The parents of a girl who died last year while enrolled at Lakeland Girls Academy are considering legal action against the “restoration home.”

Naomi Wood, 17, died of a seizure disorder after weeks of enduring stomach pains and not receiving any medical attention, according to a state report and descriptions from fellow students.

A lawyer for Wood’s parents said they only learned about Naomi’s previous medical complaints through a report issued in April by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The report included criticism of Lakeland Girls Academy from the director of a Child Protection Team, a division of the Florida Department of Health.

Wood’s adoptive parents, Al and Deb Wood of Vermont, initially praised Lakeland Girls Academy in a statement on their business website after her death. But the family’s lawyer, Glen Goldman of Deerfield Beach, said the couple at that point didn’t know of details that later came out in the DCF report.

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“Obviously, they were very shocked and upset when the DCF report came out,” Goldman said. “Until that happened, they didn’t realize the things that were mentioned in there, so they were very upset when they saw that.”

Goldman said the Woods were disturbed that no one from Lakeland Girls Academy called them to report on Naomi’s complaints of stomach pains and other issues before her death.

“We are pursuing the case,” Goldman told The Ledger. “I can’t tell you at this time whether it’s going to be a lawsuit or something else, but we are pursuing the case, for sure. There are details I can’t really give out at this point as to why it may be a lawsuit or it may not be a lawsuit.”

Meanwhile, a child-welfare advocate and a state legislator say Florida should consider changing a religious exemption that spares programs such as Lakeland Girls Academy from state licensing and oversight. The residential school, part of the international Teen Challenge program, is licensed and supervised by the Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies rather than DCF, the main state agency responsible for keeping children safe.

Roy Miller, CEO of the Children’s Campaign, a Tallahassee-based nonprofit devoted to children’s health and safety, said Wood’s death illustrates the need for better monitoring of such faith-based programs. 

“We’re horrified by this tragic outcome,” Miller said. “No child should ever be abruptly removed from their medical regimen that’s been prescribed by a medical professional. We know this is contraindicated and can result in death or other long-lasting serious handicaps. And we’re also deeply concerned at the level of rigidity of this program model used in Lakeland, and we don’t believe that this model should be allowed in the state of Florida.”

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Dan and Holly Williams, executive directors of Lakeland Girls Academy, have not responded to multiple inquiries from The Ledger. Matt Higgins, executive director of the Tampa-based Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Associations (FACCCA), did not return phone messages.

Florida is among a handful of states that exempt faith-based residential programs for children from state monitoring, based on a law enacted in 1984 and since revised. Miller said the state has a history of tragedies involving such programs.

“The Children’s Campaign believes there ought to be one set of licensing standards that all providers adhere to, whether they’re faith-based or not faith-based, whether they’re national organizations or local organizations, so that the citizens of Florida can say children in our state are protected and they are provided the absolute best in health, safety and medical care and the other services for kids,” Miller said.

The St. Petersburg Times in 2012 published an investigation about complaints of neglect or abuse at religious children’s homes. Rather than reconsider exemptions, however, Florida lawmakers have expanded them since then.

Ben Wilcox, research director at Integrity Florida, a nonpartisan watchdog group, said he was less familiar with faith-based youth programs such as LGA but found the circumstances of Wood’s death troubling.

“It is concerning that there doesn’t seem to be any accountability in place here,” he said. “Unless we are able to find out whether this other organization (FACCCA) actually does have oversight over the school, apparently there is no oversight.”

The Ledger contacted the offices of Polk County’s three state senators and five state representatives to ask if any changes might be needed in the oversight of religious childcare programs. Only the staff of Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, responded, and an aide said Burton is looking into the issue.

Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, a Polk County native, gave The Ledger a written statement.

“Naomi Woods’ death is tragic, senseless, and heartbreaking,” Driskell wrote. “Lakeland Girls Academy is supposed to be a safe space for young women and the reports which have come out after Naomi’s death have been deeply alarming. All organizations who are licensed with FACCCA must also comply with the regulations set forth by Florida Statutes and are able to receive training through FACCCA. It seems prudent to consider bringing organizations like LGA under the supervision of the Florida Department of Children and Families. We also should consider how FACCCA can be empowered to provide training and transparency on how medical complaints are handled and how counseling is utilized in the event of a tragedy. “

Critical report

Lakeland Girls Academy has faced growing scrutiny since the DCF report became public. Following Wood’s death, Dr. Carol Lilly, medical director for the agency’s Child Protection Team based in Hillsborough County, led an investigation and issued a case summary, which is included in the DCF report.

Lilly criticized the leadership and staff of Lakeland Girls Academy for failing to get Wood medical attention in the weeks before her death. As Lilly reported, Wood told staff members as early as April 2020 that she had chronic stomach pain, but she was not taken to a doctor.

Former students at the academy confirmed to The Ledger that Wood complained daily of stomach aches for weeks before her death and asked to see a doctor. 

Staff members instead gave the girl Pepto-Bismol about 20 times and said they would pray for her, Lilly wrote. Wood began vomiting on May 18, but the staff did not seek medical care for her until finding her unconscious in her shared bedroom the next evening.

Dr. Stephen Nelson, medical examiner for the 10th Judicial Circuit, performed an autopsy and determined Wood’s death to be natural, a result of a seizure disorder. Lilly included that finding but cited LGA for inadequate supervision and medical neglect. She closed the CPT probe with “positive/verified findings” of death due to abuse or neglect.

