Foster Care Agency Lifeway For Youth Stripped Of Certificate To Operate In Ohio

Attorney General Marc Dann says concern for the safety of Ohio’s children was at the heart of the issue

October 30, 2007 -- COLUMBUS -- More than one year after the murder of three-year-old Marcus Fiesel brought to light a systemic break down of foster care agency, Lifeway for Youth, Inc., the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services revoked the agency’s certification and denied Lifeway’s application for certificate renewal. This comes just weeks after a Hearing Examiner agreed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and ODJFS in recommending Lifeway’s foster care certification be revoked.

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The case stems from comprehensive inspections and investigated complaints regarding Lifeway’s placement of foster kids and lack of adequate screening of would-be foster parents. The investigation led ODJFS and Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann to believe children placed by this agency were at risk.

“It is our duty to make sure children placed in foster care are wholly protected from physical and mental abuse, that parents are given the very best and most thorough education, and agencies placing these children are vigorously screening prospective foster parents,” said Attorney General Marc Dann. “Lifeway failed on these fronts and therefore, should not be allowed to operate any longer. This should remind all agencies of the critical importance of protecting our children."

In the report and recommendation, the Administrative Hearing Examiner said, “the public has been misled into believing Lifeway was properly evaluating people and homes prior to certifying them as qualified to provide foster services."

In regards to Fiesel, the toddler killed while in the care of his southwestern Ohio foster parents through Lifeway, the Examiner said, “It should come as no surprise that investigators sought out records maintained by Lifeway after Marcus’s murder. The Department would have been remiss had it not done so, particularly when it had evidence suggesting Lifeway was employing unlicensed social workers, was failing to perform assessments that conformed to minimum regulatory requirements, and was cutting corners on the training it was providing foster caregivers."

The Hearing Examiner’s report and recommendation was the first step in the administrative hearing process as set out in Chapter 119 of the Ohio Revised Code. Lifeway filed objections which were taken into consideration.

ODJFS Director Jones-Kelley then made the final determination to revoke Lifeway’s certificate to operate.

Source: Ohio Attorney General