Disability Rights
WASHINGTON

Washington?s
Out-of-State Youth Plead:

Let Us Come Home
Report and Recommendations

October 2018

 

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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 2
ABOUT DISABILITY RIGHTS W ASHINGTON ......................................................................... 2
WASHINGTON’S OUT-OF-STATE FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS ............................................. 2
MONITORING AND INVESTIGATION .................................................................................... 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 6
CLARINDA ACADEMY SUBJECTS YOUNG PEOPLE NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT TO
HIGHLY RESTRICTIVE AND SEGREGATED RESIDENTIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.............. 6
PLACEMENT AT CLARINDA ACADEMY IS INVOLUNTARY. ...................................................... 6
WASHINGTON DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE CLARINDA ACADEMY’S
USE OF PHYSICAL RESTRAINTS IS SAFE AND APPROPRIATE.................................................. 6
CLARINDA ACADEMY DOES NOT OFFER THE TREATMENT NEEDED TO ADDRESS COMPLEX
TRAUMA. ........................................................................................................................ 7
SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY...................................................................................... 8
BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................. 9
FACTS AND ANALYSIS .............................................................................................. 13
CLARINDA ACADEMY IS COMPLETELY SEGREGATED AND EXCEPTIONALLY RESTRICTIVE. ..... 13
PLACEMENTS CIRCUMVENT DUE PROCESS. ................................................................... 20
OVERSIGHT OF RESTRAINT USE IS INADEQUATE. ............................................................. 26
TREATMENT FAILS TO ADDRESS COMPLEX TRAUMA……………………………...................43
RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. 48
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 51
END NOTES ................................................................................................................. 52

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Introduction
Washington’s foster care system has been sending many young
people in need of residential care and treatment to the Clarinda
Academy, an institution in Iowa. This is a report by Disability Rights
Washington (DRW) to expose the conditions and treatment
experienced by Washington foster youth at this institution.

About Disability Rights Washington
DRW is a private non-profit advocacy organization with a mission “to
advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with
disabilities” and “to pursue justice on matters related to human and
legal rights.” DRW has been specially designated to serve as the
federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system for
Washington citizens with disabilities and mental health conditions. 1
Following the harrowing 1972 expose of conditions at Willowbrook
State School in New York, Congress enacted a series of legislation
known as the “P&A Acts,” which require states to designate P&A
systems to serve as “watchdogs” to ensure the human rights of people
with developmental, physical, and mental health disabilities. 2
Congress provided federal funding and mandated that each P&A have
authority to provide information and referrals, outreach and
monitoring, as well as advocacy and education for policy makers
regarding the rights of its constituents. 3 Under these statutes, P&A’s
also have broad access authority to conduct investigations of abuse
and neglect upon receiving complaints or probable cause to believe
abuse or neglect has or may be occurring. 4
DRW is releasing this report in furtherance of its mission and federal
mandate to “protect and advocate” for Washingtonians with mental
health disabilities.

Washington’s Out-of-state Foster Care
Placements
DRW’s investigation of Clarinda Academy began several months after
DRW discovered that the Children’s Administration of the Washington
State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was placing
many young people in out-of-state institutions. Specifically, DRW
received a call from a community member who was concerned that a

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sixteen-year-old in Washington’s foster care system was going to be
sent out-of-state for behavioral treatment instead of receiving intensive
mental health services in Washington.
As DRW sought to advocate for in-state services, DRW learned that
Washington had placed scores of other young people in out-of-state
facilities due to lack of in-state resources. No in-state placement could
be identified for this young person, who was ultimately placed in a
facility in Utah. When DRW later spoke with that individual about the
fact there were other youth in out-of-state facilities, he wrote a letter
pleading with Washington State to bring him and others who “live in
the system” back home.

In the meantime, DRW further learned that Washington’s Children’s
Administration had placed several young people in Utah as well as
other states far as Michigan, Arizona, Tennessee, and South Carolina
and Iowa.

Confidential
Exhibit 1

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From a public list of Washington’s contracts that had been updated in
November 2017, Washington had over seventy “child-specific”
contracts for out-of-state residential care. Seventy-five percent of
these contracts were with facilities owned and operated by Sequel, a
private for-profit corporation that was reportedly planning to begin
offering services in Washington. 5 Twenty of these contracts were with
two institutions in Iowa, Clarinda Academy and Woodward Academy,
both of which are owned and operated by Sequel. 6

Monitoring and Investigation
To learn more about Sequel and the facilities where numerous
Washington youth have received treatment, DRW partnered with its
sister P&A, Disability Rights Iowa (DRI), to conduct onsite monitoring
in the two Iowa facilities. Over the course of two days in February
2018, DRW and DRI conducted separate private interviews with all the
young people from Washington, which by that time had dropped to
about a dozen. Practically every young person who spoke to DRW
discussed or alluded to experiencing multiple traumatic events of
sexual or physical assault and/or abandonment by trusted adults in
their lives, and almost all had been through multiple placements prior
to coming to Iowa. 7 Individuals at both academies described highly
restrictive and segregated environments, and as expected, all
expressed homesickness for Washington. However, the youth at
Clarinda Academy independently reported consistent allegations of
verbal and physical abuse, and earnestly complained that they desired
to live somewhere else.
Based upon these complaints, DRW initiated a systemic investigation.
Although a number of young people feared getting in trouble for
reporting complaints, a few agreed to participate in DRW’s
investigation and provided releases for DRW to access their records
and consent for DRW to speak with their advocates in Washington. 8
With three investigation participants, DRW proceeded to assess the
allegations of abuse and neglect that DRW had heard while
conducting its monitoring at Clarinda Academy.

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Photo of
Clarinda
Academy Sign
reading
“Clarinda
Academy Home
of the Eagles”
This report details non-identifying evidence regarding Washington
State’s failure to oversee the care and treatment at Clarinda Academy
and the improper practices that Sequel has allowed. 9 The case
examples from Clarinda Academy illustrate how Washington’s use of
out-of-state facilities is creating an unacceptably heightened risk of
abuse and neglect and further harm to youth who have already
suffered from multiple, prolonged, or chronic traumatic events. This
report aims to shine a light on the inappropriate conditions and
inadequate treatment at Clarinda Academy, and to advocate for
elimination of out-of-state foster care placements.

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Executive Summary
Clarinda Academy subjects young
people needing mental health
treatment to highly restrictive and
segregated residential and educational
services.
DRW’s monitoring, reports by students, and the institution’s own
policies demonstrate that Clarinda Academy is the least integrated
and most restrictive setting for a young person to be placed. The
institution provides segregated residential care and education that
allows few interactions with anyone unaffiliated with the facility, and
applies a range of consequences to enforce its panoply of strict
“norms” that severely limit individual liberty, expression, and
relationships.

Placement at Clarinda Academy is
involuntary.
Young people placed at Clarinda Academy were not free to leave if
they are dissatisfied with Clarinda Academy’s treatment. They did not
give consent for ongoing treatment at Clarinda, which was “courtordered” in their dependency proceedings without any findings relating
to the criteria for ordering involuntary treatment. Despite being highly
dissatisfied with their programs, none were allowed to discharge at
will.

Washington does not provide
sufficient oversight to ensure Clarinda
Academy’s use of physical restraints
is safe and appropriate.
Washington’s social workers have received information regarding
allegations of inappropriate physical restraint practices at Clarinda
Academy, but did not act to ensure the safety of the young people

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they have placed there. Records from Clarinda Academy raise grave
concerns that the institution does not adequately safeguard against
abusive physical restraints that routinely contravene Washington
regulations.

Clarinda Academy does not offer the
treatment needed to address complex
trauma.
As an expert in providing residential treatment to youth with histories
of experiencing complex trauma, Dr. Gauri Goel has determined that
Clarinda Academy is failing to adequately assess or attend to the
treatment needs of the young people placed there by Washington. In
her report, she details how each youth has been harmed by their
treatment at Clarinda Academy and recommends they be served in an
in-state program that will individually assess and address their unique
complex trauma needs.

