Suzanne Gray - Mindless Troll and HLA Groupie

[RobertBruce]

On 2005-12-12 16:01:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Once again, you are claiming my personal experiences are lies...the kids walked by my house in groups, usually in the mornings, and I think they sometimes went to the cabin down the road. Yes I spoke to kids working in the kitchen, it was allowed to talk to them and they were friendly back. No I did not get the name Devon from any file at all. Yes I talked to legal experts because I wanted to know the law on that issue. How do you know the school lied to the state? which state representative told you that? I want their name. No student ever cleaned the dumpster with a toothbrush. That is a blatant lie Robert. How do I also know you arent lying about Jim Sir? I never heard about any such incident and since you claim it happened while I was there which one of us do you think is telling the truth since he is still there? The students did NOT clean the entire campus every saturday. First off, it wasnt dirty enough to clean every saturday, secondly, I lived there and never saw groups of students doing any such thing on saturday mornings. And yes, I was up early, I had 3 young kids remember? I was awake by 7 or 8 am every morning. Want any more answers Robert? Hand em over."

Umm yes Bullfrog you are a liar.

Either that or incredibly stupid.

Probably both.

>>>>>>>>>the kids walked by my house in groups, usually in the mornings, and I think they sometimes went to the cabin down the road<<<<<<<<

You mean the cabin that was only used for the transition ceremony? How often did those happen Susie? Once every four or five months? Again face facts students did not as a matter of general activity ever go anywhere near your house. Hence why they refered to running away as "going down the road", because the only reason a student would ever venture on that road by himself would be to run away.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Yes I spoke to kids working in the kitchen, it was allowed to talk to them and they were friendly back.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Students on restriction were not allowed to talk to anyone else. You keep forgetting I was a student there, I do know what happened. Also why would you be in the kitchen after your beloved mother in law left?

>>>>>>>>> No I did not get the name Devon from any file at all.<<<<<<<<<<<<

Then how did you come across his information. Such as his name, the length of time he was there, and the time period?

>>>>>>>>>Yes I talked to legal experts because I wanted to know the law on that issue.<<<<<<<<<

Why scared?

>>>>>>>>>>>How do you know the school lied to the state? which state representative told you that? I want their name. <<<<<<<<<<<<<

I didnt think youd ask this type of question, since I already gave you the nessecary information to check for yourself..twice. I know how afraid you are of both me and the truth, this truly is suprising.

I know because I asked. Her name is Caroline Winste she works for ORS in GA. I posted her email address on here somewhere, find it yourself.

>>>>>>>>>>No student ever cleaned the dumpster with a toothbrush. That is a blatant lie Robert.<<<<<<<<

Oh but its not. I personally took part in that theraputic ritual. Im interested to know though, how do you know its a lie. Were you there the entire time? Watching every restriction and work assingment? Or does this just fall into the category of, "If you didnt hear it didnt happen."

>>>>>>>>>>How do I also know you arent lying about Jim Sir? I never heard about any such incident and since you claim it happened while I was there which one of us do you think is telling the truth since he is still there?<<<<<<<<

I saw it happen Bullfrog you didnt. My testimony on all things HLA related carries more weight then yours. Accept that. I'll tell you what though, since your such great pals with him, call Jim up and ask him about it.

I'd be willing to bet he remembers it. The kids name was Blake. Then come back here and apologize.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The students did NOT clean the entire campus every saturday. First off, it wasnt dirty enough to clean every saturday, secondly, I lived there and never saw groups of students doing any such thing on saturday mornings. And yes, I was up early, I had 3 young kids remember? I was awake by 7 or 8 am every morning. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

All you had to say is "I never saw it, so it never happened."

You could even use that as your new catch phrase to replace the tired and worn out, "I have answered every question put to me. I have two disabled family members to take care of."

Bullfrog you keep forgetting I was there. I participated in all of these things youre claiming never happened, and I wasnt alone. You lived in a house about what a hundred yards away from the main campus? You had no clue as to what was going on there. You never did. Why continue to embarress yourself?

>>>>>>>>>Want any more answers Robert? Hand em over.<<<<<<<<<<<<

Yes Bullfrog there were several issues you did not address. Go back and try try again.

[SHH Anon Classics]

I was in the kitchen when my mother in law was there. I never said I was in there after she switched to shipping. I did go to the cafeteria to eat though until I left the campus. And yes I did talk to these students and they were not banned from talking to Martha or to me or Bill or Bill sr. Whether or not they did when you were in the kitchen I have no clue, but when I was in the kitchen those years she worked in there I did talk to students on quite a few occasions.

I have no idea why groups of kids walked down the road at least on a weekly basis. I saw them often. They looked like they were working. Some had shovels on occasion. I saw some planting flowers around the sign at the main road. I saw others hanging around the old cabin sometimes. I saw some riding in the maintenance trucks at times. I also saw runaways. But the groups were obviously not runaways. Runaways were one at a time and not that often.

AS far as the legal issue, I am not scared at all, I actually talked to legal experts due to the libelous things YOU have said about me, and the topic of what you claim I did being illegal came up. OH and by the way Mr. Bruce, you can be sued for what you said about me and about my son's father. But what I did is not illegal, nor libelous. Calling someone you don't know anything about personally a child abusing money grubbing skank ho who needs to have their children taken away because she is a bad neglectful mother and who cheated on her husband and got kicked to the curb is libelous and immature at the very least. Not to mention, of course, untrue. So, I wanted legal advice on that, Me scared? hardly.

If you spoke to someone at the state about the schools status and you claim they operate illegally why arent they shut down? Maybe its because they arent operating in any way that they can be shut down for.

As far as the toothbrush thing, that never happened when I was there and since you were there when I was supposedly, one of us is lying. And its not me.

And yes my house was 100 yards down the road, it was however, on campus, and I was there far, far longer than you. And everything I just stated is the honest truth and what I really saw and really experienced while there, And I knew more employees than you, and I knew more things about staff than you realize. So quit calling me a liar because you know I am not lying. You don't want these readers on here to think you are a liar so you call me one. Well guess what, since I am not lying, which one of us is?

Robert I am tired of saying the same things over and over and over again and even though its the truth you dont want to believe it and I can almost picture you covering your eyes and ears and saying no no its not what I believe therefore it cant be right. I know I dont want to keep repeating myself over and over again with the same old damn stories and I am sure nobody else wants to read these boring ass memories of mine but your so dense you insist I do. So why dont you just call me a bitch and Ill call you an asshole and be done with it. THis is getting old and boring and I really have better things to do with my time.

[Anonymous]

I think for the most part, your answers seem to be fair and reasonable to Robert's questions.  But in fairness, Robert raises some disturbing questions and
makes me more skeptical of many of Hidden Lake's practices of handling issues that will inevitably arise in that type of facility.

Let me state a few of my own experiences which have disappointed me.  

I pulled my son because I felt that although the facility had done a good job at the beginning, I wanted him to continue therapy that I could immediately be a part of. I didn't feel he was getting anything of value from the facility, and that in fact, he was reverting back to the same tendencies that had brought him to Hidden Lake to begin with.

Money was definitely an issue for my family-we are a little behind, but not anything that we hadn't intended on paying. He had been there almost a year.  I called Cates and explained the situation, was swiftly shifted to Gray, and then later phoned by his therapist, and of course, they each attempted to try to guilt me into keeping him there- that I wans't qualified to handle a child like mine-that I didn't have over 10 years of experience with teens, even tough I have an older child that is 18. No dice I insisted- I wanted my child back close to me.

My son was well liked and a pretty good student- always polite at HLA. The staff claim to care about my child, however, refuse to release school documents enabling him to enroll in another private school close to my home.  They sent his personal belongings in a used, oil stained, food box.  They sent his meds in another box days later. They sent his meds UPS ground.  These meds are necessary to be taken DAILY- they are mood stabilizers.  All boxes were sent  COD. After the school had received thousands of dollars.

 I think that is rude and un-caring and makes me feel that the school had only their best interests at heart and not my childs.

I am tired of people saying they care about children when they really only care about themselves.  The school of this caliber needs to be more professional than this. Parents expect and deserve this.

This holiday season makes me thankful that I have my child close to me again, but I am not confident that I actually made the right decision in sending my child to that facility in the first place.  That is sad to me.

It will haunt me for many years to come.

[Anonymous]

Kudos for trusting your thinking about your son.
Soooo, you have seen the underbelly. I feel certain that they hold as much disdain for the parents as they do the kids.

Pressuring, guilt-tripping a parent to leave their kid there- so pathetically desperate. Summons up an image of Dr Phil on a 'I'm the expert' rant.

If you haven't, sincerely apologize. It goes a long way!! Kids are different, but if he wants it, genuinely listen and validate his experience. Tell him you want to hear it all- the good, bad and the ugly. It's possible that he was told that you didn't care. If that is the case, it should be addressed. No kid needs to wonder about that.

[RobertBruce]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I was in the kitchen when my mother in law was there. I never said I was in there after she switched to shipping. I did go to the cafeteria to eat though until I left the campus. And yes I did talk to these students and they were not banned from talking to Martha or to me or Bill or Bill sr. Whether or not they did when you were in the kitchen I have no clue, but when I was in the kitchen those years she worked in there I did talk to students on quite a few occasions. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

But again youve changed your story on this many times. Let me ask you, who was watching your own children while you spent all this time up there with us. And why does almost no one remember you?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>I have no idea why groups of kids walked down the road at least on a weekly basis. I saw them often. They looked like they were working. Some had shovels on occasion. I saw some planting flowers around the sign at the main road. I saw others hanging around the old cabin sometimes. I saw some riding in the maintenance trucks at times. I also saw runaways. But the groups were obviously not runaways. Runaways were one at a time and not that often.<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Interesting, you mentioned just a short time ago that students didnt do maintaince. So which is it?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AS far as the legal issue, I am not scared at all, I actually talked to legal experts due to the libelous things YOU have said about me, and the topic of what you claim I did being illegal came up. OH and by the way Mr. Bruce, you can be sued for what you said about me and about my son's father. But what I did is not illegal, nor libelous. Calling someone you don't know anything about personally a child abusing money grubbing skank ho who needs to have their children taken away because she is a bad neglectful mother and who cheated on her husband and got kicked to the curb is libelous and immature at the very least. Not to mention, of course, untrue. So, I wanted legal advice on that, Me scared? hardly. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

By all means sue me then. Also you only highlight your own fear of me and the truth by refusing to answer the questions put to you. Espically on this issue.

>>>>>>>>>>>>If you spoke to someone at the state about the schools status and you claim they operate illegally why arent they shut down? Maybe its because they arent operating in any way that they can be shut down for. <<<<<<<<<<<<

At last check the investigation was still underway. However I do not feel ORS can simply shut the school down. They can however force to be properly licensed.

Do you feel they are licensed properly?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>As far as the toothbrush thing, that never happened when I was there and since you were there when I was supposedly, one of us is lying. And its not me. <<<<<<<<<<<

Oh but it is. Further you have not explained how it is you KNOW this event never occured. Please do so.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>And yes my house was 100 yards down the road, it was however, on campus, and I was there far, far longer than you. And everything I just stated is the honest truth and what I really saw and really experienced while there, And I knew more employees than you, and I knew more things about staff than you realize. So quit calling me a liar because you know I am not lying. You don't want these readers on here to think you are a liar so you call me one. Well guess what, since I am not lying, which one of us is?<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

It's you, weve been over this. Tell me something, what difference does the amount of time you spent on campus make if you never spent any substantial time with the students? What difference does it make how well you knew the staff members if you didnt see how they treated us?

Youre a liar Susie. You lie to abate your own guilt. I can prove that you are a liar, whereas you cannot do the same with me. How many times must I say the same thing over and over again?

My testimony carries more weight then yours does.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Robert I am tired of saying the same things over and over and over again and even though its the truth you dont want to believe it and I can almost picture you covering your eyes and ears and saying no no its not what I believe therefore it cant be right. I know I dont want to keep repeating myself over and over again with the same old damn stories and I am sure nobody else wants to read these boring ass memories of mine but your so dense you insist I do. So why dont you just call me a bitch and Ill call you an asshole and be done with it. THis is getting old and boring and I really have better things to do with my time<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 :grin: Again you have us confused. I am able to answer every question put to me, you on the other hand are forced to pick and choose and occasionaly run and hide out of fear. This is because youre afraid of the truth and I am not. Look at your own statements, insisting things arent true simply because you didnt know about them. Or maybe you simply dont want to admit you did know about them and still put food on your table from organized child abuse. You have not been able to back up a single claim since you arrived here, yet still you stomp your feet and swear you are right. Youre a child Mrs. Gray. A simple spoiled child who's crying because shes not getting her way. Sorry Bullfrog you should have never left your eden, there you were always right, but out here the truth prevails.

