A year-long New York newspaper investigation has uncovered hundreds of cases where group home staff within the state abused residents and faced little consequence.
Employees suspected of beating or sexually assaulting residents of the state’s more than 2,000 group homes were rarely reported to law enforcement — despite a law requiring as much. Instead, workers were frequently transferred to other state-run residences where many faced fresh allegations of abuse, according to records reviewed by The New York Times.
Overall, The Times found about 13,000 allegations of abuse in 2009 alone among state workers in group homes serving people with developmental disabilities. Less than 5 percent of the cases were brought to the attention of police.
State officials often blamed an agreement with the employees’ union for limiting what could be done to discipline workers, some of whom were allowed to keep jobs despite criminal convictions or evidence of abuse. Meanwhile, they turned a deaf ear to a whistle-blower who raised concerns about practices within the homes.
Upon learning of the newspaper’s findings, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pressured two top state officials responsible for overseeing the group homes to resign.
Shame on the Unions protecting workers who intentionally harm those they are hired and PAID to protect! This article has made me physically ill. The state officials responsible for overseeing the group homes and turning their deaf ears to a morally conscious whistleblower ought to be FIRED, not pressured to resign! Maybe we should just “transfer” them to prison for their crimes against humanity.These are not incidents, these are crimes comitted by people who have learned they can get away with it and then get transferred to another home to start all over again! Governor Cuomo, please on’t drop the ball on this. Clean up and clean out! To The Civil Service Employees Association; OPEN YOUR EYES! WHY would you defend a worker who harms a defenseless person??? WHY would you turn your head away and allow them to continue to work in a caregiving capacity??? Do Union dues trump such heinous crime???
Two places you never want to see your kid end up: foster care or a state-run group home for the disabled.
@maureen1743: Plese re-read the article. It states that the states blames the union. No evidence provided. even if it were so, the state is still at fault for entering into that agreement. I am sick of failed state systems and governments blaming all their incompetence on unions.
It’s institutions like this that make parents so worried about the future of their disabled children.
Adults who cannot live on their own need to have a safe place where they are cared for and given the support they need and deserve.
consumer directed care for all!
@KellieMe
I re-read and not sure what I’m missing?? The article states – “The state initiated termination proceedings in 129 of the cases reviewed but succeeded in just 30 of them, in large part because the workers’ union, the Civil Service Employees Association, aggressively resisted firings in almost every case. A few employees resigned, even though the state sought only suspensions.”
Maybe I just don’t get it? Let’s stop the blame game and work toward a positive outcome for our loved ones being safe and secure in their homes.
I have a daughter who recently began lliving in a Group Home. I have served on a Human Rights Committee for 20 years reviewing reported allegations and findings of abuse in residential group homes in Pennsylvania.
I am not blaming Unions for the abuse that took place (I am also a union member)…I just hope that they are not defending members who have been found to be harming our loved ones to retain their jobs when they need to be fired.
JFGH is right. I am a parent who wants to know that my daughter is safe in her home. It is my role as a mother to protect my child. It is our role as members of society to protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Just how much evidence is needed here to protect those who can’t defend themselves?
After reading this New York Times Investigation, the reason why the employees got away with abusing these residents is because the Office of Developmental Disabilities failed to press charges with the police and the state of New York hires the arbitators who hear cases of employees brought up on abuse charges. If a arbitrator does not find a employee responsible or guilty, the fault lies with the state of New York. The union has the right to defend a worker who is bought up on charges. The unions do not decide what happens to a employee brought up on abuse or neglect charges the state of New York does. The blame lies with the state and the Office of Developmental Disabilities covered up their own wrong doing by not pressing charges against employees that abused residents. That is unacceptable. All of the staff involved in the cover up must be terminated. There needs to be a departmental restructuring that puts the safety of residents first and solid procedures to deal with employees that abuse and negelect residents. There needs to be a zero tolerance policy of abuse and neglect within that department.
The sad fact is that many residents of group homes suffer abuse and/or neglect all over the U.S. The residents do not have a voice either! We need to demand an change in the system!