Accusations of teen battery at Lutherbrook under DCFS review
The arrest of a staff member on charges that say he struck a teenage boy in the face at Lutherbrook center for traumatized children raises new questions about the Addison facility.
In 2013, the Daily Herald reported on hundreds of calls to police from Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center to respond to issues that included batteries, assaults, fights and disorderly conduct.
Last month, an overnight child-care worker "smacked" a boy across the left side of his face following an argument, according to a police report obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request.
Jonathon M. Janz, 27, of Addison, was charged with misdemeanor battery Oct. 7. Janz declined to comment, but his attorney said his client intended to plead not guilty in a court hearing this week.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services officials said their investigation of the occurrence was not yet complete.
A spokeswoman for Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, which operates Lutherbook, said the agency "has zero tolerance for the type of behavior that occurred in this incident."
"The employee in question was let go and the agency contacted DCFS and followed its protocols. Child safety and well-being is always our first priority," Director of Marketing and Communications Sara LoCoco said.
The altercation started at about 6:30 a.m. Oct. 7 in a cottage on the Lutherbrook campus when Janz roused the teen and other juveniles by "screaming at them," a witness told police. The boy and Janz exchanged words for several minutes, then separated. The teen went into the den where Janz later confronted him, according to the report.
The teen attempted to fight back and another staff member separated the two, the report said.
The boy refused medical treatment.
Lutherbrook cares for children ages 6 to 18 who have suffered a variety of traumas and are coping with emotional and behavioral challenges.
Before hiring staff members, LCFS holds face-to-face interviews, checks references, conducts background checks and provides all new employees with therapeutic crisis intervention training, LoCoco said.
DCFS currently has 43 youths placed at Lutherbrook, DCFS spokesman Andrew Flach said.
Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, there were 294 calls for service to Addison police from Lutherbrook, authorities said. In comparison, there were 171 calls for service in that same period in 2014.
"Police may have experienced an increase in calls to the campus. The frequency of police responses is cyclical in nature and varies based on the youth in care," LoCoco said.
"Lutheran Children and Family Services sees our agency and the youth that we serve as part of the community; therefore we work closely with the police department in building positive relationships and helping ensure public safety."
Police received more than 570 calls for service to Lutherbrook in 2011 and 2012, the Daily Herald reported previously. Investigations included a teen who was chased down and beaten by four of his housemates, staff members being threatened by a juvenile, and kids taking a center van for a joy ride.
DCFS issued a corrective action plan in 2012 to Lutherbrook that cited excessive runaways as a problem.
"Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center serves youth who have experienced multiple traumas and have struggled in open community settings," LoCoco said. "We strive to provide quality services to youth in care, including safety, supervision and treatment."