HOSTILE MILIEU FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR:MANAGEMENT PROTECTING THEIR OWN

The DCF Plantation website has been contacted about recent incidents at Connecticut Juvenile Training School involving employees of color. Sources indicate certain white employees are / have been creating a hostile workplace environment for employees of color. Most recently a white employee had the unmitigated gall to place negative missives about people of color in public places. Then to add insult to injury, the white employee is verbally harassing employees of color- which includes a black female Union Steward. Several employees of color have gone to CJTS management and objected to this new form of racism (2013 style); however the vociferous protestations from people of color [ to Human Resources] is lost in management's indifference toward these complaints. A hostile milieu for people of color is nothing new at CJTS; in the past a resident was assaulted by a white employee ( read post Weather Gone Wild or "All Eyes On Me" ) with a mild rebuke as discipline. Those administrators paid to run CJTS either are oblivious to a hostile milieu toward employees of color or protecting one of their own. All over CJTS people of color groan under the weight of white oppression and neglect: who is listening? If anything, it seems as if, complaints of a white person creating a visible hostile environment would be met with concern. This is not the case on the DCF Plantation where business as usual has always meant whites protecting their own.

WEATHER GONE WILD OR "ALL EYES ON ME"

In 2009 I attended a Courageous Conversation at Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS). The idea was to discuss racism and bias with leaders from Department of Children and Families (DCF) such as Deputy Commissioner Heidi McIntosh, and Wanda Estrella Human Resources Director. I asked Ms. Estrella a question "what happens if a Youth Services Officer (YSO) at CJTS hit a resident." She replied he/she will be charged with assualt and fired."If this statement is true, by Estrella, then there is a problem at CJTS. A YSO assaulted a youth a few years ago and something else other than a charge of assault or dismissal from their job happened. At this time other YSOs are under a more severe sentence for lesser infractions: YSOs are walked off the property, fired, threatened to be placed on DCFs Central Registry [preventing future jobs working with youth]. I invite readers to look at the documents on this website and determine if the penalty given out for slapping a resident was fair or did management protect this YSO for other reasons.

Click Here For Document One

Click Here For Document Two

ADMINISTRATIVE RATS JUMPING SHIP

Now developments at Connecticut Juvenile Training School are moving faster than the speed of light since discipline is being dispensed to management staff. Due to certain societal pressures from activists and politicans, a half hearted attempt to clean up CJTS corruption is well underway. In the past CJTS management alway focused on Youth Service Officers as whipping boys for policy & procedure abuse. On a routine basis unfair discipline rained down on heads of YSOs as if it were ordained by heaven. Now the elite (untouchable management types) are being investigated for various infractions and a wave of terror is meandering through the CJTS plantation: rumors indicate some management types are singing like the Temptations (ready to tell about corruption now that their rear end is in a sling) and cut a deal to keep their jobs. Let me say the administrative rats are jumping ship. Believe me folks altruisim is not a reason for the elite threatening to come forth with details of injustices; if the management rats had a sense of doing what is right, they would have exposed corruption years ago. However, there was always a silent code not to talk about anything because only YSOs caught disciplinary hell. Where were voices of management when a white YSO slapped a resident of color and no one filed assault charges? Why did management rats allow a Unit Leader in building # 4 to take sick days off that were not accrued and turn a blind eye when a Unit leader in building # 5 came to work hung over from drinking? Now rats seek to jump ship or tell about wrong doing. Hell, will they tell about the giving out of overtime by some of their friends to favorite YSOs? It was a well known secret that abuse of overtime happened, yet no voice of indignation from management rats-who now want to jump ship.

