During the troubling times of COVID, teens and young adults in Fort Bragg now have one more resource to rely on. Blue Door, a community service offering free and confidential health care, is now offered at the JD Center next to Fort Bragg High School every Wednesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Blue Door is a program of Mendocino Coast Clinics, the local community health center whose mission is to build a healthy community by providing quality patient-centered health care to all coastal residents. Blue Door’s confidential services include birth control information, supplies, and behavioral health counseling. Blue Door’s expansion is part of the district’s ongoing effort to ensure students are as safe and supported as possible. Blue Door began to respond to an expressed need for accessible and confidential health care for teens and young adults. “It started as a community collaboration, and it continues to be a community collaboration,” said Stacy Pollina, reproductive health program manager at Mendocino Coast Clinics.

Blue Door’s expansion means even more growth potential. “Blue Door is part of the JD Center’s overall plan to be a hub that connects families to the resources they need,” Pollina said. On their first day of operation, Kei Velazquez, one of Blue Door’s medical providers, described his vision: “We want the process to be seamless: someone can be seen by a medical provider, talk to a counsel and participate in interactive art projects. We want to provide a safe space that offers tools to build self-esteem. Soon, Blue Door will offer family advocates, including the two recently hired bilingual liaisons by FBUSD, to help connect families with the support and services they need, such as food stamps and MediCal.”The new location makes it all possible,” Pollina said. “We’re excited to make Blue Door and its associated resources even more accessible to young people and their families.”

The entrance to the new Blue Door location has what you would expect of a clinic: a check-in counter, chairs to sit on while you wait. There are also a few rooms for exams or counseling sessions. However, to the right is a room you might not expect – a large room lit by two skylights on the high ceiling, an open door to let in a swath of sunshine and fresh air, and ornate walls of artwork created by a range of age groups in the community. Blue Door has partnered with FLOCKworks, a local non-profit organization supporting local collaborative arts initiatives, to create an inspiring and heartwarming space. “We hope to one day offer art workshops in this room, maybe even classes like sewing,” Velazquez said. “If nothing else, Blue Door will always be a safe place for teens and young adults.”

Shanna Moakler is indeed trying to mend her relationship with her ex-boyfriend after he was arrested for domestic violence, and she calls Dr. Drew for professional help.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ … Shanna and Matthew Rondeau will soon begin counseling sessions with the former “Loveline” host, and it became a priority for them once they found out she is pregnant.

We’re told the exes have yet to meet Dr. Drew in person, but they’ve already had initial conversations over the phone. They think talking about their issues is the healthiest approach, knowing it’s the most mature thing to do…and necessary given that they’ll have to co-parent eventually.

As we reported, Shanna and Matthew were spotted in Rhode Island during the weekend. Rumors swirled about them getting back together even though eyewitnesses told us they showed no affection during their time together.

As for what they discussed… we’re told it’s not a romantic reunion. Our sources say they are primarily seeking Dr. Drew’s help due to Shanna’s 4th pregnancy. Remember, she had announced it by saying that she had “a very difficult week, but I take everything day by day”.

Play video content


02/24/22

A week before this surprising news, Matthew had been arrested for domestic violence for allegedly getting physical with Shanna during an argument. He posted a hateful rant before the cops arrested him, calling Shanna a cheater and saying he would never get back together with her.

We are told that the end goal is for both of them to move forward in a healthy way for the sake of their child. Sure, Dr. Drew has done a lot of reality TV advice, but we’re told Shanna and Matthew haven’t discussed it yet.

LEWISBURG (WVDN) — The Greenbrier County School Board reviewed school achievements, new food policy updates, the upcoming year’s levy budget and heard public feedback at the board meeting. Tuesday, March 8.

Greenbrier East Secondary School student representatives on the council highlighted some of the school’s recent successes. The trio, Tristen Deeds, Ceili Allder and Rylee Norman, pointed out the following:

– The Academic Showdown team that travels to the States after winning the regional contest in Concord.
– Mathematics Field Day participants attended the recent regional competition, where two students placed in the top ten.
– Of the GEHS seniors, 141 are eligible for the PROMISE scholarship, a major grant program available to students in the state of West Virginia.
– Cody Jenkins qualified for the All-Service National Rifle Competition.
– The women’s basketball team will participate in the sectional championships.
– The men’s basketball team participated in the regionals on March 9.
– The acting class placed second in the WYCA Project Against Racism competition.
– Healthcare students participated in epilepsy first aid training.
– The National Honors Society mentored students at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.

