By Nicole Falco
"I want to help set a different stage and present the other face of Wayside," said Rapley, who assumed the director's role in October.
In December 2001, an allegation of "institutional abuse" was lodged with the state's Office of Children and Family Services. According to Bill Van Slyke, a spokesperson for OCFS, institutional abuse is "any kind of physical or sexual abuse by a staff member or against a youth by another youth where a staff member allowed it to happen."
Investigation into that allegation led OCFS to uncover other problems at Wayside, including insufficient management, a lack of clinical staffing, a lack of supervision and insufficient security staffing on the grounds as well as a failure to report critical incidents to the state in a timely manner.
OCFS had the option of revoking Wayside's license if positive changes were not made, but changes were made over the past year, Rapley said.
Changes began to occur under Ed Plesnitzer, Wayside's former director, who left in July, and were continued by Carolyn Torres, the assistant director. Now Rapley has the opportunity to take those changes further.
Wayside can take in as many as 73 girls, ages 12 to 18, who usually stay an average of one year but can stay longer depending on their needs. Currently there are some 55 girls living and attending school on Wayside's 14-acre campus in North Valley Stream.
A security guard watches the gates of Wayside 24 hours a day. Previously, the gates were unlocked most of the day and unguarded. It is now mandatory for Wayside's staff, including 60 child-care workers, six social workers and five administrators, to undergo training in how to deescalate a crisis situation. According to Rapley, a recreation director was recently hired and newly implemented programs include Tae Bo and step classes. Rapley said the new programs have a more therapeutic feel to them.
Rapley said she is available to answer the community's questions, and she hopes to have an updated brochure printed and a video made about the girls' lives on campus.
Her other goals include securing funds to hire two child-care workers to act as a crisis-intervention team and to hire a central child-care supervisor.
"I want to be able to provide the best level of care for the residents, but on the other hand you have fiscal constraints," she said.
In addition, Rapley said, changes have been made to the routine and structure of the facility. A five-level system has been established, in which girls have to demonstrate their maturity to advance to the next level. Once at a higher level, a resident can be given more responsibilities, including mentoring other girls. Rapley said she also wants the girls to participate in community-service projects, including visiting nursing homes in the area.
"I've been pleased," she said. "I've been very surprised at how well [the girls] have been able to adapt to the changes."
The girls also work. A handful work off campus, two attend college, and the majority work in the campus computer lab, candy store or beauty salon.
Even with the changes of the past year, Rapley said, "It is unrealistic to think there would be no difficulties with [the girls] given the difficulties they had in their lives, and they are now all in one place. We are not just dealing with regular youngsters who do bad. We've got a lot with deep psychological needs."
A girl can come to Wayside if she is found delinquent by the court for reasons ranging from marijuana possession to subway turnstile jumping; if she has been ordered there by family court because of neglect or abuse at home; or if she has been voluntarily signed in by a parent who can no longer control her.
Rapley came to Wayside because she felt a "compulsion to do more," she said. "I've always wanted to help people. "It's more than what I do, it's who I am."
Before coming to Wayside, Rapley worked in a homeless shelter while studying for her master's degree. She then worked for the Salvation Army as a mental-health coordinator and social-work supervisor. She even worked under Plesnitzer when he was the director of congregant care for the Salvation Army.
"Being connected [to the Salvation Army], you hear the rumors about the behavior of the girls [at Wayside], but it is definitely different here from what I expected and what I had heard," Rapley said.
