Janaia N Barnhart - 2016

15 year old Janaia N Barnhart died a rather violent death in 2016. Still the staff was able to escape criminal prosecution. The state took the license of Advoserv (now Bellwether Behavioral Health) under investigation but the world has been no raid and no member of the top management has been given the appropriate perb walk.

The world continues to be unfair and now a 15 year old girl was killed. At the time of her death, she became the third child to die in a Advoserv (now Bellwether Behavioral Health) facility. In this case the death takes place off camera. In an earlier case the tape was erased "by accident". It should have spoken for more investigation into what takes place in the many facilities run by Advoserv (now Bellwether Behavioral Health).

We can only send our prayers to the poor family left behind. May this poor girl find peace where she is now.


Sources:

• Camera Catches Shoving Match with Group Home Worker Before Teenager’s Heart Stopped (ProPublica)
• We Won't Let Janaia Die In Vain (Echo Awareness)
• Bellwether Behavioral Health Is Controversial Group Home Operator AdvoServ — With a New Name (Truthout)
• Md. teen who died days away from transfer from Delaware, attorney says (The Daily record)

(Unknown girl) - 2014

A 15-year-old girl died as result of a suicide at Summit School best known in the public when a boy died after being pushed from a window as result of a poor mix of room mates.

It is tragic for family of the girl who suffered a terrible loss.

May she find peace where she is now.

Sources:

• 15-year-old's death at Summit school ruled suicide (Lohud)
• Girl dies at Summit School in Upper Nyack (New 12 Westchester)

Chloe Cohen - 2002

15 minutes was all it took for 16-year-old Chloe Cohen to hang herself. It was an unspeakable tragedy.

It is difficult to determine whether the employees should have monitored her more carefully. Were there signs that suggested that she should not have been left alone which were ignored? The lawsuit seems to suggest that which KidsPeace lawyered themselves out of. Of course KidsPeace is a for-profit business but we have not been able to find sources which suggest that her death were due to too low staffing. The employees simply made their own diagnose deciding that the poor girl was not suicidal which sadly was proved wrong, but such diagnoses and mistakes are made every day.

What is left is that is was a terrible loss for her family and friends. May she find peace where she is now.

Sources:

• New York Girl, 16, Kills Self At Kidspeace, Coroner Says (The Morning Call)
• MALEKA COHEN, Administratrix of the Estate of Chloe Cohen, et al.,Plaintiffs, v. KIDS PEACE NATIONAL CENTERS, INC., et al. Defendants.

Logan Volpe - 2015

15-year-old Logan Volpe committed suicide at Concept House in Miami. According to his family the employees knew that there were a risk of suicide. Still under 24 hours after he was sent to the facility, he died.

Was it neglect or just bad craftmanship by the employees of the facility? The management fired the personal on the job of the day of the suicide to protect themself, but there is no sources that can tell whether the facility use people with training in the treatment field or they just hire people for a low salary.

A lawsuit was filed and it would at some point decide whether the facility did such a poor job that they will have to pay. But no money in the world can minimize the terrible loss, this family suffered.

May he find peace where he is now.

Sources:

• Parents sue over son’s hanging a day into his stay at center (The Miami Herald)
• Child Fatality Summary (The state of Florida)

Tanner Wilson - 2001

11-year-old Tanner Wilson died as result of a poorly executed attempt to restrain him. Instead of taking on the facility which had allowed employees to work there without proper training, the authorities tried to charge the employee. Unfortunately it enabled the possibility for additional deaths. Restraints should be avoided and when they are used a last option, they should only be used by employees who had received the proper level of education to ensure that the children are not hurt.

This was not the case in the death of Tanner Wilson.

He was not allowed to live out his life. His life was cut short at age only 11.

May he find peace where he is now.

Sources:

• The death of Tanner Wilson: "Someone dropped the ball. Our son died." (The Globe Gazette)
• Parents of son who died speak out (Iowa City Press-Citizen)
• Center's CEO insists Gerard of Iowa is blameless in Tanner Wilson's death (The Globe Gazette)
• Gerard case dismissed (The Globe Gazette)