Two of GEHS’ student representatives were also applauded by the board for their individual achievements.

“The Greenbrier County School Board extends a round of applause to West Point appointee Tristan Deeds of Greenbrier East High School!” reads a post from Greenbrier County Schools on Facebook. “We wish Tristan well as he prepares to enter this prestigious American Service Academy in West Point, New York. Congratulations Tristan!”

Tristan Deeds (center)

Additionally, student representative Ceili Allder was recently placed in the West Virginia Music Educators Association (WVMEA) All-State Ensembles. For more, see “GEHS Music Program Celebrates All-State Performance and Governor’s Award” on wvdn.com.

In other cases:

– To see students celebrated for their efforts in English classes, see “Spelling bee and WV Young Writers celebrated at BoE” on wvdn.com.

– A new food service policy is expected to be approved after a 30-day public comment period. The policy will include a requirement for a staff member trained in the Heimlich maneuver to be present during the hours when students eat, allowing meal substitutions for students with dietary restrictions, removing the sale of soft drinks in schools secondary, adjusting the management of finances related to lunch debts and assigning tasks to the director of child nutrition.

– The proposed levy rates for the 2023 financial year have been approved. The school’s chief business officer, David McClure, explained, “Overall, the assessments and Greenbrier County are merging at 3.24%, which is typical of what we’ve seen during COVID. . We still rank very favorably with the state, we are 32nd out of 55 [counties], to the extent that local property tax collections are used to support public education. Details are expected to be published in local newspapers shortly after approval.

– While reviewing budget information, Board Chair Jeanie Wyatt celebrated the upcoming end of some of the school system’s obligations, saying, “It’s exciting to think that the major obligation, the obligation that we did on Greenbrier West, Rainelle, Lewisburg, the gymnasium in East [Greenbrier]Smoot, and it will all be paid off in 2024. It’s really exciting, I think.

– A bid to replace the roof at Western Greenbrier Middle School has been approved. The bid, totaling $500,900, was awarded to Five Star Commercial Roofing.

– Lewisburg parent Dorian Swann told the council that on February 23, around noon, she arrived to pick up her child from Lewisburg Elementary School to find “about 60 students to the right of the school”, where she found his child “being beaten by another student. He tries to defend himself and the child continues to hit my child, one punch after another. … Not a single adult has approached them. I parked my car, got out, and ran as fast as I could towards the students. … This is clearly something that happens often. Noting that she was able to approach the children without being approached by a member of the staff, she said, “if you’re going to have 64 students outside, we need to have [a staff member] outside with them, and if we don’t have enough staff, we bring them inside. She also hopes “to offer possible parent workshops, for students and their parents. When a specific student has bigger issues and bullying, we need to understand what their underlying problem is. She also asked if the school could have “counseling sessions for each student monthly, quarterly, or even annually, without specific request. If not, can we?

– Community member Frank Tuckwiller approached the board to look at “a public school exam which I assume has been set up by the Greenbrier County School Board” which relates to “proficiency in math and reading for elementary, middle and high schools.” Tuckwiller said, “I would like to recommend that someone come up with a plan to improve math education in the west. [side of the county].”

By Express press service

CHENNAI: We see teachers as problem solvers and who better than them to teach us to spot the good side of adversity? Speaking at the ThinkEdu Conclave panel event titled “Smart Learning: The Digital Edge,” Minoo Aggarwal, DAV Public School Principal, remarked on the positive outcome of the pandemic for those in education, “The how we have all adapted to technology and new tools has given a big boost to the education system. The gains in the last two years are equivalent to what we would have needed for 10 years,” she said.