SCOUNDRELS,SCALAWAGS AND SUCKERS

In times of desperation [ among people] suddenly there appear scoundrels,scalawags, and suckers. These are desperate times to be sure at the Department of Children and Families plus Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown. A community coalition recently sent DCF a Freedom of Information request; seeking to find patterns of bias against employees of color. While CJTS went all out celebrating Black History Month with residents of color, non-white employees are going to Human Resources lodging complaints against a white Youth Services Officer. Scroundels in the form of DCF/CJTS management are using talk of over hauling their policies as a smoke screen to punish employees who  voice any opposition to injustices. Certain activists-such as the DCF Plantation 5- who launched a class action lawsuit three years ago are being targeted by management, with intense scrutiny and threats of job loss. Then there are Scalawags [employees]  on the DCF Plantation going to management with data of interest on how the employees are acting or talking. In this segment of my story it is necessary to point out a historical truth-no oppressor can carry out a plan of conquest without without inside help [ scalawags]. While at CJTS we find the following: (1) i'm just here to do my job and see nothing going on, (2) just leave me alone and give me overtime, (3) management will give me a title in exchange for betrayal of fellow employees. Finally there loom the suckers (non thinkers and self absorbed) who have no clue as to what is going on around them. When management promotes a theory of obfuscation those suckers embrace it. When all is said and done scroundels,scalawags and suckers reign supreme.

BACKLASH ON THE PLANTATION REACHES ELITE

Several people contacted the DCF Plantation about certain disciplinary measures taking place at Connecticut  Juvenile Training School. In their attempts to clean up allegations of bias,racism and nepotism CJTS administrators increased scrutiny and discipline of Youth Services Officers. This came as no surprise,hell, in my 5 years of employment at CJTS YSOs always got kicked in the arse first in terms of discipline. All of this cleaning house at CJTS came about due to public scrutiny by activists or complaints about a white hegemony in DCF leadership that treated employees of color unfairly-disciplinary actions. At first the usual suspects [YSOs] were herded and disciplined as usual. Then a shift occurred in the method/ maddness of CJTS administrators targeting practices. In the last few weeks discplinary actions have reached the elite i.e. favored people in management have been scrutinized, investigated, and walked off the property for infractions. Hold the damn press. In years of observation I can say the elite have always gotten away with all manner of violations from (1. bringing cell phones on property, (2. to taking days off when they had none to use [checkout a Unit Leader in building #4 who abused this], (3. using their positions of power to badger YSOs.
However as singer Sam Cooke once said "a change gone come, oh yes it will." The change is now here at CJTS in a curious manner ; make no mistake about it CJTS management has not all of a sudden "done gon' and got religion"- their motive for finally taking a stand against the elite is based on public pressure. If indeed CJTS management had a pure heart they would not have let that Unit Leader in building # 4 call out from work everytime there was a snow storm [ Unit Leader does not drive in inclement weather], or what about a manager taking sick time to go gamble at Mohegan Sun Casinos. It will be interesting to watch the feeding frenzy at CJTS continue as managers now feel the wrath of discipline; guess now YSOs are not the only group singled out huh?

YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE BUT BEING RAILROADED

The comic satire being used in this video is designed to make a point. For years Cornell Lewis has served the community of Greater Hartford by walking children to school in crime infested areas, giving sandwiches to the needy for 3 years, and waging a campaign against drug dealers in Hartford's Northend. Now members of the Department of Children and Families plus Connecticut Juvenile Training School seek to brand Cornell a trouble maker for speaking the truth about bias towards employees of color.


                            

PROTECTING THEIR OWN WHILE CASTING PEOPLE OF COLOR OUT ALONE

The comments from anonymous sources about events on the DCFplantation satellite Connecticut Juvenile Training School continue to come in. There is a lot of ill will toward CJTS management about perceived double standards when discipline is doled out to staff of different ethnic backgrounds (read people of color vs whites). In the last few weeks tensions have escalated to the breaking point among Youth Services Officers due to several incidents and non handling of them. YSOs are pointing out how a certain white YSO is being protected because he does favors for management (watching and reporting on co-workers). While a white based management protects one of their own, people of color are cast off alone (no support from management only harsher discipline). To make a point several sources cited the following examples from CJTS.
* a white YSO is being protected by management even though 3 weeks or so ago he could not account for a
    resident in his care for almost an hour (i.e. the kid was lost). No investigation whatsoever.
* a YSO of color is being throughly investigated over an incident of possibly not knowing where a kid was
    for a shorter period of time than the white YSO.
*  a white YSO is being accused by people of color of promoting disharmony among staff by using language
    considered to be racist. CJTS management at the time of this posting has failed to take action because of
    what reason(s)? Last time I checked using racist language or writing letters with such was / is viewed as
    creating a hostile workplace environment.

