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March 29, 2024 CERTIFIED MAIL Sheltonn Johnson, Authorized Agent Thrive Youth Services 4033 Hollyhock Circle N Brooklyn Park, MN 55443-1526 License Number 1093608-HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) Report Number 202309129 DETERMINATION OF MALTREATMENT FAILURES TO REPORT MALTREATMENT AND ORDER TO PAY A FINE Dear Sheltonn Johnson: The Department of Human Services (DHS) determined that Thrive Youth Services located at 1710 Douglas Drive North, Suite 111, Golden Valley, Minnesota, is responsible for maltreatment by neglect and failure to report two incidents of maltreatment. Based on this determination, DHS is ordering you to pay a fine of $1400. Details of our findings are provided below and in the enclosed Investigation Memorandum for report 202309129. Our next steps and your options are also detailed. I. Determination of Maltreatment It was reported that an alleged victim (AV) obtained a knife while s/he was unsupervised in the community. On October 26, 2023, the AV and a staff person (SP2) got into an argument and the AV stabbed SP2 with the knife. DHS investigated the report as alleged maltreatment by neglect. Based on the maltreatment investigation, DHS determined that Thrive Youth Services was responsible for neglect of a minor. See the enclosed Investigation Memorandum for more informatio. Legal Authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 260E.30, subdivision 2, paragraph (a). Fine: $1,000 Citations Related to the Maltreatment Determination 1. Citation: Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.09, subdivision 4a, paragraph (a). Violation: Before having unsupervised direct contact with a person served by the program, or for whom the staff person has not previously provided direct support the staff person must review and receive instruction as they relate to the staff person’s job functions for that staff person. For two staff persons whose record was reviewed (P1 and P2), the license holder did not provide orientation to individual service recipient (R) needs as required. The license holder failed to provide P1 and P2 with instruction on the R’s support plan or support plan addendum as it related to the responsibilities assigned to the license holder, and when applicable, the person's individual abuse prevention plan, prior to allowing P1 and P2 to provide services to the R. Repeat Violation: The license holder was previously cited for a similar violation in orders dated October 1, 2019, November 5, 2021, and January 30, 2024. Corrective Action Ordered: On an ongoing basis, you must maintain compliance as required in this subdivision. 2. Citation: Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.09, subdivision 5. Violation: For a staff person whose record was reviewed (P1), the license holder did not provide annual training as required. Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.02, subdivision 2b defines “annual” or “annually” to mean prior to or within the same month of the subsequent calendar year. The license holder failed to provide P1 with the annual training in 2023 on sections 245A.65, 245A.66, 260E, and 626.557, governing maltreatment reporting and service planning for children and vulnerable adults, and staff responsibilities related to protecting persons from maltreatment and reporting maltreatment. Repeat Violation: The license holder was previously cited for a similar violation in orders dated October 1, 2019, November 5, 2021, October 12, 2023, and January 30, 2024. Corrective Action Ordered: On an ongoing basis you must maintain compliance with this licensing requirement throughout the program. 3. Citation: Minnesota Statute, section 245D.07, subdivision 1a. Violation: For one service recipient whose record was reviewed, the license holder did not meet service planning and delivery requirements as required. The R’s annual plans stated that during the time of the incident, there should have been 1:1 staffing to provide behavioral support and provide him/her with supervision at the facility and in the community. The license holder failed to follow the person’s plan as information showed the client was alone in the community. Repeat Violation: The license holder was previously cited for a similar violation in orders dated October 1, 2019, May 19, 2022, and June 23, 2023. Corrective Action Ordered: On an ongoing basis you must maintain compliance with this licensing requirement throughout the program. II. Failure to Report Maltreatment Based on the maltreatment investigation, DHS determined that staff persons including supervisory and/or administrative staff persons had knowledge of two incidents of maltreatment, (the AV being left unsupervised at the park and the AV obtaining and having knives) but did not make a report as required. Legal Authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 260E.06, subdivision 1. Fine: $400 Corrective Action Required: Within 30 days of receipt of this order, submit written documentation to your DHS licensor showing that all staff have been retrained on the reporting requirements for alleged maltreatment. The documentation must identify: names of staff persons completing the training; the date of the training; the number of hours of the training, and who provided the training. Documentation must be maintained in each staff person’s personnel record according to Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.095, paragraph (a), clause (2). Submissions required as part of the corrective action ordered must be sent to your Licensor at: Commissioner, Department of Human Services ATTN: Elizabeth Schiefelbein c/o Licensing Division PO Box 64242 St. Paul, MN 55164-0242 III. Order to Pay a Fine Because DHS determined that Thrive Youth Services is responsible for maltreatment and failures to report maltreatment, you must pay a $1400 fine. Legal Authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), subparagraph (4). IV. Billing and Payment of the Fine DHS will send you an invoice for the $1400 fine. Payment must be made as directed on the invoice. If you request a contested case hearing, as described below, do not pay the fine at this time. After the contested case hearing, the Commissioner of DHS will issue a final order. Please note, you may not avoid payment of this fine by closing, selling, or otherwise transferring the license to a third party. If this occurs, each controlling individual is personally and jointly responsible for payment. If you do not pay the fine on or before the date specified on the invoice and you did not request a contested case hearing, as described below, the Commissioner may issue a second fine, may not issue or reissue a license, or may suspend the license until the license holder pays the fine. V. YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL You have right to appeal the maltreatment determination and/or fine. Please see options below. Should you exercise your rights to appeal send: 1.
