Inspectors Praised Orangewood Recently

The most recent inspection of the Orangewood Children’s Home, now the focus of an investigation by juvenile authorities, cited no evidence of abusive behavior by staff members and found that the “overall quality of the environment appears to be very high.”

According to a report submitted to county authorities, however, officials found that the facility is faced with severe overcrowding that has caused “debilitating stress to both staff and children.”

In addition, several officials familiar with Orangewood said Tuesday that many of the staff are inadequately trained to handle the often fragile and difficult children they encounter and that the overcrowded conditions coupled with staff shortages have led to serious morale problems.

“We have staff that are physically tired or stressed and that is a serious concern to me,” said Orangewood director Robert Theemling.

But Theemling and other officials insist that less than ideal conditions have not led to the mistreatment of children, charges that were leveled by two former staff members--one of whom was fired--and by a Newport Beach foster parent.

“I could get a whole parade of folks who deal with Orangewood daily who would dispute that” allegation, said William Steiner, executive director of the Orangewood Foundation, the private, fund-raising arm of the children’s home. “There is limit-setting and structure, but as far as (treatment) being punitive, that is off the wall.”

Nonetheless, both the Juvenile Justice Commission and the county grand jury are investigating reports that children have been physically, mentally and verbally mistreated at Orangewood, established five years ago to replace the Albert Sitton Home as a shelter for the county’s abused, neglected and abandoned children. The investigation is expected to conclude in about 30 days, and the results will be submitted to Presiding Juvenile Court Judge C. Robert Jameson.

The investigations were prompted by Dorothy Moore, a Newport Beach legal secretary who befriended two homeless children and had them placed in Orangewood after the parents allegedly abandoned them. Moore said the children, a boy, 10, and a girl, 11, told her that they were treated roughly at Orangewood, were purposely humiliated and had to adhere to rigid rules. The girl also alleged that a male counselor walked into one of the girls’ rooms when they were undressed and, on one occasion, forcibly removed her from a bathroom, injuring her hand.

Many of Moore’s allegations were supported by two former counselors, who said in interviews that children are forced to endure military-like regimentation and are frequently physically restrained and sedated to control their behavior.

The Juvenile Justice Commission conducts annual inspections--some unannounced--of the facility. However, the most recent inspection, conducted in October, noted no such mistreatment. Indeed, inspectors applauded Orangewood in several areas:

* The school program “is viewed as a child-friendly experience in which all children are given an opportunity to learn at their level.”

* Medical-unit facilities “reflect good management and medical staff . . . seemed to be properly prepared and dedicated to their work.”

* In the infant cottage, “the inspection team was impressed by the high level of loving and caring displayed.”

But the inspection report, which was presented to Judge Jameson last week, also pointed out several concerns reflecting overcrowded conditions.

The facility includes six cottages plus a nursery and toddler unit, with a total capacity of 166. But Tuesday, for example, the total population--from infants to 18-year-olds--was 183, including those away temporarily. The facility has sheltered as many as 212 children, Theemling said.

The commission report noted that the facility itself is “beginning to age, worn by constant inhabitation of great numbers of children.” Many of the rooms are occupied by up to three children, leaving them no room to play or even walk around. Inspectors also noted torn window blinds, fixture coverings and mattresses, and cited a lack of recreation programs for the children.

It is in the area of training that some officials say Orangewood is most lacking.

“I have been concerned for a long time that they have not been able to give counselors in Orangewood adequate training to meet all the situations they are going to have,” said Ellen Wilcox, vice chair of the Juvenile Justice Commission. “They are not being trained to deal with assaultive behavior (by children) or how to respond to the side-effects of medication. They can’t take counselors off-duty to give them training because of the overcrowding . . . so the training happens under the supervision of someone while they are on the job. But if the first person hasn’t had adequate training either, that is not the way to go about it.”

Wilcox, a veteran in the social services field who has also worked at the County Probation Department and helped to establish Orangewood, also noted that many of the youngsters who come into the facility are street-wise or have emotional problems that lead them to destructive behavior.

“They are not all pleasant, sweet little darlings,” she said. “Their behavior problems are sometimes worse than what we have on the other side of the fence in Juvenile Hall. Counselors have to react to situations that are sometimes volatile.”