Community rallies to help Wyoming High School assault victim

CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A group of residents are coming together to help a Wyoming High School student who was sexually assaulted in 2023.

According to our partners at the Cincinnati Enquirer, the teen was receiving in-school counseling services through Best Point Education & Behavioral Health, a third-party service contracted with the school.

The Enquirer reported that the student’s family was notified that services would be ending due to an unpaid $500 bill.

Joe Brinkman and about a dozen other residents are involved in the Community Organization to Protect Wyoming Schools. On Sunday, the group was alerted about what the family was facing.

“We saw this as an opportunity where we could help reach out to the community and gather support,” Brinkman said.

A spokesperson for the district told the Enquirer it does cover counseling services provided by school counselors but it does not fund additional third-party counseling services.

“I don’t know why they have to cover any of this out of pocket. They shouldn’t have to,” Brinkman said. “The immediate need is to help the family continue the counseling services. That’s critical.”

On Monday, Brinkman and his group created a GoFundMe to help cover the teen’s current– and future– counseling expenses.

“Within eight hours, we reached our goal of $1,000,” he says.

Brinkman says he has been in contact with the victim’s mom. He says the donations that continue to pour in are going directly to the family.

“She was just very grateful. I am now speechless that we’ve been able to help this much,” Brinkman said.

Fighting back tears, Brinkman, who has two children attending Wyoming Local School District, and no personal relationship with the victim or his family, shared what he wants them to know.

“We care about them and they’re not alone. And that school should be a safe place for all kids,” he says.

FOX19 contacted the Wyoming Local School District and the third-party counseling service. We are waiting for their responses.

2 of 3 teens charged in connection with Wyoming HS sexual assault take plea deals

One teen has already been sentenced to probation. The second teen will be sentenced in less than two weeks, and the third teen going to trial will be back in court on June 3.

FOX19 will be at these hearings and will bring you the latest on these cases as we learn more.

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