A woman who was trusted with helping children is under arrest after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a seventeen year old.
Authorities say 23 year old Hanna Dickerson, a former employee at the Child Saving Institute, was arrested for First Degree Sexual Assault on Wednesday after an investigation into the alleged relationship. The teen, a ward of the state, told police that Dickerson had sex with him on numerous occasions while she was employed at the Child Saving Institute.
The teen's uncle told 6 News that the boy was sent to the Child Saving Institute last spring when he was sixteen years old. "He was getting into trouble and stuff and he was taken away from his mom." The uncle says he's worried about the affect this will have on his nephew. "I hope it doesn't traumatize him."
The uncle says he and his wife would visit the teen at CSI and felt that something was amiss between his nephew and Dickerson. "My wife goes, 'Something has got to be going on with him and her. They must be having sex,' is what she said."
The Child Saving Institute released a statement on Thursday saying, “When the agency was notified that a former shelter youth made an allegation of inappropriate contact with a former staff member, Child Saving Institute notified Child Protective Services and law enforcement.”
CSI officials say personnel undergo criminal and abuse background screenings before they are hired. They say employees also receive training on what are appropriate and professional boundaries with clients.
The statement also noted that, “CSI is deeply saddened by this situation and the harm caused to the youth involved."