[RobertBruce]

On 2005-12-12 20:28:00, Anonymous wrote:

"I think for the most part, your answers seem to be fair and reasonable to Robert's questions.  But in fairness, Robert raises some disturbing questions and

makes me more skeptical of many of Hidden Lake's practices of handling issues that will inevitably arise in that type of facility.



Let me state a few of my own experiences which have disappointed me.  



I pulled my son because I felt that although the facility had done a good job at the beginning, I wanted him to continue therapy that I could immediately be a part of. I didn't feel he was getting anything of value from the facility, and that in fact, he was reverting back to the same tendencies that had brought him to Hidden Lake to begin with.



Money was definitely an issue for my family-we are a little behind, but not anything that we hadn't intended on paying. He had been there almost a year.  I called Cates and explained the situation, was swiftly shifted to Gray, and then later phoned by his therapist, and of course, they each attempted to try to guilt me into keeping him there- that I wans't qualified to handle a child like mine-that I didn't have over 10 years of experience with teens, even tough I have an older child that is 18. No dice I insisted- I wanted my child back close to me.



My son was well liked and a pretty good student- always polite at HLA. The staff claim to care about my child, however, refuse to release school documents enabling him to enroll in another private school close to my home.  They sent his personal belongings in a used, oil stained, food box.  They sent his meds in another box days later. They sent his meds UPS ground.  These meds are necessary to be taken DAILY- they are mood stabilizers.  All boxes were sent  COD. After the school had received thousands of dollars.



 I think that is rude and un-caring and makes me feel that the school had only their best interests at heart and not my childs.



I am tired of people saying they care about children when they really only care about themselves.  The school of this caliber needs to be more professional than this. Parents expect and deserve this.



This holiday season makes me thankful that I have my child close to me again, but I am not confident that I actually made the right decision in sending my child to that facility in the first place.  That is sad to me.



It will haunt me for many years to come.                                                                                                                                                  
 

Im glad you discovered the truth about them before it was to late. I cannot stress how quickly you should get your son into counseling. He will have difficulty adjusting back into a world where everyone is held accountable for their actions and where he isnt punished for telling the truth, having his own thoughts, or his own feelings. He will also need help adjusting to the fact that he can make many of his own choices now. As well as being able tell people what he thinks without fear of consequence at the hands of sadist.

I can tell you from my own experiences in escaping from them, they tried the same nonsense with me. I say tried because when they threatened me with it as I was leaving I threatened right back with something much worse. I got my transcripts sealed and given to me in hand right then.

Apologize to your son but tell him you were out of options. Tell him you want to help him get through his time there and you only want him to be happy and to do whats best for him. Allow him to be apart of the process in finding a new counsoler, make sure its one HE can trust. That is going to be the biggest issue for a long time. After living in a society where he has been encouraged to betray others for cheap favors it will take him time to trust others again espically authority figures.

I think the previous poster has the right ideas as well. Please post on here any updates or any other concerns the people who are commited to the truth can help you with.

[SHH Anon Classics]

Let me make one thing very clear to you Robert. My experiences happened. I have not lied. You have decided you want to pick apart and twist statements to suit you. When I was on campus my children were either with me or at school. I do not leave toddlers home alone. You claim you arent lying yet offer no proof on here except what you type. Where is your proof you are not lying Robert? You are only saying you arent. Same as me but why are you more correct than me? You aren't. Everything I have posted is what actually happened. NO the children didn't do maintenance, they did work assignments around campus during restrictions. That is not the majority of maintenance now is it? No, its not. As far as the issue of properly licensed, since I am not an expert in that area, I have no idea which license you or the state feels is proper. I am sure the state will sort that out. If they have operated with the state's ok for almost 12 years I doubt seriously they are doing anything illegal. The state actually did a commendation last year honoring them for their work. You continue to insult and belittle me however I have not done that to you. Which one is more of a child Robert? If you feel you personally were abused I am sorry about that, but you dont offer specifics at all. Your opinion of dorms that were not maintained is kind of general. How bad were they? which ones were bad? What do you consider a long time to get things fixed? this is all general. What kind of vermin? if it was mice I had them in my own home. Its the woods in North Georgia. AS far as bugs, what kind of bugs? I could go on and on but see you dont offer specifics of your own abuse. And again, let me point out something. You did something to get sent there in the first place. It wasnt supposed to be a luxury experience. Its not a dump either. But Robert just because you dont agree with me doesnt give you the right to say the things you have said about me and say lies about me and call me a liar because I am not one. Like I said, this is getting real old. The bottom line is you are mean, verbally abusive, insulting, and immature. I have tried very hard to argue with you in a civil fashion over our points. You can't do it. Its a waste of time for me to think you are capable of it.

