Troubled Youth Center Closing, Agency In Charge Shutting Down

CARRICK (KDKA)- The operating license for the Circle C Youth center in Carrick has been revoked.

The state Department of Human Services revoked the license, pointing to a series of violations, including failure to report incidents, incomplete or inaccurate health and safety assessments and not identifying or arranging appropriate medical care for acute or chronic conditions of children.

According to the Post-Gazette, the letter from human services department did not specifically refer to the Jan. 13 death of Nicholas Grant at the home on Carrick Avenue. The 16-year-old was beaten by two other teens living at the youth home. The report made it clear that Grant's death did play a significant role in revoking the home's license.

Yusif Shepard, 15, and Malik Crosby, 16, have been charged with Grant's murder. Police say the teenagers used a vacuum cleaner to beat Grant and they also choked him. Both have been charged as adults.

Another incident happened at the youth home back in May of 2014. Jaymar Gilbert, a 36-year-old counselor at the home, was charged with grabbing a teenager by the head and tossing him down a flight of stairs outside the home.

In March, the family of several teenagers at the home sued Circle C, claiming that officials were negligent in their hiring of Gilbert.

Hollie Geitner, a board member with Circle C, told the Post-Gazette that the Allegheny County Department of Human Services has decided not to renew its contract with Circle C.  That contract expires on June 30.

On May 6, the Circle C board voted to shut down the agency. According to Geitner, everything will be closed by the end of May.

Circle C also runs group homes for juveniles in Bellevue and the North Side. Those homes will close as well.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter