Auditors say state's live-in child care providers provide reasonable care

Legislative auditors say the 57 residential child care centers in Nevada provide good protection for the children in their custody. Those centers include correction and detention centers, resource centers, treatment facilities, group homes and child welfare operations.

"The purpose of our reviews was to determine if the facilities adequately protect the health, safety and welfare of the children in the facilities and whether the facilities respect the civil and other rights of the children in their care," auditors wrote.

For the most part, auditors reported to the legislative audit subcommittee, they do.

One issue raised, however, was that some of the centers allow newly hired employees direct contact with youth before their background checks are completed. At most, they said, staff indicated new employees are not allowed to be alone with any of the youths until the background checks are finished. They said it's a problem because it could take anywhere up to 15 weeks to get those background investigations completed.

A recurring problem among the different centers, auditors said, was lack of clear documentation of medication administered to children aged 8-13. And they said efforts to prevent access to contraband should be strengthened.

In western Nevada, the Carson City Juvenile Detention Center, auditors said, provides reasonable protections for those in its custody. But it called for clearer, written policies dealing with civil rights and contraband. And they recommended clearer policies on corrective actions for any staff who discriminate on religious, sexual orientation and other civil rights issues.

The China Spring Youth Camp and Aurora Pines Girls Facility in Douglas County received a recommendation to ensure that those in custody know of their rights to file a complaint.

The Don Goforth Resource Center in Hawthorne meets standards. But auditors said medication records, the complaint process and contraband controls need to be strengthened.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.