A therapy camp in the mountains designed to help troubled teens is arguing against a deficiencies report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services after the death of a camper in February but said it would make adjustments to address the issues found.
"We believe the DHHS Report of Deficiencies is inaccurate and misleading in many respects, and we continue to work with State officials to clarify and correct where needed,” Trails Carolina officials said in part.
During the early morning Feb. 3, a 12-year-old boy died at Trails Carolina after being in the camp's care for less than 24 hours.
The camp is just south of Asheville at Lake Toxaway.
Following the boy's death, DHHS began investigating, and all other teens at the camp were removed. The camp’s license was also suspended.
The health department wrote a letter March 28, asking the camp to correct deficiencies and threatened to revoke its license, and Trails responded April 4 with a correction plan.
Trails officials said they plan to stop using bivvies and tarps, which were being used to restrain kids who were deemed potentially dangerous. Other improvement measures included: an updated protocol for reporting elevated incidents to the state, allowing more communication with parents or guardians and changes in how teens are given medicine.
Trails officials were clear that they did not agree with the state’s report and said their corrections are not an indication that they agree with DHHS officials.
“In fact, just yesterday, April 23, 2024, we met with DHHS staff in person, and walked them through basic camping lexicon and systems, which, by their admission, they did not previously understand. Most importantly, the cause of death has yet to be released by the medical examiner, and, in the meantime, statements by anyone beyond those with authority and direct access to specifics of the autopsy are nothing more than speculation," Trails officials said in a statement released Wednesday.
In addition to the deficiencies report, the camp was fined $18,000 in March.
DHHS officials reacted to the camp's stance Wednesday afternoon and said an "informal conference was held yesterday with Trails Carolina, at their request."
They also said a determination about the camp's license will be made in the coming weeks.
The DHHS’ Division of Health Service Regulation said it believes "no one should be harmed while receiving care in a licensed healthcare facility and takes seriously its role to investigate complaints about care and, when necessary, takes appropriate actions against a licensed facility that has caused such harm."