Are these licences state ones? eg run by the dept or human services or its eq? What can be done if a programme refuses to be licenced by the state? Can it be shut down?
DHR's Office of Regulatory Services in Ga received ample documentation to show that HLA was a TBS, and should be licensed.
ORS's attorney met with HLA's attorney who allegedly told them that no "therapy" ocurred at HLA, that they were a private boarding school.
ORS disregarded the information they'd received and apparently didn't even bother to look at HLA's website and promotional materials, much less require them to defend their claim.
While HLA's wilderness program was required to be licensed, HLA remained unlicensed, which is now under investigation again.
Academy at Swift River? I don't know the details, but they remain unlicensed and claim also to be a boarding school. Proud member of NATSAP.
Programs operating as Boarding Schools are exempt, considered private corporations with all the rights that entails. It is very difficult for regulators to gain access to the facility, even when abuse is suspected. Once licensed, they fall under the regulators jurisdiction and they can go in anytime to investigate a complaint.
Yes, regulators can shut down a program or facility, but the situation or conditions has to be pretty horrific. Take for instance Star Ranch RTC in Tx. A child died of suffocation due to restraint. The state continued to place foster kids until a second child died due to a accident a few months later. At that time DFPS revoked their license. The owner planned to request an Administrative Review, last I heard. Their website states its "under construction".
http://www.starranch.org/http://www.isaccorp.org/starranch/star- ... 17.06.htmlhttp://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... sc&start=0What does "shutting them down" mean? Well, they can open up with a new name and it's business as usual.
Example: Woodside Trails Wilderness (Tx) shut down, reopened as Eagle Pines
Academy claiming to be a private boarding school and exempt from state licensing. Proud member of NATSAP.
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... t=woodsidehttp://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... t=woodsideThen there is was Skyline Journey (Utah) where my neighbor, Ian August, was killed. Licensed was finally revoked. Opened a program for over 18s called Distant Drums, and after some time passed started accepting adolescents. Proud member of NATSAP.
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... ht=skylineThen there was Camp O'Neal (Ca) 4 or 5 kids killed in an accident. Bobby Christensen (Trott at the time) ordered not to run another facility for youth. Hopped to another state (Oregon) and opened Crater Lake "School". Proud member of NATSAP.
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... ight=trottAfter Northstar's (Utah) license was revoked following the sadistic killing of Aaron Bacon, Sage Walk (another proud member of NATSAP) hired his killer (Eric Henry), who was under a diversion agreement and ordered not to work for any other programs "for 9 months".
http://wwf.fornits.com/viewtopic.php?p= ... nry#116386That should give you an idea of how the Industry works around regulation.
There are many other similar accounts.