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IMPACT: Senate probe says the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement knew nothing about the troubled past of this NC company, which got $4M to house migrant kids, until a congressional inquiry sparked by our reporting. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article247725965.html
Here's how that reporting unfolded.
Here's how that reporting unfolded.
The day before before the July 4 holiday in 2019, @TravisFain and I noticed a solitary NC company in this @sludge database of businesses that received grants to set up shelters through the Unaccompanied Alien Children Program. https://readsludge.com/2019/07/03/these-nonprofits-and-businesses-are-making-millions-from-detaining-immigrant-children/
Interesting local story! So we reached out to the company, New Horizon Group Home, by phone. No answer.
But within 20 minutes, @TravisFain got a call from a Maryland number from someone who ID'd himself as the company's "operational manager."
The man refused to give his name or answer basic questions about the grant, and threatened to involve an attorney.
The man refused to give his name or answer basic questions about the grant, and threatened to involve an attorney.
Our interest piqued, we started digging.
What we found was that New Horizon lacked a license state regulators said is required to house migrant kids under the grant terms.
What's more: regulators shut down one of New Horizon's facilities in 2018 over allegations of serious abuse and neglect.
What's more: regulators shut down one of New Horizon's facilities in 2018 over allegations of serious abuse and neglect.
State regulators concluded young boys housed at the facility being treated for mental health issues received little care, treatment or education. They found kids, one 9yo, were left alone in a timeout room. Several kids said they were attacked by staff. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6223310-New-Horizon-Lumber-Bridge-deficiencies.html
We reached out to @reveal reporters @aurabogado, @PatrickMichels & @lauracmorel - all experts in covering immigration across the country - to broaden our lens and put what was happening in North Carolina in context.
Meanwhile, @TravisFain & @cullenbrowder crisscrossed NC to visit other New Horizon facilities, including the former nursing home where the company planned to house children swept up by immigration authorities. There, an armed guard confronted them on the empty property's border.
Our story on July 31 detailed the grant, the company's past issues and its legal challenge to overturn the state's enforcement actions. It also quoted federal officials saying New Horizon expected to have the necessary license by early August. https://www.wral.com/unlicensed-nc-company-with-troubled-history-gets-4m-to-house-migrant-children/18513234/
But state regulators, in fact, denied the company's application for a residential childcare license the very same day our story published and aired. https://www.wral.com/state-denies-license-for-company-that-wants-to-house-migrant-children-in-nc/18559928/
What followed was a year and a half of stories on this company and its grant, including:
- A judge's decision to uphold New Horizon's license revocation
- Congressional demands for answers
- Federal demands that New Horizon pay back $3M in misspent funds https://www.wral.com/new-horizon/18585850/
- A judge's decision to uphold New Horizon's license revocation
- Congressional demands for answers
- Federal demands that New Horizon pay back $3M in misspent funds https://www.wral.com/new-horizon/18585850/
In August, New Horizon sued the state, accusing NC regulators of "outrageous violations" of its rights that ultimately led to the loss of the federal contract. It also took aim at our reporting.
https://www.wral.com/after-losing-federal-grant-to-house-migrant-children-nc-group-home-sues-state-health-regulators/19241769/
New Horizon voluntarily dismissed the suit in November.
https://www.wral.com/after-losing-federal-grant-to-house-migrant-children-nc-group-home-sues-state-health-regulators/19241769/
New Horizon voluntarily dismissed the suit in November.
That brings us to this week – 525 days after our reporting began – when a Senate committee's report cited New Horizon & another company as examples of serious oversight issues. Combined, they cost taxpayers $32M for planned facilities that will never open. https://beta.documentcloud.org/documents/20421811-2020-12-08-psi-staff-report-oversight-of-hhs-shelter-grants-for-uacs
Until we started reporting, HHS:
- didn't require grant applicants to disclose licensing issues
- didn't require applicants to disclose allegations of abuse and neglect against children
It does now. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article247725965.html
- didn't require grant applicants to disclose licensing issues
- didn't require applicants to disclose allegations of abuse and neglect against children
It does now. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article247725965.html