 What I have recounted to you is but the tip of the racist iceberg seen visually. Below the horizon a much
  larger problem looms for DCFplantation management. Documents detailing a white YSOs physical assault on a resident several years ago are circulating openly on the DCFplantation. People have approached this website and asked for a story and documents to be published, describing a cover up of a white YSO abusing a resident of color and receiving a small penalty. In the future watch this website for possible details of whites protecting their own while casting people of color off alone

COMMUNITY SUPPORT ABOUT DCF BIAS

PAYING RESIDENTS ON THE PLANTATION FOR THE THREE RRRs

It has come to the attention of DCF Plantation blog concerning interesting developments at Connecticut Juvenile Training School recently. The majority of the residents are being paid [if they qualify] something called Cady Cash for things pertaining to school work. Cady is the name of the school at CJTS: on any given day you find most (not all) CJTS residents not performing well with class work; this is not the fault of hard working teachers but residents with a myriad of problems. Many of these resident issues focus on cognitive, behavioral, cultural and other factors. CJTS residents avoid learning like Dracula hides from a cross and sunlight: a bright executive decision at CJTS now says pay Cady Cash for completed homework assignments, picking up items off the floor, closing a door or being polite. Ergo, the three RRRs (reading, writing, arithmetic) falls to the wayside; teacher and resident sign a Cady Cash buck, then  a incentive goes to that bearer of Cady Cash. For years very little in way of enticements moved residents to want to learn, now Cady Cash is used as a fulcrum. Now residents turn in Cady Cash to teachers for snacks etc. I know getting students to learn in a locked down situation is hard, but what the heck- snacks for success.

I have witnessed more enthusiam for youth participating in basketball slam dunks in CJTS than teaching those three RRRs. Let me also point out most of those residents are non-white and one wonders if there is really a vested interest in helping them to learn. Bounce that ball but forget subject/verb agreement.

OLD SOLDIER DESCRIBES INJUSTICE ON THE PLANTATION

I believe the stories told by others have an effect on the present situation people live in. The black man approached me and began a tale that kept me spell bound and intrigued for over an hour. His story connected the old struggles of non-whites on the DCF Plantation for respect and jobs. Power brokers started an agency in Hartford named The Department of Children and Youth Services in 1969 and blacks, the old soldier recounted, could not get jobs. "A white hiearchy did not want us to have those jobs. I applied for a job at Long Lane  [now called Connecticut Juvenile Training School ] and was denied. Eventually we secured jobs at Long Lane as Diagnostic Secure Treatment Unit personel [in 1970s]-where the youth were locked up." As the man continued it became clear to me his plight in the 1970s and 80s continues today in 2013, as a legacy of white supremacy, within a new DCF Plantation type structure. At the old Long Lane this racism stood out, white supervisors used certain blacks to enforce apartheid. "Cornell the racism then did not hide, it manifested itself in a raw form." Certainly today the story within DCF Plantation or CJTS is different: policies and procedures are the fulcrum used to keep non-whites "in their place". Management also have become sophisticated in using certain blacks and whites as control agents; this tactic is in full swing not only at CJTS but the entire plantation. A link from the plantation's past connected me to our struggle in 2013: the past is prologue and relevant in a struggle such as this.The old soldier then pulled up a pants leg to show scars from dog bites from years ago. "Cornell, years ago as a boy in Birmingham Alabama, I marched with Martin Luther King. Those cops turned on the water hoses and let dogs go on us [as children] we fought them [racists] then. It is necessary to fight now." He looked at a watch then smiled. "Well this story is over; hope you keep fighting for equality on the DCF Plantation like I did. Watch your back."

