DHS finds 'serious safety risks' to children in OnTrack housing - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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DHS finds 'serious safety risks' to children in OnTrack housing Department of Human Services is moving 20 families from OnTrack housing because of "deplorable conditions." Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch Wednesday Jan 25, 2017 at 11:45 AM Jan 25, 2017 at 11:52 AM Damian Mann Mail Tribune @reporterdm A scathing report by the Oregon Department of Human Services into OnTrack Inc. said the agency found children living in "deplorable conditions," prompting immediate referral of new clients to a different addiction service. DHS has required that 20 families at OnTrack crisis housing be moved out and into other living situations. "Over the past months, DHS has received numerous complaints and reports of concerns from a variety of sources inside and outside DHS and OHA (Oregon Health Authority)," DHS Director Clyde Saiki said in an email to the Mail Tribune. Saiki said DHS sent a team of four investigators to look into reports about the safety of children. OHA also sent four investigators. "The investigators found serious safety risks to children and deplorable living conditions in the treatment and crisis housing programs," Saiki said. "The issues were serious enough that the investigators made calls, as mandatory reporters, to the local child abuse/neglect hotline to report the conditions in which the families were living." The hotline reports will be investigated by Child Protective Services and the Office of Adult Abuse Prevention and Investigations. DHS has given OnTrack until Monday to come up with a corrective action plan. Families that are remaining in OnTrack crisis housing waiting to be moved will receive daily visits from local DHS caseworkers and case manager to ensure their safety. OnTrack Executive Director Rita Sullivan was placed on paid administrative leave in November. Sullivan receives $120,000 annually. The 39-year-old organization has hired an investigator to look into allegations of bullying and harassment.