contact the Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families, which handles those applications. Their main number is 410-767-4160. I presume you would have to contact DHR or specific group homes if you are interested in working for them to see if there are vacancies.

John Adolphi, Baltimore: What are the zoning requirements for these houses? Could they be just about in any neighborhood?

Rockoff: This is another issue that we looked into early in our reporting. Many neighbors of children's group homes complained to us -- especially residents of Baltimore County. County officials told us that federal fair housing laws and court decisions barred their preventing group homes from locating in residential neighborhoods. They said they couldn't impose zoning or other restrictions. Some residents felt the county should try to fight.

Lou Ann Duncan, Baltimore: What can you tell me about reports on Life Incorporated? My brother is in a group home that is run by them. I would appreciate any information you can give me.

Rockoff: When they learned that we were looking into group homes, a lot of people asked us for information about particular group home companies. It speaks to the lack of a central repository of information about the companies -- their locations, capacities, kinds of kids they take. The federal government cited such poor record-keeping as a problem in a review, and Maryland agencies have pledged to fix it by rolling out two computer databases by the end of next year. As far as Life Incorporated, it wasn't one of the group home companies we studied, so I can't offer any information.

Varghese K. Varghese, Baltimore: What action is being taken by the government against the violators and to avoid future violations?

Rockoff: The answer to your excellent question is, it depends. What our investigation found is that inspectors have sometimes waited months to respond to credible complaints of mistreatment and then taken no action after a group home administrator denied the claims. In other cases, regulators have asked group homes to pledge in writing they will fix problems. During the past five years, regulators have shut down 11 group home companies. Our investigation revealed, however, that children are imperiled for the months it takes regulators to shut down group homes. In addition, regulators have sometimes bungled attempts to revoke group home licenses, such as in the case of Bethany House.

T.S. Grant, Baltimore: I've read the first article in the series so far, so you may eventually answer these questions: (1) How many children does the city of Baltimore have in group homes? (i.e., the number we've sent to homes in the county and the number we have in the city) (2) Where can I access this information in the future? (3) What is a person in a group home called, not an orphan, correct?

Rockoff: I don't have those figures, although it's certainly true that many children living in group homes are from Baltimore City. Many Baltimore youths are placed in group homes in Baltimore County, but we also found them at other facilities around the state. As far as proper terminology, youths placed in group homes aren't always there because they were abandoned by their parents. Some are there for reasons of abuse, neglect or delinquency. They are residents.

Lauri Banfield, Rockville: I am frustrated with the criminals who pass through into the security of these kids. What is going to be done, or is it a waiting game to see if actions will be taken?

Rockoff: That's an excellent question, and one we will be following. Responding to our series, leading lawmakers called for significant changes in Maryland's child welfare system. Christopher J. McCabe, secretary of the Department of Human Resources, says his inspectors are reviewing the criminal checks of group home administrators as they visit the homes. Inspectors are supposed to make sure that companies have checked the criminal backgrounds of counselors, but our investigation found that they often don't. For example, two women convicted in state, and later federal, court on drug charges worked at Children of Life group homes in Harford County until each was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

Joseph Coughlin, Silver Spring: Did any of the research involve the Koba Institute and their involvement in group homes, and if so, what were the findings?

Rockoff: No, we did not look into the Koba Institute.

Sade Makinde, Randallstown: I understand that there are some bad group homes. Why not commend the good ones? The Children's Guild group home is one of the best (if not the best) in the state. I would advise that you visit them, interview the director, staff and students. You will be impressed.

Rockoff: Sade, that's right. There are good group homes. We tried to point out several -- and featured one in particular, San Mar Children's Home in Boonsboro -- in our story on Wednesday titled "For troubled teens, 'a second home.'"

Kwane Price, Edgewood: I would like to know why was it so easy for these people to get away with this type of abuse of taxpayers' money. Not to mention the fact that known offenders were working with children. In one story, you made mention of one of the owner's family being convicted felons. It seems to me that all of that should have come out before they where able to get a license.

Rockoff: We don't know if it was "easy," as you say, for group homes to spend money inappropriately and hire staff with questionable qualifications. What we found, however, was that regulators haven't checked on group home spending, and they don't insist that the amount group homes get paid depends on the quality of services the homes provide children. In addition, we found that regulators often don't know about the qualifications of the people who run the companies and work in the homes. That was what happened in the case to which you refer: Regulators said they didn't know about the links between a drug paraphernalia ring and the Children of Life group homes in Harford County until we told them.

Rita McGinley, Upper Marlboro: Did your investigation reveal any difference in the standard of care provided by traditional organizations such as Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, etc., as opposed to private individuals who incorporate for the sole purpose of running a group home or homes?

Rockoff: Our investigation didn't look into that. One of the most highly regarded group homes we examined was Board of Child Care in Randallstown; it is connected to the Methodist church.

Christy, Baltimore: Your expose reveals much about the downfalls of group homes in Maryland. Where are the stories about those who are doing an exemplary job? You have mentioned a couple just by name in the April 13 article, but not specifics as to why they stand above the rest. I am sure that the readers of The Sun are just as curious as I am as to who are the best group homes and what they are doing right. Perhaps the placing agencies can make more of an effort to place children in these homes, and the other group homes that are on the verge of losing their licenses can take notes.

Rockoff: The placing agencies -- the local departments of social services -- face a difficult job, they told us, because the good group homes often don't have any openings and because there's no central clearinghouse of information about the quality of the homes, so social services workers must rely on word of mouth. In our article on Wednesday, we tried to point out several features of the San Mar Children's Home in Boonsboro that advocates say makes it well-regarded. These features include: limiting management salaries and expenses, providing a range of services to youths, raising extra money for programs, making sure residents abide by a strict schedule and are under constant supervision, holding onto skilled staff longer than other homes, obtaining national accreditation and having a dedicated, independent and questioning board of directors.

Related topic galleries: Randallstown, Social Services, Teen-agers, Society, Drug Trafficking, Upper Marlboro, Roman Catholic

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