Introduction foster care system has been sending many young Washington’s people in need of residential care and treatment to the Clarinda Academy, an institution in Iowa. This is a report by Disability Rights Washington (DRW) to expose the conditions and treatment experienced by Washington foster youth at this institution. About Disability Rights Washington DRW is a private non-profit advocacy organization with a mission “to advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with and pursue justice on matters related to human and disabilities” “to legal DRW has been specially designated to serve as the rights.” federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system for Washington citizens with disabilities and mental health conditions. Following the harrowing 1972 expose of conditions at Willowbrook State School in New York, Congress enacted a series of legislation known as the which require states to designate P&A “P&A Acts,” systems to serve as to ensure the human rights of people “watchdogs” with developmental, physical, and mental health disabilities. Congress provided federal funding and mandated that each P&A have authority to provide information and referrals, outreach and monitoring, as well as advocacy and education for policy makers regarding the rights of its constituents. Under these statutes, P&A’s also have broad access authority to conduct investigations of abuse and neglect upon receiving complaints or probable cause to believe abuse or neglect has or may be occurring. DRW is releasing this report in furtherance of its mission and federal mandate to and for Washingtonians with mental “protect advocate” health disabilities. Out-of-state Foster Care Washington’s Placements investigation of Clarinda Academy began several months after DRW’s DRW discovered that the Administration of the Washington Children’s State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was placing many young people in out-of-state institutions. Specifically, DRW received a call from a community member who was concerned that a
Introduction Washington’s foster care system has been sending many young people in need of residential care and treatment to the Clarinda Academy, an institution in Iowa. This is a report by Disability Rights Washington (DRW) to expose the conditions and treatment experienced by Washington foster youth at this institution. About Disability Rights Washington DRW is a private non-profit advocacy organization with a mission “to advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities” and “to pursue justice on matters related to human and legal rights.” DRW has been specially designated to serve as the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system for Washington citizens with disabilities and mental health conditions. Following the harrowing 1972 expose of conditions at Willowbrook State School in New York, Congress enacted a series of legislation known as the “P&A Acts,” which require states to designate P&A systems to serve as “watchdogs” to ensure the human rights of people with developmental, physical, and mental health disabilities. Congress provided federal funding and mandated that each P&A have authority to provide information and referrals, outreach and monitoring, as well as advocacy and education for policy makers regarding the rights of its constituents. Under these statutes, P&A’s also have broad access authority to conduct investigations of abuse and neglect upon receiving complaints or probable cause to believe abuse or neglect has or may be occurring. DRW is releasing this report in furtherance of its mission and federal mandate to “protect and advocate” for Washingtonians with mental health disabilities. Washington’s Out-of-state Foster Care Placements DRW’s investigation of Clarinda Academy began several months after DRW discovered that the Children’s Administration of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) was placing many young people in out-of-state institutions. Specifically, DRW received a call from a community member who was concerned that a