Amy Johnson

An adolescent was aggressive. He had to be physically managed by staff daily. This severely neglected youth, who also lost a brother to a drug related incident recently, was so full of feelings of rage, rejection, fear and sadness that it resulted in flurries of his fists punching the walls, beds, other residents and staff. Throughout the six months he'd been in placement at the residential youth facility, he had been the staff's biggest challenge. Most of the staff wanted him gone. Then, last week, many of these same staffers gave him the Student of the Week award.