Care Center on Probation After Boy's Death

October 13th, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- State regulators have put a Draper youth facility on probation and cited operators for providing inadequate medical care to a 14-year-old California boy who died there in June.

Disciplinary action against Youth Care of Utah was part of a settlement reached between the facility and lawyers for the state Human Services Office of Licensing.

Youth Care was not fined and is free to accept new clients.

Brendan James Blum was found dead at the center on June 28.

An autopsy concluded he died after his bowel twisted and cut off the blood supply to his small intestine.

A police investigation found the boy had been vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, but that staff failed to contact an on-call nurse.

On Thursday, prosecutors charged two counselors from the residential facility with one count each of third-degree felony abuse or neglect of a child.

Youth Care officials say Blum complained only of flu-like symptoms.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Youth Center Workers Charged in Child's Death

October 11th, 2007
By Sarah Dallof

Two workers at a Draper center for troubled youth have been charged in the death of a 14-year-old boy.

According to court documents obtained by KSL News, the death of 14-year-old Brendan Blum could have been prevented if two workers at the facility had called for medical attention.

Brendan was originally from Santa Barbara, Calif., and had Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.

The Salt Lake District Attorney says that on June 27 he became violently ill, vomiting, losing control of his bowels and complaining of stomach pain. But the district attorney says despite the symptoms, workers Deborah Cole and Jorge Ramirez failed to notify the on-call nurse or contact a doctor.

Brendan was found dead around 7 a.m. An autopsy revealed he died of a small bowel infarction, a condition the medical examiner feels would not have been fatal if Brendan had received medical attention.

Cole and Ramirez are charged with felony abuse or neglect of a disabled child.
KSL News spoke today with the executive director of Youth Care. He commented on the charges, as did Draper police. "We are confident that a criminal prosecution ultimately will be found to be unjustified and unwarranted. In the meantime, we will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities and also to support our dedicated staff," director Trina Packard said.

Draper Police Sgt. Gerry Allred disagrees. "We're confident that these are the right charges and that, you know, hopefully this will bring something to the industry so that we don't keep having these things happen," he said.

Officials with the Utah Human Services Department say they moved to pull Youth Care's license right after the death, but the boy's mother says it took two months for any action.

The facility appealed the move, and while that's being decided, the center is still open and operating.

Cole and Ramirez have been summoned to appear in court on Nov. 20. If convicted, they each face up to five years in prison.

Youth's death is still under review

July 18, 2007

DRAPER -- The Salt Lake district attorney will be asked to decide what, if any, charges should be filed in connection with the death of a 14-year-old boy at a youth treatment facility in Draper.

The Southern California boy, whose name was not released, was found dead at the Youth Care of Utah on June 28. He had been suffering from stomach and bowel problems and placed in a room separate from the others. In the morning, he was found dead on his mattress.

Draper Police Sgt. Gerry Allred said Monday an autopsy had been completed, but he did not want to comment on it until all factors were looked at.
"We're looking at it really hard to make sure we're not missing anything," he said.

BRENDAN BLUM: Teen boy found dead at treatment center

By Rebecca Palmer
June 29, 2007

DRAPER — Workers at the residential youth treatment center Youth Care of Utah found a 14-year-old California boy dead inside their facility Thursday morning.

The boy had been suffering with bowel and stomach problems, so had been separated from other youths at the home, according to Draper Police Sgt. Gerry Allred. The sick teen had been placed in a room and was allowed to sleep on his own mattress.

When workers with the private company checked on the boy early Thursday, they found he had died.

Police were called and responded to the Horizon House facility near 12600 Minuteman Drive at 7:07 a.m.

An autopsy was performed Thursday afternoon, Allred said, and authorities were working to complete an investigation into the death.

They will not rule out the possibility of filing criminal charges until their investigation is complete, Allred said.

Youth Care of Utah declined to be interviewed by the Deseret Morning News on Thursday but promised to release information as it becomes available. The company's Web site says the company accepts students between 11 and 18 years old and treats them for behavioral, mental and substance abuse problems.

The company employs two registered nurses and a psychiatrist in addition to several therapists and counselors and is licensed by the state to house up to 43 students at a time.

On July 30, 2004, a 16-year-old boy was found hanged in a youth treatment home in Syracuse. The 110-bed facility where he had been staying was ordered by the state to take "corrective action" in the case, which was determined to be suicide.

A second treatment home was disciplined by the state in 2004 for operating outside of state regulations. The residential support center is currently licensed in Mount Pleasant, Sanpete County.

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com