Group urges closure
of center after girl's death:
Advocates cite 'pervasive failure' at treatment
facility; multiple inquiries under way
BY KEVIN HARTER
July 15, 2006
A Wisconsin advocacy
group has called for the closure of a Rice Lake
treatment center where a 7-year-old girl was fatally
injured after being restrained in May.
Disability Rights
Wisconsin, citing information from their
investigators and an initial report by the state
Health and Family Services Department, called for
the center to be shut down to ensure the safety of
other children being treated there.
The department said
it is considering several options, including
revoking the center's certification. But state
officials are waiting for Northwest Counseling and
Guidance Clinic to submit a plan on how it would
correct deficiencies identified in the department's
initial report.
A third investigation
by Rice Lake police and the Polk County attorney —
with assistance from the state Justice Department —
also is under way.
Angellika Arndt, who
had attended the clinic's day treatment center five
days a week for a month for behavioral problems, had
been restrained on nine separate occasions,
according to the state report released June 22.
She died May 26, the
day after she was injured while being restrained at
the center. The Hennepin County medical examiner
ruled her death a homicide caused by "complications
of chest compression asphyxiation" leading to
"cardiopulmonary arrest while restrained by another
person."
"Although our
investigation is still ongoing, we felt that we
could not wait until its conclusion to express our
deep concern at the department's decision to allow
this facility to remain open in the light of its
findings of such numerous and significant
violations," said Disability Rights Wisconsin
attorney Kristin M. Kerschensteiner in a letter this
week to the Health and Family Services Department.
The letter also
expressed concerns about competency of the center's
staff and procedures at Rice Lake and other
treatment centers, including Eau Claire.
"… Unfortunately, it
took a young girl's death to bring to light the
pervasive failure of Northwest Counseling and
Guidance Clinic to properly train or supervise their
treatment staff in their Rice Lake facility,"
Kerschensteiner wrote.
Disability Rights
Wisconsin is a nonprofit watchdog group that
receives government funding. It has the authority to
conduct its own investigations and take legal
action, including, on occasion, suing the state.
The Health and Family
Services Department report cited multiple violations
of state law at Northwest Counseling, including the
law governing physical restraint of clients.
State officials said
the treatment center has until today to submit a
plan in response to the shortcomings outlined in the
earlier investigation.
"If the facility
fails to demonstrate what actions it will take to
protect children, we have the option to reject the
plan, suspend their certification or revoke their
certification," said Stephanie Marquis, Health and
Family Services Department communications director.
Norwest Counseling
President Denison Tucker has denied any wrongdoing
by his staff in Angellika's death. Citing a request
from state officials, he declined to comment Friday
on Disability Rights Wisconsin's letter.
"We are fully
cooperating, and we will be submitting a
comprehensive response next week," Tucker said.
Kevin Harter can be
reached at
kharter@pioneerpress.com or 800-950-9080, ext.
2149
