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	Miller: More Scrutiny Needed at Center Amendment Would Require Background Checks By Bill Shea The Messenger March 27, 2009 http://www.messengernews.net/page/content.detail/id/513983.html?nav=5010 State Rep. Helen Miller is seeking to require background checks for anyone involved in a children's center in response to concerns about a registered sex offender living in a Webster County facility. The Fort Dodge Democrat has introduced an amendment mandating those checks that she hopes will be acted on next week. Her proposal doesn't mention the Anchor Character Training Center. However, she said she introduced the measure in response to revelations that a registered sex offender is housed there. Miller's amendment directs the state Department of Human Services to "apply criminal and abuse registry background check requirements for the persons who own, operate, staff, participate in or otherwise have contact with the children receiving services from a children's center." Anchor Character Training Center, 1940 225th St., is a coed home for troubled teens operated by Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Dodge. Late last month, it was revealed that a registered sex offender, Trevor J. Fuhrman, 16, is living in the center, which is not licensed by the state. Fuhrman was convicted in 2005 of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a girl under the age of 13. Before Miller introduced her amendment, officials in the Department of Human Services began moving to require the the center to comply with standards similar to those for child care centers and group homes. Anchor will be required to meet standards for basic health and safety needs, protection from mistreatment or neglect, record checks for employees and record management, Roger Munns, a spokesman for the Department of Human Services has said. He also reported that the center will have to comply with limits on the use of restraints. Lawmakers have also considered the possibility of using a leadership bill to impose some standards on the center. A leadership bill is a measure sponsored by top members of the Senate and House of Representatives that's used to move an issue near the end of a legislative session. But state Sen. Daryl beall, D-Fort Dodge, said Monday night that he doesn't think that approach will be used. He said he believes the needed regulations could be added to the budget bill that funds the Department of Human Services. "That's kind of a work in progress," he said. "We're working on that." The Rev. Marvin Smith, the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church, has repeatedly declined to comment on the possibility of state requirements being imposed on the Anchor Character Training Center. Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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