Youth Center Workers Accused of Abuse at Sununu Center

MANCHESTER, N.H. - The New Hampshire Disability Rights Center last week announced it found that staff from the Sununu Youth Services Center subjected a child with emotional and behavioral disabilities to abuse through the improper use of physical restraint. According to Manchester Ink, the restraint, which fractured the child’s shoulder blade, violated New Hampshire’s law regulating the use of restraint and seclusion.

“DRC first investigated the inappropriate use of restraint at SYSC in 2009. It’s disturbing that these conditions continue, almost a decade later,” said Stephanie Patrick, DRC’s Executive Director. “Many of the children at SYSC have mental illness and a history of traumatic victimization. It’s critical that SYSC change its policies and practices to protect these children from further abuse.”

According to one of DRC’s investigating attorneys, Andrew Milne, “New Hampshire and federal law are intended to protect children from unnecessary restraints and dangerous restraint techniques.
Our investigation revealed that SYSC staff, who are supposed to provide care for vulnerable children, violated these laws and placed children with disabilities in serious danger.”

You can read the full Disability Rights Center report here.

To read the full story, visit Manchester Ink.