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Scope and Methodology
The purposes of DRW’s investigation has been to assess 1) whether
the State of Washington has been adequately ensuring the rights of
the young people it has placed at Clarinda Academy and 2) whether
the young people have experienced abuse or neglect.
Federal P&A regulations define “abuse” to include “the use of
excessive force when placing an individual with mental illness in bodily
restraints” as well as “use of bodily or chemical restraints which is not
in compliance with Federal and State laws” and “any other practice
which is likely to cause immediate physical or psychological harm or
result in long-term harm if such practices continue.”10 These
regulations define “neglect” to include failures “establish or carry out
an appropriate individual program or treatment plan (including a
discharge plan).” 11 As such, DRW’s investigation sought to evaluate
Clarinda Academy’s practices, and to determine whether Clarinda
Academy is providing appropriate treatment. This investigation also
considered Washington’s practices to protect the rights of young
people at Clarinda Academy and to safeguard against further abuse
and neglect.
Pursuant to releases of information that each of the young people
signed, DRW accessed individual treatment and behavior plans,
restraint records, and Washington’s Children’s Administration records.
DRW had multiple follow-up phone conversations with the
investigation participants, and also spoke with each of their public
defenders. In addition, DRW requested and reviewed copies of
Clarinda Academy’s training materials, staff personnel records, and
policies.
To assess the adequacy of treatment, DRW retained Guari Goel,
Psy.D., to provide consultation based on her experience and expertise
in administering residential treatment programs for young people who
have histories of suffering complex trauma. 12 Dr. Goel reviewed the
treatment and child welfare records DRW had obtained and conducted
additional in-person interviews with the investigation participants who
were still at Clarinda Academy, a phone interview with the Clarinda
Academy Clinical Director and Administrators, and a phone interview
with an investigation participant who recently transferred to another
out-of-state placement. This investigation relied upon the conclusions
that she documented in a written report to DRW.

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Background
Clarinda Academy is a large institution in Iowa where states from all
over the country, including Washington State, have placed over 200
young people between the ages of 12 and 18. 13 These students reside
in one of seven dorms on campus and attend year-round classes at
the onsite school. 14

Photos of
building, coat
and shoe room,
and whiteboard
listing census
for male dorms

Established in 1992, Clarinda Academy is the flagship facility of
Sequel, a for-profit private corporation that has since acquired or
opened twenty other “staff secure residential” facilities, eight “secure
residential facilities” and four Psychiatric Residential Treatment
Facilities (PRTF)’s across the country. 15
According to the Sequel administrators who met with DRW during its
monitoring visits to Clarinda and Woodward, Sequel based its
program model on the Glen Mills Academy in Pennsylvania, which
was a facility established in 1826 for troubled youth. 16 Sequel
administrators expressed their belief that the Glen Mills approach is

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effective in addressing delinquent behaviors and that it is their goal to
use similar methods in all the facilities that they own and operate.
Under this model, behavioral expectations are not established through
rules. Instead, Sequel uses “four core norms”17 which include:
•

Respect All Others

•

Intervene All Negative Behaviors

•

Reinforce All Positive Behaviors

•

Support All Intervention

Photo of
white board
listing 4
Core Norms,
3 I’s, and 3
R’s
As explained in its brochure, “Norms are defined as expected group
behaviors, or what most people in a group do. [Clarinda Academy] has
hundreds, if not thousands of norms that staff and students learn.
Norms are not written down, but instead, behavioral expectations are
passed on from person to person and then maintained through group
peer pressure.”18 Students and administrators gave some examples of
norms, which they reinforce with statements of “around here, we…”

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For instance, “around here, we tuck in our shirts” or “around here, we
walk in a single-file line.”

Photo of
students walking
in single file line
Another norm discussed by a male student was “around here, we do
not talk to female students.” The female students reported the same
norm: “around here, we do not talk to male students.” In fact, teens of
both genders reported that they are forbidden to communicate with
students of the opposite gender. During its visit, DRW observed that
there were no co-ed lines or groups anywhere on campus.
Norms are enforced using what Sequel calls the “7 Levels of
Intervention.” 19 These seven levels escalate sequentially based on
whether the offending individual demonstrates compliance with any
norm or expectation. Clarinda Academy strongly encourages
everyone on campus, including other students, to “intervene” even the
“little” behaviors that violate one of the “hundreds if not thousands of
norms” by initiating the seven levels of intervention.

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Photo of white
board listing “seven
levels of
intervention” and
statement, “we
intervene the little
things.”
The seven levels of intervention begins with Level 1, which is called a
“Friendly/helpful nonverbal” intervention. This includes a gesture of
disapproval, most often a head shake to indicate “no.” If the student
does not change his or her behavior, the levels escalate to a
“concerned non-verbal” (a second and more firm gesture of
disapproval) to a “friendly/helpful verbal” to a “concerned verbal”
where the intervening individual verbally explains what norm is being
violated by stating, “around here, we…” Students referred to this
fourth level as “being put in a verbal.”
If a student does not change behavior after “being put in a verbal” they
reported that they are “placed in a group support,” otherwise known as
Level 5. A “group support” requires everyone in the area, including all
students, to stand up behind the individual who initiated the
intervention while the intervening individual repeats the statement
“around here, we…”
If students do not comply at Level 5, the sixth level is a “staff
intervention.” As explained in the brochure, “staff will become directly
involved to find a resolution” and “this marks the last opportunity for
the student to take initiative.” 20 Clarinda administrators stated that staff
intervention should be delivered calmly in an effort to encourage
compliance. According to students that DRW individually and

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separately interviewed, a “staff intervention” often includes being
yelled at, cursed at, spit upon, and threatened.
The seventh and final level is “physical restraint.” According to
Clarinda Academy administrators, physical restraints are used if there
is an immediate risk of harm. The students, on the other hand,
asserted that staff “will drop you if you move” during a “staff
intervention.” They explained this means that staff “put their hands on
you and force you to the ground.” They separately and independently
demonstrated how staff pull their elbows behind their backs and then
force them to the ground by putting pressure on the backs of their
knees. Every student reported that restraints they experienced were
physically painful and frequently resulted in back, shoulder, and neck
pain for several days or weeks. When asked if they receive medical
attention, they stated that no one complains because they are told
“you shouldn’t have gotten put in a restraint.”

Facts and Analysis
Clarinda Academy is completely
segregated and exceptionally
restrictive.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) federal regulations,
states are obligated to administer services “in the most integrated
setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with
disabilities.” 21 Unnecessarily segregating individuals in isolated
institutional settings rather than offering services in the community
constitutes unlawful discrimination prohibited by the ADA and Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act. 22
Likewise, the “Least Restrictive Environment” requirement of federal
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that even
students placed in public or private institutions must be “educated with
children who are not disabled” unless “the nature or severity of the
disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the
use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved
satisfactorily.” 23 Individuals with emotional and behavioral disorders
such as the conditions documented for the Clarinda Academy
investigation participants are covered by the ADA, Section 504, and
IDEA. 24

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To investigate the setting at Clarinda Academy, DRW reviewed the
policies and records that Clarinda Academy provided. Specifically, to
assess Clarinda Academy’s discipline practices and acknowledgment
of resident rights, DRW requested “Written policies or procedures for
resident rights, discipline and use of physical restraint” (referenced in
Iowa regulations at 441 IAC 114.13-114.18 and 441 IAC 114.20). In
response, Clarinda Academy provided the policies attached hereto as
Exhibit C. DRW also requested “individual treatment and behavior
support plans” for individuals who gave consent for DRW to access
their records as well as records in Children’s Administration’s custody
“relating to the individuals’ care and treatment.” All of these
documents confirmed that Clarinda Academy is among the most
isolating and restrictive settings imaginable.

Segregation
Clarinda Academy students are almost entirely segregated from the
rest of society. In the weeks prior to monitoring Clarinda Academy,
DRW also conducted monitoring at several group homes in
Washington State for young people in the foster care system. While
the level of integration in the community varied among these
“Behavioral Rehabilitation Service” (BRS) placements for youth with
behavioral disorders, none compared to the segregation apparent at
Clarinda Academy.
To begin, none of the students at Clarinda Academy attend public
schools. Instead, they attend school year round on-campus. DRW
found no individualized determinations for why any of the investigation
participants could not be educated at the local high school with
supplementary services. Instead, the education plans simply state that
the student will attend a segregated school due to placement at a
program with its own behavioral school.

Confidential
Exhibit 3

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The students do not routinely go shopping, out to eat, to movies, or to
any community events. Team sports offers one of the only off-campus
opportunities for students with athletic skills. Those students on sports
teams are taken to compete in off-campus sporting events, but remain
segregated from other athletes and spectators who are not associated
with Clarinda Academy.

Photo of
gymnasium

Students also have limited access to communicate with parties
outside of Clarinda Academy. None of the students are permitted to
have cell phones. According to Clarinda Academy policies, students
who wish to call friends or families long-distance must have their own
phone cards or make collect calls. Under policy, all students have time
limits for calls with friends and families based on their status:
Non-status students will be allowed ten (10) minutes of phone
call time per week. Eagle Pledges will receive fifteen (15)
minutes of phone call time. Those students attaining Eagle
status will receive twenty (20) minutes of phone call time. 25

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Clarinda Academy’s policies state that students may receive calls from
verified callers. 26 DRW attempted to contact students directly on the
dorms several times, but was only successful in one instance.
Clarinda Academy staff confirmed that requests for calls must be
scheduled through each student’s case manager. Furthermore, each
time DRW spoke with a student, the student had to specifically
request that the case manager leave the room.