[SHH Anon Classics]

Now, I want to respond to the parent. I am sorry this experience happened to you. I am not there now so I dont know which employee packaged your sons things. My mother in law used to work in that dept and they did use some kitchen boxes however they were the dry goods ones and were clean. Sounds like an error for sure. As far as transcripts I dont know about that one but I think there is some sort of procedure to follow to get it and I am thinking youll get it back eventually. I do think in some instances some kids dont need to be in a residential facility. I think other kids need to be away from home. Its just different for some than others. I think the COD issue with the box is probably their rule if kids were withdrawn prior to graduation but thats just a guess really. I am just offering my opinion of what happened since I dont work there or live there anymore I am using my experiences from when I was there. So I am sorry if I end up being incorrect on some of these. But anyway, dont kick yourself too much about the school, it is a good facility overall but not a good fit for some kids and maybe it wasnt right for your son. There are good people there and most have the kids best interests in mind. I dont know everybody there anymore so I cant speak for all. Good luck with his continued progress.

[RobertBruce]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Let me make one thing very clear to you Robert. My experiences happened. I have not lied. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Yes you have thats been shown many times.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>You have decided you want to pick apart and twist statements to suit you.<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Which statements have I twisted? Specifically list them off.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>When I was on campus my children were either with me or at school. I do not leave toddlers home alone.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Yet again though almost no one remembers you. A point you have yet to address.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Where is your proof you are not lying Robert? You are only saying you arent. Same as me but why are you more correct than me? You aren't. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Oh but I am. My proof lies in the testimony of others. We cant all be lying about the same thing now can we bullfrog?


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>You aren't. Everything I have posted is what actually happened.<<<<<<<<<<<<

Well you arent really focusing on things you claim did happen, you spend more time talking about things you think didnt happen. Things you have yet to offer a basis for. For example, you have yet to explain how you KNOW students were not made to clean the dumpster with nothing but a toothbrush.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>NO the children didn't do maintenance, they did work assignments around campus during restrictions. That is not the majority of maintenance now is it? No, its not.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

HAHAHA and what bullfrog do you think the work assingments consisted of?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>As far as the issue of properly licensed, since I am not an expert in that area, I have no idea which license you or the state feels is proper. I am sure the state will sort that out. If they have operated with the state's ok for almost 12 years I doubt seriously they are doing anything illegal. The state actually did a commendation last year honoring them for their work.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Why are we still discussing this Bullfrog? I PROVED to you that HLA advertises as a theraputic boarding school, I also provided you the means to see for yourself that they are registered with the state as a traditional boarding school. There really isnt a question anymore. Its beyond obvious at this point they are circumventing the law by not being honest with the state regarding their true purpose. Its unfortunate you are far to narrow minded to be open to the truth.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>You continue to insult and belittle me however I have not done that to you. Which one is more of a child Robert?<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Again you are. Oh and for the record you have done such things. Just last night in fact you called me an asshole. Do you need other examples?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>If you feel you personally were abused I am sorry about that, but you dont offer specifics at all.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

You probably dont. Let me ask you though what difference would it make to you what sort of abuse I suffered? Ive given countless examples of other atrocities. Why do you feel you need more?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Your opinion of dorms that were not maintained is kind of general. How bad were they? which ones were bad? What do you consider a long time to get things fixed?<<<<<<<<<<<

Kind of general? Bullfrog I listed off the specific complaints that we brought to your husband. We also brought him pictures but he didnt care about those either. I still have them if youd like to see. As far as reasonable in getting things fixed, well let me ask you. If you called a plumber to come and fix a problem and he said "See you in six months" would you consider that reasonable? Espically considering how much money you had already given him? Also you have still not explained why it matters which dorm I was in, you never went in them anyway.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>What kind of vermin? if it was mice I had them in my own home. Its the woods in North Georgia. AS far as bugs, what kind of bugs? I could go on and on but see you dont offer specifics of your own abuse. <<<<<<<<<<<

