FREDERICK, Md. (WBFF) — Maryland officials are preparing to remove foster children from Silver Oak Academy after the state confirmed for the first time that youth will no longer remain at the troubled Carroll County facility beyond June 30, marking the clearest sign yet that the privately operated program is effectively shutting down.
The Maryland Department of Human Services told Spotlight on Maryland on Tuesday that it has been working since December to relocate children from Silver Oak, a Keymar, Md. residential program operated by Nevada-based Rite of Passage that has come under mounting scrutiny over allegations of violence, runaway incidents, staff misconduct and lax oversight.
DHS and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services jointly monitor Silver Oak, with staff from both agencies meeting biweekly, conducting site visits, enforcing corrective action plans and addressing youth incident reports, a DHS spokesperson said. DJS will not renew Silver Oak’s license next month.
A monument sign sits at the beginning of a mile-long driveway on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, for Nevada-based Rites of Passage’s Silver Oak Academy, an alternative, privately operated juvenile foster facility in Carroll County, Md. (Steve Pierce/Spotlight on Maryland)
This update follows months of reporting by Spotlight on Maryland documenting more than 100 emergency calls tied to the campus since January 2025, including reports of assaults, arson, runaway juveniles and staff concerns that the young residents were “overtaking the campus.”
Local law enforcement, former employees, lawmakers and residents have increasingly questioned whether the state should continue placing vulnerable foster children there.
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services previously declined to renew Silver Oak’s license, while DHS had been fighting an appeal from Rite of Passage over the denial of a residential child-care program license.
Those decisions now appear final.
“As you all know, we have been working closely with Silver Oak Academy’s program leadership regarding their current DJS license,” Alger Studstill, executive director for the Maryland Social Services administration, wrote late Friday afternoon to state social services leaders. “Rites of Passage appealed that denial; however, on Friday evening, they decided to withdraw their appeal.
We must collectively work together to ensure this transition is as successful as possible for the youth currently residing there,” Studstill added.
Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees praised the move during a Zoom call with Spotlight on Maryland on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m relieved that the Department of Human Services took that stance, but it’s been a long process to highlight the inadequacies of that particular facility,” DeWees said. “If FOX didn’t take a more refined approach and look deeper into the issues at Silver Oak, I think we’d still be where we were at”
The development comes days after a 16-year-old foster child who disappeared from Silver Oak earlier this month was found Thursday in Frederick, 14 days after vanishing and 22 miles from the rural campus.
His recovery raised new questions instead of answering them.
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Rite of Passage told Spotlight last Tuesday that the teen was believed to be with family. Spotlight later learned he was not.
According to sources and records reviewed by Spotlight, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office fugitive unit recovered the teenager from the home of a former Silver Oak employee in Frederick. The former employee told investigators they picked up the juvenile along a roadside in Boonsboro before taking him to the Frederick home.
Silver Oak Academy in Carroll County, Md., a privately operated foster setting for juveniles under state care. (Steve Pierce/Spotlight on Maryland)
Suzanne Smith, Rite of Passage’s director of research and development, called Spotlight on Maryland on Monday evening after receiving questions about discrepancies between the organization’s earlier statements and the circumstances surrounding the teen’s disappearance. She was also asked about employees’ alleged sexual misconduct.
Smith initially requested an off-the-record conversation that would prohibit Spotlight on Maryland from reporting on the discussion. Spotlight declined.
We’re not doing an interview. I gave you my statement,” Smith said. “We look forward to seeing us again on the news.”
Smith then disconnected the call.
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Minutes later, Dana Rexrode, executive director for Rite of Passage’s eastern district, contacted Spotlight on Maryland to address additional questions.
Rexrode downplayed a fight that erupted Thursday evening inside Silver Oak’s lobby as deputies returned the missing teenager to campus.
According to an incident report, an 18-year-old resident approached another foster youth from behind and punched him in the face, triggering a fight.
“As all of the students were congregating in the lobby, seemingly out of nowhere, I observed Jean-Pierre approach ‘Victim 1’ from behind and strike ‘Victim 1’ in the face with a closed fist,” said the incident report. “A fight ensued, and both subjects fell to the ground.”
During this fight, I observed [the 18-year-old] attempting to bite ‘Victim 1,’” the report added.
Under Maryland regulations, juvenile records are protected, prohibiting the disclosure of related identities, including in criminal cases.
“I will say, in that instance, our staff had the situation under control and did not ask for the assistance of law enforcement,” Rexrode said.
Dana Rexrode is the executive director of Rites of Passage’s eastern district, the private organization that operates Silver Oak Academy in Carroll County, Md. (Steve Pierce/Spotlight on Maryland)
When pressed about the apparent contradiction between her account and the documented law enforcement response, Rexrode acknowledged deputies ultimately became involved.
“I am definitely aware he was arrested,” Rexrode said, “and has returned to the facility, and we will cooperate with the investigation.”
The following day, former Silver Oak employee Malik Glover said he quit his job at the facility after working there since October. Less than an hour later, he spoke exclusively with Spotlight on Maryland in Western Maryland.