Think Edu 2022 | Karnataka hijab row is a plot: Governor of Kerala

Other educators on the panel shared how teachers learned to become learners, with technology-enabled digital learning becoming the norm after the March 2020 lockdown. Shoba Raman, Principal of Vidya Mandir, said: “It It was encouraging to see teachers sitting down with their students asking for help in using digital tools, dispelling doubts and becoming students themselves. »

Prabha Dixit, Principal, Akshar Arbol International School, Shoba Raman, Principal, Vidya Mandir, Sheela Rajendra, Dean, Principal and Correspondent, PSBB Group of Schools and Minoo Aggarwal, Principal, DAV Public School join the author and journalist @kavereeb at #ThinkEdu2022. pic.twitter.com/x7QmlT0WVt

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 9, 2022

Educators discussed at length the mental health consequences that the new way of learning has imposed on teachers in addition to being home and balancing more than they could. Prabha Dixit, Principal of Akshar Arbol International School, said: “Teachers tell me that they are now in school from 7 to 4 and that they have to integrate the needs of the house, the parents, the beautiful -family and their own children’s schedules.” She also pointed out that to prevent teachers from changing careers, they needed to be given more understanding. Minoo shared that management holds weekly tea parties for teachers to relax and ease stress because they were, she said, the real heroes, not the administrators. School counselors had their hands full with all mental health needs, Prabha said. “We facilitated sessions with parents, teachers and counselors to allow everyone to have a space to listen to each other and share their frustrations. We also held counseling sessions for parents of children of different age groups where we shared observed behavioral changes. »

ThinkEdu 2022: 12 years of study in a three-hour test? Minister TN Ponmudi’s NEET setter

Teachers talked about gaps in learning and highlighted cognitive skills that needed retraining. Shoba shared that the program may need to be scaled back to help students get back to where they were at the start of the pandemic. Minoo shared, “Writing skills took a hit. Children have not been able to construct sentences, so we give additional writing exercises. Time management skills became poor and increased nervousness set in. She said they tell students they are being given exams now not to assess them but to help teachers understand what each student needs special help with. They agreed that while school-based learning was not going as well as they had hoped, schoolchildren learned empathy by watching events around the world, from deaths to vaccines and loss of means. of subsistence.

It wasn’t just academics, enough time was also given for play, school administrators revealed. Sheela Rajendra, Dean, Principal and Correspondent, PSBB Group of Schools, explained that they made sure to squeeze in extra-curricular activities within the limits of 40-minute online lessons, “Our schools celebrated every festival in all classes. Also during our virtual sessions, we gave them a few minutes to chat, connect emotionally with other students and calm down.

Explaining how a digital advantage will help educators facing the current situation of old versus new, as each student is now at a different level, Prabha said, “Technology is a good enabler of teaching practice. We have tablets and phones — it’s hardware. The focus is on how we can integrate technology and not make the mistake of putting the horse before the cart. »

Sharing their collective happiness over classrooms filled with the sounds of learning and laughter after the break, educators said that despite the challenges, everyone was happy to be back in school. “We thought the children would express reservations and reluctance, but they have settled in so well. It was definitely a wonderful surprise,” she exclaimed. Panelists said their main goal was to get the kids back to a routine. “We give them staggered schedules to help them relax and get back into a routine. When there are situations where they tell us “I have a cold, I want to go home”, now that they are used to staying home longer, we make sure to learn to find a balance “, she signed.

ThinkEdu 2022 is the grand tenth edition of what has been India’s biggest educational conclave for a decade now. On March 8 and 9, some pillars of India’s academic, economic and political ecosystems will bring ideas, ideologies and reflections on the past, present and future of the Indian education system. The sessions will be viewed by a live audience, in addition to the 2,750 users registered on the Conclave’s digital space. Over the past nine years, the Conclave has seen true stalwart thinkers such as former Presidents Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr. Pranab Mukherjee, MPs Jairam Ramesh, Smriti Irani, former CM of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant and Spiritual Guide Sadhguru.

Complete coverage of ThinkEdu 2022

New Delhi – On International Women’s Day, Cosmo Films Ltd., a global leader in specialty films for flexible packaging, labeling and laminating applications as well as synthetic paper, has taken an initiative unique for its employees of its Indian subsidiaries, in particular the Pet Care division by announcing two new policies – post-maternity empowerment and career 2.0.

Career 2.0 offers an opportunity for women, who have taken career breaks, to return to the workplace with challenging and challenging assignments by providing the extra flexibility needed to balance their professional and personal needs. Women who interrupted their career up to 2 years before the birth of their child are eligible for the policy.

