Lon on Licensure and Regulation

[Deborah]

UNLICENSED AND UNREGULATED?
Posted: Feb 21, 2007
10:02  
By: Lon Woodbury

In some circles, there have been growing demands from critics insisting that private parent-choice schools and programs, both residential therapeutic and emotional growth boarding schools, be regulated through licensing. One stated presumption is there is no oversight over these programs because they are unlicensed and unregulated. There also seems to be the presumption that with oversight, these programs will stop the perceived abusive and punitive methods that are claimed common. Another presumption is that lack of government or any other type of oversight is the rule, and that responsible programs are the exception.

I've always wondered exactly what programs these critics have in mind.

Uh, those that warehouse kids 24/7 and advertise that they provide "therapy".

True, there are some rogue operators who manage to get away with it for a time, despite being roundly condemned by legitimate professionals in the field, including responsible Educational Consultants and programs. Many have eventually been shut down by the authorities or otherwise forced to close their doors. I am aware of some who have settled in foreign countries to avoid any kind of oversight. (This doesn't include those who conscientiously follow US standards even when they are not forced to by foreign governments.) There are others I am aware of who take kids as a type of group home and claim their business license or permit (or some equivalent) is all that is necessary. But in my experience, these are the exceptions, the bad apples that any industry is plagued with. Apparently the critics believe that these rogue operations are the norm, thus the terms "unlicensed and unregulated." In their view, since the industry is "unlicensed and unregulated," federal legislation creating federal oversight is a vital necessity.

To answer the accusation that this industry is "unlicensed and unregulated," I went to the list of the top hundred schools and programs as viewed by the leading Independent Educational Consultants.

That's a pretty broad brush you're using there. No one has claimed that every program wasn't properly licensed in their state of operation. And why exactly should the opinion of Ed Cons be considered? They aren't regulated and there are no formal educational requirements.

These are the schools and programs found in my Parent Empowerment Handbook?, and are based on an annual survey among the leading Independent Educational Consultants. The last edition was published in early summer last year. These schools and programs are the ones with the best reputations. They are presumably the most often used for placement by professional Independent Educational Consultants and are leaders in our network. These schools and programs are at the heart of the industry that is being accused of being "unlicensed and unregulated."

Below is a list of those schools and programs that are licensed and regulated. I didn't include those only under the umbrella of a state's Children's Protective Service, or equivalent, with a mandate to intervene if any child in their jurisdiction is abused, which is a form of regulation.

What? Since when does CPS license/regulate residential facilities? While they are sanctioned to intervene in cases of abuse, they are under the same umbrella as the licensing division, but are separate departments.

I also didn't include those who are just accredited for their academics, but that is also a form of regulation which includes a legal mandate in at least most states to report abuse if ever observed.
In addition, I didn't include those that only have active parent activities, since a steady stream of parents and Educational Consultants through a facility is in itself an informal form of oversight.  :rofl:  Finally, I did not include those who just have credentialed staff who have a legal responsibility to report unacceptable behavior, and also those who are members of professional organizations which also would have an interest in stopping abusive behavior they might become aware of.

I did include those who are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), because this is a designation that is difficult to obtain, and in many ways is the gold standard for competency, effectiveness and professionalism in healthcare organizations. As a result, I took a fairly narrow view of the question of how many of the programs were regulated with state oversight. The list of 100 schools and programs includes many wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools, as well as many residential treatment centers and mainstream type schools who take students transitioning from more highly structured schools and programs. The following are the schools and programs, as reported to us for the Handbook, from the 100 leaders in the private industry of residential parent-choice schools and programs, that have either some kind of state licensure or JCAHO accreditation, or both.

Adirondack Leadership Expeditions
       Permit from New York Department of Health

Anasazi Foundation
       JCAHO accredited, licensed by Arizona Department of Economic Security and Department of Human Services as a Behavioral Healthcare Provider.

Aspen Achievement Academy
       JCAHO accredited, licensed as an Outdoor Treatment Program by the Utah Department of Human Services

Aspen Ranch
       Licensed as a Residential Treatment Center in Utah

Boulder Creek Academy
       Licensed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

Catherine Freer
       JCAHO accredited, licensed as a Mental Health Program and an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program by the State of Oregon

Center for Change
       JCAHO accredited

Chapel Haven
       Licensed by Connecticut

Copper Canyon Academy
       Arizona Behavioral Health Services licensed.

