Foster Homes Facing Shutdown

A Spokane foster home is one of 11 statewide facing license revocations following safety checks by the state Department of Social and Health Services.

Another 450 others have been ordered to clean up their acts.

Department review teams visited more than 1,380 homes, about onefifth of the total statewide, and interviewed more than 1,550 children in the investigation ordered by Jean Soliz, who heads the agency.

Safety inspections ordered by Soliz were completed last month at all 93 state-licensed group care homes, two of which were shut down and 46 of which were ordered to take corrective measures.

The reviews followed reports of abuse last fall.

In September the state agreed to pay $4.3 million to settle two lawsuits involving a total of 16 boys who said they were sexually and physically abused by other residents at the O.K. Boys Ranch in Olympia.

Soon afterward, a baby died of sudden infant death syndrome at a Seattle-area foster home, the fourth such death in the home.

Carol Cheatle, director of operations for children’s services, said Friday that of the 11 foster home licenses the department is trying to revoke, eight are in the Seattle area, one is in the Spokane area and two are in southwest Washington. None of the homes was identified, and not all have been notified, she added.

Revocation action may be based on seriously inappropriate discipline, a pattern of violations or new occupancy by an adult who has not been cleared with the state and turns out to have a criminal record, Cheatle said.

Cheatle said the review showed children are safe and receive good care in the vast majority of foster homes. Nearly 98 percent of children interviewed felt safe in their homes, the report said.

Most of the corrective orders were minor. Most common were expired training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, found at 161 homes.

Among more serious problems, firearms were not locked up in 37 homes. Physical punishment or other inappropriate discipline was found in 42 homes, 33 homes had smoke alarm problems, poisons were accessible in 11 homes and medications were not locked in 60 homes.

The agency and state Attorney General Christine Gregoire have asked the Legislature to streamline procedures for revoking licenses.

Bad homes often remain in business too long, and too much time and legal expense is required to shut them down, Cheatle said.