PRINTER'S NO. 1761
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
320
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY KENYATTA, BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, O'MARA, MURT,
KINSEY, TOOHIL, RYAN, T. DAVIS, YOUNGBLOOD, HARRIS, HOWARD,
WARREN, KIRKLAND, McCLINTON AND MADDEN, MAY 8, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, MAY 8, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Department of Human Services to investigate child
abuse in all child residential and day treatment facilities
in this Commonwealth and make policy recommendations
regarding the decades of abuse uncovered at the Glen Mills
Schools.
WHEREAS, In 2019, the Philadelphia Inquirer investigated and
uncovered decades of severe child abuse at the Glen Mills
Schools (Glen Mills), a child residential and day treatment
facility in Delaware County; and
WHEREAS, The investigation revealed that a child had been
thrown on his head and knocked unconscious and another had his
jaw broken simply for making impolite comments; and
WHEREAS, The investigation discovered that children who ran
from the abuse were choked by Glen Mills' staff; and
WHEREAS, Glen Mills' staff coerced students and their parents
into not filing complaints whenever parents became aware of the
abuse; and
WHEREAS, Glen Mills' staff frequently threatened students and
their parents by stating that filing a complaint would cause a
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transfer to a lower-quality facility; and
WHEREAS, Glen Mills' staff threatened that the transfer to a
different facility would nullify the time that the child had
already served at Glen Mills, thereby lengthening the child's
overall sentence; and
WHEREAS, In response to the rampant abuse and coercion, the
Governor ordered a complete review of all complaints lodged
against Glen Mills; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Human Services, the Office of
District Attorney of Delaware County, and the Office of Auditor
General have all opened investigations into Glen Mills to
uncover the extent of the abuse; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth must defend children from abuse and
coercion committed by individuals responsible for the children's
education and rehabilitation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
Department of Human Services to investigate child abuse in all
child residential and day treatment facilities in this
Commonwealth and make policy recommendations regarding the
decades of abuse uncovered at the Glen Mills Schools; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
Department of Human Services to review protocols for reporting
abuse in all child residential and day treatment facilities in
this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
Department of Human Services to provide policy recommendations
to improve enforcement of reporting requirements under the Child
Protective Services Law for child residential and day treatment
facilities.
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