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Brown Schools gets top marks
By JIM ROSS
© St. Petersburg Times, LECANTO -- State regulators on Thursday said the Brown Schools' facility has made "drastic improvements," an announcement that thrilled Brown administrators and made them eager to negotiate a contract extension. The Department of Children and Families review team found "significant improvements" in Brown's clinical and medical care of residents, as well as the company's handling of client eligibility, legal documentation and staffing, according to a DCF news release. "Overall, I am very pleased with the progress shown by this facility," said Patrick Howard, DCF's top local official, in prepared remarks. "We are extremely pleased. Clearly this outcome is a direct result of DCF and the Brown Schools really working together as partners to improve this program for the kids," said Laura Schuck, vice president in charge of Brown's East Coast operations. Schuck and other Brown officials received the DCF report Thursday morning. She said Brown wasn't interested in seeking a change from the current admissions rules, which limit Brown to accepting just two new clients per week. The current census stands at 23. "I think it's important for us to continue to build slowly," Schuck said during an interview. "We're content to build slowly." However, the positive report did fortify Brown's resolve to seek a contract extension, Schuck said. Brown won a six-month contract extension in late June. "We expect this month to renegotiate the contract" for a full year, Schuck said. Last spring, DCF hired Brown to operate a residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed adolescents. Brown set up shop inside the former Heritage Hospital building off County Road 491 north of County Road 486. The company experienced a rocky start, with several residents escaping and committing crimes and other residents filing constant complaints with the state abuse hotline. The DCF, displeased with staffing levels and other problems, imposed an admissions moratorium in December and issued two critical report cards. Brown won the six-month contract extension and agreed to stop accepting residents who have cases pending in the criminal court's juvenile section. The DCF lifted its admissions moratorium, allowing Brown to admit two residents per week. During their recent inspections, DCF monitors found Brown was 100 percent compliant with rules concerning residents' treatment plans, physical exams and therapeutic records. Last year, 61 percent of case records didn't contain initial treatment plans, 82 percent lacked documentation of physical exams and all files were missing treatment reviews, the news release said. DCF monitors also found Brown was doing a better job maintaining staff ratios and ensuring that residents met admissions criteria. Last year, that wasn't always the case. "We couldn't be happier," Schuck said. DCF said Brown still needs to improve its discharge planning and data submission.
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