Nurse attacked at Tryon juvenile facility speaks out after brutal attack by 15-year-old girl

ALBANY, NY (05/24/2011)(readMedia)-- A nurse who survived a violent attack by a 15-year-old girl inside Tryon Residential Center last week shared her story with reporters today in hopes the violence inside the facility will finally be addressed.

Cheryl Huxhold has been a nurse for more than a decade and has cared for youth at the Tryon juvenile facility in Johnstown, Fulton County for the past four years.On Tuesday, May 17, a male youth counselor was holding a meeting with a group of youths when the 15-year- old pulled up her shirt exposing her breast to the counselor and began taunting him. The counselor ignored the girl who then pulled down a book case, stood on it, put her hand down her pants and smeared vaginal fluid on the counselor. The counselor called for Cheryl, the only available female employee in the area.

"I decided to speak out today because I think it's time someone stands up to say, 'Enough is enough,'" Cheryl said. "The violence in the Tryon facility has reached an alarming level. The youths are assaulting one another and staff on a regular basis."

During the attack last week, the girl threatened Cheryl and then began spitting on her and repeatedly stabbing her with a pen.

"It all happened so quickly," Cheryl said. "She was punching and kicking me as other girls and the counselor tried to get her off of me," she added.

The girl was eventually subdued by the male counselor. Cheryl was taken to the hospital. She suffered a concussion, chipped teeth, facial lacerations, multiple wounds from being stabbed with the pen and bruising. The girl was arrested and the investigation is continuing.

"The violence Cheryl and others have endured at their place of employment is shocking and unacceptable," said PEF Secretary-Treasurer Arlea Igoe. "There have been little to no consequences for the youths involved in these attacks. Unfortunately, the commissioner of the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) refuses to acknowledge or address the escalating violence. Commissioner Gladys Carrion has routinely blamed staff while implementing policies and procedures that give these troubled youths the upper hand and rushing them into community-based programs that are inappropriate and don't provide the intensive treatment needed.

"PEF has long advocated for increased safety for residents and staff. The increase in violence and injury is well documented, yet Carrion has been allowed to continue to mismanage the agency at the expense of youth and staff alike," Igoe added.

OCFS has been ranked the most dangerous agency in which to work in New York State according to the state Department of Civil Service.

Cheryl Huxhold is a member of the New York State Public Employees Federation.