Mental Health Worker Verbally Abused for Complaining About Group Homes
An Oregon mental health worker is suing the state for $1 million, claiming that she was verbally abused after she complained about the abuse of group home clients. The woman claims that co-workers at the State Department of Health Services verbally attacked her and used racial epithets after she raised concerns about abuse and improper care at the state-run group homes and the stress caused by these attacks eventually forced her to leave her job.
Vanessa James worked as a mental health therapy technician at a state-run group home. After complaining to superiors about abuse and improper care in the group home, James claims that her co-workers verbally attacked her. The stress from the abuse caused her to seek treatment and counseling and her doctor eventually removed her from her job. When she returned to work, she was assigned to a new nursing home, where she claims she was treated differently from co-workers and not allowed to work overtime in retaliation for her actions. She is currently on leave, as the state has refused to return her to her current job.
This case illustrates a severe problem for workers and clients of nursing homes and group homes. Employees who want to do the right thing are often discouraged by supervisors and co-workers from coming forward because those in charge want to ignore signs of abuse and neglect. Like Ms. James, group home staffers who do come forward may be the subject of abuse and discrimination and put their careers in jeopardy.
Because of this, it is important for friends and family of group home residents to be diligent in identifying and preventing neglect and abuse. If you suspect neglect or abuse, you should report it immediately and contact an attorney to discuss the best way to proceed.
For more information on detecting and preventing group home abuse, visit Solomon & Relihan's Group Home Abuse website.
