Juvenile center closes amid maltreatment inquiries

Published 10:56 am Friday, July 1, 2016

BUHL — A juvenile treatment facility for boys in northern Minnesota has closed amid concerns about whether the privately-run center was following proper channels in reporting allegations of maltreatment.

Mesabi Academy officially closed its doors Thursday after it transferred the remaining boys from the facility in Buhl on June 15.

The facility’s parent company, KidsPeace, announced in May that it was closing Mesabi after the state froze placements and several counties removed boys. The company said it was no longer able to provide a level of care after Hennepin and Ramsey counties had their placements moved.

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The counties took action after APM Reports investigated Mesabi’s treatment program and how it handled abuse claims.

At least a dozen maltreatment claims are still under investigation by St. Louis County.