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inanna

(3,547 posts)
Wed Jan 28, 2015, 03:04 PM Jan 2015

Rock River Academy closing following reports of abuse, misconduct

Last edited Wed Jan 28, 2015, 04:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: WREX

Posted: Jan 28, 2015 11:19 AM EST

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Rock River Academy, a residential facility for at-risk youth, is closing following allegations of abuse, violence and misconduct, according to the Department of Child and Family Services.

The facility has 90 days to relocate the girls to other facilities.

<snip>

In December, 13 News filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Rockford Police Department to find out just how many incidents like the ones alleged had occurred at Rock River Academy. Nearly 800 police reports were filed from 2006 to Dec. 4, 2014. The reports vary from rape, to aggravated assault, to sodomy. A large number of the police reports were runaway reports.

After news reports exposed this information, DCFS imposed an "intake hold" on the troubled center, meaning it stopped placing juveniles in them.

Update: http://www.wics.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.il/2a2168b0-wics.com.shtml

Read more: http://www.wrex.com/story/27962321/2015/01/28/rock-river-academy-closings-following-reports-of-abuse-m



Excerpts of statement issued by Rock River Academy CEO Monge Codio:

"Rock River Academy has given the Department of Children and Family Services notice that we are terminating our contract with them. As a result, we will no longer be treating youths who are under the guardianship of DCFS. This decision will regretfully result in the closing of the facility as Rock River does not have enough non-ward residents to remain viable."

"Rock River Academy has had a long partnership with DCFS. It has been our privilege to provide care and treatment to DCFS wards including the most challenging cases in the DCFS's system for many years. Rock River has enhanced and improved the lives of numerous adolescents who have been cared for at the facility. It is unfortunate that recent media stories and DCFS's ensuing reaction have overshadowed these countless successes. They unfairly discredit the dedication of our staff who have worked hard every day to provide high quality care and treatment and have made a genuine difference in the lives of these highly troubled youths. Rock River's primary focus during its tenure has been to provide high quality care and treatment to its residents."

"The recent bed-hold placed upon Rock River by DCFS, which we strenuously dispute, was instituted without due process or fairness to the facility. We have not been provided any specific information as to when or how the bed-hold will be lifted. We have concerns that in spite of our efforts to provide high quality care to our residents, in the current environment, there will not be a timely reversal of this decision. This places us in an untenable situation in which we can no longer operate."


Full statement here: http://www.wrex.com/story/27964071/2015/01/28/statement-from-rock-river-academy-about-closing
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inanna

(3,547 posts)
5. From The Chicago Tribune:
Wed Jan 28, 2015, 03:24 PM
Jan 2015

January 28, 2015, 12:01 PM

A prominent but troubled Rockford residential facility for youths is closing following Tribune reports that children inside the center were assaulted and lured into prostitution.

The 59-bed, all-girls Rock River Academy told the Tribune in a written statement Wednesday that it is voluntarily terminating its contract with the state Department of Children and Family Services, which stopped sending juvenile wards to the facility in December following the Tribune reports.

"This decision will regretfully result in the closing of the facility as Rock River does not have enough non-ward residents to remain viable," the statement said.

DCFS sent monitors to Rock River and placed the facility on intake hold after the Tribune's "Harsh Treatment" series detailed violence, sexual assaults and frequent running away at the center, which serves girls with behavioral and mental health problems.

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/rtc/chi-youth-treatment-rock-river-20150128-story.html

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
6. Wow ... a 6 paragraph statement ...
Wed Jan 28, 2015, 03:27 PM
Jan 2015

and not a single reference as to the nearly 100/year police reports filed against it. Nope ... it's all the "media's fault."

Sickening!

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