CONCORD, N.H. – The head of the Division of Children, Youth and Families has addressed claims of abuse against the Sununu Youth Services Center.
Appearing Monday before a Senate subcommittee, Director Marie Noonan explained that the erroneous claims of such things like a six-week lockdown, a child in state care suffering a broken arm and staff withholding food and water were false.
Noonan explained that the lockdown was not six weeks long, and the need for it arose after what is described as a significant violent incident occurred at the center during the last weekend in January, and that it only lasted until February 9 of this year.
As for claims that a child suffered a broken arm, Noonan told the committee that the child did not break their arm but broke their pinky finger in March and received medical attention for the incident on four different occasions, and that video footage showed the child broke their finger from punching a window in their room.
The growing attention to possible claims come after the office for the state’s Child Advocate issued a report highlighting the various claims and along with an additional report from the Disability Rights Center.
On Monday, officials with the Disability Rights Center told the panel that according to its preliminary observations, the center has been violating state law regarding the use of prone restraints, seclusion and the level of education offered to juveniles at the center.
Out of the hearing, Subcommittee Chairwoman Sen. Victoria Sullivan R-Manchester said she will ask Senate President Sharon Carson R- Londonderry for more time in order to finish its work before a report is submitted to the Oversight Commission on Children’s Services.
