Guidebook protects members at youth facilities
ByDARCYWELLS stepapproachtoseekmedicaltreatment, upperhandtomanipulatethesystemand
PEFhasproducedaKnowYourRights reporttheincidenttolaw filefalseclaims,”Merullasaid.
guidebookformembersatstate enforcement,properly HerPEFlabor-managementco-chair
OfficeofChildrenand documentwhathappened, SteveRedler,agreed.
FamilyServices(OCFS) navigateworkers’ “Wearemeetingwithstatelawmakers,
facilitieswhoareassaulted compensation,(if judgesandlocaldistrictattorneysto
orfalselyaccusedofchild necessary),andprevent educatethemonwhat’shappeningatour
abuse. futureassaults. facilitiesandwe’redevelopinganetworkof
KnowYourRightsis Thebookletalso councilleadersandstewardstoimprove
beingdistributedat providesguidancefor communication,”Redlersaid.
membershipmeetingsandis investigationsofchild “Theguidebookwillhelpinthat
availableatallOCFSfacilities. abuseand process,”headded.
“Victimsofworkplace maltreatmentreports, PEFPresidentKenBrynienmetwith
violenceareoftentraumatized,” whichhavebeenon CarrioninAugusttoagaindiscuss
saidSharonMerulla,PEFlabor therise increasedviolenceandchildabuse
managementco-chairatOCFS. “It’sunfortunate allegations.
“Withtheincreasedviolenceat ourmemberseven “Ourconcernsseemtobefallingon
someOCFSfacilities,itis needthebooklet,” deafears,”Bryniensaid.
especiallyimportanttheunion Merullasaid. “Thiscommissionerismorefocusedon
educatemembersonwhattodo “Thefactis,OCFS movingkidstocommunityprogramsthat
whentheyareattackedbyayouth CommissionerGladysCarrionis alreadyhavefailedtoomanykids.The
orfalselychargedwithchild pushingthroughheragendaofreform immediatefocusshouldbeoncreatinga
abuse.” withouttheinputoftheprofessionalswho safeenvironmentfortheemployeesand
Thebookletgivesmembersastep-by- workinthefacilities.It’sgivingkidsthe youths.”
PEFinstrumentalinaidingvictim
Albany DA addresses assault on CDPC nurse
ByDEBORAHA.MILES someonefromASAP(AssaultedStaff andnotaviolation,Grahamwentbackto
RichardGraham,aPEFregistered ActionProgram)wasonthescene.She thepolicedepartmenttohavethecharge
nursewhoworksattheCapitalDistrict lookedatme,sawmebleeding,andtold upgraded.Hewasroutedbackandforth
PsychiatricCenter(CDPC)inAlbany,was metoleave.” tovariouslocationsanddepartments.
punchedinthenoseJuly23byapatient Grahamsoughtmedicalattention.A “Iwentthrougharealroundrobinfor
whoisarepeatassaulter. physicianalsoevaluatedthepatientwho somethingthatshouldhavebeencutand
Thepatientwasarrestedandtakento madetheassault. driedrightfromthebeginning,”Graham
jailAugust1forbreakinghisprobation, “Ifthedoctorhadsaidthispersonwas said.
butinitiallygotawaywithfracturing experiencingapsychoticepisode,Imight “PEFmadethingseasierandwasa
Graham’snose. nothavefiledcharges.Itwasdetermined greathelp.”
BecauseofPEF’srelationshipwiththe hewasnotpsychoticatthetimeofthe AccordingtoPEFDirectorof
AlbanyCountydistrictattorney’soffice, assault,”Grahamsaid. OccupationalHealthandSafety
whichwasspearheadedlastyearbyPEF JonathanRosen,“AssistantDistrict
VicePresidentPatBaker,theunionwas Insult to injury AttorneyMarkHarriscontactedthe
abletoactquickly. TheCDPCsafetydepartmentcalledthe policecommanderwhoensuredthe
TheincidenthappenedwhenGraham, AlbanyPoliceDepartment.Toaddinsultto criminalchargesagainstthepatientwere
whowasonbreak,heardaruckusand injury,whenthepolicearrived,Graham upgradedandalsocalledGrahamto
walkedintoanareawhereaclientwas said,“Theywerenegativerightfromthe apologizeforthemishandlingofthe
literallythrowingaclothesdryerand beginning.Thefirstthingtheysaid:‘Ihope case.”
threateningtokillamentalhealththerapy youknowwearenottakingthisguyoutof “HarrisalsocontactedtheProbation
aide(TA). here.’ Departmentwhichultimatelyledtothe
“Thenurseadministratorandcharge “Theofficersdidn’taskanyquestions arrestofthepatientwhoassaulted
nurseweretryingtotalkhimdown,along aboutthebloodonmyshirt.Theydidn’t Graham.”Rosensaid.
withsomeTAs.Isteppedin.ThenImade asktoviewthevideothatshowedthe “Whenyouareavictim,thingsshould
themistakeofglancingatanother assault.Therewasalackofinvestigative happenrightaway,butsometimesthey
employeetogetasignal,becausethe qualityontheofficers’part,”saidGraham, don’t,”Grahamsaid.“Whenyouhave
patientwasout-of-controlanddangerous. whoalsohasacriminaljusticedegree. beeninasituationwhereaninjuryrises
WhenIlookedback,therewasafist “Theywrotetheincidentupasa tothelevelofanassault,don’tgiveup
comingatme.Therewasn’tenoughtime violation,mereharassment.” thefightforyourrightsasavictim.
toduck.Hehitmesquarelyonthenose,” “PEFhasshownmethereareavenues
Grahamsaid. PEF steps in andchannelstotake.”
Afterthepatientwasrestrained, Aftergettingdocumentationthathis
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PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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