Oops, Fern. Another post that should have gone to the child protection ng.

LaVonne

Fern5827 wrote:

I guess DCF workers at at sea when it comes to handling real children or teens.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news....apds.m0439.bc
-ct--juvejul29,0,3833219.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

Detention center workers file civil rights complaint

Associated Press

July 29, 2003

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Workers at the state's juvenile detention center have
filed a federal civil rights complaint alleging sexual harassment and unsafe
working conditions.

The complaint was submitted Monday to the U.S. Department of Education by more
than 120 teachers, youth officers and clinicians at the Connecticut Juvenile
Training School in Middletown, The Hartford Courant reported in Tuesday's
editions.

The workers, who are requesting an immediate investigation, say in the
complaint that boys at the detention center have repeatedly sexually harassed
staff, assaulted them or threatened complaints of abuse against employees.

Boys at the school, which is run by the state Department of Children and
Families, have no fear of punishment or discipline, the complaint says. That's
because the 240-bed, high-security detention center has no effective policies
on sexual harassment or on false allegations made by juveniles, the workers
say.

"Good, hard-working and dedicated people are being damaged both physically and
emotionally," labor union leaders said in a prepared statement Monday. "DCF
management has not addressed the issues, nor have they taken them seriously.
Assaults, harassment and an unsafe environment are pervasive problems that
require immediate attention."

The complaint was endorsed by about half of the school's approximately 300
full-time employees. All the boys who live there have been convicted as
juvenile delinquents. The boys receive education, therapy and counseling as
part of their confinement and treatment.

DCF spokesman Gary Kleeblatt said the agency is taking steps to make sure all
of its employees are safe.

"We take the concerns of staff extremely seriously," Kleeblatt said Monday.
"Sexual harassment is a very serious issue. We've already begun working with
staff to address their concerns and we will continue to do that. We know the
staff there has extremely demanding responsibilities and they deserve our
support; part of that is having a safe workplace so they can be effective in
doing their jobs."

Concerns about workplace safety and a lack of clearly defined policies and
protocols for employees date back to October 2001, shortly after the $57
million school opened. But the issues reached a crescendo in June when union
leaders felt school and state officials mishandled the sexual assault of a
female staff member and a sexual assault complaint against a female staff
member by a student.

In the first case, a 29-year-old youth service officer was injured in June when
a 15-year-old boy grabbed her breasts outside a bathroom and knocked her to the
ground. Staff later complained that the boy had been allowed to remain in the
general population despite a history of sexually aggressive behavior.

In the second instance, a boy at the school complained that a female teacher
sexually abused him. His accusation came after the teacher formally complained
that he had sexually assaulted her.

The teacher has been on administrative leave for weeks while an internal
investigation is conducted. Union leaders say the student's accusation is
false. Meanwhile the boy, union sources said, has been transferred to another
treatment program that he had wanted to attend.

DCF officials are considering placing surveillance cameras in classrooms,
having youth service officers stationed in every classroom, providing
additional training for supervisors and staff and creating clearly defined
punishments for youths who file false complaints against staff.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights in
Boston - where the complaint was sent - could not be reached for comment.

Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press