OLYMPIA -- The owner of Fodor Homes in Lake Forest Park north of Seattle has reached an agreement with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to reduce to one the number of homes she operates in that city for disabled children.

Susan Fodor owns and operates a program serving primarily autistic children. The program includes nine staffed residential homes in a Lake Forest Park neighborhood serving between 25 and 35 children with special needs. Fodor has agreed to voluntarily downsize so that she can ensure that children in her care are receiving adequate supervision.

Fodor Homes will continue to operate under a probationary license, but will be limited to one Lake Forest Park home, serving a maximum of four children. The license will remain under probationary status while DSHS continues to work with the program in meeting all remaining compliance requirements and until all allegations of abuse and neglect and other licensing violations have been investigated.

Mike Tornquist, administrator of the DSHS Division of Licensed Resources (DLR), said the department believes that Fodor can safely operate one home with four children. DLR licenses group homes and foster homes and investigates allegations that licensing violations or abuse or neglect has occurred in those homes.

'We've had serious concerns about the health and safety of children in these homes when it was operating at full capacity," said Tornquist. "We continue to keep a close watch, but currently believe that four children can be served and kept safe in one home."

Because of confidentiality laws, DSHS can not release information about the allegations until the investigation is completed and official findings are made. However, Tornquist said the allegations are in the areas of staffing levels, meal compliance and safety preparation such as fire drills.

Thirteen children have been placed in other programs, foster homes or with family. Most of the children were placed at Fodor by their families.

The remaining Fodor home still in operation is under a detailed compliance plan. DSHS will provide technical assistance to remedy any licensing violations.