ZELIENOPLE — Interviews with children regarding the Glade Run sexual abuse investigation ended last week for the state Department of Human Services.

Matthew Jones, director of Pennsylvania Human Services Licensing, said although it’s unknown when the investigation will be completed, the department is starting to reach its concluding stages.

About six weeks ago, the state agency ChildLine and the Zelienople police began investigating the facility after a young resident was sent to a hospital with injuries consistent with sexual abuse.

Since then interviews have been done with several youths allegedly involved.

Glade Run is a residential treatment facility, housing about 100 youths between the ages of 8 and 21 from across the state.

Jones said, “We’re working with our partners at the county level throughout the Department of Human Services and the facility to make sure that measures are put into place to protect these children during the course of the investigation.”

He also said the department has interviewed “a number” of Glade Run staff members along with children.

The main focus of the investigation is child-on-child sexual abuse.

“We have not had an allegation yet that there were adults involved in this,” Jones said.

The department is reviewing records at the facility, including past violations and other occurrences.

“We’re trying to determine if this was contained to this particular unit or whether there may be similar activity elsewhere in the facility,” Jones said.

Jones said while the department has made “significant progress” in the investigation, there is more to look at before coming to a conclusion.

He also said while there have been other situations of child-on-child sexual activity in similar facilities, he is “not personally aware of anything as complex as this circumstance.”

“It’s tragically unique,” Jones said.

Sheila Talarico, Glade Run Foundation executive director, said the facility has done its own investigation and interviewed staff members and the children.

She said cameras and motion detectors will be added to the cottages and common areas. Although regulations say such devices cannot be installed in private areas like children’s bedrooms, they can be used in hallways and doorways.

One child allegedly involved in the incident was discharged from Glade Run, although this already was planned. Every other child involved still is at the facility.

“The parents have chosen to keep the kids at Glade Run,” Talarico said. “It’s a testament to the kinds of services we provide.”

She also said more changes will be initiated under advice from state agencies and that Glade Run will meet soon in private with agencies to present its findings.

Zelienople Police Chief Jim Miller said there is no time frame on when the investigation will be complete and that his department’s interviews aren’t complete yet. He said “one or two” children have yet to be interviewed.

“I talked with the district attorney, and this could take from a few weeks to a few months,” Miller said.

District Attorney Rich Goldinger would not comment on the investigation’s progress.