Statements Regarding the
Bellefontaine Habilitation Center
A Letter from the Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health
A Letter from the Director of the Department of Mental Health
regarding the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center
Recent news articles and other media have raised serious concerns regarding abuse and neglect of consumers at Bellefontaine Habilitation Center . Abuse or neglect of the individuals we serve is intolerable. Individuals who are found to have committed abuse or neglect are terminated. But termination of individuals who have committed abuse or neglect is not enough. We must prevent abuse and neglect. There are antecedents to abuse, conditions that permit abuse to occur. We must identify and eliminate them. In fact, every injury, even when no abuse or neglect is involved, has antecedents, factors that contributed to the injury. Whether the issues are inadequate screening of personnel; or inadequate staffing, supervision, training, or procedures; or some other factors; it is our responsibility to identify and fix them.
Linda Roebuck, Deputy Director of the Department of Mental Health, is leading a team that is conducting an on-site review of Bellefontaine Habilitation Center . The purpose of the review is to recommend any changes that need to be made to assure the safety of the individuals we serve at Bellefontaine. The team includes individuals with nursing, quality assurance, administrative, and program expertise. The team is reviewing the adequacy of the facility's
- staffing and professional support
- reporting of allegations of abuse and neglect
- quality assurance and quality improvement processes
- investigations conducted locally
- involvement of parents/guardians in the care of consumers
- nursing and medical care subsequent to consumer injuries, and
- supervision and organizational oversight
The team is interviewing staff and observing care at all levels and on all shifts. Ms. Roebuck has the authority to add members to the team, or solicit additional expertise, as necessary. The team will report to me and Anne Deaton, Director of the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, on Friday, August 27, regarding
- Any changes that must be made immediately to assure consumer safety
- Any additional allegations of abuse or neglect, or any other incidents, that must be investigated
- Any other changes they recommend based on the review to date, and
- Next steps the team plans to take in order to complete their review.
The recommendations of the team will also guide changes at other facilities, as well as in Central Office supervision, oversight activities, and other policies and procedures as appropriate.
In addition, we have indicated our complete cooperation with any investigation done by Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services and have requested a review by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
In order to assure that we are following up on any possible abuse or neglect, Dr. Deaton will be in St. Louis on September 1 to meet with any family member, guardian, advocate, or other individuals who have information about injuries or incidents that they believe may have been the result of abuse or neglect at Bellefontaine Habilitation Center, or any other facility or program operated or funded by the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. All allegations will be investigated.
Any individual who has information about injuries or incidents that they believe may have been the result of abuse or neglect at any facility or program operated or funded by the Department of Mental Health should contact our Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-364-9687.
A Public Statement from the Missouri Mental Health Commission
regarding the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center
The Missouri Mental Health Commission is fully aware of all the allegations and investigations currently taking place at Bellefontaine Habilitation Center in St. Louis . We have been consulted and have reviewed the plan being implemented by the Department to review all allegations. We are confident in both internal and external investigations that are taking place at the facility.
The Commission, like the Department of Mental Health, is concerned about all allegations of abuse or neglect and about injuries of any kind that occur to people served by the Department.
We expect timely results of investigations and we will be consulted when they are completed. We will continue to provide advice to the Department Director in accordance with our statutory authority and responsibility.
On March 11, 2004, the Mental Health Commission endorsed the Department's Habilitation Center Five Year Plan. This plan outlines a full continuum of care for all Missourians with developmental disabilities, their parents and guardians by focusing on meeting the needs of each individual person. All persons who now reside at habilitation centers will have a choice and opportunity to reside in the community that meets their needs and desires, as well as the needs of their guardians and/or families.
Statement of Anne Deaton, Director, Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, to the Missouri Mental Health Commission
August 19, 2004
I want to open with some words about the recent allegations of abuse and neglect at Bellefontaine. There has been a great deal of newspaper and TV news coverage of these allegations. I know the alarm, concern and worry that this is causing our consumers and their families, this Commission, all those who advocate for persons with disabilities, and the public at large. My staff, myself, and I know Dorn and all DMH staff share these concerns.
I want you to be assured today that every allegation of abuse or neglect is investigated, and follow up action is taken, be it personnel actions or changes in policy, practice, training or any other needed correction.
I want you to be assured that we will take immediate action whenever there is abuse or neglect and that we are determined to do everything we know to do --- that comprehensive incident analysis of incidents directs us to do, and that experts in these matters advise us to do --- to prevent abuse and neglect from occurring.
Today, I will post at the MRDD web site, send to our stakeholders by e-mail, and send to all parents/guardians and the parents associations at Habilitation Centers a summary of how we respond to abuse and neglect. There will also be a summary for action taken in the community on the DMH web site.
All Habilitation centers will make available for the public's reading the Safety First Manual that we use to guide the reporting of abuse and neglect and any other materials we believe will help parents/guardians and the public better understand how we work to employ and retain good, competent and caring staff.
I am also planning very soon to spend an extensive amount of time at Bellefontaine to make myself available to parents and staff.
To all the good, competent and caring staff at our habilitation centers across this state, I want to express deep appreciation for what they do each day to support some of Missouri's most vulnerable and special people to us all.
To any staff who are found to do harm, there will be no tolerance. To be certain, it is most important for the Department, the Division, administrators at our facilities and to me to make decisions based on what is found, on substantiated findings. Sometimes, there is premature judgment. I do not yet have the investigatory reports on my desk regarding the recent allegations of abuse. I know they will be coming soon.
I will also be launching both internal and external reviews of systems operations to enable me to understand all contributory factors to these incidents. The findings of all these reports will drive my decisions and recommendations to Dorn.
I need and welcome your advice and support and to the best of my ability I will supply you with all the information you request.