The post-maternity empowerment policy aims to increase the return-to-work ratio for women who plan to go on maternity leave. Employees taking maternity leave or returning from maternity leave are eligible for this policy. Returning mothers will be assigned a buddy 15 days before the recovery date and they will have the opportunity to benefit from up to 6 counseling sessions by the designated expert.

Commenting on the policies, Ashima Roona, Vice President – Human Resources, Cosmo Films Ltd. said: “As a woman, I can understand what all women face in their professional journey. Organizations need to structure their corporate culture and drive change across the entire employee pipeline to encourage more women into their workforce. It is very important that all organizations are women friendly and implement such initiatives to support their female workforce.

Speaking about these new policies, Mr. Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO, Cosmo Films Ltd., Cosmo Specialty Chemicals, Cosmo Ferrites Ltd and ZIGLY said, “Having more women in the workplace makes an organization a better place. work for all. Women bring diversity, ideas, soft skills, leadership skills and they can bring more life to any organization they work in. Most women have to quit their job to take care of their children, leaving them with very little opportunity to return to work. Women have to juggle their responsibilities as employees and as mothers too. As an organization, it is our responsibility to provide such support to women. The need for such a policy has never been more pressing than today. This is the first step towards our mission to create an agile workplace where our employees are supported and feel a sense of belonging.

(CBS4) – As the crisis in Ukraine continues, experts say it is likely to affect our mental health more than we even care to believe.

“It’s definitely going to have an impact on our health,” said Blake Fleet, clinical director of Chrysalis Continuing Care in Denver. “I know things like this that seem out of control, the feeling that the world is going to end, are definitely going to cause higher levels of depression.”

And this depression can be passed on to your child, because children feed on the emotions of adults. That’s why Fleet said self-care is key for parents and it’s encouraged to talk to your child about the ongoing war, especially if the child is his age.

“A child under 5, there’s really no reason to discuss this information,” Fleet said. “But as they get older, they’re probably going to be exposed to that anyway, so we’re having that conversation with them, with older kids, and kind of helping them understand and work through their feelings is hugely important. .”

Fleet told CBS4 that when parents approach conversation, they need to adapt the language and words to a level the child will understand.

“Let the child lead, ask ‘Have you heard what’s happening in Ukraine? Is this something you want to know more about? How do you feel about this? “, He said.

Fleet said there are many resources available to help with mental health issues like therapy and online services, but her big message for parents is to take care of themselves.

“We have to get help, reach out. The kids are going to feed off of us,” Fleet said. “So if they feel like we’re calm, relaxed and in control, they feel like they can do the same for themselves.”

The state of Colorado has a program called I Matter that offers three free counseling sessions for children ages 12-18.

Eight months ago, the Citrus One-Stop Recovery and Economic (CORE) business center opened in Inverness to help business owners start, grow and market their businesses.

And although the center has a constant flow of customers, it’s time to move on to phase two.

The county recently gave CORE some $40,000 in leftover CARES Act money and the center intends to use it to pay local licensed businesses to spend an hour or more helping others. local licensed business owners to develop a successful digital presence.

Consultants should be trained in skills such as digital marketing, web design, and search engine optimization. These three areas have to do with increasing a business’s presence on the Internet in order to attract more customers.

Dawn Faherty, Executive Director of CORE, said it is necessary in today’s tech world for a business to be well-skilled in digital marketing if it is to thrive.

“It’s needed now,” Faherty said.

Jim Green, president of the Citrus Business Alliance, said the premise provides a perfect synergy: CORE uses county money to spend on county businesses to help other county businesses succeed.

Typical counseling sessions last one hour and the consulting firm is paid by the hour. Customers pay nothing. If clients require additional advice, they can agree a fee arrangement with the consultant.

Business owners interested in becoming consultants and pay rates can call Faherty at 352-419-4834 or visit [email protected].

Sylvan Lebrun, collaborating photographer

At a Municipal Affairs Committee meeting Monday night, 23 firefighters and city leaders testified regarding Mayor Justin Elicker’s request to reappoint Fire Chief John Alston. The split of support and opposition was 11 to 11, with “conflict”.

