Department Of Human Services releases quarterly licensing and enforcement activity report for January-march 2022

Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Human Services (DHS) today released quarterly licensing and enforcement activity data for DHS' five licensing offices that oversee providers of long-term care, child care, behavioral health care, as well as day activity programs and residential care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. In the months of January, February, and March 2022, DHS licensing staff completed 2,700 annual inspections and 2,086 complaint investigations, issued 71 provisional licenses, took action against 13 illegally operating providers, and revoked nine licenses.

“Oversight of care and service providers across Pennsylvania is foundational to DHS' work and mission. The providers we license and certify provide care and services for some of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and we take the responsibility of oversight incredibly seriously,” said DHS Acting Secretary Meg Snead. “We are committed to working with providers to maintain expectations for quality and safety in our licensed facilities. When those expectations are not met, we will hold providers accountable by working with them to correct deficiencies and taking enforcement action if they do not.”

DHS' licensing work is spread across five offices – the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF), the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), the Office of Long-term Living (OLTL), and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). DHS and the Wolf Administration are committed to upholding quality of care and services in licensed care settings, working with providers to address concerns and regulatory violations in a timely manner, and holding providers accountable for violations of licensing regulations and failures to submit or follow acceptable plans of correction. When enforcement action is necessary, the department may issue a provisional license, revoke a license or decline to renew a license, or take other emergency actions where there exists a likely immediate and serious danger to the life or health of the clients. Providers have the right to appeal a license revocation and, depending on the circumstance, may continue to operate during the appeal process.

DHS is committed to transparency and accountability in our licensing oversight. More information on provisional licenses issued and licenses revoked during January, February, and March 2022 can be found on DHS' website.

OCDEL

OCDEL certifies and oversees child care providers in licensed centers and home-based settings across Pennsylvania. In January, February, and March 2022, OCDEL completed 1,439 annual inspections and 429 complaint investigations. OCDEL also issued 46 provisional licenses and revoked the following providers' licenses:

• Kings Joy of Reading Learning Center Family Child Care Home – Dauphin County

• Happy Valley Daycare Group Child Care Home – Erie County

• DZ Kids Inc. Child Care Center – Jefferson County

• Jennifer Bryer Family Child Care Home – York County

• Angie's Angels Early Learning Development Center Child Care Center – Blair County

• Fun Academy LLC Child Care Center – Lycoming County

OCDEL also directed 13 illegally operating, unlicensed providers in Adams, Allegheny, Bucks, Butler, Clearfield, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northumberland, Philadelphia, and Pike Counties to cease operating or face legal penalties.