VIOLATION OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT?

By Cornell Lewis

In 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed to much acclaim from people all over America. Finally the ugly specter of racism might vanish under these laws; segregation and Mr. Charley finally vanquished. Hey wait a minute. The Department of Children and Families along with Connecticut Juvenile Training School might be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. According to documents gained through the Freedom of Information Act DCF displays a clear pattern of discrimination against employees of color. If you look at the website dcfplantation.org there are charts/graphs describing how 66% of all disciplinary actions within DCF are against employees of color; CJTS has a class action lawsuit filed against it by five employees of color within the last 3 years. For 30 years there have been allegations, complaints, and legal action against DCF over issues of discrimination, yet no one (to my knowledge) brought up possible violation of Civil Rights violations. Records show that DCF receives millions of Federal funds directly, including, but not limited to Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, Independent Living, Social Services Block Grant, Child Welfare Services Grant, and many other grants. Also DCF receives Federal grants indirectly through other State agencies such as Department of Education and Office of Policy Management (OPM). From what Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 read someone could be in clear violation of the law.

Overview of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., was enacted as part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. As President John F. Kennedy said in 1963: Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors, and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination. If a recipient of federal assistance is found to have discriminated and voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, the federal agency providing the assistance should either initiate fund termination proceedings or refer the matter to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal action. Aggrieved individuals may file administrative complaints with the federal agency that provides funds to a recipient, or the individuals may file suit for appropriate relief in federal court. Title VI itself prohibits intentional discrimination.

For some activists of color working at CJTS discrimination comes in the form of retaliation for making public certain views: “DCF is based on White Supremacy and there is an unjust exercise of power and unearned privileges that come with whiteness.” All top positions [where real power resides] at DCF/CJTS are held by white people. When white supremacist society is mentioned I use author Robert Jensen’s definition: “a society (and DCF/CJTS are societies unto themselves) whose founding is based in an ideology of the inherent superiority of white people over non whites.” A perusal of DCFs founding and evolution seems to support Jensen’s thoughts. The continued cries of racial discrimination are largely ignored by a larger society. DCF/CJTS care for children/adolescents which hides an ugly truth from a majority of Connecticut residents. A question that must be asked is has The Civil Rights Act Title VI been violated by a state agency receiving federal funds?

THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY ARE ENTITLED TO WHITE PRIVILEGE ON DCF PLANTATION

I recently started reading the book The Color of Welfare [how racism undermined the war on poverty] by Jill Quadagno. In this book it is clear that a majority of American whites opposed blacks [in 1960s,70s & 80s] getting welfare, housing, going to schools in white enclaves or child care benefits to improve their lives. Yet these same opponents enjoyed white skin priviliges, that enhanced caucasian life, and thought nothing of it. Seems as if little has changed in America relating to white skin priviliges, and how it is viewed as a God given right. At the Connecticut Juvenile Training Facility in Middletown, Connecticut the same sort of scenario is enacted for a new cast of caucasian characters. The fierce war going on at this facility between management [95% white] and employees not in management [90% non-white] is about who drinks from the cup of white skin privilige. If you look at items/graphs/charts posted on this website it is clear something is wrong; in the school system at CJTS most teachers are caucasian, most clinicians with higher degrees are caucasian. In every aspect of running that facility whites drink heavily from a goblet of privilige; anyone or thing threatening this power base is destroyed or marginalized, activists such as myself et al. (and others) are called racist-loose cannons or worse behind closed doors.  CJTS management is now even trying to terminate activists [say Cornell Lewis] over so called other issues, when the real problem is my highlighting injustices on the CJTS plantation. In America there is atendency to define racism as "one person or group treating another badly." I believe by saying this people avoid a larger discussion on 500 years of white skin privilige in America and how this translates into what is occurring at CJTS; whites in power and thinking it is their right. Then let us not forget lessons of history, how recipents of white skin privilege destroy attempts to dislodge them from a comfortable roost.

