Arizona Disability Advocates for Relational Abuse (Isolation) in Group Homes

When family members make the difficult decision to place their child or other loved one with physical or developmental disabilities in a residential group home, one of the most important things for the continued emotional stability and development is frequent contact with others, including friends and family members. Not being allowed to have contact with friends and family members can lead to severe mental health problems, including depression.

When a group home resident is not allowed proper contact with others, including friends and family, it is known as relational abuse or isolation. This type of abuse can cause just as much damage as physical or mental abuse and is unacceptable under any circumstances.

If you have a child or loved one who resides in a group home in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa or elsewhere in Maricopa County and you believe they may be the victim of relational abuse, you should contact and Arizona group home abuse attorney immediately. A group home abuse lawyer cannot only help your loved one receive compensation for their pain and suffering, but it can also help expose abusive practices in group homes and prevent future abuse.

Causes of Relational Abuse

One of the primary goals of group homes is to foster independence in residents and promote their continued mental, emotional, and social development. Group home administrators and staff members should be aware of residents’ individual needs and work to meet those needs and promote their continued development.

Relational abuse occurs when those emotional and social development needs are not met and residents are not allowed proper contact with their friends and family. This often happens because group home staff members are often inadequately trained and group homes are not properly staffed. These improperly trained and overworked staff members do not know how to properly promote residents’ emotional and social development and this can lead to relational abuse, as well as other forms of mental and physical abuse.

Signs of Relational Abuse

The signs of relational abuse include the following:

• Residents restricted from receiving mail, telephone calls or visitors
• Residents not given the chance to answer questions or speak for themselves
• Residents not allowed to be alone with visitors

Responsibility for Relational Abuse

Relational abuse is frequently the result of systematic problems in a group home. These include inadequate training and understaffing, as well as administrators who do not properly implement a resident’s Individual Support Plan (ISP).

Since systematic problems are frequently the cause of relational abuse, the group home itself, as well as individual staff members, should be held liable for the abuse. Your Arizona group home abuse attorney can help you discuss the possibility of filing suit against the group home as an institution as well as the individual staff members. Holding the group home itself responsible is the best way to ensure that changes are made and that the abuse does not happen again in the future to other residents.

Contact an Arizona Group Home Abuse Lawyer

If your child or other loved one is a resident of a group home in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, and they have been a victim of relational abuse, you should consult with an Arizona group home abuse lawyer to discuss your case. For more information, please visit http://www.grouphomeabuselawyer.com/