http://www.charleston.net/stories/08220 ... home.shtmlStory last updated at 7:18 a.m. Friday, August 22, 2003
DSS bars president from youth facility
Abuse allegations investigated at center man runs in Costa Rica
Associated Press
COLUMBIA--A state agency has told the president of a private children's home in Abbeville County to stay away from the facility until an investigation is completed.
The state Department of Social Services says Narvin Lichfield cannot be at the Carolina Springs Academy while authorities look into allegations children were held against their will and physically abused at a youth behavioral management center he was involved with in Costa Rica.
Lichfield has denied that students were abused and said he plans to reopen the facility, which was closed in May.
Once the investigation in Costa Rica is resolved, the agency will decide if Lichfield can return to the center, DSS said in a letter.
Lichfield has agreed to stay away, said John Stathakis, a lawyer representing the home in Donalds. "We in no way believe he did anything wrong. Until they process their paper and complete their investigations, we're happy to cooperate," he said.
Carolina Springs describes itself as a "specialty boarding school." Parents pay $2,990 per month in tuition, according to a 2002 statement from the home on file at DSS.
The school offers education and behavior-modification programs. Positive behavior is rewarded with more privileges, according to a copy of the facility's policies and manual on file at DSS. Negative behavior is handled through time-out, room restriction and fines up to $5 per incident.
The home cared for 290 youths last year. It has agreed to reduce the number of children enrolled from no more than 123 at a time to no more than 100, obtain additional training for its workers and not allow older children at the school to discipline younger children, DSS spokesman Jerry Adams said.
DSS has agreed to allow the home to gradually increase the number of children once the agency finds "there is progress and substantial compliance."
This isn't the first time DSS has dealt with the facility.
Carolina Springs initially operated without a license because officials thought it was a boarding school not subject to DSS regulations.
Between 1999 and 2000, DSS officials alleged the home accepted children who required services it did not offer.
In letters, DSS also accused the home of allowing older students to monitor and possibly discipline younger children, violating fire codes and having staff members use restraints and striking students as discipline.
Stathakis said the fire code problems have been resolved. The home also has a plan that resolved the concern about any use of students disciplining or monitoring others. All appropriate staff are receiving or have received restraint training.
Carolina Springs also faces new allegations from DSS, including accepting more children than allowed by license, failing to report an allegation of abuse, allowing children to supervise and assist in the restraint of other children, and inappropriate restraints and discipline, according to a DSS memo.
