failing “We have some individuals who require a higher level of supervision due to their size and strength, as well as their history. Seeing the media coverage of incidents in other parts of the state reinforces that the state needs to step up and provide the staffing and support our members need. The recent incidents should be a wakeup call for decision makers.” — Nilda Palau-Lopez, Hudson Valley DDSO Local President not taken adequate measures to ensure the quality of services and proper placement of individuals as the administration moves forward with its closure plans. State officials maintain that no OPWDD workers will be laid off by this closure. However, with the list of workers from facilities that are being closed growing, workers wonder how there can be enough jobs to fill without possibly relocating to a distant facility. At Brooklyn, about 600 workers and their families have been affected by the closure. CSEA Brooklyn Developmental Center Local President Faye Wilkie Fields said she suspects that many of the affected Brooklyn workers may be uprooted to a distant location, especially since the next nearest OPWDD facility, Bernard Fineson in Queens, is also slated for closure. Some Brooklyn workers also face another challenge. Brooklyn Developmental Center is the only OPWDD facility that includes the Developmental Disability Secure Care Treatment Aide (DSCTA) title, which affects about 50 workers, including Wilkie Fields. It is unclear how these workers will be reassigned once Brooklyn closes in December 2015. Policies have chilling effects There’s also concern about placing the court-mandated individuals, like sex offenders and pedophiles, in these secure facilities in the community. “These individuals will now be in the communities where our families live,” said Wilkie Fields. In 2001, two female workers were brutally attacked and nearly raped by an individual in group home workers foiled a building that housed forensic individuals. Emergency assistance was delayed due to a flawed alert and protocol system. At that time, CSEA successfully led efforts to get an emergency pendant system for workers. Callum said the individual involved in those attacks is already in a group home, and she fears that the individual who recently attacked her will also be inappropriately placed without appropriate measures to protect others. Despite repeated physical attacks on staff and verbal threats made by the individual, who had also expressed a specific desire to rape children and pregnant women, Callum expressed disbelief that many of those threats have failed to appear in his official treatment record. “How many people has he put on disability?” Callum asked. “He can’t be on his own in the community. He’s constantly saying he’s going to molest kids.” Callum said her union family has been very supportive throughout the ordeal. While she hasn’t yet returned to work, she said that she knows she will have to soon return to her job. Despite her painful physical and psychological injuries, Callum said she bears no ill will toward the individual. “Wherever he goes, it must be on his record that he must have a male supervising him” said Callum. “I’m hoping for the best for him, but don’t let your guard down in front of him.” — David Galarza Two Men Accused of Plotting to Kidnap and Sexually Assault Group Home Workers Men Charged with Plot to Kidnap IRA Home and County Employees 2 group home residents charged in kidnapping plot Group home placements questioned Payne said the staff is still asking why these two convicted criminals were allowed to live in the group home in the first place. Payne has been in public service for more than 13 years, has worked with the developmentally disabled in many ways, and has seen huge changes in how the criminal justice system and the state deal with disabled people she cares for, and the type of “individuals” she and continued on page 12 three people. Both men were also on probation, and Bentley is a registered sex offender. Second thoughts “Evidently, Mr. Bentley was having second thoughts about the plan and wanted to tell on Mr. Bateman,” Payne said. “He confided with one of our direct support assistants. That speaks volumes about how our staff develops trusting relationships with the individuals we serve.” However, September 2015 The Work Force 11
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