Explorations Home Base
       Licensed by Montana as a group home

Forest Heights Lodge
       JCAHO Accredited

Glenholme School
       Licensed by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families

Gray Wolf Ranch
       Licensed through Washington State Department of Health

Greenwood School
       Licensed by the State of Vermont

Hazelden Center For Youth & Families
       Licensed and accredited by JCAHO, and Minnesota Department of Health

Intermountain
       JCAHO and Montana State licensed

Island View
       Licensed by the Utah Division of Licensure and JCAHO

King George School
       Accredited by Vermont Department of Child and Family Services

The Learning Clinic
       Licensed by the State of Connecticut Department of Children & Families

Logan River Academy
       Licensed by the State of Utah Department of Human Services

Menninger Clinic
       JCAHO accredited and licensed by the Texas Department of Health

Mount Bachelor Academy
       Licensed by Oregon Department of Health and Human Services

New Dominion School of Virginia
       Licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia with Interdepartmental Licensure and Certification

New Haven Female RTC
       Licensed by Utah as a Residential Treatment Center and as an Addiction Treatment Center

New Leaf Academy
       Licensed by the State of Oregon

Northwest Academy
       Licensed as a "Children's Residential Care Facility" in Idaho

Provo Canyon School
       JCAHO accredited, licensed by Utah Department of Human Services

Remuda Ranch Programs
       JCAHO accredited, licensed by the State of Arizona

Redcliff Ascent
       Licensed by the State of Utah

Riverview School
       Licensed by Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services

Rogers Memorial Hospital
       JCAHO accredited, licensed by Wisconsin as Psychiatric Hospital

San Cristobal Ranch Academy
       Licensed in New Mexico as a Pharmaceutical Custodial Care Facility

Sierra Tucson
       JCAHO accredited

Spring Ridge Academy
       Licensed by the Arizona Department of Behavioral Health

Spruce Mountain Inn
       Licensed in Vermont as a Therapeutic Community Residence

Summit Achievement
       Licensed as a Residential Treatment Center in Maine, with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment certifications

SUWS Adolescent Program
       Licensed in Idaho

SUWS Youth Program
       Licensed in Idaho

SUWS of the Carolinas
       Licensed in North Carolina

Three Springs of Duck River
       Licensed Residential Child Care Facility in Tennessee

Three Springs - Paint Rock Valley
       Licensed as an Outdoor Treatment Center by the Alabama Department of Youth Services

Valley View School
       Licensed as Treatment Facility in Massachusetts

Villa Santa Maria
       Licensed by New Mexico to provide Residential Treatment

Vista Adolescent Treatment Centers
       JCAHO accredited, licensed by the Utah Department of Human Services

Wilderness Quest
       JCAHO accredited, Licensed by the Utah Department of Human Services

Out of the 100 leaders in the industry of private, parent-choice, therapeutic and emotional growth schools and programs, about half (45) have some kind of state licensure and/or JCAHO accreditation.
Actually, the percentage would be higher because some of the leading programs are in Montana, which does not yet have comprehensive licensure but is developing it with the cooperation and help from these schools.  :question: The percentage of WHAT?
The percentage would also be higher if we excluded those that are included in the top 100 who are primarily mainstream boarding schools, that just take graduates of more highly structured programs as a transition and make no claim to be therapeutic, thus not needing licensure.

A moment of truth.

So, where are these "unlicensed and unregulated" schools and programs we hear accusations about? Certainly not with the schools and programs we at Woodbury Reports and other professional Independent Educational Consultants primarily work with.

Oh Lonny dear. My the webs we weave....
Where's HLA & ASR to name two. Not in your top 100? Or some of the other "home based" programs you promote that are operating with a "foster home license"? I don't have time at the moment, but will get back to this list as time allows. We'll see how the facts weight out.

[RobertBruce]

Please tell me you responded directly to this idiot.

After reading it I did find one thing that struck me interesting, Lon groups TBS's, Wilderness Programs, RTC, group homes together.

[AtomicAnt]

Regulated or not, the entire argument avoids the ethical issue of whether it is right to use a coercive approach to therapy. My objection to the industry has never been founded on regulation, blatant abuse, or efficacy. I take the simple stand that using coercive persuasion on anyone is unethical.

[RobertBruce]

Agreed, but I believe regulation would be a huge step towards getting rid of alot of that if for no other reason it shines a huge flash light on the whole mess.

[psy]

there are so many holes in that piece of propoganda i don't even know where to start...  aw fuck it. i have more imporant shit to do..

[hanzomon4]

there are so many holes in that piece of propoganda i don't even know where to start...  aw fuck it. i have more imporant shit to do..

One thing I've learned by watching King W. Bush is that asses tend to expose themselves. So do take care of the important shit and just let this dumb shit burn.

Popcorn any one?

[Nihilanthic]

Regulated or not, the entire argument avoids the ethical issue of whether it is right to use a coercive approach to therapy. My objection to the industry has never been founded on regulation, blatant abuse, or efficacy. I take the simple stand that using coercive persuasion on anyone is unethical.

Considering nobody can demonstrate this works at all you don't even need to address coercion!

[Ursus]

Regulated or not, the entire argument avoids the ethical issue of whether it is right to use a coercive approach to therapy. My objection to the industry has never been founded on regulation, blatant abuse, or efficacy. I take the simple stand that using coercive persuasion on anyone is unethical.

Considering nobody can demonstrate this works at all you don't even need to address coercion!

I'm partly with AA on this one.  Demonstrating that coercive persuasion "works" or not does not seem to prevent the populace from signing up for it.  And it is a method that is insidious and pervasive, not to mention having the potential for being used on mainstream society (as, indeed, it already has been).

However, this does not take away from concerns about regulation, blatant abuse, etc...

[blownawaytheidahoway]

posted: Feb 21, 2007
10:02  
By: Lon Woodbury:

"In some circles, there have been growing demands from critics insisting that private parent-choice schools and programs, both residential therapeutic and emotional growth boarding schools, be regulated through licensing. One stated presumption is there is no oversight over these programs because they are unlicensed and unregulated. There also seems to be the presumption that with oversight, these programs will stop the perceived abusive and punitive methods that are claimed common. Another presumption is that lack of government or any other type of oversight is the rule, and that responsible programs are the exception.

I've always wondered exactly what programs these critics have in mind.

True, there are some rogue operators who manage to get away with it for a time, despite being roundly condemned by legitimate professionals in the field, including responsible Educational Consultants and programs. Many have eventually been shut down by the authorities or otherwise forced to close their doors. I am aware of some who have settled in foreign countries to avoid any kind of oversight. (This doesn't include those who conscientiously follow US standards even when they are not forced to by foreign governments.) There are others I am aware of who take kids as a type of group home and claim their business license or permit (or some equivalent) is all that is necessary. But in my experience, these are the exceptions, the bad apples that any industry is plagued with. Apparently the critics believe that these rogue operations are the norm, thus the terms "unlicensed and unregulated." In their view, since the industry is "unlicensed and unregulated," federal legislation creating federal oversight is a vital necessity.

To answer the accusation that this industry is "unlicensed and unregulated," I went to the list of the top hundred schools and programs as viewed by the leading Independent Educational Consultants.

These are the schools and programs found in my Parent Empowerment Handbook?, and are based on an annual survey among the leading Independent Educational Consultants. The last edition was published in early summer last year. These schools and programs are the ones with the best reputations. They are presumably the most often used for placement by professional Independent Educational Consultants and are leaders in our network. These schools and programs are at the heart of the industry that is being accused of being "unlicensed and unregulated."

Below is a list of those schools and programs that are licensed and regulated. I didn't include those only under the umbrella of a state's Children's Protective Service, or equivalent, with a mandate to intervene if any child in their jurisdiction is abused, which is a form of regulation.
I also didn't include those who are just accredited for their academics, but that is also a form of regulation which includes a legal mandate in at least most states to report abuse if ever observed.
In addition, I didn't include those that only have active parent activities, since a steady stream of parents and Educational Consultants through a facility is in itself an informal form of oversight.  :rofl:  Finally, I did not include those who just have credentialed staff who have a legal responsibility to report unacceptable behavior, and also those who are members of professional organizations which also would have an interest in stopping abusive behavior they might become aware of.