A DECLARATION AGAINST INSTITUTIONAL INJUSTICE

Peoples Manifesto:

Undoing Racism in the Dept. of Children and Families (DCF)!

We the People of Color and Working Poor of Greater Hartford are the victims of an unrelenting and systemic level of institutionalized racism and classism that permeates the Department of Children and Families, also known as DCF.  
We the People know that children, families of color and working class poor represent a significant percentage of the DCF caseload, yet its Administrators, Senior Management and Policy Makers do not reflect the population it serves in either color or working class background. 
We the People are informing all that this issue of racial and class bias within DCF has most recently been aggravated by the targeting of activists at Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown, Connecticut for disciplinary actions by DCF management. Also by the fact that a disproportionate amount of disciplinary actions throughout DCF are aimed at their employees of color. 
We the People know very well that the relationships between our communities and DCF has always been a highly tenuous bond, and the People view the latest management actions by the DCF / CJTS unacceptable and simply adding salt to a very deep and festering wound.
We the People are telling DCF and the State of Connecticut that our children and families are NOT financial commodities of the State nor the Federal Government, and we demand that the Peoples Voices and Faces be given equal seats and representation at the DCF Tables of Power.
We the People are committed to assuring that the racial and class imbalance in DCF senior administration END TODAY, and that DCF’s Senior Management and Decision Makers finally mirror those in the community it serves and not mirror a pale and middle class representation of the community!
We the People can no longer accept our children, our mothers, our grandmothers, our families being victims not only of the systemic racism existing in Connecticut but to be re-victimized by a family support system that should be empowering our children and families as opposed to the current climate of fear and distrust.
We the People of Color and Working Poor of Greater Hartford are committed to:

1. Ending the reign of racism and classism that permeates the senior management levels and policy makers of DCF
2. Transforming, NOT Reforming, DCF into an organization that reflects in ALL aspects the communities it serves
3. Developing a Child and Family support structure that reflects a progressive social policy reflective of the communities it serves
4. Assuring that DCF is a partner with, not oppressor of, the Community Based Urban Organizations of whose families it serves

We the People Declare that until such action is taken, We the People of Greater Hartford hereby put DCF and its workers on notice that they are persona non-grata in the North End of Hartford, bounding the area from Garden Street to Vine Street to Capen Street and back to Garden Street! 
We the People call upon all members of the community within this designated area as a non-DCF zone and to respectfully let the DCF worker know that they are not wanted in our community due to policies by certain members of a “cronyistic” DCF system which promotes middle-class white women to leadership positions within DCF!
We close with the simple yet relevant words of Nehru:
    “Action itself, so long as I am convinced is right action, gives me satisfaction.”

The Hart Monitor Voice of Liberation Issue 10

Page 5. Click here to keep reading

 

Page 5. Click here to keep reading

TRYING TO CLEANUP THE PLANTATION

People working at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School have noticed that management is attempting to cleanup glaring faults. Most recently management has seen fit (now of course) to hire a black male as Assistant Superintendent/Principal of the school on campus. This has been done in a rush as result of activists making known discriminatory hiring practices and lack of blacks or Latinos in the school hierarchy. Now it has come to light how management is looking at employees use of sick time,Workers Compensation, and sick leave. Hell, before the sudden change in management attitude, certain administrators or employees abused WC and sick time repeatedly and without shame. CJTS management looked the other way at such infractions and yawned at complaints pointing out such things. But with the DCF Plantation website and other community activists making such things public a new wind of change is blowing through the DCF Plantation. This wind of change from white management is not done out of altruistic reasons-historically oppressors never change except when pushed- but to cover their arse. A hue and cry of "clean house" is heard, everyone on the plantation is scrambling to give the appearance things are in order. Why even administrators of the plantation on Hudson Street in Hartford are dancing a new jig. Seeking to bring in consultants to discuss racism and lack of diversity in DCF and state agencies especially when it comes to minorities in meaningful positions [similar to my prior posting] Give me a break. When did DCF get on this hobby horse? Was it after public protests at CJTS and Hudson Street sites? Perhaps it was after I went on a hunger strike to highlight racism, at CJTS and DCF, that winds of change began to blow. We might consider people talking on local radio shows or being interviewed by media about DCF's problems as a catalyst for change. Watch closely readers because miracles seem to be in the air. Administrators are seeking to make a tired old hag seem like a race horse. How is this possible you say? It is done by trying to cleanup the plantation.

