The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette
We often connote Indiana Department of Child Service investigations with young children. However, as a media-led investigation into Pierceton Woods Academy found, young adults are vulnerable, too.
On March 13, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation granting DCS the authority to investigate abuse allegations at residential facilities
Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Fishers, successfully offered an amendment to Senate Bill 169 to resolve some of the residential-care facility reporting issues brought to light by a collaborative investigation by ProPublica and the Indianapolis Star into the state-licensed residential treatment center.
The state’s definition of “child” now includes individuals between 18 and 21 years of age who reside or previously resided at a residential-care facility licensed by DCS. The state is responsible for children who “age out” while living in a residential community.
The legislation was spurred by the news organizations’ investigation, which exposed numerous assertions of sexual abuse and misconduct by staff members at Pierceton Woods.
Lasting Change Inc., a Fort Wayne-based nonprofit, operates Pierceton Woods. Tim Smith, who was appointed its chief executive officer in 2022, leads the company.
Similar issues were found at Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center in Richmond, where records indicate failure to report allegations of physical or sexual abuse, including an incident involving a 21-year-old counselor allegedly engaging in a sexual act with a 14-year-old resident.
Last November, ProPublica and the Star reported that a psychologist hired by one boy’s family as part of a civil lawsuit concluded a “culture of silence to suppress reports of sexual abuse” existed at Pierceton Woods, allowing residents to be groomed and sexually abused in “an assembly-like fashion.”
“Lasting Change settled the lawsuit last year for $72,000,” the investigative team reported on Nov. 28. “As part of the settlement, the teen was prohibited from discussing the case publicly and Pierceton Woods admitted no wrongdoing.”
Yes, this new law will likely increase work for DCS, but this legislation was needed to safeguard current and future children. How we manage, mismanage, cover up or ignore atrocities foisted upon the helpless says a great deal about our values.
We all have a role in protecting youth in dangerous situations. If you know a child is in immediate danger, call 911 and report it to law enforcement. Otherwise, call the statewide DCS child abuse hotline: 1-800-800-5556.
You can report anonymously, but responders will need as much information as possible about the circumstances creating a risk of harm and the names, addresses and phone numbers of the child, parent and alleged perpetrator.
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