Hope glimmers in the dark halls of Tryon

By DEBORAH A. MILES
Gov. David Paterson has targeted the Tryon Center in Fulton County as one state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) facility to be downsized.

But PEF members there continue to focus on solutions to the problem of increased assaults on staff, and turning lives around.
Even with the threat of downsizing, the assaults on the staff by the troubled youths at the Tryon Boys’ Campus in Johnstown, a juvenile justice facility operated by OCFS, has prompted action by the agency and PEF.

Union efforts put the spotlight on the black eyes, bruises and broken bones of assaulted staff. PEF has been working with the media, legislators and Tryon members to expose the unacceptable conditions at that facility.

In response, OCFS replaced the Tryon Boys’ director, temporarily transferred 75 percent of the juveniles to other facilities, and organized an intense training for the staff.

Part of the training initiative included a meeting led by PEF staff and PEF OCFS labor-management co-chairs Sharon Merulla and Steve Redler where a couple of dozen members gathered October 31. The sentiment was that the morale among staff had hit bottom, so the only way is up. And for the first time in a long time, there was a glimmer of hope that things will change, the assaults will stop.

Taking action
PEF leaders organized the meeting to let members know in no uncertain terms that getting punched by an out-of-control juvenile is not part of the job. They reviewed a “Know Your Rights” guide for victims of workplace violence at OCFS. They encouraged members to report any violent incident in detail and file criminal charges with the police. And they reassured members the seismic challenges facing OCFS are being addressed.

PEF Division 218 steward Donna Shelton spoke about the efforts of Fulton County District Attorney Louise Sira.

“We met with our district attorney and she recognizes that when an assault takes place, the assaulter must face charges and be prosecuted,” Shelton said.

PEF has partnered with Sira, the same way it established a relationship with Albany County District Attorney David Soares when members at the Capital District Psychiatric Center (CDPC) were frequent victims of assault by its residents.

OCFS responds
The Tryon assaults began to escalate after OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion initiated a reform in the juvenile justice system without union or staff input. A breakdown in youth discipline developed. That, combined with short staffing and inadequate resources, resulted in frequent attacks on staff and some juveniles at the facility.

The spotlight shifted from the new reform, and OCFS addressed what was being reported in the news. The agency responded with training.

“Whether or not the training will be effective in stopping the workplace violence is yet to be seen,” Redler said. “The staff has been receptive to the training. They are dedicated professionals with a goal to help turn around the lives of these young people for the better.”

Slow healing
“It had to get really bad in order to get better,” said Deborah Bordwell, a special education teacher at Tryon Boys for 18 years. “In the past, we were encouraged not to press charges.”

Ten years ago, Bordwell was punched and knocked unconscious.
“At that time, I was intimidated by the acting director and assistant supervising director not to press charges,” Bordwell said. “A lot of the staff felt intimidated. They were afraid of repercussions.”

Attitudes are changing and a slow healing is beginning to take place at Tryon, according to Bordwell.

Even though a juvenile threw books at her recently, and she dodged a desk that he lunged and bounced off a blackboard, the focus now is to press charges when needed, without fear.

“Part of the problem is people want the union to take care of things, but refuse to participate. We are finally going in the right direction,” Bordwell said. “To restore order at Tryon, OCFS needs to work with PEF as a partner, not the target, in reform.