Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Human Services (DHS) today released quarterly licensing and enforcement activity data for DHS’ five licensing offices that oversee providers of long-term care, child care, behavioral health care, as well as day activity programs and residential care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. In the months of April, May, and June 2021, DHS licensing staff completed 2,461 annual inspections and 1,992 complaint investigations, issued 50 provisional licenses, and revoked 13 licenses. 

“Oversight of care and service providers across Pennsylvania is foundational to DHS’ work and mission. The providers we license and certify provide care and services for some of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and we take the responsibility of oversight incredibly seriously,” said DHS Acting Secretary Meg Snead. “We are committed to working with providers to maintain expectations for quality and safety in our licensed facilities. When those expectations are not met, we will hold providers accountable by working with them to correct deficiencies and taking enforcement action if they do not.”

DHS’ licensing work is spread across five offices – the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF), the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). DHS and the Wolf Administration are committed to upholding quality of care and services in licensed care settings, working with providers to address concerns and regulatory violations in a timely manner, and holding providers accountable for violations of licensing regulations and failures to submit or follow acceptable plans of correction. When enforcement action is necessary, the department may issue a provisional license, revoke a license or decline to renew a license, or take other emergency actions where there exists a likely immediate and serious danger to the life or health of the clients. Providers have the right to appeal a license revocation and, depending on the circumstance, may continue to operate during the appeal process.

DHS is committed to transparency and accountability. As part of that commitment, starting this month, DHS will issue quarterly press releases informing the public of the department’s latest oversight and enforcement actions.  

More information on provisional licenses issued and licenses revoked during April, May and June 2021 can be found on DHS’ website. Providers that are subject to licensing action have the right to appeal the department’s decision. Depending on the circumstances of the appeal, providers may be able to operate while the appeal is pending. 

OCDEL

OCDEL certifies and oversees child care providers in licensed centers and home-based settings across Pennsylvania. In April, May and June 2021, OCDEL completed 1,212 annual inspections and 297 complaint investigations. OCDEL also issued 21 provisional licenses and revoked the following providers’ licenses:

• Playskool Learning Academy – Child Care Center, Allegheny County
• Loving Care Day Care Center – Child Care Center, Philadelphia County
• IM Smart – Child Care Center, Dauphin County
• Morning Star Daycare – Family Child Care Home, Philadelphia County
• Lil Tykes Learning Academy – Child Care Center, Lawrence County
• Cynthia K. Francks Child Care – Child Care Center, Allegheny County
• Bright Beginnings Childcare & Preschool – Child Care Center, McKean County

More information on licensed child care providers can be found at www.findchildcare.pa.gov. Concerns or complaints about licensed child care providers can be submitted online here.  

OCYF

OCYF oversees Pennsylvania’s state-supervised, county-administered child welfare system. In this role, OCYF licenses county child welfare offices as well as private service providers that offer residential and day treatment and care, foster and adoption services, secure care, and transitional living settings. In April, May, and June 2021, OCYF completed 305 annual inspections and 1,094 complaint investigations. OCYF issued two provisional licenses and revoked the following license:

• Legacy Treatment Services, Thomas House – Child Residential Treatment Provider, Philadelphia.

Anyone who suspects child abuse or mistreatment or has other child well-being concerns should make a report to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. Anyone can make a report to ChildLine, which is available 24/7. Permissive reporters (not mandated) can make reports to ChildLine anonymously. Mandated reporters should file their report online at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. 

ODP

ODP licenses agencies that provide care and services to adults with intellectual disabilities or autism. These agencies operate both residential programs and day activity programs. In April, May and June 2021, ODP completed 230 annual inspections and 80 complaint investigations. ODP issued nine provisional licenses this quarter and revoked the following providers’ licenses:

• Community Services and Support Corp. – Cambria County
• Church Road Home LLC – Dauphin County
• Meribah – Lehigh County 

More information about ODP service providers can be found here. To file a complaint or concern about an ODP service provider, please contact the ODP Customer Service Center at RA-odpcontactdpw@pa.gov. 

OLTL

OLTL licenses personal care homes and assisted living facilities that provide residential care and services to older individuals and individuals with disabilities or medical conditions. In April, May and June 2021, OLTL completed 311 annual inspections and 405 complaint investigations. OLTL issued 13 provisional licenses and revoked the following providers’ licenses: 

• Franklin House Personal Care Home – Allegheny County
• We Care Personal Care Home – Philadelphia County 

More information about OLTL’s long-term care facilities can be found here. Concerns or complaints about a personal care home or assisted living facility can be filed with OLTL’s Complaint Hotline at 877-401-8835. 

OMHSAS

OMHSAS licenses a variety of mental health treatment services and supports for both adults and children. Services include both residential services such as community residential rehabilitation services, long-term structured residences (LTSR) and residential treatment facility for adults (RTF-A) and non-residential services such as outpatient psychiatric clinic, partial hospitalization, psychiatric rehabilitation services, among others. In April, May and June 2021, OMHSAS completed 403 annual inspections and 116 complaint investigations. OMHSAS issued five provisional licenses this quarter.  

More information about OMSHAS’ licensed facilities can be found here. To file a complaint or concern about an OMHSAS service provider, contact the applicable OMHSAS Regional Office. 

For more information about programs licensed by DHS, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.