"An Injury to One is an Injury to All" Speaker: Cornell Lewis 12/08/2012

                                  

DCF TRIES SHEDDING THE RACIST IMAGE WITH ANOTHER STUDY

Well. It seems as if the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is attempting to shed its image as racist by conducting another study. In spite of a class action lawsuit filed 2 years ago and numerous actions by the community and other employees, DCF has not really changed its biased policies. DCF employees of color are still disproportionally disciplined in frequency and severity as I noted in a previous article (DCF Disciplinary 2011: Harsher Penalties for People of Color).

"As a follow up to work done in State Fiscal Year 2011 related to "undoing racism" within our agency, the Department will continue expand its consultation relationship with two highly qualified individuals: Professor Heidi Brooks of the Yale University School of Management and Jennifer Agosti, a national consultant to states, including recently California, on developing policy, practice and collaborations to address racism within state agencies. Our internal work to address issues of racial equity and justice within our department will be anchored in Cross-Cutting Theme #6: Becoming a Learning Organization.  Our goal is explicit: To become an agency in which our policies and practice reflect racial and ethnic equity and justice." Page 15 of the study.  Click here to keep reading.

LEADERSHIP SIGN ON DCF READS WHITES ONLY.

Department of Children and Families

Agency Web page | Statutory Authority |Agency History |

Published histories/articles | State Library Collections | List of Commissioners

Hospital/Treatment Centers administered by the Dept. of Children and Families

Agency Web page :

Statutory Authority :

CGS, Chapter 319, Title 17a.

Agency History :

1969, established as Department of Children and Youth Services, per P.A. 664. Absorbed the Commission on Youth Services, and took jurisdiction over the formerly autonomous Long Lane School and Connecticut School for Boys

1974, began administering social and protective services under purchase of service agreements with the State Welfare Dept (i.e. supervision of the State Receiving Home etc.)

1976, Jan. 1, P.A. 75-524 transferred children’s psychiatric services from the Dept. of Mental Health to the Dept. of Children and Youth Services.

1993, July 1, name change to Dept. of Children and Families per P.A. 93-91.

Published Histories/Articles :

Not available

Archived Department of Children and Familes Web site, as harvested on 2007-04-11, by the Connecticut State Library, Connecticut Digital Archive.

Agency Documents in the State Library Collections :

Check the State Library catalog, CONSULS, under these author headings for publications by the agency available in the State Library :

Connecticut. Dept. of Children and Youth Services.

Connecticut. Dept. of Children and Families.

 Annual Reports are located in :

Digest of Administrative Reports to the Governor [CSL Call Number ConnDoc F40 d], and 2002-, the online version

State Archives Record Group : RG 178

List of Commissioners:

Name	Years of Service
Wayne R. Mucci	1970
Francis H. Maloney	1971-1979
Mark J. Marcus	1980-1986
Amy B. Wheaton	1987-1990
Rose Alma Senatore	1991-1994
Linda D'Amario Rossi	1995-1997
Kristine D. Ragaglia	1998-2003
Darlene Dunbar	2003-2007
Brian Mattiello (Acting)	2007-June 2007
Susan I. Hamilton	June 28, 2007-2011
Joette Katz	January 2011-