John Alston assumed his current role in December 2016. Elicker has now asked to be given another four-year term, which would last until January 31, 2026. During his tenure, Alston has worked to diversify the fire service of New Haven and refine recruitment. and training processes. In his opening remarks, he acknowledged that some changes he had made were “unpopular,” nodding to Local 825 — the firefighters’ union — opposing his nomination. According to the New Haven Independent, in a union poll, 128 firefighters voted against reinstating Alston, while only 31 voted for it.

The committee did not debate or vote on the reappointment, deferring it to the full Council of Alders for streamlined consideration.

“There are two things that firefighters don’t like: the way things are and change,” Alston said in his opening statement. “You hired me to change the culture of the department; to increase opportunities. It doesn’t happen overnight…change happens when people coming in have opportunities, when the playing field is leveled and the actions of me and my team have done it.

Alston’s remarks

In a nearly 45-minute speech to the committee, Alston described his accomplishments since taking over as fire chief – including an overhaul of the recruiting process, a new paramedic unit, a response program for young people who start fires and the implementation of technologies such as “tactical worksheets” — which identify broken fire hydrants — on tablet computers and apps.

He highlighted his efforts to increase diversity within the department, such as changing hiring practices and workplace training on diversity, equity and inclusion.

“As I studied the department before taking the helm, there seemed to be evidence of years of nepotism, favoritism and cronyism,” Alston said. He added that he had an “aggressive and effective recruiting program in place to ensure diversity, opportunity and a succession plan.”

The current class of incoming firefighters is the most diverse under his tenure, Alston said, both in terms of gender and race. The department has also worked to recruit speakers of different languages, including Spanish, to respond more effectively to calls in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. Statistics on diversity within the department are not publicly available.

Alston also highlighted his role in the firefighters’ COVID-19 response. In February 2020, before many Americans were fully aware of the impact of the pandemic, Alston “seated the staff … and played ‘what if'” to come up with contingency plans for how to continue to provide services in a safe manner. Amid the many waves of the pandemic, he said, the department never missed a single call.

Alston concluded his statement by acknowledging the “difficult and unpopular decisions” he made “in the best interests of the city.” The role of fire chief, he said, is “not a popular type of job”.

Questions from the committee

Alders at the committee meeting had the opportunity to ask Alston questions, pressing him on equipment expiration, fire station safety, community engagement measures and his plans to cope. to the recent increase in high-rise apartments.

Members who were present at his appointment hearing in 2016 or his contract renewal meeting in 2018 also asked him if he felt he had achieved his goals of improving department cohesion and morale. In response to Ward 12 Alder Gerald Antunes, Alston described his “open door policy” for firefighters hoping to talk to him about training or promotions.

Ward 4 Alder Evelyn Rodriguez asked Alston if the appliances and appliances for firefighters were “up to standard”, to which he replied that they were, but the problem was “not having enough”. He mentioned an incident with a faulty truck that he couldn’t get replaced for a while, which forced him to borrow a truck from the Hartford Fire Department.

Although he called this borrowing “standard practice”, it was one of the points of contention in subsequent speeches by local firefighters opposing its reappointment.

“Our fleet has been and continues to be decimated compared to Hartford, which has about 10 shop mechanics,” Lt. Ian Cordero of the Hill said. “We have three right now, and that’s what led us to borrow devices from different cities… That never happened in this department – ​​we were usually the city that provided the devices to the others. However, due to poor planning, we find ourselves in a very bad situation.

The number of out-of-service fire hydrants in the city was another point raised by both the alders and the testimonies. Ward 1 Alder Alex Guzhnay ’24 asked how many faulty hydrants were acceptable in New Haven, to which Alston replied “none”, attributing the current high numbers to the department’s reduced budget and difficulties coordinating with contractors of repair.

Lt. Kenneth Huls of Engine 15 in Westville, who is also a member of the Local 825 executive, said there were more than 100 fire hydrants out of service in the town, including 21 in his own district. “People in this town shouldn’t have to worry about whether the fire hydrant closest to their house is in working order,” he said, before mentioning how it hinders the Alston’s stated goal of getting water to the fires sooner.