Photos of
phone on
dorm and
mailbox

For calls to friends and family, the students share one phone per
dormitory. With limited free time in the evenings, several students
reported that they often did not get their full time for phone calls. They
explained there would be no time left before “lights out” after the
students with higher status completed their calls. Because the phones
are located in common area of the dormitory hall, individuals stated
that having meaningful phone conversations with friends and family is
often difficult if not impossible due to noise and lack of privacy. The
one occasion that DRW was able to speak to a student on the dorm,
the shouting and chaos in the background prohibited us from being
able to effectively communicate, and we had to terminate the call.
For practical geographic reasons, students from Washington have few
if any visits with family or possible placement resources. The visitation
policy limits visits to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 27 but the travel
time and cost between Washington and Iowa is an additional barrier to
having frequent contact. One youth expressed excitement about an
upcoming visit from a parent, whom the individual had not seen for
several months, as well as anxiety that Clarinda Academy would find a
reason to deny the visit. On the other hand, another student who was
not in contact with any family had no visits from close friends who

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were reportedly not eligible for travel funding. As that student
explained, the connection with non-family supports that the student
had hoped to serve as a potential adoption placement had been
fading over time, and this lost connection had increased this
individual’s sense of hopelessness.

Restrictions
Co-located on the grounds of a state prison, Clarinda Academy runs
like a correctional institution.

Photos of
prison in
background
Despite the fact that Washington sends youth to Clarinda Academy for
residential care, not because they have been sentenced for a crime,
Clarinda Academy policies assume that its students are “court ordered
into placement for violating the rights of others and/or by violating the
law.” 28 Like a correctional facility, Clarinda Academy does not allow
students to leave the institution at will. According to Clarinda
Academy’s policy on Behavior Change Methodologies Physical
Restraint/Crisis Intervention, “truancy” is a basis for use of physical
intervention. 29 All the investigation participants’ the treatment plans
contained the following language to explain that “truant” students will
be escorted back to the facility:
“due to environmental conditions such as various terrains
(ravines, gullies, rivers, numerous roads, surrounding private
properties and crop lands), extreme weather (Iowa’s rapidly
changing weather, extreme heat, extreme cold, tornados,
thunderstorms, hail, torrential rains, flash flooding, humidity,
high winds, drought) and wild life (Mountain lions, bobcats,
coyotes, dogs, raccoon, skunk, badger, deer various species of
venomous snakes and spiders) as well as various seasonal
hunting times (deer season, turkey season, various bird

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seasons where students could be mistaken by hunters) it is the
policy of Clarinda Academy in order to keep the students safe,
to pursue any student who attempts to go truant and escort
them back safely to campus.” 30
Clarinda Academy’s policies state that students who violate any
expectations “will be intervened according to the Seven Levels of
Intervention.” 31 The policies further allow for an “individual
accountability” to take place for consistent behaviors such as not
doing chores, time management problems, and “acting out.”32
Photo of dorm
whiteboard listing
chores and
“Points Rules”

The policies provide examples of “individual accountability”
consequences, which include restrictions such as having a “shadow
staff” and “shadow peers,” (which students explained means that
someone is within an arm’s distance at all times of the day), being
required to do calisthenics in place of playing sports, having to walk in
tunnels rather than outside, “frequent counts,” removal of surplus
clothing, rescheduling home passes, and individualized chore
assignments (aka, “campus beautification”). 33 Under the policy, an
“accountability” may also include a demotion in “status” from Eagle or
Eagle Pledge, 34 which DRW learned during its monitoring may result
in the loss of a host of privileges such as the privilege to use common
areas, i.e. “Bay.”

Photos of sign
listing “Eagle Bay
Expectations” and
of common area
known as the “Bay”

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The “normative” culture at Clarinda Academy allows for significant
constraints on the individuals’ personal liberty while on campus. The
policy on “Behavior Expectations/Campus Norms” states that
“Hundreds of norms evolve in any group, including students.”35 During
DRW’s monitoring, the students from different dorms reported norms
that varied from dorm to dorm, and included prohibitions such as no
talking during meals, no passing notes, and losing personal leisure
items such as fidget spinners. They reported that the dorm staff set
the norms, which could change over time.
Clarinda Academy’s policy cites a list of over fifty examples of norms
that are likely to develop, which range from being very broad (i.e. “we
remember our victims”) to highly specific (i.e. “we do not lean on the
walls” and “we do not walk on the grass”). 36 Some of the policy
examples for “daily living” place strict limitations on every student’s
individual freedom, including “We do not go anywhere without staff
permission and direct supervision,” and “We ask staff’s permission to
go to the bathroom.” 37 These norms may also set expectations for
personal style and space. The policy lists examples such as, “We do
not have ‘fad’ or gang hairstyles” as well as, “We do not leave
personal items lying around outside of our bed area” and “We keep
our bed area neat and clean.”38 While conducting its monitoring, DRW
observed all of the dorms to be spotlessly maintained with the
students’ few personal belongings neatly organized in cubbies.

Photos of dorms

The “prison food,” as dubbed by several students during DRW’s
monitoring interviews, may also be restricted by norms at Clarinda
Academy. The examples in the policy include: “We do not go into the
kitchen;” “We do not take food out of the cafeteria;” and “We do not
complain about the food to the cooks and we do not forget to
compliment them occasionally.” One investigation participant reported

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that refusing food is a norm violation that can result in being physically
restrained.
Confidential
Exhibit 4 at
p. 28
Finally, students have no expectation of privacy at Clarinda Academy.
Under the section of its “Contraband Search” policy entitled “Random
Search,” students and their personal belongings may be searched. 39
This section goes on to state, “[s]earches may also include a more
thorough procedure in which staff will provide a private area for the
student and in the presence of two gender specific staff, student will
be asked to remove his/her clothing except for his/her shirt and shorts
in order for staff to search his/her clothing.”
In sum, Washington has isolated youth at Clarinda Academy, where
they are subjected to extreme restrictions based on the institution’s
“norms,” not individualized determinations of their particular abilities to
safely exercise basic freedoms such as going to the bathroom at will
or talking to a peer of the opposite gender. As a result, they have no
guarantees of their federal rights to receive residential and educational
services in the most integrated and least restrictive setting appropriate
to their needs.

Placements circumvent Due Process.
The right to be free from involuntary confinement without due process
is a constitutionally guaranteed right under the Fourteenth
Amendment. 40 Under Washington law, young people at and over the
age of thirteen have the right to leave treatment to which they initially
gave consent. 41 Even if a young person’s parent initiates involuntary
treatment, Washington law protects the right of young people age
thirteen and older to have a clinician “who neither has a financial
interest in continued inpatient treatment of the minor nor is affiliated
with the facility providing the treatment” conduct a review of whether
the admission is medically necessary and to file a petition requesting
release. 42 Absent further detention proceedings under RCW 71.34,
minors age thirteen and older cannot be held for more than 30 days
after their need for treatment was reviewed or they petitioned for
release. 43
Under the Juvenile Court Act, the state may place foster youth in
mental health treatment facilities with consent from the parent, legal

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guardian, or legal custodian or a court order. 44 The statute still
requires placements “in a facility, with available treatment space, that
is closest to the family home” unless that would “jeopardize the health
or safety of the child.”45 However, this legislation authorizing
placement in a treatment facility clearly established an intent for youth
over the age of thirteen to retain their rights under RCW 71.34:
The legislature intends that admission of such minors for
mental health hospitalization be made pursuant to the criteria
and standards for mental health services for minors established
in chapter 71.34 RCW, and that minor children in the care and
custody of the department in need of mental health
hospitalization shall retain all rights set forth therein. The
legislature specifically intends that this act may not be
construed to affect the standards or procedures established for
the involuntary commitment of minors under
chapter 71.34 RCW." 46
Regardless of whether Clarinda Academy is considered “inpatient
treatment,” it is a facility requiring participation in treatment that the
students may not leave at will. Yet, the youth at Clarinda Academy
have enjoyed none of the protections that other Washington minors
have. The state, as their custodian, has circumvented these
procedures to authorize involuntary placement without having to
demonstrate the requirements that Washington parents of young
people over the age of thirteen must meet in order to force their
children to accept treatment.

Consent for Treatment
The students DRW interviewed reported that they were being held at
Clarinda Academy against their will. They wanted to return to
Washington and did not express consent to receiving residential
treatment at Clarinda. A few explained that they had initially agreed to
“try” Clarinda based on what they later considered to be misleading
statements. For instance, one person who loves music had been told
there was a school choir, but discovered there is no choir and that
singing violated one of the group norms on that individual’s dorm.
Others had agreed to try Clarinda under the impression that they
could return to Washington if they chose. When they tried to advocate
for discharge, they were told that they had to successfully complete
Clarinda’s program before discharging.

