Changing a culture
I am discouraged by new reports of abuse at the former Youth Development Center and question whether a meaningful cultural shift is needed.
Reading about a child sustaining a broken bone during a restraint immediately brought me back to my years as a psychiatric nurse on a 50-bed, all-male unit. There were many instances when adult patients, experiencing psychosis and hallucinations, became agitated and threatening.
In those moments, three trained orderlies used a calm, controlled โbear-hugโ approach to safely hold the patient while I offered reassurance or, if necessary, administered a PRN medication. Once stabilized, staff consistently spent time talking with the individual, reinforcing their safety and dignity. Not once did a patient suffer a broken bone.
The residents at the Youth Development Center are adolescents โ many from abusive backgrounds โ likely carrying fear, anger and deep emotional wounds. While some may be manipulative or act out, that behavior often reflects trauma layered onto the already difficult stage of adolescence.
When residents describe feeling as though they are in jail, it raises concerns about both environment and training. Are staff relying on correctional models rather than trauma-informed care? Are they trained in safe, therapeutic restraint techniques?
Changing a culture is not simple. It requires more than policy โ it demands intentional environmental shifts, comprehensive staff training and a commitment to treating every child with care.