Somebody’s going to get killed
A facility for young offenders in Ajax, Ontario is in crisis.
Last year, a government report said the 24-bed Rotherglen site of Kennedy House Youth Services was "a potentially volatile and vulnerable site."
Rotherglen houses young offenders who are under 16 when sentenced. Of its 35 staff, 20 have worked there less than one year. About 10 workers quit every two months. Their replacements, mostly young adults, have little experience – and less support – in dealing with troubled and often violent teenagers. Staff training is minimal. Bones get
broken. Kids get the wrong medication.
In a young offender facility, "volatile and vulnerable" means only one thing: "Somebody’s going to get killed."
Calls to Ontario’s Child Advocate from children and families who receive services from Kennedy House have skyrocketed. In 2000, the Child Advocate received 42 calls; in the first five months of 2002, calls came in at an annual rate of 204.
Lots of money – little accountability
How would you feel if you knew the Ontario government had shelled out $15,000 a day – for 11 months – to a company that was not providing the service it was paid to do?
Sound ridiculous? Read on.
In July 2000, Kennedy House got the contract to run a facility for young offenders in Uxbridge. Annual funding for Kennedy House shot up from $2.8 million to $9.2 million. This was normal – it takes money to run a 100-bed secure facility – but then something strange happened.
In June 2001, Kennedy House locked out 130 correctional officers and other staff, shipping the young offenders in Uxbridge to other facilities. But even though the operation was closed, taxpayer dollars kept flowing to Kennedy House.
It’s not clear where the money went.
In July 2002, the Ontario government ordered an "operational review" of Kennedy House. The report** that came back was shocking. It revealed that:
• Kennedy House often pays its Directors for services to the organization. The report called this "a conflict of interest".
• Cheques over $20,000 were often processed without a second signature from a Board member – a violation of Kennedy House’s own policy.
• Kennedy House has no system in place for keeping track of capital assets.
• Senior staff do not receive any supervision or feedback.
The report found an organization in crisis. It did not find the missing millions.
Where’s Brenda?
Brenda Elliott is Ontario’s Minister of Community, Family and Children’s Services. She is responsible for the service Kennedy House provides – or doesn’t provide. So how has she responded to the crisis there? Strangely.
In 2002, Elliott ordered the closure of the Uxbridge site at Kennedy House, wiping out 100 secure custody places for dangerous and damaged children in Ontario.
In June of this year, Kennedy House provoked a strike by the 35 workers at the Ajax site. The 24-bed facility is now empty. Once again, Kennedy House is collecting thousands of dollars a day to do nothing.
Brenda Elliott can’t just sit idly by and hope the crisis at Kennedy House will fix itself. It won’t.
Children are in danger.
Thirty-five innocent workers are walking the picket line.
And millions of dollars are unaccounted for.
It’s time for action
It’s time for Brenda Elliott to act. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is calling on her to do three things – immediately:
• Take direct control of all Kennedy House facilities;
• Negotiate a quick end to the Ajax strike; and
• Order a forensic audit of Kennedy House by independent auditors.
Ontarians want stable, honestly-run facilities that provide top-level treatment to young offenders so they don’t turn into adult offenders. The crisis at Kennedy House must be solved – now. And it’s Brenda Elliott’s job to solve it.
Call her and let her know at (519) 836-4190.
Click here to send Brenda Elliott an e-mail.
