Group home plans appeal of closure

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Nov 10, 2009 - Page: 1BA

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LAFAYETTE — An official with a Lafayette group home said the company will appeal the state’s recent decision to revoke its license. 

Last week, the state cited at least 10 infractions in its decision to revoke the license of the Vermilion Group Home, a boy’s home in the 800 block of East Vermilion Street.

Collis Temple, executive director of The Harmony Center, which ran the home, called the state’s decision “rash” and “unfortunate.”

Temple said The Harmony Center has overseen group homes for 30 years and has had a home in Lafayette for the past 16 to 17 years.

He said the company has strived to provide healthy quality programs for children in need of support, supervision and assistance.

“I think we have demonstrated that for 30 years,” Temple said.

The home had been under scrutiny by the state Department of Social Services since last year when it received a “needing improvement score” after an assessment.

A “Corrective Action Plan” was implemented, but a licensing inspection Oct. 23 allegedly found a lack of sustained compliance.

The infractions included a failure to provide timely and competent medical care, inadequate staffing and failure to keep the facility in good repair.

Temple said they are reviewing the allegations and will address each one during the appeals process. The company has 15 days from the day of revocation to file an appeal.

Specific allegations include an incident Sept. 17 when seven residents allegedly were left unsupervised for more than four hours after they were dropped off at the local library, which was closed. The children returned on their own, according to the state’s revocation notice.

Temple stressed that the children were taken to a library and not to a mall or park. He said other agencies also do this.

Pat Magee, who is serving as the company’s legal counsel, said his clients dispute the amount of time kids were left alone.