PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) and Community Behavioral Health (CBH) announced today that they are removing Philadelphia children and youth from residential care facilities operated by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.
DHS and CBH have worked together to increase their monitoring of Devereux following a Philadelphia Inquirer report on August 11 about abuse at these facilities. DHS and CBH immediately closed intake to new admissions. Steps taken by staff since then have included meeting with children, talking with their families, and making unannounced visits to Devereux facilities.
Currently 53 Philadelphia children and youth are in Devereux’s residential programs. Of those 53, six children are solely DHS involved. There are 15 additional children at Devereux’s residential treatment facility who are jointly served by Community Behavioral Health (CBH) and DHS. New placements are being identified for the children and increased monitoring will continue until children have been removed.
Statement of Kimberly Ali, Commissioner of the Department of Human Services:
“Children and youth deserve only the best services. We are firm in our commitment that providers are accountable for ensuring quality programming and services. That’s why today Philadelphia DHS announced it will discontinue use of Devereux residential programs.”
Statement of David T. Jones, Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, which oversees Community Behavioral Health:
“At Community Behavioral Health, we are committed to effectively and appropriately managing the delivery of behavioral health services for Philadelphia’s youth. Central to this commitment is the health and wellbeing of youth in our care. To that end, CBH has determined to discontinue use of Devereux’s psychiatric residential treatment programs at this time.”
The Department of Human Services is the county child welfare and juvenile justice agency. The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services offers behavioral health care, intellectual disability supports and early intervention services in one comprehensive integrated system. Community Behavioral Health is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)corporation contracted by the City of Philadelphia to provide mental health and substance use treatment services for Philadelphia County Medicaid recipients.