Washington is fighting to limit its duty to protect vulnerable adults
At the same time, Adult Protective Services workers say they’re under growing pressure to close investigations quickly.
The Cruelest Lie
Idaho passes law reforming youth treatment home oversight
The changes come in response to 2023 InvestigateWest series highlighting gaps that put child safety at risk
Watchdog: Idaho regulators still fail to penalize youth facilities where kids are at risk
Prompted by InvestigateWest reporting, state officials tout changes but say enforcement of violations by youth homes remains a challenge
In care facilities, Idaho kids are under less abuse oversight, watchdog government report finds
Report by Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations came in response to news articles by InvestigateWest that uncovered abuse allegations
Idaho Legislature commissions investigation of youth treatment homes, passes bills to increase oversight and regulations
Lawmakers cite InvestigateWest series that revealed abuse, neglect at youth facilities
Idaho youth treatment home exposed in InvestigateWest investigation closes down
Advocates express relief but push for greater oversight of facilities statewide
Idaho investigators repeatedly found kids in danger. Youth treatment programs faced few consequences
An InvestigateWest analysis reveals a lack of disciplinary action against troubled programs
The Cruelest Lie: You’re Safe Now
Idaho officials rescued a young girl from a house of horrors, only to send her to a state-licensed facility where she was preyed upon again
How we reported ‘The Cruelest Lie’
A prison interview, court documents and public records told the story of a girl failed by the system
How an Idaho children’s facility got away with firing whistleblowers of child abuse
Legal experts say the case underscores Idaho’s weak protections for workers facing retaliation
Lawmakers, advocates call for increased oversight of Idaho youth homes
The demand for action comes after InvestigateWest showed how the state’s hands-off approach allowed dangerous conditions to go unchecked
Rape, beatings and racial slurs: None of it was enough to shut down this Idaho youth facility
Employees at Cornerstone Cottage alerted state officials to the dangers, only to be fired themselves