Federal suit coming over proposed White Haven Center closure

HARRISBURG — A rally held Tuesday morning in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg announced the coming of federal lawsuit, claiming that the impending closure of White Haven Center is a violation of federal civil rights.

The rally was held in an attempt to save the White Haven Center and the Polk State Center, a similar facility located in Venango County in Western Pennsylvania.

Both facilities, which provide full-time care for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, are currently slated for closure by the Department of Human Services.

The rally was held to announce an upcoming federal suit that will be filed at some point in the next few days that will claim that the closure of the facilities amount to the stripping of the civil rights of patients there.

The suit will be filed by Susan Jennings, the mother of a child at the White Haven Center named Joey. According to Jennings, says the suit is “absolutely necessary.”

“I didn’t think I would end up in something like this, but I have to try to save my son’s life,” she said. “There’s no other form of care for people like him.”

Jennings said her son suffers from a severe form of autism, and he requires constant care. She says the closure of these institutions will be incredibly damaging.

“They’re sacrificing this population on the altar of deinstitutionalization,” she said.

State Sen. John Yudichak, I-Swoyersville, issued a statement praising the suit.

“I applaud these courageous families for taking this important fight to the courts, calling on our civil justice system to halt the closure of White Haven Center and Polk State Center and protect their rights to secure the best, most appropriate care for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” he wrote.

Yudichak said that he maintains support of the families of those at the White Haven and Polk State centers, with part of the continued fight being Senate Bill 906, which would “stop the closure of state centers that have served individuals with intellectual disabilities.”

While a representative from the Department of Human Services declined to comment specifically on the pending litigation, the DHS did respond directly to Yudichak’s statements.

“Sen. Yudichak’s statement implies that the families of Polk and White Haven residents are being denied choices of care for their loved ones,” the DHS wrote. “In fact, the residents of Polk and White Haven and their families will be assisted every step of the way in a person-centered planning process that includes every option available including other state centers, private intermediate care facilities and the full range of community-based care.”

The DHS pointed out that it announced a three-year plan to slowly close the centers, rather than suddenly closing them. It also said it believes many of its residents would “thrive” in community-based care.