Revelations of an investigation into Daybreak Youth Services in Brush Prairie are distressing. If allegations about misconduct at the treatment facility prove to be true, they must lead to lasting changes that allow the organization to fulfill its vital role in the community while focusing on the well-being of clients.
Last week, following months of investigation, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office served six search warrants at the inpatient/outpatient facility that provides mental health and substance abuse treatment for clients aged 12 to 18. Amid the concerns, according to affidavits, were reports of sexual violence among clients, sexual misconduct by a staff member with a client, and one night when a client attempted to hang himself twice within minutes.
Perhaps most disturbing are apparent attempts to dismiss the incidents. At least one former employee says administrators told staff not to call 911 unless it was a life-or-death situation, and to contact a supervisor before dialing 911. It shouldn’t need to be said, but the safety of clients and staff must be the paramount duty for any health facility. In July, when deputies responded to reports of a physical altercation, one staff member said law enforcement “had no idea how bad it really is” at the center.
No arrests have been made, but the allegations suggest that Daybreak has not lived up to its duty to protect clients or to serve parents who entrust their children to the organization. As the investigation continues, transparency from administrators will be essential for ensuring that improvements are made and that the agency can regain the public’s trust.
Such trust can be fragile when a center inevitably impacts the neighborhood. Daybreak moved into a former church in May 2017 after approval from county officials, despite opposition from some residents and business operators near the Brush Prairie site. One local merchant said at the time that the proposal was “a bad deal for the community.”
It doesn’t have to be that way. With proper oversight and attention to the needs of both clients and the community, Daybreak could effectively provide much-needed services for Clark County. The 30,000-square-foot center has 43 residential treatment beds, three detox beds and 12 mental health evaluation and treatment beds for youth. Boys and girls are housed in separate wings and do not interact, and all doors require key cards to open.
The organization’s previous facility, on Falk Road in Vancouver, had room for 16 boys to receive residential treatment and no space for girls. Clark County teens in need of help often were sent as far away as Spokane for treatment. According to the National Alliance for Mental Health, about 1 in 5 American teens suffer from mental illness; and according to national statistics, substance abuse among teens is declining but remains a concern.
Most teens do not require residential treatment, but the numbers point out the need for effective treatment in local communities.
We remain hopeful that Daybreak can be part of the solution, but improvements are needed. Notably, The Columbian reported that county court staff, upon learning of the investigation in June, stopped recommending Daybreak to parents. “Our practice has been to express to parents that we have concerns about safety and supervision within the facility,” said Clark County Juvenile Court Administrator Christine Simonsmeier.
That represents a failure on the part of Daybreak, regardless of the outcome of the investigation. Clients and the community deserve better.
