For Immediate Release
June 24, 2024
COLUMBUS – A residential treatment facility in northeast Ohio recently turned to the Ohio Supreme Court for assistance compelling a state agency to turn over records, and cease its unfair and malicious targeting of the establishment. The complaint for mandamus relief was brought under the Ohio Public Records Act by Zeiger, Tigges and Little LLP on behalf of the Mohican Young Star Academy (MYSA).
“The priority of state agencies should be to serve her people,” said Marion H. Little Jr., Partner with Zeiger, Tigges and Little LLP. “And yet officials with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services erected one road block after another in the path of a provider of residential treatment services for boys and young men in Northeast Ohio. Agency officials appeared to have an ax to grind and were laser-focused on punishing MYSA, even at the expense of the young people it purports to serve.”
Research shows that 1 in four Ohioans reported needing mental health and substance abuse treatment services in 2023. “And while there are few programs in Ohio that offer intensive, residential treatment for children and young men, officials with the ODMHAS have strained the system by targeting MYSA,” Little added.
Since 2016, out-of-state placements for children in need of residential treatment has tripled, with more than 140 Ohio children living in treatment facilities outside of the Buckeye state. The costs for such services can exceed $1,100 per child, per day.
“I do this work because I care about young people, I care about our community, and I care about wellness,” said Olga Strasser, owner of the Mohican Young Star Academy. “I want nothing more than for the ODMHAS to cease its unfair targeting of MYSA and allow us to get back to the work that we are passionate about doing – serving young people in need.”
“Unfortunately, our state is spending millions to send at-risk youth to treatment programs at out-of-state facilities,” Strasser added. “This removes children from their communities and drives up the cost for care.”
The filing for mandamus relief alleges that over past three years, ODMHAS unfairly targeted, besmirched and retaliated against MYSA and its owner. In response to an ODMHAS complaint against MYSA, the corresponding hearing officer concluded:
- “First, MYSA is taking care of its resident youth – and instead of harm being caused to them, “[t]he residents at Mohican Young Star Academy are benefitting from the culture of the facility.” [Administrative Hearing Decision at 46.]”
- “ODMHAS has been unfairly targeting MYSA, and that “MYSA is being penalized for at least trying to accommodate children with well-documented behavioral issues.” [Id. (emphasis added).]
- “ODMHAS’ unfair treatment of MYSA puts stress on the entire mental health treatment system, because “[t]o revoke a license for a facility with the capability of providing services such as MYSA would place an even heavier burden on the agencies that search desperately to locate options for the children in their caseload.” [Id.]””
“Although MYSA’s county partners view the organization as a highly reliable and efficient behavioral health provider, we fear MYSA has been the subject of a smear campaign by state officials intent on covering their tracks versus serving children and young people,” Little said.
“I am not sure which is worse, being viciously maligned, or watching state officials treat young people and their families with utter indifference,” Strasser concluded. “Either way, the courts must intervene; not just for me but for the well-being of children and youth.”
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