17-04-2025
Missing youths need sensitivity, confidentiality, experts say
As the Niagara County Sheriff's Office continues missing persons' investigations for two brothers and a girl from Wyndham Lawn Residential Services, the public is urged to respect the confidentiality of the children's personal information to avoid traumatizing and labeling them.
Individuals with information relating to the three youths can call the sheriff's office at 716-438-3393.
According to Sheriff Michael Filicetti, Adam Wisniewski, age 15, and Dylan Wisniewski, age 14, were with fellow Wyndham Lawn resident Nehemiah Kuzara, 17, when they left the facility April 4. Filicetti said that because the individuals are juveniles, he cannot disclose additional information.
'Typically, we don't even release juvenile names, because they're protected,' he said. 'Juvenile records are sealed.'
As part of the investigation, the children's names have been entered into the eJustice nationwide database to alert all law enforcement agencies. Filicetti said an Amber Alert was not issued because there is no reasonable cause to believe the youths were abducted or in danger of serious bodily harm.
Robyn Krueger, president and CEO of Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. which provides youth treatment programs, said that children in treatment have experienced various types of trauma that need to be addressed confidentially and with sensitivity.
'You really don't know what has happened to somebody behind closed doors,' Krueger said. 'The more we find out what kids and families of adolescents are dealing with, the more it has to do with trauma. What's trauma for one individual may or may not be trauma for another.'
According to the New York State Office of Child and Family Services website, thousands of youths across New York state run away from home, are told to leave, or go through homelessness.
Krueger, who has served on the runaway/homeless youth advisory board for that office, said children may run away from home because they are bullied, domestic violence occurs, they are abused, there has been a death in the family, or they want to fit into their group of friends.
'Something has happened in their life that they believe this is the only way to handle it.' Krueger said it can be a cry for attention, as in, 'I'll see whether you care if I'm there nor not.'
Public discussions about what led youths to certain behaviors, and their family history, need to be avoided to prevent stigmatization — or labeling — that stays with them across their lives. Krueger said people can be stigmatized for having certain health diagnoses, for having a certain legal status, or for being part of a group that is perceived a certain way.
'Stigmatization goes on into adulthood,' Krueger said. 'They may take matters into their own hands because they don't feel they've had justice. The more stigmatizing those labels become, the more difficult it is for that individual and that family to get out of that situation.'
'People like to troll social media and offer their expertise,' Krueger said. 'And they don't have any more expertise than the next individual. It affects an entire community. That is not helpful.'
The 211 WNY web page states that Wyndham Lawn Residential Program is a 'highly structured, therapeutic residential environment for children and youth who have experienced trauma or emotional, behavioral, and educational challenges.' Services are provided 24 hours a day for youths aged 12 to 20.
Meghan Lutz, Niagara County Social Services commissioner, said a team of professionals are involved in the process that leads to residential placement.
'It's a very complicated system and a lot of factors are at play,' Lutz said. 'Our goal is always going to be a return to the parent.'
Lutz said an investigation would have been completed by Child Protective Services, which would lead to a court order placing the child in foster care or a juvenile detention center. The child's home county would then assign a qualified assessor to use standardized criteria to determine the appropriate placement, and whether that is in a secure or non-secure facility.
'Agencies like Wyndham Lawn act as a step down from a detention center, to continue services,' said Billie Tylec, director of services for the Niagara County Department of Social Services.
According to Filicetti, Wyndham Lawn is a non-secure facility. He said there are more than 50 separate case reports for youths who have run away from the facility since the summer of 2024.
In response to questions about the facility's supervision of youth and preventing its residents from going missing, Mario Hicks, vice president of development and mission advancement for Wyndham Lawn's parent company Gateway-Longview, Inc., provided a written statement.
In the event that a youth is away without leave from one of our programs, our staff follow strict, established protocols. This includes immediately notifying the appropriate local law enforcement agency and actively collaborating with authorities to support a safe and swift return.
Our team remains fully engaged and vigilant in following every step necessary to protect the youth in our care.
Lutz said a child running away could be considered a problem sign for the residential placement. She said that the social services department from the child's home county could report the matter to the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.
According to its website, The Justice Center operates a toll-free hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week for receiving reports of allegations of abuse and neglect. The Justice Center is authorized to investigate reports and pursue administrative sanctions.
