STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM ISMAEL AHMED GOVERNOR DIRECTOR November 1, 2010 Sharon Loughridge D.A. Blodgett For Children 805 Leonard Avenue, NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1138 RE: License #: CB410201088 Investigation #: 2011C0110002 D.A. Blodgett For Children Dear Ms. Loughridge: Attached is the Special Investigation Report for the above referenced facility. Due to the violation identified in the report, a written corrective action plan was required. On 10/22/2010, you submitted an acceptable written corrective action plan. Please review the enclosed documentation for accuracy and feel free to contact me with any questions. In the event that I am not available and you need to speak to someone immediately, please feel free to contact Greg Corrigan, Area Manager, at (269) 3375289. Sincerely, Steve Ragsdale, Licensing Consultant Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing Unit 13, 7th Floor 350 Ottawa, N.W. Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (616) 356-0127 P.O. BOX 30650 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8150 www.michigan.gov • (517) 335-6124 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU OF CHILDREN AND ADULT LICENSING SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT I. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION License #: CB410201088 Investigation #: 2011C0110002 Complaint Receipt Date: 10/18/2010 Investigation Initiation Date: 10/18/2010 Report Due Date: 12/17/2010 Licensee Name: D.A.Blodgett for Children Licensee Address: 805 Leonard NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Licensee Telephone #: Unknown Administrator: Sharon Loughridge, Administrator Licensee Designee: Name of Facility: D.A. Blodgett For Children Facility Address: 805 Leonard Avenue, NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1138 Facility Telephone #: (616) 451-2021 Original Issuance Date: 06/02/1991 License Status: REGULAR Effective Date: 06/01/2010 Expiration Date: 05/31/2012 Capacity: Unknown Program Type: CHILD PLACING AGENCY, PRIVATE 1 II. ALLEGATION A complaint was received that D.A. Blodgett (DAB) Caseworker 1 was aware of Child A’s inappropriate sexual behaviors with his two siblings in March of 2010, but did not formulate a safety plan for the foster home and did not include this information in subsequent service plans - despite a Sexual Offender Assessment that recommended that Resident A not be left unsupervised with his two siblings - or any children under the age of 11. III. METHODOLOGY 10/18/2010 Special Investigation Intake - 2011C0110002 10/18/2010 Special Investigation Initiated - Telephone Email to Sharon Loughridge 10/19/2010 Contact - Face to Face Document Review, File Review, Interview Licenser 1, Administrator 1, and Director. 10/22/2010 Contact - Telephone call made - Supervisor 1 ALLEGATION: DAB Caseworker 1 was aware of Child A's inappropriate sexual behaviors with his two half- siblings in March of 2010, but did not formulate a safety plan for the foster home and did not include this information in subsequent service plans - despite a Sexual Offender Assessment that recommended that Resident A not be left unsupervised with his two siblings - or any children under the age of 11. INVESTIGATION: DAB Caseworker 1 left the employment of D. A. Blodgett in July of 2010. She reportedly has left the State of Michigan. Thirteen-year-old Child A is the son of Foster Mother 1. He lives with his mother and step-father in Foster Home 1. Child A’s three-year-old and four-year-old nephews are placed in this home as relative foster children. While visiting his father and half-siblings in March of 2010, Child A was discovered to be involved in inappropriate sexual behaviors with his younger half-brothers. The incident was reported to the police and the local DHS office. As a result, the licensing department of D. A. Blodgett for Children was notified and promptly opened an investigation. As the investigation could not be completed until final reports were received from police and DHS, the investigation remained open at the time of this complaint investigation. The foster home licensing file and the case file of the nephews contained appropriate correspondence that extended the foster home investigation beyond the normal forty-five days. Documentation in the files also verified that DAB Caseworker 1 was aware of the inappropriate sexual behavior, the pending investigations ,and the potential risk that children in Foster Home 2 1 were exposed to as a result of Child A’s residency there. DAB Caseworker 1 was also documented as being present during interviews of the foster parents and discussion of the need for a safety plan and a sexual offender assessment to protect younger foster children in the home. Supervisor 1 stated that DAB Caseworker 1 did not discuss Child A’s inappropriate sexual behaviors or the risk that he might pose to younger children. There was no mention of this issue in DAB Caseworker 1’s updated service plans. Caseworker 2, who assumed supervision of the two nephews at the time of DAB Caseworker 1’s departure from employment with the agency, stated that she had met with DAB Caseworker 1 at the time of transition and was told nothing of Child A’s sexual issues. Caseworker 2 later learned of the issue from the DAB licensing staff and immediately made relevant parties aware of the issue. Sharon Lockridge, The Director of D.A. Blodgett, as well as this licensing consultant, individually reviewed the case file and service plans of the two nephews and concurred that there was documentation that DAB Caseworker 1 was aware of the safety concerns that were created by Child A living in the foster home with his three and four-year-old nephews, but nothing written into service plans or other external documents that would make the court, DHS, CASA, the Guardian ad Litum, or the court appointed attorney aware of the safety concern. APPLICABLE RULE R 400.12404 Placement. (7) An agency shall make every reasonable effort to maintain a stable foster care placement for each child placed in foster care. The efforts shall be documented in the child's record. ANALYSIS: DAB Caseworker 1’s omission of relevant information from service plans and other case record documentation created a potentially unsafe and unstable foster care placement for the two foster children placed in the home. CONCLUSION: VIOLATION ESTABLISHED APPLICABLE RULE R 400.12418 Service plans; initial and updated. (6) An updated service plan shall include all of the following information: (c) A summary of information pertinent to the updated services plan received since the last service plan from the child, the child's parents or legal guardian, foster parents, referring agency, and others, unless the agency documents why any of these entities cannot be involved. 3 IV. ANALYSIS: Information relating to an adolescent sexual offender living in the foster home was pertinent to the care of children in the home but was not included in subsequent service plans. CONCLUSION: VIOLATION ESTABLISHED RECOMMENDATION An acceptable corrective action plan has been received from the agency. No further action is required. It is recommended that no change be made to the license of this private child placing agency. 11/1/2010 Steve Ragsdale Licensing Consultant Date Approved By: Gregory V. Corrigan Area Manager 11/01/2010 Date 4