HOUSTON CHRONICLE

SAT, 7/2/2005

MELANIE MARKLEY
melanie.markley@chron.com

State officials took the first step Friday to revoke the license held by Waymaker Residential Treatment Center in northwest Houston because of ongoing violations.

The center's license was suspended last week after a 13-year-old boy's arm was broken, allegedly by an employee with a criminal record who improperly restrained him.

"The Department of Family and Protective Services' first priority is to protect the health and safety of children, most especially when they are in our care," said spokesman Darrell Azar. "In light of this incident, as well as the history of this facility with other deficiencies, we don't feel we can be assured of the safety of children at Waymaker ."

A letter giving notice of the revocation and listing the violations was sent Friday to George Grant, Waymaker's director. The 6-year-old treatment center, which includes three brick ranch-style homes in northeast Houston, is a nonprofit facility.

The violations included the improper use of restraints and allowing someone to work with children who has a criminal background but has not undergone a risk assessment to determine if he poses a danger to children.

Grant could not be reached late Friday. Officials at the facility have declined to comment in the past.

The center, which cared for 10- to 17-year-old boys with emotional or behavioral problems, has been closed since June 22. At that time, 44 youths - 38 foster children and six on juvenile probation - were relocated to other facilities.

Azar said he does not know if charges have been filed against the worker who broke the boy's arm. He refused to name the employee, citing confidentiality.

This was not the first time the state has found violations at the facility. The center was cited in 2003 for allowing a staff member with a criminal background to supervise children. And last January, according to an inspection report, a staff member helped a resident run away from the facility.

Azar said the facility has 15 days to either accept the revocation or ask for an administrative review. Officials at the facility also can seek an appeal at the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

This is the second time this year that the state has taken action against a local residential treatment center. In January, the state revoked the license held by the Child and Adolescent Development Inc., also called CADI Treatment Center in south Houston.

Statewide, licensing officials took action against 12 residential treatment facilities in fiscal 2004. Of the 12, one license was denied, two were revoked and nine were suspended.


Emphasis added by H4K Editor