So because your own home was filthy ours should be as well. But no more than mice. As far as bugs go, let me offer you this little story. At one point Jim explained to us how to recognize a Black Widow and what to do if we saw one in the dorm as their had been several reports. Again there is much more to tell, none of which matters to you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>And again, let me point out something. You did something to get sent there in the first place<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,

Actually I didn't. I was placed and kept their illegally. I wonder though how is it you think you know how I ended up there?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. It wasnt supposed to be a luxury experience. Its not a dump either.<<<<<<<<

I see so again you feel that 5,000+ a month is reasonable given the squalor we lived in? I mentioned to you before bullfrog, I pay almost as much for one month of HLA as I do now for a semester of college. Which do you think I get more out of? Oh and yes it was a dump, and abusive to boot.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>But Robert just because you dont agree with me doesnt give you the right to say the things you have said about me and say lies about me and call me a liar because I am not one.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Yet it gives you the right to? Get over yourself bullfrog. You are a liar. How many claims of mine have I backed up? Several. How many have you backed up? Zero. Ive got all kinds of testimony behind me, youve got nothing.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Like I said, this is getting real old. The bottom line is you are mean, verbally abusive, insulting, and immature. I have tried very hard to argue with you in a civil fashion over our points. You can't do it. Its a waste of time for me to think you are capable of it. <<<<<<<<

Show me where you were ever civil. Like I said youre a child who is upset shes not getting her way. You should have never left HLA if you cant handle being wrong. I treat people in the same manner in which they treat others. You came on here calling us all degenerates and liars. Dont cry now when you are treated the same way.

Oh and again, I was able to respond to every comment you made. You had to pick and choose.

Like I said youre afraid. [ This Message was edited by: RobertBruce on 2005-12-13 08:45 ]

[RobertBruce]

On 2005-12-13 00:53:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Now, I want to respond to the parent. I am sorry this experience happened to you. I am not there now so I dont know which employee packaged your sons things. My mother in law used to work in that dept and they did use some kitchen boxes however they were the dry goods ones and were clean. Sounds like an error for sure. As far as transcripts I dont know about that one but I think there is some sort of procedure to follow to get it and I am thinking youll get it back eventually. I do think in some instances some kids dont need to be in a residential facility. I think other kids need to be away from home. Its just different for some than others. I think the COD issue with the box is probably their rule if kids were withdrawn prior to graduation but thats just a guess really. I am just offering my opinion of what happened since I dont work there or live there anymore I am using my experiences from when I was there. So I am sorry if I end up being incorrect on some of these. But anyway, dont kick yourself too much about the school, it is a good facility overall but not a good fit for some kids and maybe it wasnt right for your son. There are good people there and most have the kids best interests in mind. I dont know everybody there anymore so I cant speak for all. Good luck with his continued progress.

"

An error that they routinley make? That almost sounds like policy. "Try and screw the kids over who escape our greedy grasps."

Its a good facility? How so? How can be sure of such a thing? Do you know what the end results are?

If a kid is abused there is that in his best interest?

[Anonymous]

On 2005-12-13 00:53:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Now, I want to respond to the parent. I am sorry this experience happened to you. I am not there now so I dont know which employee packaged your sons things. My mother in law used to work in that dept and they did use some kitchen boxes however they were the dry goods ones and were clean. Sounds like an error for sure. As far as transcripts I dont know about that one but I think there is some sort of procedure to follow to get it and I am thinking youll get it back eventually. I do think in some instances some kids dont need to be in a residential facility. I think other kids need to be away from home. Its just different for some than others. I think the COD issue with the box is probably their rule if kids were withdrawn prior to graduation but thats just a guess really. I am just offering my opinion of what happened since I dont work there or live there anymore I am using my experiences from when I was there. So I am sorry if I end up being incorrect on some of these. But anyway, dont kick yourself too much about the school, it is a good facility overall but not a good fit for some kids and maybe it wasnt right for your son. There are good people there and most have the kids best interests in mind. I dont know everybody there anymore so I cant speak for all. Good luck with his continued progress.

"

Got a few questions for you, Miss, uh, Gray?

Must have been an error?  Mood stabilizers getting shipped home UPS ground sounds like an ERROR to you?  You don't believe me? What if I told you I have a scanned envelope of your "error"?

COD's are just, really, a guess?  Tell you what.  Start making guesses when all of your personal effects get sent home in split-open boxes and you don't have your mood stabilizers.  

