Workers at the Solnit Children’s Center South Campus in Middletown, Connecticut, have reported two violent disturbances that left multiple staff members hurt. The incidents, which occurred on June 14 and June 20, were attributed to severe staffing shortages at the facility.

Staffing Warnings Ignored

According to union delegates who work at the facility, staff had repeatedly raised concerns about staffing levels before the incidents occurred. The union sent an email to DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton and others warning that another disturbance could happen due to the staffing gaps.

The Solnit South hospital treats children ages 13 to 17 with severe mental illnesses and other issues. After the first incident, 11 people were hurt, and multiple restraints were used at once due to the lack of available staff.

Legislative Response

State Sen. Matt Lesser, a Middletown Democrat, said that the legislature’s Appropriations Committee provided DCF with an additional $1 million in funding to address issues at Solnit, including staffing shortages. Lesser emphasized that DCF needs to be honest about its needs to create a safe environment for both staff and patients.

DCF told NBC Connecticut Investigates that Solnit South’s hospital is now under UConn Health after Solnit’s hospital license was transferred to UConn Health in April. However, it is unclear whether DCF shared the staffing warnings it received with UConn Health.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.