ZELIENOPLE, Pa. — Since Channel 11's Renee Kaminski's report on Monday about an investigation into a Zelienople residential facility for troubled children, more parents have contacted the news station with allegations that their children were also sexually abused while being treated at the Glade Run Lutheran Services center.
“I was livid. I got so stressed out. I got sick and was in the hospital afterwards. It's too much to take in,” one Somerset County mother, who did not want to be identified, said.
Kaminski confirmed last week that the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and Zelienople police are investigating the 95-bed residential treatment facility.
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A spokesperson for the DHS issued the following statement about the investigation to Channel 11 News last Monday:
<em>"DHS' Bureau of Human Services Licensing received a report of sexual mistreatment from ChildLine on July 31, 2015. The reporter alleged that nine male children, ages 8-12 years old, were involved in ongoing sexual interactions at the facility from March 2015 through July 2015.</em>
<em>"Because the children involved do not meet the definition of a perpetrator as per the Child Protective Services Law, BHSL conducted child interviews on August 6 and 7, 2015. Investigation is ongoing and in coordination with law enforcement."</em>
Among the negative comments about the facility on social media were some positive ones.
“My son went to St. Stephen’s part of Glade Run. I just want people to know the school had and does do positive things,” one parent wrote on WPXI’s Facebook page.
However, for the mother Kaminski spoke with on Monday, she said she now realizes others endured what happened to her 11-year-old daughter.
"As soon as I saw that, it was like this is not an isolated incident. It hit home that (she) wasn't the only one,” the mother said.
According to the Somerset County woman, her daughter spent 2012 in treatment at Glade Run, where she was molested by a group of girls in her cottage.
“She was very open and told us because she had been previously sexually abused when she was younger, so she knew that was wrong,” the mother said.
The Somerset County woman said she reported the incident to officials at Glade Run and removed her daughter immediately. She said she also contacted the Department of Public Welfare.
“They investigated the child safety and found evidence of a violation,” she said.
The DPW’s website, where state licensing officials said inspection information of the alleged violation and evidence of compliance would be found, had no record of the investigation or violation.
“I don't believe any changes were made,” the Somerset County mother said.
Glade Run officials told Kaminski last week that they’re conducting an internal investigation and are considering adding additional security and cameras.