ZELIENOPLE, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced Thursday it will revoke the license of Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople following allegations that children were sexually abused there.
As a result, the residential treatment facility will close within 30 days.
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Over the summer, Channel 11's Renee Kaminski reported on the Zelienople police investigation into an alleged secret sex club involving children as young as 8 at the facility.
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DHS officials said they found several violations, including inadequate supervision of the children, failed policy and procedure implementation, failure to report missing children, staff members sleeping during their shifts and insufficient staffing levels.
State officials also said some children reported “forcible rape.”
"(While) staff were sleeping or watching TV, children developed a sexual misconduct system,” inspectors wrote in their report.
"The health and safety of children is the highest of high priorities," DHS Secretary Ted Dallas said.
The 56-bed facility serves children and adolescents diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Glade Run immediately appealed the department's decision and can remain open throughout the appeals process, which could take several weeks.
A spokesperson for Glade Run Lutheran Services clarified in a written statement that its services, including residential, in-home, in-community and school-based mental health, autism and educational offerings, will continue as the organization has three other licenses to operate.
“For 161 years, Glade Run has served traumatized youth and their families, epitomizing through our daily work the values to which we remain committed. Never in our history has the agency received any disruption of licensing or service delivery,” the statement, in part, read.
The Zelienople police chief said the forcible rape allegations along with police findings will be put before the Butler County district attorney during a meeting set for next Tuesday.