Sexual Abuse Allegations Lead to Shut Down of Green Isle Ranch

Under the category of "its about time", the Orlando Sentinel has recently reported that the Green Isle Ranch, a facility for troubled youth in the Clermont area, is closing its doors.  In my opinion this could not have happened soon enough.  Unfortunately, it appears that several children were sexually abused at the facility -- before anyone took the positive step of shutting the place down.

 Apparently, the home organization that had been running the Green Isle Ranch -- Bridges of America -- felt like the facility couldn't weather the bad publicity generated by revelations about the sexual abuse.  This negative publicity seemed to have been hurting registrations, as the facility was housing only six children when it was designed to host 32.

While allegations of sexual abuse involving six different children in late 2009 are serious enough, the facility had been previously shut down by Lake County Sheriff's officials in 2008  following reports of maltreatment of the children, as well as serving rancid food.  There was definitely a failure of management, as well as negligence in the supervision of these children.

It appears that Bridges of America has done a favor for any child that may ultimately have found himself a resident of Green Isle Ranch.  Hopefully the at-risk kids in Central Florida will find a place that it better-suited to their needs.  Its seems a hearty  "good riddance" is appropriate for the Green Isle Ranch.