Prairie Lakes Youth Programs

Maltreatment determined as to physical abuse of the alleged victim by the staff person.

A. Maltreatment: The AV said that on March 22, 2023, the SP pushed him/her into a wall with the SP’s chair, which caused a bruise on the AV’s left side. The AV told P1 about the incident. P1 watched a video of the incident from the video recording system at the facility and gave this investigator a copy of the recording. The video recording showed the AV walking behind the SP who was seated in a rolling chair at a desk in a common area. The AV erased information on a dry erase board then walked behind the SP again. The SP pushed his/her chair backward into the AV, which pushed the AV into the wall behind the desk. The AV then pushed the SP’s chair forward and there was a conversation between the SP and AV which included gestures. The SP stated that the AV was dysregulated on the date of the incident and violated the facility’s expectations for the youths by going behind the desk. The SP moved his/her chair and attempted to prevent the AV from taking markers out of the area. However, the SP was unsure whether the chair made contact with the AV and was unaware that the AV sustained an injury during the incident. The SP said that his/her actions were not malicious. P1 stated that the AV had a bruise on his/her left side that was consistent with injuries that might result from being pushed into the wall. The video showed a power struggle between the AV and the SP according to P1, which might have been avoided if the SP walked away from the AV or switched out with another staff ...