Sorry on some of these? Damn right you should be sorry.  If you haven't been there in the past six months, you can't say anything about a leaf falling off a tree on that campus, let alone anything that happens in a building or anything at all for that matter.  Maybe you should distance yourself from portraying the image to all of us as the silly little dog humping Len's leg.

Can't speak for all? Can't speak for ANY.

Good luck on his progress.  Sounds like something Charles Cates or your "ex" would say right as they deny something that's legally their own.

Do us, yourself, and everyone on this board a favor -- just don't say ANYTHING, cause it's quite obvious you know NOTHING about what you claim to say.

[joe dirt]

"HAHAHA and what bullfrog do you think the work assingments consisted of?"

ill tell you what, it was cleaning the overflow from the dumpsters that had been festering for weeks, no gloves allowed. it was remaking memorial garden, it was fixing the drainage system, and doing maintenance work like cleaning the bathrooms in the gym and lodge. once i had to dig a trench around the staff parking lot so they could install extremely unneccesary lights. what a waste of money

[SHH Anon Classics]

Try reading the documents you signed when you enrolled the child. They may have clauses about COD shipments and transcripts.

[RobertBruce]

Was that last one you Susie?

I sure hope so.

[Licensed Medical Professi]

My experience with Hidden Lake Academy was also distressing.

In my opinion, and the opinions of the six other physicians in my practice who followed my HLA misadventure with me, HLA is a predator whose prey is the horrified parents of disturbed teens. It is an institution of opportunity, bringing home its bottom line at the expense of the desperate, frazzled families it exploits.

By the time most parents are introduced to HLA, they've already been through a costly and demoralizing gauntlet of police stations, court appearances, counselor visits, psychiatric evaluations...even hospital visits.

To say they are desperate is an understatement. They are trying to keep their families from self-destructing. In most cases, the only option is turning the child out onto the streets: most insurance policies won't cover mental health care, and even if a family is lucky enough to have good coverage, it is limited to short, individual events. Deeply needed inpatient care is rarely an option for most of these families.

So even considering a modality such as a therapeutic boarding school is a true extravagance. Actually sending the student may mean mortgaging a home, selling it, or even bancruptcy.

Enter Hidden Lake and its ilk.

I was asked by the parents of a young teen to evaluate HLA by its Web site. What stood out to me even more than the philosophy that medical therapy was discouraged were the many typographical errors and careless mistakes on nearly every page of the site. While my own writing is not perfect, I am not registered as a boarding school, responsible for the education of children, presumably overflowing with teachers more than capable of proofreading the very materials provided to the public for the purpose of attracting business.

When I brought my concerns to the attention to the school, they were received with, well, less than warm gratitude. My comments to HLA were meant to be constructive. I was gracious and self-effacing in my original letter because the last thing I wanted was to offend the school. Clearly such niceties were a waste of effort.

Given that the parents are expected to pay upwards of seven thousand dollars per month for the privilege of sending their child to a therapeutic boarding school, I actually expected a minimum of civility. None was evident.

My credentials were questioned?this from an institution whose methods are questionable, at best, from a medical (and psychiatric, I might add) point of view.

Fast forward a few months...and imagine how surprised I was to come across the story of the parent in the previous posts. Am I shocked HLA will not send the child's transcripts? Nope. They demonstrated their pettiness, immaturity, and curious vindictiveness to me, a peer and potential referral base a long time ago. Was I surprised that personal belongings, including necessary daily medications, were sent COD?by ground? Actually, yes.

Not only did that shock me, it caused me to pick up the phone and discuss this gross mismanagement of a patient's medications with a malpractice attorney, who recommends HLA check to be sure their insurance premiums are paid.

To the parent: my suggestion is that you alert your attorney to your experience. Gather all proof of your allegations, including the boxes the personal effects were sent in, the COD receipt(s), the condition of any damaged items, a list of missing items, if any, and proof of payments made to HLA. Regardless of any contract signed (as a previous Anonymous poster cryptically stated), a minimum level of responsibility to the patient's health is required by ANY institution. That minimum includes making reasonable arrangements for the patient to have access to their medications. COD shipping by ground is not, by any standard, "reasonable."

So guess what, parent? You may be getting a sizeable percentage of the "investment" HLA coerced you to pay them right back into your pocket.

I'll be cheering for you from this sideline.