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DRW accessed investigation participants’ records from the Children’s
Administration and interviewed the participants’ public defenders to
investigate claims of involuntary commitment without due process.
These records further demonstrate that the State of Washington has
placed young people in its custody at Clarinda Academy without
consent or due process. For instance, in one case, records showed
that even though the young person was over the age of consent for
treatment in Washington, social workers provided consent for
treatment in Iowa.

________________________________________________________

Confidential
Exhibit 5

 Page 23

While records documented varying degrees of willingness to go to
Iowa prior to admission, Children’s Administration records
documented statements expressing a clear desire to leave after they
arrived.
Confidential
Exhibit 4 at
p. 28

Confidential
Exhibit 6

Confidential
Exhibit 7 at
pp. 4-5
The only authority for placing foster youth at Clarinda Academy that
DRW found in Children’s Administration records were references or
copies of orders from dependency review or permanency planning
hearings.

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No findings addressed the standard or process for involuntarily
detaining individuals for treatment under RCW 71.34. Instead, the
court orders give a blanket authorization for the department to
“authorize and provide all recommended by the child's treating doctor
or psychologist, subject to review by the court, as needed.” 47

Confidential
Exhibit 8 at
p. 10

In-State Alternatives
In at least one instance, DRW identified records documenting that one
of the youth had another alternative placement available in
Washington State, but was placed in Iowa at another Sequel-owned
facility before transferring to Clarinda Academy. Despite having an instate placement, Children’s Administration determined that this
person’s needs would be “best met” in an out-of-state rural facility.
Confidential
Exhibit 9 at
at p. 1

Confidential
Exhibit 9 at
p. 2

 Page 25

Similarly, the Clarinda Academy case manager for another investigation participant
informed DRW that the individual had an alternative placement in Washington.
However, the case manager could not confirm if this was “officially the plan.”

Confidential
Exhibit 10
When DRW asked whether there was timeline for discharge, the case
manager responded it would depend on whether Washington would
allow the individual to “be discharged unsuccessfully.”

Confidential
Exhibit 10

Despite no involuntary treatment proceedings or orders, the
investigation participants’ records suggests that they cannot discharge
at will. While two of the individuals have recently discharged, both
spent over a year out-of-state. The public defenders assigned to
represent the third stated that as of the beginning of August, there was
no discharge plan to return to Washington State.

 Page 26

Oversight of restraint use is inadequate.
The use of physical restraints has been widely criticized by advocates
and policymakers as being harmful and dangerous for people with
behavioral health conditions. For example, the federal Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has
been committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of
restraint for the following reasons:
Studies have shown that the use of seclusion and restraint can
result in psychological harm, physical injuries, and death to
both the people subjected to and the staff applying these
techniques. Injury rates to staff in mental health settings that
use seclusion and restraint have been found to be higher than
injuries sustained by workers in high-risk industries. Restraints
can be harmful and often re-traumatizing for people, especially
those who have trauma histories.
Beyond the physical risks of injury and death, it has been found
that people who experience seclusion and restraint remain in
care longer and are more likely to be readmitted for care. 48
Numerous other advocates echo these calls to limit, reduce and/or
eliminate the use of physical restraint for young people. 49 As the U.S.
Supreme Court held long ago, the right to be free from the
unreasonable use of bodily restraint is a constitutionally guaranteed
liberty that the state is obligated to ensure for individuals who are
“wholly dependent” on the state. 50
Nevertheless, the use of physical restraints is a part of Clarinda
Academy’s “seven levels of intervention.” According to students
separately interviewed in the course of DRW’s onsite monitoring,
Clarinda Academy uses physical restraints on a daily basis. The
young interviewees described the same process and type of seated
and supine restraints being used at Clarinda Academy. Multiple
students demonstrated the same moves that staff use to pull their
arms behind their back and force the student to sit on the ground
where other staff would then assist in holding the student down.
Several stated that the staff immediately put them on the ground and
rarely if ever use standing or escort restraints. In several students’
words, “they just drop you.” One person reported being grabbed and
forced to sit on the ground in a forward folded position so that the
student’s head hit the ground, which resulted in the individual’s
glasses getting broken. While conducting the interview, DRW
observed this young person’s glasses were taped together. Some

 Page 27

students had been previously placed in Washington group homes and
treatment facilities prior to being placed at Clarinda. When asked if
they experienced or witnessed similar restraints occurring in
Washington State, each answered with an emphatic “no.”
Some individuals reported to DRW during and after its monitoring visit
that there were some exceptional Clarinda Academy staff who worked
with them to de-escalate without physically intervening. Yet, they said
there were also many staff who often used restraints even when
students did not believe they were posing any risk of harm to
themselves or others, and would keep students in restraints for longer
than necessary. In some interviews, DRW heard allegations that staff
use restraints when students try to walk away from a confrontational
intervention. Several people repeatedly stressed that staff initiate
restraints “if you move” during staff interventions.
DRW obtained individual files from both Washington’s Children’s
Administration and Clarinda Academy to evaluate the oversight and
practices for guarding against unsafe or unnecessary restraints.
Based on documentation that DRW obtained from both Children’s
Administration and Clarinda Academy, Washington has been failing to
ensure the rights and safety of the young people placed at this
institution.

State Law Requirements
Under the residential placement contracts with Washington State for
each youth, Clarinda Academy must comply with Iowa State licensing
standards.
Exhibit E., Program
Requirements Out of
State
Intensive/Residential
Services, at p. 1
While both Washington and Iowa regulations limit the use of restraints
to circumstances where restraint is necessary to prevent harm to self,
others, or property, the Iowa regulatory requirements are not as
narrow or prescriptive as the protections set forth in Washington’s
regulations. 51

 Page 28

Restraint Protections in State Regulations

Iowa

Limited to preventing harm or injury to self or others

Washington




Limited to preventing “serious” property damage



Affirmative duty to redirect or de-escalate



Standing position whenever possible



No obstruction of airway/breathing restrictions



No Prone Restraints





No pressure on heart, chest, or vital organs



No pressure to joints



Social worker/licensor written authorization required for
regular use



First, Washington’s rule only allows physical restraint to protect
property from “serious damage” whereas Iowa code allows restraints
to be employed to prevent any injury to property. 52 During DRW’s
monitoring in Washington State, several providers stated that they
only employ restraints to prevent irreparable damage of property over
a certain dollar value and would not restrain a youth for breaking
inexpensive items, drawing or writing on walls, punching walls or
doors, etc. DRW observed Washington providers in the process of
making various repairs and understood that Washington providers
consider making repairs to be a part of the supports they provide to
youth who may be experiencing intense emotional problems.
Notably, Washington’s regulation affirmatively directs providers to
avoid the need for restraints, stating:
“You must use efforts other than physical restraint to redirect or
deescalate a situation, unless the child's behavior poses an
immediate risk to the physical safety of the child or another
person, or of serious property damage.” 53
Conversely, Iowa’s regulation contains no such obligation for
providers to actively avert crises that would necessitate restraints, and
simply states, “The use of physical restraint shall be employed only to

 Page 29

prevent the child from injury to self, to others, or to property” and that
these must be “in a standing position whenever possible.” 54 Thus,
unlike Washington rules which explicitly requires providers to employ
alternatives to obviate the need for restraint, Iowa’s regulation is silent
about a duty to assist a young person to calm down without resorting
to physical interventions.
Washington’s rule further prohibits using any types of restraint
techniques that “restrict breathing, or inflict pain as a strategy for
behavior control, or is likely to cause injury that is more than
temporary,” and explicitly forbids any “Restriction of body movement
by placing pressure on joints, chest, heart, or vital organs,” as well as
other maneuvers such as choking, arm twisting, hair holds, etc. 55
Whereas, Iowa code only disallows “prone” restraints and any restraint
that “obstructs the airway of a child.” 56 The young people at Clarinda
Academy consistently described experiencing seated restraints
involving pressure on their knees, shoulders, and elbows, which cause
lasting pain and soreness in their necks, backs, arms, and legs. Unlike
Washington’s regulations, Iowa’s rules do not explicitly proscribe
pressure on joints as DRW observed young people independently
demonstrate during monitoring interviews. In the one restraint that
DRW witnessed during its monitoring of in-state facilities, staff were
not putting pressure on any joints, and released the hold as soon as
staff could safety bring the child to a room where the child could deescalate.
Finally, Washington requires prior written approval from the DSHS
social workers or licensors for use of physical restraints “on a regular
basis.” 57 By contrast, Iowa’s rule calls for “the rationale and
authorization for the use of physical restraint and staff action and
procedures carried out to protect the child’s rights and to ensure
safety shall be set forth in the child’s record” but does not detail who
must authorize the regular use of restraint. 58 There is no Iowa
mandate for the child’s guardian or social worker to approve the
routine use of restraints, nor is there a requirement that the
authorization itself be in writing.

