The Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday the launch of an investigation into the Lebanon County Children and Youth Services agency for what it calls ongoing instances of inaction and neglect.
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf wrote in a press release, “Specifically, Detectives are investigating past and ongoing instances of inaction and/or negligence on behalf of LCCYS caseworkers, which resulted in death and serious injuries to multiple children.”
LebTown asked Graf in a follow-up email how many cases it was investigating and how many deaths and serious injuries have been sustained that are believed to be tied to the alleged charges against LCCYS. Those questions had not been answered as of publication.
The social service agency’s webpage said the department’s mission is to “access and ensure safety, provide permanency, and advocate for the well-being of all children and youth in Lebanon County.”
In the news release, Graf cited a case where her office learned of a LCCYS caseworker who allegedly returned a 1-year-old child to the home of his suspected abusers.
“LCCYS and the Lebanon County Detective Bureau had a pending case which involved allegations of child abuse, which resulted in physical injury to the baby caused by either the baby’s biological mother or her adult cousin. The mother and cousin lived together. As the investigation progressed, Detectives updated and informed LCCYS of their intent to charge and that the injuries were indicative of abuse,” Graf wrote in her release.
Graf said LCCYS returned the child to the mother’s (and alleged abuser’s) home and care. Weeks later, the biological father informed authorities that he believed the baby had suffered additional abuse in the mother’s care, Graf said.
Police called for an ambulance and the baby received emergency medical care. Within 24 hours, police charged the mother and adult family member with a second instance of abuse.
This most recent example of LCCYS’s alleged failure to protect children prompted the Lebanon County District Attorney’s office to launch a formal investigation, the news release said.
Following a press release issued by the DA’s office at around 9 a.m., Lebanon County Commissioners issued the following statement about 2:30 p.m. Commissioner Mike Kuhn said he requested a meeting with Graf to discuss the release of this information to the public but was told it was already in the pipeline.
The commissioners’ statement reads:
“Lebanon County Children and Youth Services (CYS) faces very complicated circumstances in many of these cases. They must try and find a balance between the safety of the children and honoring their legal obligation to reunify families. Sometimes, despite best efforts and limited options, parents hurt their children. While that’s never acceptable, it is a harsh reality of humanity.”
The statement continues by saying:
“Children and Youth Services operates under the guidelines established by the State Department of Human Services/Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF), ensuring that all decisions are made in accordance with state regulations, the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), and federal child welfare standards. These laws are in place to guarantee that a child’s safety is at the forefront of all decision making. The details of cases are protected under confidentiality laws. All cases are reviewed by the state, and this case is no different. Lebanon County CYS has always maintained itself in good standing with OCYF (the state’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families), and continues to comply with all licensing requirements.”
Jamie Wolgemuth, county administrator, said county officials had nothing further to say at this time regarding the DA’s announcement and referred questions to commission chairman Mike Kuhn.
Lebanon County solicitor Matt Bugli said he was not “aware of any prohibition or limitation on a district attorney’s office regarding the ability to initiate an investigation on a county agency.” LebTown asked Bugli if the DA’s office was required by state law to recuse itself from an internal investigation of another county-based agency.
The DA’s release notes that the Lebanon County Detective Bureau asks anyone with information concerning instances of neglect or inaction by LCCYS officials to contact Sgt. Todd Hirsch or Detective Timothy Fetzer at the district attorney’s office.
Detectives are asking for assistance from the general public to identify other instances which evidence the following:
- Actions on behalf of LCCYS that returned a child under its care and custody to
an unsafe home environment. - When the agency returned a child under its care and custody to a residence that serves as the current home of the perpetrator of the child’s abuser.
- Actions on behalf of LCCYS that advocated for and allowed contact to occur between a suspected/charged perpetrator of abuse and a child-victim.
- Actions on behalf of LCCYS that tipped off a suspected perpetrator of abuse as to future police investigations and interaction.
- Any other instance wherein a citizen believes LCCYS knowingly placed a child at risk during its care and proceedings.
The public may reach the office by telephone (717-228-4403), fax (717-228-0389), or email (districtattorney@lebanoncountypa.gov). Any information shared with the district attorney’s office or detectives will not be disclosed to LCCYS.
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