Glover said he developed a strong rapport with the missing teenager and believed fear may have contributed to the youth’s decision to flee.
If you don’t feel safe, you go into panic mode,” Glover said. “That might lead to anything.”
Asked why the child may not have felt safe, Glover pointed to what he described as a lack of structure inside the program.
“At times, I don’t feel safe as staff,” Glover said.
A little more than 30 minutes after quitting Silver Oak Academy on Friday, April 25, 2026, Malik Glover spoke to Spotlight on Maryland about his time working at the privately operated facility by Nevada-based Rite of Passage in Carroll County. (Zackary Lang/Spotlight on Maryland)
Silver Oak Academy operates as what Rite of Passage describes as a “staff-secured residential treatment campus,” without fencing, locks or mechanical restraints. Rexrode has previously defended the approach as a therapeutic model where youth move freely “with direct supervision.”
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Another former employee also came forward Friday, alleging the facility had become chaotic, under-supervised and unsafe.
“What’s not going on at Silver Oak Academy is the question,” a former worker told Spotlight on Maryland.
The former employee, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, alleged widespread problems inside the facility, including violence, drugs, alcohol, assaults and inappropriate staff behavior.
“From time to time, we have reported contraband as it has been found,” Rexrode said.
Glover, who said he has more than a decade of experience working in juvenile detention, adult prisons and group homes, described Silver Oak as a dangerous environment where staff were regularly assaulted.
He and the anonymous former employee both alleged workers were discouraged from contacting law enforcement during violent incidents because doing so could attract additional state scrutiny.
ALSO READ | Former Silver Oak Academy worker alleges culture of fear; youth calls facility a ‘hellhole
When asked about those allegations, Rexrode defended the organization’s approach.
“It is our position that staff should not call law enforcement to manage the type of behaviors that bring youth to our care,” Rexrode said by phone. “Law enforcement should only be called when there is a distinct criminal act, which may or may not include assault, depending on the circumstances surrounding it, and depending on the youths who is exhibiting the behavior.”
Pressed on whether physical fights should automatically trigger police involvement, Rexrode said they should not.
I would not automatically say that a punch automatically rises to the level of law enforcement involvement when you’re dealing with youth with mental health concerns,” Rexrode said.
The anonymous former employee disputed that explanation, alleging staff were actively discouraged from calling police during violent episodes because it could create problems with regulators.
“They don’t want you to call the police if the kids is acting out,” the former worker said. “If you call the police, the state gets involved. They get in trouble.”
Spotlight on Maryland’s Gary Collins spoke to another former Silver Oak Academy employee stepped forward on Friday, April 15, 2026, to discuss what she allegedly witnessed while working at the privately operated Rite of Passage facility in Carroll County, Md. (Zackary Lang/Spotlight on Maryland)
Glover said the children at Silver Oak were not adequately served.
“The kids are being sheltered. The kids are being fed,” he said. “The programming for the kids, no. They’re not getting the treatment needed.”
The anonymous former worker went further, alleging some youth were manipulated with vapes, marijuana or money to stay quiet about misconduct. The former employee said grievances had been filed internally.
The former worker called this process “hush money” in an attempt to keep the youth from speaking out about considerations or misconduct.
Rexrode said she was unaware of those allegations.
“I’m not going to comment on that one. I want to see the paperwork because January, I’m just going to be honestly, sir, January was a long time ago,” Rexrode said.
When pressed further, she added: “There certainly were no allegations of sexual misconduct in January.”
DHS has previously said Silver Oak was on the agency’s “Hot List,” meaning no additional youth should be sent there until the facility returned to compliance. At the same time, state officials defended keeping the program open while alternative placements were considered.
Critics said that position created a contradiction. If the state believed conditions were serious enough to halt new placements, why were children still living there?
“Tell him to shut it down,” the former worker said when asked what message she would Gov. Wes Moore and state regulators. “Put them kids where them kids need to be at. In a real facility where they are getting taken care of and loved.”
Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees told Spotlight on Maryland on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, that his office has been overwhelmed with calls for service related to incidents that have occurred at Silver Oak Academy. (Steve Pierce/Spotlight on Maryland)
Glover said Rite of Passage could still succeed under different leadership.
Rites of Passage has the potential,” he said. “But the current leadership doesn’t have that mindset.”
Spotlight on Maryland asked DHS on Monday whether the agency believes foster children currently housed at Silver Oak are in danger. A spokesperson acknowledged the request but did not directly answer the question.
Rexrode suggested critics do not fully understand the population Silver Oak is designed to serve.
“I would strongly encourage you to become more educated about the type of youths we’re serving and the kinds of behaviors displayed across the country,” Rexrode said.
Have you experienced or had direct knowledge of the conditions at Silver Oak Academy? Do you have any tips related to this story? Send news tips to gmcollins@sbgtv.com or contact Spotlight on Maryland’s hotline at (410) 467-4670.
Follow Gary Collins on X and Instagram. Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun.
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