Reported Allegations
The individuals from Washington who had been placed at Clarinda
Academy voiced their concerns about the use of restraints to others
both before and after DRW’s February 2018 monitoring visit. While
DRW could find no written consent by Washington social workers to
authorize the routine use of restraints, all had received information
about Clarinda’s practices and the young people’s complaints. 59 Yet,

 Page 30

the young people who spoke to DRW expressed doubts that their
social workers could or would do anything to help them.
According to interviews and records, none of the Washington social
workers had gone to Clarinda Academy to visit the individuals they
had placed there. All of the young people flown over 1700 miles to the
State of Iowa where strangers picked them up and drove them to the
facility.

Photos of view
from plane and
car en route to
Clarinda Academy

Rather than sending Washington social workers to Iowa to conduct
health and safety visits in person, Washington contracts with social
workers in Iowa to meet with the young people and fill out a
“Contracted Health and Safety Visit Report” form.
On the Visit Report form, there is a section on “Discipline Issues” with
a question that asks: “What are the consequences if the youth breaks
a rule?” Each form that DRW reviewed contained responses that all
begin with identical language: “There are several consequences that
can happen if a youth breaks the rules. They can be restrained, put
into a verbal or group support” (emphasis added). The responses then
include individualized examples of restraints each young person
reported experiencing along with explanations for why the individuals
understood they had been put in restraints. Several included voiced
concerns and/or rationales that did not demonstrate an imminent risk
to anyone’s safety.

 Page 31

Confidential
Exhibit 4
at p. 29

Confidential
Exhibit 7
at pp. .14, 19

Confidential
Exhibit 11
at p. 7

 Page 32

In addition, DRW found documentation in other Children’s
Administration and Clarinda Academy records showing that social
workers had received other reports about the use of restraints. One
person’s case manager at Clarinda Academy sent an email to the
Washington social worker to report the student’s allegations of being
restrained, despite having done nothing.

Confidential
Exhibit 12
at p. 1

On another occasion, the visiting social worker also emailed
Washington a “heads up” that this individual reported passing out as a
result of another restraint.
Confidential
Exhibit 12
at p. 2
After completing one Health and Safety visit, the contracted visiting
social worker for these student emailed another “heads up” to the
Washington worker about the student’s allegations regarding the
restraint episode that resulted in the student’s glasses getting broken.
Confidential
Exhibit 12 at
p. 3
In a Health and Safety Visit Report for a different student from
Washington, the contracted social worker recorded concerns that
Clarinda Academy uses restraints “for no reasons.”

Confidential
Exhibit 4
at p. 28

 Page 33

In response to one email specifically requesting a call to a student
expressing concerns about restraints, the Washington social worker
emailed back that her phone was not working.

Confidential
Exhibit 13

Despite numerous statements that Clarinda Academy uses restraints
“all the time” as a “consequence” for breaking the rules, “to be on safe
side,” or even “for no reason,” Children’s Administration case notes do
not document any follow up by Washington social workers to talk with
or visit the youth who had reported abusive restraints. DRW found no
other evidence that reports by contracted social workers resulted in
any action by Washington State to determine whether Clarinda
Academy improperly uses restraints in violation of Washington’s own
standards, i.e. WAC 388-145-1820, RCW 26.44.020 and RCW
9A.16.100.

Clarinda Academy’s Restraint Practices
Policy and Behavior Management Plans
To further investigate allegations of inappropriate restraints, DRW
reviewed and requested Clarinda Academy’s policies and plans to
assess the standards for employing restraints. Neither the polices nor
the plans contained specific nor individualized guidance to help
prevent incidents from escalating into restraint episodes.
Under Clarinda Academy’s “Physical Restraint/Crisis Intervention”
policy, physical restraints are a “last resort option when students are
creating situations which pose an imminent/immediate harm to
themselves or others.” 60

 Page 34

The Clarinda Academy policy requires one of following criteria:
1. Imminent or immediate danger to themselves
2. Imminent or immediate danger to others
3. Any behavior including serious disruption, destruction of
property or truancy that could pose an imminent or immediate
danger to self or others. 61
The policy does not define “imminent or immediate danger.” Unlike the
other “Behavior Change Methodologies” policies that detail numerous
examples of “norms” and “accountabilities,” the policy on physical
restraint offers no examples of behavior that may indicate “imminent
or immediate danger.” Additionally, there is no definition of “serious
disruption” or examples of such disruptions that create “imminent or
immediate danger.”
Nonetheless, DRW considered the possibility that more detailed
descriptions of what constitutes “imminent or immediate danger”
would be included in individual plans. Clarinda Academy’s policy
states that treatment plans “should address any contraindications or
inappropriate interventions for the student,” and Washington’s
contracts with Clarinda Academy require that each student have an
“Individualized Behavior Management Plan.” 62 This plan should
include details such as “safety issues” and “factors that may contribute
to escalated behavior for the youth,” as well as “response strategies
for preventing or defusing escalated behavior” and a “back-up plan for
de-escalating behavior.” 63 Washington’s contract further obligates
Clarinda Academy to obtain signatures on the Individual Behavior
Management Plans “from the youth, the youth’s [Children’s
Administration] Social Service Specialist, and parent” or “foster
parent.” 64
In response to DRW’s request for “individual treatment and behavior
support plans,” Clarinda Academy produced initial and quarterly
assessments that its legal counsel confirmed contained the treatment
and behavior plans. 65 The assessments included general references
to negative attitudes, lack of motivation, refusal to take responsibility,
tendency to argue disrespectfully with “authority,” and histories of
criminal or “aggressive” or “menacing” behavior. Yet, DRW found no
list of specific and current behaviors that present particular “safety
issues.” None of the assessments contained explicit information to
define actions that create an “imminent and immediate danger” or any

 Page 35

personally tailored instructions for limiting types of interventions or
effective ways to help each student calm down. None had signatures
from the youth or any Children’s Administration staff.
Remarkably, all the initial and quarterly assessments for each
individual investigation participant contained identical generic
language for a “crisis plan”:
Confidential
Exhibit 14 at p. 6
(also pp. 13, 21, 29)
Confidential
Exhibit 15 at p. 16
(also pp. 6, 24, 32)

Confidential
Exhibit 16 at p. 15
(also p. 7, 23, 31)

(Note that pronouns in excerpts have been redacted for privacy, but in two of these

examples, the “crisis plan” did not use correct gender pronouns in reference to the
individuals.)

Staff Judgment
With no definition in policy to identify “danger” and no individualized
treatment plans outlining what de-escalation strategies are most likely
to be effective for each person, the records suggest that Clarinda
Academy staff must use their own subjective assessments of danger.
All staff must receive Safe Crisis Management (SCM) training before
initiating a restraint, but personnel records of staff involved in restraint
episodes of Washington youth show that this training is provided
inconsistently. Some employees had been provided over 40 hours of
SCM training, but a significant number had ten or less hours
documented in their files. Three employees had documentation of
three or fewer SCM training hours. 66
Furthermore, staff personnel records contained alarming facts
pertaining to their individual judgment. For instance, the records
showed that over a third of the twenty-six staff who had participated in

 Page 36

restraining Washington youth had convictions for criminal driving
offenses or illegal use of alcohol and controlled substances.
Numerous staff had received multiple warnings or corrections for
failing to adhere to various Clarinda Academy policies, some of which
resulted in students being placed at risk. In some examples, students
were harmed.
Confidential
Exhibit 17
at p. 59
________________________________________________________________

Confidential
Exhibit 17
at p. 60

One staff had been disciplined for using inappropriate restraint
methods on three occasions before Clarinda Academy finally
terminated that staff’s employment. 67 This employee had been
involved in at least three restraints for one of the Washington youth
participating in DRW’s investigation, although it is unclear whether any
of the three restraints of the young person from Washington
overlapped with any of the three restraints for which the staff was
disciplined. 68
The third and final disciplinary action for this employee stated that this
employee was “again” using an inappropriate restraint technique.

Confidential
Exhibit 17
at p. 64

 Page 37

When he was relieved of his position in restraining the student, he
angrily “stormed out” and broke a door.