I did include those who are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), because this is a designation that is difficult to obtain, and in many ways is the gold standard for competency, effectiveness and professionalism in healthcare organizations. As a result, I took a fairly narrow view of the question of how many of the programs were regulated with state oversight. The list of 100 schools and programs includes many wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools, as well as many residential treatment centers and mainstream type schools who take students transitioning from more highly structured schools and programs. The following are the schools and programs, as reported to us for the Handbook, from the 100 leaders in the private industry of residential parent-choice schools and programs, that have either some kind of state licensure or JCAHO accreditation, or both."
___________________________________________________

I've left a lot of the drama about placement alone. I thought CEDU, the CEDU I've been writing about, and thinking about was dead. And it just wasn't my kind of thing. But I must respond to outright manufactured ends justify the means mentality of adults that were never in any programs and didn't ever participate in months or years of therapy...AGAINST their own will. So, I  mostly want to respond to the beginning of this post. The ongoing phrasing used about perceived or claimed complaints or 'abuse' is somewhat patronizing. Everywhere I look I have to question what is ABUSE?

I'm going to take it to the personal level.
I remember you, LON! I Bet you're surpised. Do you remember R. Spears? Where do they all go? I have correspondence between my parents and you right now. You were working at the CEDU campus RMA in Idaho, remember? Isn't that where you became convinced of basically everything you believe about this industry?
Seriously? CEDU was the "grandaddy" and "Mercedes" of the Troubled Teen industry in the time you were working there. Remember how that was? Did you enjoy the air conditioned offices? The one you spent so much time in in the bottom of Emerson with the air conditioning while I was out slogging away on another work assignment? OH! Why was I on "another work assignment"? Because it took a long time to "break me". That was the term used affectionately by everyone, myself included, when I was finally coerced into believeing the great things about CEDU education.
You were on the phone with parents of kids, seeing only the parents point of view, werent you? You were recruiting, and wheeling and dealing, to save potential parents a few thousand bucks or a few months of free enrollment, should they recommend some other parents. NOT KIDS. You learned to talk to the insurance companies and the accredation enterprises, you know, to assist the parents in seeing the investment as a legitimate one. When did you start sitting in on raps anyway? I don't remember you ever participating in the "therapy" you were yelling, oh, I mean SELLING. Nope, you were selling , at the time I was at RMA, a product that you knew nothing about- That is FIRSTHAND.
Don't you miss CEDU? It was so GOOD how it turned out us wilderness counselors, educational consultants, and college grads, and most importantly, investors for NEW school/programs.
Lord, How it categorically changed those troubled teens for a few years? That's great! They were saved...for a while, maybe.
You were a good salesman of a 'working' product that sold brilliantly for a long time. Why don't you tell us what really happened to CEDU?  You never had it so good! How did the Brown Schools and the change to pharmacological coercion fuck it all up? And another thing:
The reason for needed government oversite and regulation is not to help catch the "few bad apples" and spot abuse.
It is needed to define what abuse is. We only have one word for it whether you are put in a dog- cage, held against your will without contact with anyone you want for YEARS, held down until you have a broken arm or worse, made to sit in HUNDREDS of confrontational group sessions, kept up all night with  known mind numbing techniques until you admit that the program is a much needed 'tool' for life, hiked to exhaustian with limited sustenance and hydration for a month, worked without pay, or simply ignored and treated as a pariah until you adopt the mentality of the group (or your parents and the promises made by the fucking educational consultant sending off the glossy brochures to parents hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles from where the positive, live altering experience can take place.)

Lon has been working in this field a long time, but why? You see, I'd really like an answer, because the "good" places, really weren't all that good, fair, or deserved.
 
P.S. I don't lurk at your duplicitous website, and I'm not an activist, per se, but please feel free (anyone) to cut and paste this to his site, and/ or contact me about the above asked questions and the above thread.

[Anonymous]

At least one of tyhese is BS. Explorations Home Base isn't on any lists of montana's licensed group homes.