Right to appeal the fine and maltreatment determination You have the right to appeal the fine and maltreatment determination. Your request must be in writing and clearly state that you are requesting a contested case hearing for this matter. Your request must be made before the deadlines provided below. If you do not meet this deadline, you lose your right to an administrative appeal. The timeline to appeal began when you received this order. If you are mailing your request, it must be sent by certified mail and postmarked within 15 calendar days from when you received this order. See address, Section V. If your request is being personally delivered, it must be received by DHS within 15 calendar days from when you received this order. See address, Section V. Upon DHS’ receipt of your timely appeal, your case would be scheduled for a contested case hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. After this hearing, the Commissioner of DHS will issue a final order. 2. Request for reconsideration of the maltreatment determination only If you do not appeal the fine, you may still request reconsideration of the maltreatment determination. Your request must be made before the deadlines provided below. If you do not meet this deadline, you lose your right to request reconsideration. The timeline to request reconsideration began when you received this order. Your request must: · Be in writing · Clearly state that you are requesting reconsideration of the maltreatment determination · Identify what is inaccurate or incomplete about the information in the Investigation Memorandum · Supply information that is accurate or more complete · State why you believe the finding of maltreatment should be changed · Be made before the deadlines provided below. Your request must be postmarked within 15 calendar days from when you received this order. See address, Section V. A response to your reconsideration request will be mailed within 15 working days after DHS receives your request. You have the right to request a fair hearing if a response is not mailed within 15 working days. 3. Right to appeal the order to pay a fine only You have the right to only appeal the fine. Your request must be in writing and clearly state that you are requesting a contested case hearing for this matter. Your request must be made before the deadlines provided below. If you do not meet this deadline, you lose your right to an administrative appeal. The timeline to appeal began when you received this order. If you are mailing your request, it must be sent by certified mail and postmarked within 10 calendar days from when you received this order. See address, Section V. If your request is being personally delivered, it must be received by DHS within 10 calendar days from when you received this order. See address, Section V. Upon DHS’ receipt of your timely appeal, your case would be scheduled for a contested case hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. After this hearing, the Commissioner of DHS will issue a final order. 4. Legal representation at the contested case hearing You do not need a lawyer to appeal. However, a lawyer can help you with your appeal. The state or county will not get you a lawyer and will not pay for a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may be able to get free legal advice or help with your appeal. To find out if free help is available, contact: Volunteer Lawyers Network at 612-752-6677; Central Minnesota Legal Services at 612-332-8151; Southern Minnesota Legal Services at 651-222-4731; or go to www.justice4mn.org to find a local legal services program that may be able to help you. You can also find information on contested cases from the Office of Administrative Hearings website at https://mn.gov/oah/self-help. Click on Administrative Law Overview, then click on Administrative Law Contested Case Hearing Guide for a list of frequently asked questions. Legal authority for this licensing action · This action is taken under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), which describes under which conditions DHS may impose a fine against a license. · Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (4), item (i) provides that DHS may impose a $1000 fine for each determination of maltreatment of a child under section 260E for which the license holder is determined responsible. · DHS may impose a $200 fine for each health, safety, or supervision licensing violation under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (4), item (iv). · In determining whether the facility, an individual, or both are responsible for substantiated maltreatment, DHS must consider the mitigating factors provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 260E.30, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2). · Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (5) states that license holders may not avoid payment of a fine by closing, selling, or transferring a license. · License holders have a right to appeal licensing actions and request a contested case hearing, under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. · License holders have a right to request reconsideration of a maltreatment determination, under Minnesota Statutes, section 260E.33, subdivision 2, paragraph (a) and (b). · Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.04, subdivision 7, paragraph (d), clause (4), states that DHS shall not issue or reissue a license if the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual has an outstanding debt related to a license fee, licensing fine, or settlement agreement for which payment is delinquent. · Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (2), states that that the license holder shall pay the fine assessed on or before the payment date specified, and if the license holder does not do so the commissioner may issue a second fine or suspend the license until the license holder complies. Questions If you have any further questions regarding this matter, you may contact Melanie Daniel, Supervisor, at 651-431-6559. Sincerely,
Maggie Hanson, Intake and Investigations Unit Manager Licensing Division Office of Inspector General Enclosure
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