Confidential
Exhibit 17
at p. 65 with
photo of broken
door

Restraint Incidents
Based on the “Emergency Safety Intervention” (ESI) forms that
Clarinda Academy staff use to document events leading up to each
restraint episode, staff appear to use physical restraints for
questionable reasons at best, and in some cases without justification.
Several ESI forms documented at least one action by the student
leading to the restraint, but there were no explanations in the
individuals’ records or in the ESI forms to explain why staff interpreted
the action to create an “imminent or immediate danger.”
For example, restraint episodes occurred when staff noticed one
individual’s hands moving or clenching during a verbal intervention.
While interviewing this person, DRW observed that this youth
gesticulates abundantly when speaking, and the young person also
described feeling physically tense when triggered. In these instances,
though, staff interpreted the young person’s hand gestures as well as
clenching face and hands as a signs of immediate danger, not signs of
stress or an attempt to communicate in a moment of frustration.

 Page 38

In one of these episodes, a Clarinda Academy Youth Counselor
initiated restraints after the individual moved a hand, even though the
staff admitted to “not knowing” the individual’s “intentions.”

Confidential
Exhibit 18
at p. 29
Another incident was initiated by a Clarinda Academy Group Leader
who had only 1.25 hours of SCM training documented in his personnel
file. 69 The staff initiated the restraint after the young person clenched
his hands and asked “or what?” when being “asked to accept
intervention.”

Confidential
Exhibit 18
at p. 32

The debriefing record merely mentioned a vague reference to the
“nature of his actions and past behaviors” to explain “what exactly led
to their uncertainty” and “need to initiate restraint.”

Confidential
Exhibit 18
at p. 33

 Page 39

On yet another occasion, a Group Living staff whose file documented
only 2 hours of SCM training initiated a restraint because that same
young person was cursing and not following instructions to keep the
person’s hands down to the side. 70

Confidential
Exhibit 18
at p. 20

Similarly, staff restrained another student a week after the person had
been admitted to Clarinda Academy for violating expectations to be
“still and respectful” during staff interventions. Staff interpreted the
student’s shoulder movement to demonstrate an intention to swing an
arm toward staff and placed the student in a seated restraint:

Confidential
Exhibit 19
at p. 1
According to this student’s initial case plan and subsequent
assessments, the reason for admission included running away and
discussed a history of substance abuse without documentation of any
historical signs of aggression that would support staff’s interpretation
that turning a shoulder indicated an intent to assault staff. Yet, when
uncertain about a student’s intentions, staff acted as if the student’s
motions were in preparation for an assault and erred on the side of
escalating to the highest level of physical restraints.
Confidential
Exhibit 16
at p. 2

 Page 40

Yet another investigation participant experienced a restraint episode
when staff observed the young person scratching the person’s own
leg, which is not typically an action that could reasonably be viewed as
creating a “danger.”

Confidential
Exhibit 20
at p. 4
Nothing in the initial and quarterly assessments for that student
discussed a particular danger associated with scratching. Instead, the
assessments for this student repeated listed “current presenting
issues” as being aggressive towards others, not self.
Confidential
Exhibit 14
at pp. 1, 8,
16, 24
The assessments documented self-reports that the student had
disclosed a history of engaging in self-harm, and at least one of the
assessments stated that this student had been placed on close
observations for expressing thoughts of self-harm while at the facility.
But, the treatment plans had no descriptions of the student’s signs of
self-harm or the types of self-harm that individual would be likely to
attempt. Nor was there any information on the ESI form or other
records about strategies other than the “7 levels” of intervention for redirecting or de-escalating when staff were concerned about possible
self-harm. In a later interview, this person identified a handful of staff
who were very skilled in helping to de-escalate without “using their
hands,” but stated that other staff would go so far as to taunt with
sarcastic questions such as, “why don’t you just go and cut yourself?”

 Page 41

Finally, some ESI forms completely failed to document any actions
that would indicate “an imminent or immediate danger” as required by
Clarinda policy as well as Iowa and Washington regulations. Records
documented episodes that escalated into a restraint after the student
pushed through staff in an attempt to walk away from an
“intervention,” with no logical explanation of any ongoing threat or risk
of harm.

Confidential
Exhibit 20
at p. 10
__________________________________________________________________

Confidential
Exhibit 20
at p. 13

A different student was restrained for running away from the staff
assigned as the individual’s “staff shadow.” While it may be a rule or
norm violation to leave a staff shadow, the records did not offer any
description for what “imminent danger” this created or why the “staff
shadow” could not simply follow the student without making physical
contact. Again, staff admitted that the student’s intentions were
unapparent, offering no justification to believe the individual was
imminently preparing to harm self, others, or property.
Confidential
Exhibit 18
at p. 26

 Page 42

That same young person had been restrained on another day for
refusing to leave a meal area so that the others “could continue to eat
without disruption.” Nothing in that ESI report documented that this
individual took any action to create anything other than a nuisance for
others.

Confidential
Exhibit 18
at p. 13

Likewise, an investigation participant was also restrained for refusing
to leave an area that students of the opposite gender were going to be
using. Even though it is against Clarinda Academy norms for male and
female students to be in the same areas, there was no indication that
allowing this individual to remain in the hallway with students of the
opposite gender would put anyone in harm’s way.

The documentation DRW obtained demonstrates that Washington and
Clarinda Academy are both failing to protect against the use of
restraints for coercion or punishment for not following expectations.
The Academy’s vague policy, generic crisis plans, inconsistent
training, and tolerance for various staff misconduct - including
tolerance for inappropriate restraints - create a fertile breeding ground
for improper practices that would violate both Iowa and Washington
rules. Even when provided written reports, Washington social workers
do not follow up on allegations of abusive restraints.

Confidential
Exhibit 19
at p. 17

 Page 43

Furthermore, the allegations of abusive physical restraints are
consistent with many of Clarinda Academy’s own records. Although
there were instances when Clarinda Academy staff documented a
reasonably sound basis to believe a restraint was necessary to
prevent injury to self or others, the records do not contradict the
repeated allegations from multiple students that staff will also initiate
restraints “if you move” during an intervention. Indeed, the records
seemed to confirm that staff often interpret movement or failure to hold
one’s arms to the side or be “still and respectful” as signs of danger
that necessitates a physical restraint. Moreover, Clarinda Academy is
in breach of its contract requirement to develop individualized
behavior management plans. Consequently, staff do not have
instructions for de-escalating situations as Washington’s regulations
would require.
As demonstrated by Clarinda Academy’s ESI records, all of the
investigation participants from Washington have experiences with staff
initiating restraints based on conclusory assumptions of danger,
without explanation of any ongoing risk, or absent any identified threat
at all.

Treatment fails to address complex trauma.
The State of Washington owes a duty to the young people who are in
the custody of its foster care system. Foster children have a right to be
“free from unreasonable risk of harm, including a risk flowing from the
lack of basic services, and a right to reasonable safety.” 71 The state,
acting as their “custody and caretaker” must provide for “adequate
services” based upon the “exercise of professional judgment,
standards, or practices.” 72 As the Washington Supreme Court
observed:
“Foster children, because of circumstances usually far beyond
their control, have been removed from their parents by the
State for the child's own best interest. More often these children
are victims, not perpetrators. Foster children need both care
and protection. The State owes these children more than
benign indifference and must affirmatively take reasonable
steps to provide for their care and safety.” 73
Furthermore, as beneficiaries of the Medicaid program, foster children
are entitled to receive necessary mental health services, provided in a
“reasonably effective” manner. 74

 Page 44

Dr. Gauri Goel is a psychologist who has spent much of her career
providing treatment to adolescents in residential facilities. 75 Based on
her practical experience, Dr. Goel is aware of the realities in providing
treatment in congregate care settings. Having provided treatment to
young people with histories of complex trauma, she has expertise in
recognizing the needs of youth who have experienced abuse and
neglect. As a practitioner in the public mental health system, she has
direct knowledge of the professional standards for providing
adolescent mental health treatment to address complex trauma
symptomology.
Dr. Goel explains in her report summary that complex trauma is the
“dual occurrence of exposure and adaptation to experiences of
prolonged, multiple, and chronic events of trauma endured during
childhood.” 76 Her summary describes how exposure to complex and
prolonged forms of trauma may result in symptoms that include
“impairments in self-regulation that often lead to various forms of
maladaptive behavioral expressions.” 77 Dr. Goel summarizes how an
understanding of behaviors as symptoms of complex trauma can
inform clinical interventions:
“When assessed and treated through the complex trauma lens,
behaviors are seen as an adaptation to complex trauma
exposure rather than behavioral dysfunctions that are rooted in
various other psychiatric conditions. When the basis of
behavior is explored and attended through as a manifestation
of complex trauma exposure, symptoms of trauma (including
behavior) can be attended to.”78
Unfortunately, treatment is often misguided. Dr. Goel cites research
finding that youth with complex trauma symptoms are often diagnosed
with conduct or oppositional disorders, as well as depression, anxiety,
personality disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders,
substance abuse disorders, and bipolar disorder. 79 According to the
research cited in her report summary, when treatment is based upon
diagnoses “that are regarded as behavioral and not trauma-related
diagnostic structures, the devastating reality is that their treatment is
geared away from developmental responses to trauma ‘which is not
only less effective but can be potentially harmful to the child over
time.’”80 Specifically, Dr. Goel warns that if strategies to address
behaviors fail to consider trauma history, “the behavior may be
reinforced as trauma triggers may inadvertently occur through the
behavior modification process.” 81

