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State investigates youth shelter By JONEL ALECCIA TALENT - Concerns about a Community Works youth shelter where staff have been accused of sexually abusing clients have prompted a state investigation into conditions there. The Youth Diagnostic Shelter at 5605 S. Pacific Highway will remain closed indefinitely pending a joint review by the Oregon Youth Authority and the state Services to Children and Families division. Both agencies are awaiting results of a criminal investigation conducted by the Oregon State Police, said Debbie Rios, Southern Oregon coordinator for the OYA. The shelter was closed two weeks ago after a team of state and Jackson County investigators discovered unsafe conditions, according to Hank Collins, county Health and Human Services director. Nine youth in the program were transferred to other care. "When we saw what was going on, we felt like we needed to remove the kids," Collins said then. The investigation was spurred by notices of potential civil lawsuits filed by two former shelter residents. A 15-year-old boy alleges that an adult female shelter supervisor gave him cigarettes in exchange for sexual intercourse. A 16-year-old girl claims that an adult male supervisor insisted she show him her breasts in exchange for privileges. The female staff worker has since been fired and the male staff worker has been placed on administrative leave, according to county sources. The OYA and SCF agreed to conduct the investigation because those state agencies maintain custody of most of the youth who come to the 16-bed shelter. Only three of the shelter beds are paid for by county sources, Collins said. In addition to the shelter investigation, OYA plans to review circumstances surrounding the drowning last month of a 16-year-old White City boy while in custody of another Community Works program. Justin Hadley, a resident of the Lithia Springs Boys Program, died during a field trip to Crescent City, Calif., tidepools Such investigations are routine after any death, Rios noted. The shelter passed reviews in October by the OYA and SCF. SCF officials noted they had "a very positive overall view" of the shelter, the report concluded. Arnie Green, executive director of Community Works, declined to comment on circumstances at the shelter, other than to say the agency is cooperating fully with officials. "I'm as anxious as anyone for the investigation's conclusion," he said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.