Boys & Girls Village aims to support at-risk girls, boys and families, but recently, the organization became the risk it sought to protect families from. Parents in Connecticut who fear their children or loved ones are victims of sexual abuse should ensure their concerns are both heard and investigated. Such oversight is what landed Boys & Girls Village in boiling hot legal water.
A recent news article reports that a mother brought her son to Boys & Girls Village for counseling from a psychiatrist and therapist. The reason was that she harbored fears her child was the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a teacher’s aide. A staff meeting convened, but ultimately, Boys & Girls Village decided against bringing the mother’s concerns to the Department of Children and Families.
As a result of the negligence, the aide’s abuse continued for over a year. At one point, the aide offered the young victim $900 to keep the relationship a secret. It was the teacher’s aide’s husband who helped bring the crime to light when he contacted the authorities after fearing a burglary was taking place in the residence he shared with his wife. It is not clear what, exactly, helped authorities connect the dots after authorities arrived at the house. The teacher’s aide eventually plead guilty to risking injury to a minor and sexual assault. What is more, is that the aide cannot legally contact her own children.
Parents who fear the very people and organizations they trust to take care of their children are the ones putting them at risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse should not take any chances. It may help to sit down with a lawyer to discuss the situation and get a better idea of how to proceed.