 Page 45

To assess whether the young people from Washington have been
receiving adequate treatment at Clarinda Academy, Dr. Goel reviewed
the records DRW collected from Children’s Administration and
Clarinda Academy, and interviewed the individuals as well as Clarinda
Academy’s Clinical Director. Based upon child welfare records and
interviews with the individuals, she found that prior to their admission
to Clarinda Academy, all of DRW’s investigation participants had
experienced complex trauma including physical or sexual abuse and
separations from biological and/or adoptive family members. In Dr.
Goel’s opinion, records documented each of them exhibiting
symptoms commonly displayed by young people who have
experienced complex trauma. 82 However, based on their records and
interviews, Dr. Goel concluded that Clarinda Academy is not offering
treatment that acknowledges and/or attends to each of their complex
trauma needs. 83
Dr. Goel stresses that individualized strategies to attend to complex
trauma needs can be effective in helping youth recover. As she states
in her report summary:
“By attempting to understand and attend to trauma
symptomology unique to each youth, programs have the
capability to aid youth in increasing their awareness of their
own symptomology while working alongside them in creating
individualized strategies that help them succeed. For one
youth, taking time away from a potentially triggering climate
might be the most effective strategy, whereas another youth
might identify that he/she might be most supported with a
trusted staff sitting quietly next to them for a few minutes. There
are countless intervention strategies that can be employed at
any given time. One intervention that works well for a
particular youth might further escalate his/her peer. It is
therefore imperative to make the effort in attending to each
youth individually.”84
But, after reviewing Clarinda Academy treatment files, Dr. Goel found
“no available information to support that the youth being treated are
engaged in the process of creating a safety plan based on identifying
their trauma triggers and corresponding strategies that they can
employ with the aid of providers.” 85
In her report, Dr. Goel details how the inadequate treatment at
Clarinda Academy has affected each of the individuals. In the
summary of her opinion, she writes:

 Page 46

“Each youth’s treatment plan and corresponding therapy
records at Clarinda Academy suggests that their behavior is
being treated with little consideration for the impact of their
complex trauma symptomology and/or needs. Given each
youth’s expression of distress associated with the current
behavior modification strategy employed by the Clarinda
Academy program structure, reports that their trauma needs
are not being addressed in individual therapy, and provided
records that do not reflect a treatment plan and individual
therapy that seek to explore the impact of and adaptation to
trauma exposure specific to each youth, the treatment they are
receiving is likely to be ineffective and potentially
counterproductive in attending to their trauma-related needs.” 86
Dr. Goel further observed the distress caused by separation from
established supports in Washington. 87 The summary recounts her
interviews with all the investigation participants who “strongly
proclaimed their ultimate goal to be returned to their home state in
order to engage with health relationships they had created there
(potential discharge locations), engage in treatment programming that
addresses their specific trauma needs, and be in a physically safe
environment.” 88 Yet, Dr. Goel found “they are being distanced from
those who may be able to provide them with a sense of safety and
security both within the here-and-now and as potential future
caretakers.”89
Finally, Dr. Goel opined that providing appropriate trauma-informed
treatment would alleviate the need to use physical restraints, which
have an even greater potential to harm youth with complex trauma. In
the summary, she explains:
“Most significantly, the use of a trauma-informed approach
allows for youth to avoid being engaged in physically restrictive
interventions, which have the potential to further escalate their
trauma symptomology and re-traumatize youth. If a youth has a
history of being physically dominated and perpetrated against,
he/she may experience significant psychological distress when
being physically restrained.”90
The Clarinda Academy students talked to Dr. Goel about how being
put in restraints felt. One person said “it just adds on” to emotions from
earlier trauma this individual had suffered. Another advised that if
given the opportunity to run a program to help youth with traumatic
pasts, the first rule would be “never use your hands” because that “just

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escalates everything.” Dr. Goel’s summary acknowledges the harm
the young people voiced in their interviews:
“All three youth have reported a significant amount of distress
experienced both physically and emotionally due to their
involvement in physical interventions at Clarinda Academy.
Two of the three youth have likened physical interventions at
Clarinda Academy to their histories of being perpetrated
against, thus reporting the endurance of traumatic stress during
and after restraints. It is likely that their described experiences
of physical restraints that were unjustly employed and painfully
executed exacerbated the level of internal distress already
experienced. 91
Dr. Goel concludes by recommending a program “dedicated to
assessing and addressing individual complex trauma needs
collaboratively with each youth in Washington State.”92 Her full report
contains discussion of each youth’s needs and a set of traumainformed recommendations for Washington-based programs to treat
these and other complexly traumatized youth.

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Recommendations
In August 2018, DRW submitted this report to the Department of
Children Youth and Families (DCYF), a new Department that began
serving as Washington’s child welfare agency in July 2018. DCYF and
DRW met on October 1, 2018 to discuss strategies for addressing the
problems identified in its investigation. DCYF affirmed its goal to be
able to serve all foster youth in Washington State, and is committing to
complete in-person visits to all youth who are currently in out-of-state
placements.
Below are DRW’s recommendations for restoring the rights of the
Washington youth who have been subjected to emotional and physical
abuse by Clarinda Academy, and for preventing risk of further harm in
other out-of-state institutions.

1. DCYF should immediately
terminate all contracts with
Clarinda Academy.
Clarinda Academy does not have a track record to warrant additional
or continuing contracts for serving Washington foster youth. This
report and exhibits illustrate failures to provide individualized treatment
and behavior supports in violation of Washington contracts. In
addition, this investigation revealed evidence of physical restraint
practices that, if conducted in Washington, would violate Washington
regulations. As demonstrated by its own policies, using restraints is
engrained in Clarinda Academy’s “seven levels of interventions” and
serves as the foundation for coercing compliance with its countless
norms.
To ensure the safety and adequate treatment of Washington’s foster
children, DCYF should remove all the young people who are currently
placed at Clarinda Academy and discontinue placing additional youth
at this institution.

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2. DCYF should audit all other out-ofstate placements and end
contracts with any other noncompliant facilities.
Out-of-state contractors should not be allowed to deliver lower quality
services with fewer safety protections than is required for in-state
providers. In addition to its onsite visits, DCYF should conduct audits
with detailed record reviews to ensure treatment and behavior plans
are appropriate and individualized, and review use of restraint
practices for compliance with Washington requirements.
In order to adequately evaluate contractor performance, this review
should include an assessment of all discipline and behavior policies,
treatment plans, behavior plans, education plans, progress notes,
restraint records, and documentation of staff restraint training sessions
and curriculums. The assessment should analyze and compare
treatment and behavior supports and resulting progress toward
individualized treatment goals. DCYF should ensure all restraint
records contain explicit documentation of pre-restraint de-escalation
efforts, and that staff trainings are consistent with Washington
licensing standards for acceptable restraint techniques. DCYF should
cease to contract with all providers where there is a pattern or practice
of neglecting to provide individualized supports or misusing restraints
for non-emergent or otherwise unjustified reasons.

3. DCYF should conduct an internal
audit of all out-of-state placements.
Considering the available alternative in-state facility for one individual
prior to placement in Iowa, delayed discharge planning for a willing instate placement of another individual, and repeated failures to
respond to allegations of abusive physical restraints, DCYF should
conduct an internal review of its case management practices. DCYF
should evaluate each of its current out-of-state placements to ensure
compliance with its own standards to conduct and document an
exhaustive search for in-state options, to engage in active discharge
planning, and to respond to any reports of abuse or neglect by out-ofstate providers. DCYF should determine whether it needs additional

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resources or trainings for social workers to identify alternative in-state
and/or less restrictive options and to promptly follow-up on reports of
alleged misuse of restraints.

4. DCYF should provide for all young
people to receive visits from their
natural support systems and
prospective placements.
The young people who do not have involved biological or adoptive
families need to stay connected to individuals who care about them,
regardless of where they are placed. When no biological or adoptive
family are seeking contact or reunification, any non-family supports
desiring and qualifying to serve as a potential permanent placement
should be eligible for travel assistance to facilitate ongoing contact,
especially when a youth is located in an out-of-state facility where
travel costs prevent regular visitation. DCYF should invest in
promoting these relationships and clarify its policies to ensure that
youth without family involvement are not barred from fostering
relationships with caring and supportive non-family members.