“Morale has never been so bad”: firefighters testify

The deaths of two New Haven firefighters in 2021 – Ricardo Torres and William McMillian, with Torres passing in the line of duty – was another topic at the hearing, as concerns were raised that Alston n hadn’t done enough to provide support.

“I understand that you have something in place for bereavement due to COVID, but what has happened since the tragic moment to address our grieving brothers and sisters?” asked Ward 3 Alder Ron Hurt.

Alston responded by listing post-death counseling sessions and an anonymous comment system, noting that there was still “anger” in the department.

When Hurt then pressed him to find out if anything was being done at the moment to help firefighters heal, he said “no, no one reached out to say it was a problem”.

“Ricardo Torres was a huge, huge individual in my life since I was a kid, he’s my family,” firefighter Neftali Ortiz said. “Seeing the Chief not reach out to an individual who means so much to Ricardo and to the current family hurts personally… I see his absence from the fire stations. I see his lack of leadership.

Ortiz went on to mention that after a recent promotion, he took a four-day course and was only taught by one chef – he was told Alston would attend the sessions, but he “didn’t never presented”. He expressed his desire for Alston to be more proactive in training the department’s young leaders and in preventing future tragedies after the recent deaths.

Firefighter Scotte Pullen, who opposed the reappointment, said “morale has never been worse”, complaining of “bullying tactics” in the department and the dilapidated state of barracks and apparatus.

Alston’s supporters discussed his involvement in the city, his commitment to increasing diversity in the department and his openness to feedback.

“I’ve seen Alston at more civic functions than I’ve seen in 20 years. I’ve seen more people who look like me promoted to leadership positions than I’ve seen in 20 years,” Douglas Wardlaw said. , supervisor of fire investigations in the Office of the Fire Marshal “People have the opportunity to talk to him, to learn from him, to take advantage of his very open door policy, when former chiefs don’t even allow us not to call the third floor.”

Wardlaw urged the Alders to give Alston a chance to “finish what he’s committed to doing in the city.”

Boise Kimber, who served as fire department commissioner for five years, said many of the issues raised on Monday night – such as malfunctioning equipment and hydrants – could be resolved by the Board of Alders and the mayor with increased funding.

Kimber also said Local 825 “has never attacked a white leader under my direction or anyone else’s direction,” hinting at possible racial motives behind the union’s fierce opposition.

Guzhnay told the News that the Alders knew before the hearing that there would be strong opposition to the nomination. However, he noted that many of the issues raised regarding Alston’s tenure relate not just to his leadership, but to larger issues with the city’s budget.

“I took notes during this testimony, to follow up on other things that I thought maybe weren’t as directly related to the chief, but rather something that you know, the Board of Alders could do better,” Guzhnay said. “My colleagues are also considering that as well…those that are more about infrastructure and other areas that need work, especially around devices.”

The New Haven Fire Department was established in 1862.