The case summary said, “The facility did not have appropriate protocols in place to address medical emergencies and/or regular medical care with physicians.”

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating Wood’s death, a spokeswoman said. No charges have been filed.

A spokesman for DCF did not answer questions about whether the state agency has fined or otherwise punished Lakeland Girls Academy in response to the report.

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Lilly also criticized Lakeland Girls Academy for its handling of students’ mental-health issues. Roommates said Wood was anxious, depressed and having nightmares, yet Lilly wrote that she saw no documentation that the girl was getting mental-health services.

Lilly also reported on the practice of “shunning,” or not allowing other girls to speak to Wood. Former students have told The Ledger the practice was widely used. Lilly wrote that such a technique was not recommended for a child with depressive or anxious symptoms.

“It is likely to cause harm and does not address coping strategies for her symptoms,” Lilly wrote. “At least one of the coping strategies for both anxiety and depression involves talking with others to develop and practice coping skills.”

Lilly wrote that Lakeland Girls Academy had changed its policies after Wood’s death, creating the position of medical representative. The report said the facility would screen students for medical histories and would take girls to an urgent-care clinic or emergency room within 72 hours of an illness.

DCF records show it has investigated four other incidents at LGA since 2008. The first two, both in that year, were for “bizarre punishment” and “inadequate supervision.” The agency ruled that it found no indications in the first case and some in the second.

An investigation of an alleged asphyxiation in 2010 found no confirmation, DCF said, and neither did a 2013 probe of a claim of “mental injury.”

Another death

Lakeland Girls Academy was founded decades ago as the HUG Home for Unwed Mothers, according to archival Ledger reporting. At some point, the program changed its name and joined the global Teen Challenge organization, which is affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination.

Lakeland Girls Academy is not a foster home. Parents pay as much as $5,000 a month for the program to house girls ages 12 through 17, who also attend school at the two-acre property in South Lakeland. The standard treatment period is 15 months.

The program welcomes girls with academic and behavioral problems, such as rebellion, anger, depression, promiscuity and low self-esteem, its website says. Former students said LGA also has long accepted girls with drug problems, including addiction to heroin, though the website no longer mentions drug issues.

Lakeland Girls Academy has a capacity of about 36 girls, according to former students. The program offers both group and individual counseling, though some former students and their parents say it doesn’t deliver on that promise.

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The exemption from DCF oversight is available to religious organizations that do not directly receive state or federal funds. The Ledger found no recent state appropriations for Lakeland Girls Academy or Teen Challenge of Florida, which is based in Columbus, Georgia.

In 2019, the Florida Legislature expanded the exemption from DCF oversight to include national membership associations, such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

By contrast, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, based in Lakeland, is licensed by the state and subject to DCF oversight. The Christian nonprofit offers foster-care services and receives placements of children through the state agency.

Lakeland Girls Academy is one of 11 restoration homes listed as FACCCA members on the group’s website. The association also lists residential care homes, maternity homes and adoption and substitute family homes as members. None of the other programs appear to be based in Polk County.  

The FACCCA website offers no information on how programs are licensed or supervised.

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At least one other program affiliated with FACCCA has had a child die in its custody recently. Last October, a 14-year-old boy who was part of the Gator Wilderness Camp program based in Charlotte County died after falling 80 feet during a group trip to Laurel Fork Falls, South Carolina.

In addition to questions about medical attention, former students raised concerns about food preparation at Lakeland Girls Academy. Chloe Thornburg, who attended from October 2019 to June 2020, said the program required the girls to make their own meals.

The staff provided a weekly meal schedule, and the students prepared the meals using mostly frozen or canned ingredients, said Thornburg, now 16. The LGA website says, “Our kitchen is overseen by dedicated staff members who find joy in watching our students truly enjoy their meals.”

Increased caution

Brad Hall, executive director at Rodeheaver Boys Ranch, a residential facility in Palatka, said FACCCA conducts annual assessments that include inspections of residences and reviews of files. Hall said FACCCA requires all child-care workers to have 20 hours a year of continuing education and also conducts its own training.

Rodeheaver Boys Ranch is one of seven residential facilities licensed by FACCCA. Such programs typically provide full-time care for children placed in them by parents or guardians because of family difficulties.

Hall, who joined Rodeheaver in 2019, said the deaths of the teens in the Lakeland and North Port programs seemed to promote new attention from FACCCA on the health of children in its programs.

“I’ve only been director the last two years, so I’m still learning a lot of things,” Hall said. “It seems like, from what I’ve seen, FACCCA is an agency that’s really improved in the last several years. They’re very strict in their oversight. The training is very good that we get through them now. I think in years past, things have kind of been let slide, but I don’t sense it’s like that anymore.”

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Hall said FACCCA emphasizes mandatory reporting of any alleged abuse.

“Where it gets a little less clear is on the medical side, what constitutes an emergency and things like that,” Hall said. “But it seems like FACCCA has been teaching us the last couple of years that if a child complains about anything and they consistently complain about it, you need to take them to the doctor. And it may be because of this (Lakeland) case and others that we’ve become a lot more vigilant on that.”

He added: “FACCCA talks a lot about making sure you’re paying attention to kids from a medical standpoint. So that may be a reaction to that (Wood’s death), that we’re emphasizing it more.”

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.

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