"A lot of things we see here -- the exposed beams on the bottom floor, blind spots in areas -- those have always existed."
Sarah Eagan
The Department of Children and Families ordered a suicide prevention audit after the Child Advocate issued a critical report last summer over conditions at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School for boys and the Pueblo unit for girls in Middletown.
Experts agree confined youth are already at a higher risk of suicidal behavior. Last summer, the Child Advocate found that over a 12-month period there were more than 50 documented incidents of youth suicidal behavior, including kids who wrapped clothing around their necks or found objects to cut themselves.
So in July, DCF said it would hire an expert to not only assess the physical buildings, but review how staff responded. Correctional Managed Health Care at UConn Health Center did the audit after visiting each facility three separate times starting in November and finishing last month.
In the report, the auditor said the administration was open to suggestions and recommendations and made multiple modifications following concerns that were identified, like "the removal of a large glass mirror in the school bathroom."
Child Advocate Sarah Eagan said these risks are not new to DCF when considering the 12-bed facility, which opened in 2014 in the former Riverview Hospital.
Experts agree confined youth are already at a higher risk of suicidal behavior.
"A lot of things we see here -- the exposed beams on the bottom floor, blind spots in areas -- those have always existed," Eagan said. "It's concerning that a facility for some of the state's highest risk girls, a secure treatment program that was needed because girls are a risk to themselves or others opened with those types of concerns."
On Thursday, Rosenbeck said "We've been open 15 years and staff have kept kids safe. When we got the report, there are certain things we can do that are zero or minimal cost. We can re-caulk areas, we can cut down pull cords or safety cords and make them 6 inches versus 2 feet now."
He added, "But when you're talking about renovating a bathroom, those are big ticket items that we can't do now. But again those are areas kids are in minimally and when when they are in there, they are supervised. So that's how we address that area."
Rosenbeck said other recommendations they've acted on is coming up with a process for a youth when a safety watch has ended. He said staff will now follow up with a kid three, ten, and 30 days after a safety watch.