FARIDABAD: “All I want is to be the real me. All I want is to shine as bright as the younger me,” reads a note in a diary, in which a schoolboy took refuge in the vicious bullying of some of his classmates for years, pushing the tormented teenager into solitary confinement.
The diary was discovered by his mother in their Faridabad apartment on Friday, a day after the 16-year-old jumped to his death from the top floor of his housing company. “This school killed me,” the boy wrote in a letter he left for his mother Thursday night, saying he was sorry and telling her she was “the best mom on the planet.”
His mother, who teaches at the same school, two uncles and an older cousin the boy confided in told TOI on Saturday that he fell victim to the “toxic masculinity” of a few teenagers who made fun of his interests such as jewelry design. and nail art.
“Bullying for years gave him school phobia”
They allegedly mocked his interest in jewelry design, nail art and poetry since he was in class 6 and continually targeted him with homophobic slurs. In his diary notes and conversations with his cousin, the boy, who was dyslexic, said he still felt like a “stranger”. In a poem he titled “Alien”, he put words to this agony. The bullying also continued beyond the classroom, online, which he had revealed to his cousin.
The diary was part of several notebooks, with poems and “personal notes” written in several of them, which her mother found after her death. On Saturdays, the notebooks lay on his wooden bed, unfinished decor on the gray wall behind him where the layers of pastel were still fresh. He was doing his landscape on the wall when his mother last saw him on Thursday evening. “He was a talented child. He didn’t deserve this. He’s there, in those drawings and those poems. I wish I had read them sooner,” his mother said.
Being asked to ‘prove’ his masculinity was a taunt he often faced at school, said the boy’s cousin – a third-year student. “He had grown used to bullying. His art and poetry were his outlets. He would sometimes pour out on me. The same kids, who in grades 3 and 4 made fun of his dyslexia, targeted him on sexuality. “He’ll call me and tell me he doesn’t even know what homosexuality is. But he was fighting it all. But the sexual assault had a profound impact on his psychological health,” she said. declared.
The sexual assault, which his mother said she raised with the school in an email last August after learning about it, allegedly happened before the March 2020 lockdown. “After a physical education lesson, he had gone to the bathroom and four boys followed him.
They locked the restroom, blindfolded her, tied her hands, and plugged her ears. They asked her to perform a sexual act. When he refused, they pulled his pants down. They even threatened that if he spoke they would sexually abuse me,” his mother said on Saturday. “These boys who bullied him, insulted him and even said he was the reason I divorced killed him. And the school authorities, who despite my repeated complaints did nothing, helped them kill my son,” she added.
Frightened and traumatized, the boy did not reveal any of this to anyone, not even his mother. But this plunged him into clinical depression. During the lockdown, while classes were online, he had a break, according to his cousin. Months away from school helped the teenager, who had developed a “school phobia”. He started seeing a therapist, which helped him cope with his panic attacks. It took her more than a year and several counseling sessions to finally tell her mother about the sexual assault incident at school, her family said.
“He never wanted to go back to that school again. He was so grateful for Covid because the schools were closed. And just as the school was reopening he was telling me he was nervous to face those bullies” , said the boy’s friend, a resident of the same Faridabad company who studied in the same school until 2020.
The impact of this on his mother weighed heavily on his mind. “He used to tell me that he felt guilty that his mum, who is a single mum, was going through a lot because of him. It all made him feel even more like he was getting her into trouble. “said his cousin.
But the thought of going back to school filled him with agony. “In his little room, he had built his world. The kitten (his pet) made him complete. We were happy to see him finally happy and coming out of depression. He was responding well to therapy sessions. He ended his life just as the students were starting to come in,” says his maternal uncle.
The boy’s parents and friends have launched an online campaign to demand justice for him. “It was a preventable incident. We keep hearing that big schools have mental health counselors and are sensitive to these kids and their issues. But here’s a classic case of ignorance. Teachers knew he was a victim of intimidation and yet have chosen silence. I will not do him justice in this life, but he deserves dignity in death,” said his uncle who drafted the petition.
The school principal told TOI that the boy was following guidance, both inside and outside of school. She denied accusations of inaction and said most of the accused students had left school long before she learned of the sexual assault incident. “He was a very talented kid. He suffered from mental health issues and we supported him. We even investigated the alleged sexual assault complaint. But most of these students were gone by the time the complaint arose. enough evidence to act,” she said.

BELFAST, Maine — A girl who a Sweetser employee allegedly sexually assaulted while the teenager was living in Belfast’s residential treatment center is suing the nonprofit for negligence, negligent supervision and more.

The teenager, identified as “Jane Doe”, and her mother are also suing former Sweetser employee Trey Knof. The 25-year-old from Newcastle is currently in jail awaiting trial on several counts, including unlawful sexual touching of a minor, aggravated sexual assault, breach of bail conditions and possession of sexually explicit material.

The lawsuit alleges that Knof sexually assaulted the girl, even after Sweetser fired him, and that Sweetser failed to take appropriate action after learning of the employee’s behavior.

The teenager was admitted to Sweetser’s residential treatment program in Belfast in December 2018 when she was 13. Agency officials knew she had suffered multiple sexual assaults as a child and needed specialist treatment and protective precautions, according to the complaint filed by her lawyer, Stephen Smith. of Augustus.

Nonetheless, the company hired Knof as a caregiver in January 2019 and failed to conduct an adequate background check, according to the lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Somerset County Superior Court.

“Knof had no prior experience and no special training to be a counselor or caregiver,” the lawsuit said. “Knof’s only qualification to work at Sweetser seemed to be that he had worked as a veterinary assistant at an animal hospital.”