5. DCYF should engage a multidisciplinary team dedicated to
building support plans for the least
restrictive placements appropriate
to each young person’s needs.
DCYF should build a specialized team of social work, advocacy (i.e.
CASA’s and youth advocates), and behavioral health professionals
with experience and expertise in providing services to youth with
histories of complex trauma to review the strengths and needs of each
youth who is placed or is at imminent risk of being placed out-of-state.
The team should be charged with conducting intensive case reviews
to identify each young person’s underlying unmet needs leading to
out-of-state institutionalization and to develop placements with
Washington providers, family members, foster parents, or other
qualified individuals willing to embrace youth in their homes. The team

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should have authority to negotiate child-specific contracts with in-state
providers, arrange evaluations and services for family reunification or
placement with foster or non-family supports, develop and implement
strategies to achieve stability and permanency, and provide coaching
and training to providers and social workers.
Rather than simply expanding capacity in non-permanent group
homes, this intensive multi-disciplinary approach to supplement instate congregate care capacity would aim to ensure placements in the
least restrictive and most integrated settings for young people to grow
into healthy and independent adults.

Conclusion
Washington State’s child welfare system has been isolating young
people against their will in an exceedingly restrictive institution over
1700 miles away from their friends and family. In addition, this
institution allows abusive restraint practices that Washington rules
would prohibit in-state providers from using. Already having
experienced complex trauma, the young people who have been
placed at Clarinda Academy have suffered additional emotional and
psychological harm.
To heal from old and new wounds, young people with histories of
complex trauma need individualized treatment that will help them learn
their own symptoms and effective strategies to successfully overcome
the struggles they have already had to endure. Dependent and legally
free youth with these kinds of histories are relying on Washington’s
foster care system to provide them with trauma-informed treatment
that does not drive deeper wedges between them and their
communities, that does not utilize cookie-cutter crisis plans and rigid
behavioral interventions, and that does not ignore the underlying
causes for their challenges.
To achieve all of these things, Washington must stop sending young
people to places where the youth are further isolated from their
communities and Washington cannot oversee their treatment.
Clarinda Academy and other out-of-state institutions are segregating
youth from any family or natural supports they need to be developing.
As illustrated by the examples at Clarinda Academy, out-of-state
placements limit Washington’s ability to regulate practices and ensure
services are appropriately tailored. To stop the harm youth are
suffering, Washington must bring them home.

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End notes
1

See Protection and Advocacy of Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act, 42 U.S.C.
§10801 et. seq.; Developmental Disabilities Bill of Rights (DD) Act, 42 U.S.C. 15041 et. seq.,
and the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794e.
2
Id.
3
42 U.S.C. §15043(a); 42 U.S.C. § 10805(a); 29 U.S.C. § 794e(f).
4
Id.
5
See Programs listed at http://www.sequelyouthservices.com/; Children’s Administration
November 2017 Contract List, Exhibit A.
6
Id.
7
As Dr. Goel explains, young people who have been through multiple traumatic experiences are
“at a significantly higher risk of experiencing detrimental psychological impairments when
compared to youth who have endured single-incident trauma.” Expert Report and CV, Exhibit D.
8
Under 42 U.S.C. § 10805, P&A’s may access records of individuals who give consent to
conduct investigations of abuse and neglect.
9
Copies of complete and non-redacted records are being attached as Confidential Exhibits 1-20.
These records will not be publically available and should not be subject to public disclosure.
10
42 C.F.R. § 51.2
11
Id.
12
See Expert Opinion and CV, Exhibit D
13
http://www.clarindaacademy.org/; Clarinda Academy Information, Exhibit B.
14
Id.
15
See http://www.sequelyouthservices.com/
16
http://www.glenmillsschool.org/about/history/
17
Exhibit B.
18
Exhibit B at p. 6.
19
Students and administrators from both Clarinda and Woodward Academy explained the use of
the “seven levels of intervention” to address norm violations. See also Exh. B at p. 7.
20
Exhibit B at p. 7.
21
28 C.F.R. § 35.130(d).
22
Olmstead v. L.C. ex rel. Zimring, 527 U.S. 581, 119 S. Ct. 2176 (1999).
23
20 U.S.C. § 1412 (a)(5).
24
See 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3)(A)(i) (defining “child with a disability” to include a child “serious
emotional disturbance”).
25
Exhibit C. at p. 9 (“Children’s Rights Communication”).
26
Id.
27
Exhibit C. at p. 16 (“Family Involvement Visitation”).
28

Clarinda Academy Policies, Exhibit C at 1 (“Children’s Rights Student Rights and
Responsibilities”).

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29

Exhibit C at p. 22 (“Behavior Change Methodologies Physical Restraint/Crisis Intervention”).
Initial and Quarterly Assessments, Confidential Exhibits 14-16.
31
Exhibit C at p. 27 (“Behavior Change Methodologies Behavior Expectations/Campus
Norms”).
32
Exhibit C. at p. 32 (“Behavior Change Methodologies Behavior Expectations (Range of
Consequences)”).
33
Id.
34
Id.
35
Exhibit C at pp. 27 (“Behavior Change Methodologies Behavior Expectations/Campus
Norms”).
36
Id. at pp.27-29.
37
Id.
38
Id.
39
Exhibit C at pp. 35-37 (“Behavior Change Methodologies Behavior Expectations (Range of
Consequences) Contraband Search”).
40
See e.g., Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418, 425, 99 S. Ct. 1804, 1809, 60 L. Ed. 2d 323 (1979)
(“This Court repeatedly has recognized that civil commitment for any purpose constitutes a
significant deprivation of liberty that requires due process protection.”).
41
RCW 71.34.520.
42
RCW 71.34.610-620.
43
RCW 71.34.610.
44
RCW 13.34.320.
45
RCW 13.34.330.
46
Laws of 1999, ch. 188 § 1.
47
See e.g. Confidential Exhibit 8, at p. 11.
48
See https://www.samhsa.gov/trauma-violence/seclusion
49
See e.g. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-trauma/201709/letseliminate-physical-restraints-in-group-homes;
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.625.3790&rep=rep1&type=pdf;
https://www.cwla.org/reducing-restraint-and-seclusion/
50
Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 307, 316, 102 S. Ct. 2452, 2458, 73 L. Ed. 2d 28 (1982).
51
Compare 441 IAC 114.20(237) to WAC 388-145-1820.
52
Id.
53
WAC 388-145-1820(1) (emphasis added).
54
441 IAC 114.20(237)(3).
55
WAC 388-145-1820(3)(a).
56
441 IAC 114.20(237)(3).
57
WAC 388-145-1820(4)
30

58

441 IAC 114.20(237)(3)
DRW found no references to giving written consent, and there was nothing regarding use of
restraints on the standard consents requested by Clarinda Academy at admission. See e.g.
Confidential Exhibit 5.
60
Exhibit C at p. 22.
59

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61

Id.
Exhibit C at p. 23; Statement of Work Out of State Intensive Residential, Exhibit F at p. 3
63
Id.
64
Id.
65
See Confidential Exhibits 14-16.
66
See training records in Confidential Exhibit 17 at pp. 1-58.
67
See disciplinary actions reports in Confidential Exhibit 17 at pp. 61-65.
68
Compare disciplinary actions reports in Confidential Exhibit 17 at pp. 61-65 to Confidential
Exhibit 18 at pp. 23, 32, and 35.
69
See training records in Confidential Exhibit 16 at pp. 1-29
70
See training records in Confidential Exhibit 16 at pp. 30-39
71
Braam ex rel. Braam v. State, 150 Wash. 2d 689, 699, 81 P.3d 851, 857 (2003).
72
Id. at 700-01.
73
Id. at 703.
74
Katie A., ex rel. Ludin v. Los Angeles Cty., 481 F.3d 1150, 1159 (9th Cir. 2007).
75
See Exhibit D.
76
Id. at p. 1.
77
Id.
78
Id. at p. 2.
79
Id.
80
Id. at pp 1-2.
81
Id. at p. 1.
82
Id. at p. 2.
83
Id. at p. 1.
84
Id. at p. 3.
85
Id. at p. 4. Moreover, records do not demonstrate consistent training to ensure staff are
adequately educated about meeting trauma-related needs. DRW found that four of the employees
involved in physical restraints of Washington youth had not received Trauma Informed Care
training, and the other 22 employees received approximately 1.5 hours of Trauma Informed Care
training annually. At least four employees have received no documented training on suicide
prevention.
86
Id. at 4.
87
Id. at pp. 3-4.
88
Id. at p. 3
62

89

Id. p. 4
Id. at 3.
91
Id. at pp. 4-5.
92
Id.
90