Concerns persist regarding Ohio youth residential treatment facilities

Chokeholds and punches used in Ohio youth treatment homes, report finds
Laura Bischoff, Columbus Dispatch, May 13, 2026. 

Abuse and neglect, painful restraints, bullying and intimidation plague youth residential treatment facilities across the state, according to Disability Rights Ohio.

The leading disability rights group released a report May 13 based on 75 visits to youth homes over the past six years. DRO investigators found "serious and systemic cases of abuse, neglect and inappropriate treatment," including chokeholds and punches.

"This is a 911 call. This is kids are being hurt and things are not happening," said Disability Rights Ohio Director Kerstin Sjoberg. Working behind the scenes with facilities and state officials "is just not moving the needed. We cannot wait any longer. We have to address this now."

Residential treatment facilities, which are state licensed and must meet minimum standards, are highly restrictive places that serve vulnerable, at-risk kids who need mental health care.

Ohio has roughly 50 licensed facilities, ranging in size from six to 100 beds, for children as young as five.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, which licenses the facilities, said in a written statement that it "is firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of Ohioans. We take this statutory responsibility seriously and work diligently to ensure that providers comply with all applicable rules, regulations, and quality standards governing the delivery of behavioral health services in Ohio."

DRO recommended reforms, including:

• Creating a statewide registry to prevent the re-hiring of abusive employees.
• Providing families and guardians with information about facilities that fail to meet minimum standards.
• Requiring state licensing agencies to take swift action when a facility fails to meet minimum standards, including removing children.
• Increasing ongoing training for facility staff.
• Raising the minimum standards to ensure better care and outcomes.

DRO investigators reviewed video footage, incident reports and treatment files and repeatedly flagged issues for state licensing agencies to address. In 2024, DRO issued a public report on a facility in Youngstown. The facility relinquished its license in 2025.

In November 2025, The Marshall Project - Cleveland published an investigation into Mohican Young Star Academy, a troubled residential treatment center surrounded by a state park. The center had multiple brawls, 911 calls and runaways.

Disability Rights Ohio, a non-profit organization, investigates reports of abuse or neglect of people with disabilities in state-operated, certified and licensed facilities, such as residential facilities, jails and prisons. DRO issued similar recommendations to improve the residential treatment facilities in 2016.