State Closes Group Home For Boys

The state on Friday shut down the Toutle River Ranch, a group home for troubled boys, saying the home failed to care adequately for the 22 residents.

Steve Watters, director of the privately run, state-funded facility in Cowlitz County, criticized the action by the state Department of Social and Health Services, saying the agency acted without good cause.

The residents, mostly older boys with criminal histories, were taken to “lockup” facilities, Watters said, adding that the ranch plans to go to court next week to try and reverse the state closure.

Rosie Oreskovich, assistant secretary for children’s services at DSHS, said “the children were not in imminent danger, but the ranch continued to operate below minimum licensing requirements even though we provided extensive technical assistance.”

Specifically, she said, the ranch was closed for “failure to adequately supervise residents in care; failure to provide adequate therapeutic treatment and programs; and failure to provide basic training and orientation to foster parents.”

“They were all doing great in treatment, all the kids,” Watters said. He called the DSHS findings inaccurate and the closure arbitrary.

A year ago, DSHS stopped sending youngsters to the group home, citing problems with supervision and violence among residents.