Texas RTC Nelson Children’s Center to Close

The Nelson Children’s Center in Denton, Texas is set to close in a month. It is a residential treatment center for children aged 5 to 17 that opened in 1996. It is one of three RTCs operated by Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSSS) in Texas. If that name seems familiar, it is because LSSS was the placement agency for  Nathaniel Craver .

“The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services put a “placement hold” on the facility in July because of reports that three residents were injured in March. A Lutheran Social Services official said the children were hurt after they acted out aggressively and were being “contained” by staff.

State officials told the organization in a letter that they had “serious concerns” about the injuries.

This month, state officials sent another letter outlining corrective actions and deficiencies, including the “inappropriate use of emergency behavior interventions.”

The letter was not a factor in the closing, said Scott Carroll, vice president of marketing and communications for Lutheran Social Services.”

Currently, 27 children are staying in the 65-bed facility.

“Most children who are placed in the center were in foster care because they were victims of abuse in their biological families, Carroll said. Many were placed in the center because their foster families could not control the children’s behavior.”

“New state guidelines for redesigning foster care require that children remain in their communities so they can be closer to their biological families, schools and friends. The theory is that removing children from their “home communities” causes further trauma.

There are no treatment centers in Dallas County, where the need is highest, according to a statement from Lutheran Services. Organization officials will look into using money made from the sale of the facility to establish services in Dallas County.”

Denton facility for abused, troubled kids closing next month
[Star-Telegram 8/24/11 by Alex Branch]

“Denton police have responded to calls for help at the facility numerous times, according to police records. Capt. Lenn Carter said police have made more than 400 calls to the facility since 2003. Most of those calls were for help with runaways or disturbances, he said.

In September 2010, numerous officers responded to what they described as a riot at the facility and detained eight female residents on charges of rioting and assault on a public servant.

According to that report, female residents were angry because they were being separated from male residents for class that day and began yelling, cursing and breaking chairs. They burst out of a room and knocked down several teachers, sending one male teacher to the hospital with a broken tailbone.

The girls fought with the officers, and two of them also were charged with assault on a peace officer. One girl tried to run away. ”
Home for troubled children to close
[Denton Record-Chronicle 8/23/11 by Donna Fielder]

The comments by former workers posted on the Denton Record-Chronicle article are eye-opening about how the facility has been run.

REFORM Puzzle Piece