Knof was assigned to the girl’s unit, where despite a lack of training in maintaining boundaries or dealing appropriately with young girls with traumatic histories, his job was to drive the teen and other residents to appointments. and to provide emotional support, according to the lawsuit.

Knof “began having an inappropriate relationship” with the girl in the summer of 2019, according to the lawsuit. In June, the teenager told emergency department staff at Waldo County General Hospital, where she was taken for a crisis assessment, that she believed she was pregnant and had had unprotected sex the previous week.

A few days later, she was taken 200 miles north to the Children’s Crisis Unit at Aroostook Mental Health Services in Fort Fairfield. Knof visited her there, sat her on his lap and was seen touching her inappropriately, according to the lawsuit.

“During this visit, Knof told the plaintiff, ‘We can date secretly until you’re older, because if anyone finds out, I could get in legal trouble,’ the lawsuit said.

The crisis unit director called Sweetser after learning about Knof’s visit. Aroostook County staff also notified the girl’s mother, identified as Mary Doe in the lawsuit.

But Sweetser officials and staff never asked the girl about Knof’s visit or informed her mother. When her mother brought it up with Sweetser staff at a meeting that month, the Belfast living unit supervisor told her it was “dealt with,” according to the lawsuit.

Knof made special visits to the girls’ unit weekly, and sometimes daily, just to see her, according to the lawsuit. He would also take bets with colleagues on “who could sleep with the plaintiff first,” according to the lawsuit. Also, when Sweetser’s staff thought the teen needed to be disciplined, they had Knof restrain her by having her sit on his lap while he hugged her tightly.

“This ‘discipline’ was practiced frequently by Knof,” the lawsuit said.

Sweetser held multiple counseling sessions with Knof over several months regarding “breaking boundaries” with the girl, and at one point the agency tipped him off and asked him not to go to his unity.

But in December 2019, Knof entered the girl’s bedroom and sexually assaulted her, leaving behind a bag of Skittles, “as if for payment”, according to the lawsuit. About an hour later, another employee asked the girl why Knof came and how the girl got the candy. But Sweetser never addressed the incident, according to the lawsuit.

Knof was fired on January 3, 2020, but the agency did not tell the girl’s mother or take any further precautions. A few days later, the unsupervised teenager met Knof in the parking lot of the Hutchinson Center at the University of Maine in Belfast, where he sexually assaulted and abused her in his vehicle, according to the lawsuit.

The teenager spent the following weekend at her mother’s home in Somerset County, and while she was there Knof snuck into her bedroom window and sexually assaulted her, the lawsuit alleges . Knof also told the teenager that he still had a set of keys for Sweetser, then made a plan to run away with her to another state.

On January 13, someone found a tablet at the residential center in Belfast which contained messages between Knof and the girl, including explicit photos and sex memes. A sex toy was also found in the girl’s bedroom, along with a handwritten, sexually explicit letter that read “From Trey” at the top.

Sweetser eventually informed the girl’s mother of Knof’s abuse and reported it to the Belfast Police Department that day, according to the lawsuit. Three days later, detectives spoke to the girl, who said she had frequent sex with Knof, and the two were “constantly talking” via social media.

But she told police Sweetser’s staff didn’t notice her because she was “invisible to them,” according to the lawsuit.

After Knof was arrested and charged in connection with the alleged sexual abuse, the girl tried to process her feelings about what happened with other Sweetser staffers.

“Instead of listening to plaintiff with support and understanding, Sweetser staff threatened plaintiff with punishment for discussing these events,” the lawsuit said.

But Sweetser staff told her colleagues and other residents about Knof, so the girl was harassed by other residents.

The lawsuit seeks to find Sweetser liable for negligence, negligent supervision, invasion of privacy and negligent infliction of emotional distress. He also seeks to find Knof liable for sexual assault and battery and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.

Plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees from both Sweetser and Knof.

Justin Chenette, director of communications and public relations at Sweetser, said the agency could not comment on the lawsuit at this time.

“The well-being of the customers we serve is our top priority,” he said.

Jeremy Pratt of Camden, a defense attorney representing Knof on the criminal charges but not the civil case, said Thursday he had no comment.

More articles from the BDN