GRC evaluation continues

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said state officials are continuing their evaluation of the Glenwood Resource Center (GRC) amid allegations of mistreatment and improper care of residents.

Reynolds and Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS) Director Kelly Garcia were in Glenwood last Wednesday to tour the state-managed facility that serves more than 200 people with profound intellectual and physical disabilities.

During her visit to Glenwood, Reynolds confirmed the Department of Justice (DOJ) is continuing its investigation into resident treatment at the GRC, and federal investigators will return to the campus later this winter for additional fact finding and evidence gathering. Reynolds was notified of the federal investigation in November.

The DOJ is investigating four areas - allegations of “harmful” human experiments performed on residents; inadequate medical care and nutrition; needless restraint practices; and incidents that resulted in physical injury to residents, according to a letter sent to Reynolds by an assistant attorney general representing the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.

During last week’s visit to Glenwood, Reynolds said the state is examining DHS policies and procedures regarding medical care of residents and is committed to making changes at the GRC and other facilities across the state if necessary. Reynolds said she was pleased by what she saw during her GRC tour.

“I was incredibly impressed with the level of commitment by the individuals - the employees that are taking care of the residents here,” she said. “I just wanted to reassure them that, in the midst of all this, we know that things have to be different here. We’re committed to making those changes.”

As part of the state’s internal review, IDHS is bringing in Dr. Mark Diorio, the retired director of a Virginia facility that cares for residents with intellectual disabilities, to review and provide oversight into addressing issues at GRC.

 

“We’re doing our own internal and external reviews and making changes we believe that are taking the facility in the right direction by bringing on the right people,” Reynolds said.

 

In December, Reynolds fired GRC Superintendent Dr. Jerry Rea just weeks after placing him on administrative leave.

 

Garcia, who has been serving as IDHS Director since November, will be back in Glenwood Saturday (Feb. 1) to host a “town hall meeting” for the families of GRC residents. She’ll facilitate a similar meeting later in the month for GRC staff.

The Red Oak Express

2012 Commerce Drive
P.O. Box 377
Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-623-2566 Fax: 712-623-2568

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