Filed
6:05 p.m. EST
12.05.2025
Weeks after The Marshall Challenge – Cleveland discovered escalating violence, Ohio’s embattled youth therapy middle is as soon as once more dealing with scrutiny.
Mohican Younger Star Academy, a youth residential therapy facility an hour northeast of Columbus, Ohio.
State officers have suspended admissions to Mohican Younger Star Academy whereas it as soon as once more investigates the embattled youth therapy facility, which has struggled to comprise escalating violence prior to now 12 months.
The transfer leaves juvenile court docket judges and native youngsters’s companies businesses that depend on Mohican — together with in Cuyahoga, Summit, Hamilton and Lucas counties — reassessing contracts or getting ready to relocate youth, lots of whom have advanced behavioral and psychological well being wants.
The motion comes a number of weeks after The Marshall Challenge – Cleveland documented escalating violence, employees accidents and campus-wide fights on the state’s largest youth residential therapy facility following an possession change in November 2024.
Mohican “has demonstrated a sample of great noncompliance and/or dedicated violations that pose a considerable threat to the well being and security of residents in its care,” Eric Wandersleben, a spokesperson for the Ohio Division of Behavioral Well being advised The Marshall Challenge – Cleveland.
State officers will monitor operations at Mohican, and the pause on admissions will stay in place till the violations are corrected, Wandersleben mentioned.
The state order was issued Nov. 20. It’s unclear which violations sparked the choice to droop new admissions, or what is going to occur to the kids already within the facility. State businesses didn’t say what number of youngsters are at the moment housed at Mohican.
Mohican house owners Zach Logan and Marquel Brewer and CEO Terry Jones didn’t reply to a number of requests for remark.
Mohican, a 110-bed facility tucked inside an Ashland County forest, survived a state effort to close it down a number of years in the past over frequent 911 calls, runaways and the usage of restraints.
Investigations that set off admissions suspensions at residential therapy facilities are uncommon, however might be deeply destabilizing for youth, mentioned Scott Britton of the Public Kids Providers Affiliation of Ohio, a bunch representing county baby welfare businesses.
“It’s not simply difficult to search out one other placement that may settle for them, nevertheless it’s very traumatic for these youngsters to have to maneuver once more,” Britton mentioned.
For instance, Britton cited the 2021 investigation and eventual closure of Sequel Pomegranate in Columbus. The transfer triggered county businesses to scramble as properly.
“A lot of our businesses came upon with lower than 24 hours’ discover,” Britton mentioned.
With new house owners and renewed expectations at Mohican, The Marshall Challenge – Cleveland discovered of 5 fights since November 2024 that drew legislation enforcement and fueled doubts amongst neighborhood members, employees and first responders in regards to the facility’s course.
“I’d severely query any motive to put a baby there, particularly if a baby’s security is in query,” Athens County Juvenile Decide Zachary Saunders mentioned after reviewing The Marshall Challenge – Cleveland’s investigation.
From January 2024 till November, Cuyahoga County positioned 58 youth at Mohican and paid the power over $4 million, county spokesperson Kelly Woodard mentioned.
Cuyahoga County officers plan to go to and consider youngsters at the moment residing at Mohican and decide if there are different placement choices, together with foster care or group houses.
“Reunification with households can also be a precedence,” Woodard mentioned.
Summit County Juvenile Decide Linda Tucci Teodosio mentioned her court docket hasn’t positioned a baby in Mohican for years. She mentioned she’s managed probation instances for at the very least two youngsters despatched there by Summit County Kids Providers since 2024.
Previously two years, Hamilton County Job and Household Providers officers have positioned 5 youth with Mohican Younger Star Academy for $424,289. Company spokesperson Jim Tinker mentioned Hamilton County didn’t obtain notification in regards to the state investigation or suspension of admission.
“However, we’ve already instituted a maintain on referrals,” he mentioned.
At present, two Hamilton County youth are at Mohican, however the county’s Kids Providers company is “assessing present and future placement with this facility,” Tinker mentioned.
Earlier than the state’s announcement, Lucas County Juvenile Court docket started assessing different placements for youth at Mohican as a result of The Marshall Challenge – Cleveland’s investigation. Lucas County Commissioner Anita Lopez finally signed the contract with Mohican, however has voiced considerations.
“We’re imagined to be making choices which can be in the most effective curiosity of the youth and never what’s most expedient,” she mentioned.
Two youngsters from Lucas County, one positioned by the court docket and one by baby companies, are at the moment on the facility, Lopez mentioned.
“Is our placement going to do larger good or hurt to the kid if we’re making an attempt to supply rehabilitation?” Lopez requested. “Some environments usually are not in the most effective curiosity.”
