Pocono News Section

State Department Takes Action Against Aspect Foundation

State Department Takes Action Against Aspect Foundation - Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 5:55PM EST

Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009 @ 05:55pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- There are new developments in an I-Team investigation. It involves alleged mistreatment of foreign exchange students. Now there are federal sanctions against a company that places those kids.

Our investigation has caught the attention of the U. S. State Department and also led to investigations by national media outlets including CNN, which is airing reports today using WBRE video and information.

Students from other countries came here to see the best America has to offer, but many saw the worst and state department officials say that cannot happen again.

The I-Team first uncovered the filthy conditions inside a home in Scranton filled with dog feces. It was home to a 15-year-old Nigerian girl. The home was condemned after our report. Soon other students came forward who were living in unhealthy conditions in other homes operated by Edna Burgett.

She was area coordinator for the Aspect Foundation based in California. Burgett was fired by aspect. The U. S. State Department, which oversees the program, has reduced the number of visas aspect can now handle.

And they will now have another company oversee the students. Aspect was supposed to place this coming fall.

They will also take a closer look at other companies that place students. The I-Team spoke to Miller Crouch of the U. S. State Department in Washington. “The additional oversight means that the program as it has operated till now has put a great deal of emphasis on the sponsoring organizations self governing. What we are doing now is taking a close look at the amount of oversight that should be added to what we already have in place in our regulatory regime," he said.

Crouch says companies like aspect operated on the "honor system," which failed those students. "This is an egregious episode. It does no one any honor. It certainly does not do the State Department any honor. I think we were at fault as well. We're looking into our own internal processes,” said Crouch.

The Lackawanna County District Attorney says criminal charges will be filed in this case. He is also awaiting the results of a grand jury investigation into the matter.