The Family Foundation School in Hancock, New York

[Anonymous]

All this is too scary..


I get chills down my back everytime I think about it. You would think this stuff only happens in a scary movie.  :scared:

[Anonymous]

i HAVENT BEEN TO THIS WEB SITE IN A VERY LONG TIME...I HAVE JUST BEEN TRYING TO BLOCK ALL OF THIS OUT OF MY HEAD. I GET TEARS IN MY EYES JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT PLACE, AND AFTER I READ ALL YOUR POSTS. I JUST CANT BELIEVE THESE PLACES ARE GETTING AWAY WITH THIS...THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP SHUT THEM DOWN.
MY FRIEND CAME HOME AUGUST 2003...HE WAS ONLY THERE FOR 7 MONTHS, BUT THATS ALL IT TOOK, I GUESS HE WASNT AS STRONG AS I THOUGHT HE WAS. I DIDNT WANT TO TRULY BELEIVE ALL OF THIS BULLSHIT UNTIL IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. HE, IS BEYOND A DOUBT BRAINWASHED. HE CAME BACK AN INCONSIDERATE, SELF-CENTERED ASS HOLE, WHO CARED ONLY ABOUT HIM SELF AND HIS PARENTS...WHO WERE THE ONES WHO DID THIS TO HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE.(IM NOT SAYING YOU SHOULDNT CARE ABOUT YOUR PARENTS) HE JUST DIDNT FIT INTO THEIR "PICTURE PURFECT" FAMILY....I CANT SAY THAT HE DIDNT HAVE HIS SHARE OF PROBLEMS
,SMOKING WEED,NOT DOING WELL IN SCHOOL, DISRESPECTFUL TOWARDS HIS PARENTS....BUT PLEASE! WHAT NORMAL TEENAGER DOESNT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS!? DOES THIS MEAN WE SHOULD SEND EVERY GOD DAMN TEENAGER TO A THEREPUTIC BOARDING SCHOOL FOR TROUBLED TEENAGERS!? IF ANYTHING HE WAS A BETTER PERSON BEFORE HE WENT TO THAT PLACE. WHY CANT WE JUST LET OUR KIDS GROW UP, MAKE THEIR OWN MISTAKES AND ACTUALLY LET THEM FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE INSTEAD OF WHO THEIR PARENTS WANT THEM TO BE?

-BRITT

[~Kim~]

I had a best friend in hisghschool that was tricked by her parents into going to The Family. It wasn't yet the Family Foundation in 1991-92.
She was commited to teh place b/c she was caught smoking pot. This girl was a smart kid too and I believe her parents didn't really know what they were doing when the decided to put her there.
I can't remember how long she was there, but I helped her run away. She left in the middle of the night and a friend and I went to get her.
She said it was pretty bad. She didn't really talk details, but from what I gather she didn't want to.
Ironically, a few months later. I was on a bus from upstate NY headed to Manhattan and I met a girl who claimed she was from the Family and would I help her find a place to go b/c she was afraid to go back. I couldn't help her but my sister called The Family to let them know this girl was "out" b/c she seemed very distraught and the guy on the phone was more interested in hookin gup with my sister than the missing girl.
Anyway, that's my experience with the family. I am appalled that they have been certified by NYS to become a so called "school"

I am sorry for those who went to this place. :sad:

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have more specific stories about the abuses that go one in this place?  There aren't many programs in New York State; I'm surprised that this one is allowed to continue.

[Anonymous]

I was also a student at The Family, I graduated in december of 2000 and stayed on to work till june of 2001.  I got there in october of 1998.  I think alot of what actually happens there is being misrepresented.  It's not a prison, it's a very strict school.  It's hard when you first get there, for everyone.  Plus, it's not all spiritualism, there is a liscenced psychiatrist who works there and see's students.  The program is based on the 12 steps of AA.  Alot of the kids go there for substance abuse problems, not serious mental illnesses.  When i was there, a few kids did exibit signs of serious mental illness, and they left, they went to psych wards.  So anyway, while i didn't like being there for a while, i got used to it and i made some of the closest and truest friends in my life, with students and staff.  And no, i don't agree with everything that happens there, but frankly, noone's going to agree with everything anybody does.  If you talk to the parents of graduates, they will almost accross the board praise the school up and down (including my parents)  So yeah, just thought i'd put in my 2 cents.

oh, and like the poster above me, the family is the only reason i ended up at a great college with a decent scholarship.  The place can turn your life around for the better, believe me., My name is Mike Nesbit for any alum who might remember me.

[efischer]

I got myself sent to the Family School about 16 months ago.  I made some wrong decisions and am now living on my own in Binghamton New York.  I resent the place greatly, but I must say that the Family School will change your child's life whether or not he or she is willing.  It is a powerful and well-wishing place that will help your kid see what they are powerless over and possibly even lead them to a life of recovery

[Anonymous]

I am a graduate of ASR, a similar school to The Family Foundation School.  ASR has its own share of crazy shit that went on, but its obviously not as bad as the Family Foundation.  My friend at ASR came from Family Foundation, and told me that she was put into an isolation room where food was passed to her thru a slit in the door 3 times a day, and she had to stand at all times except for 1hr a day.  The room was dirty and had piss in it, and she was watched thru a camera.  That place is crazy and so are all other places like it.

[Nihilanthic]

Go to http://www.isaccorp.com/index.html and tell them all you know, and ask for advice.

Also, thanks for getting the word out... but thats the issue. You have to tell people in your community about this, but first get some legal advice. Don't set yourself up for a SLAPP suit.

[chuckmench]

::soapbox:: i suggest a protest and then at night parties for one wek out side the road entering the family

[chuckmench]

I am a 3year family school veteran and have seen it all there.

[PFRR]

go to http://www.pfrr.org we have list serves for every state, parents and others sharing information on Residential Programs....I would suggest you join for NY the state the program is in and also PFRR America.  
Good luck...
 :grin:

[Anonymous]

Chuckmench;

If you've seen it all at the Family Foundation, give us details and more details!  That's the only way anyone can make an honest assessment about the true benefit, detriment or validity of these types of places.

[The_Reverend]

I was sent to the Family school February 18th.  It was hell on earth.  after i was there for about two weeks i saw that suicide mentioned on page 1 of this topic.  the kids name was Tom Malkowski and i had conversed with him only a day before he jumped.  remembering his bloody face makes me sick.  although some kids come out of that school as great people, it made me want to die.  the only reason i am not still at the school is because i got switched by my parents to a different boarding school, http://www.hyde.edu , as a compromise.  the family school is the worst thing i have ever experienced in my life.  to this day i have not seen either of my sisters in 7 months as it was family school policy that i could not see/speak with them.  i am so grateful to be out of there.  feel free to ask me whatever you want, i have first hand experience on it all  :tup:

[Anonymous]

I am disturbed by your postings from somebody with a master degree in pyschology.  I actually attended the Family School in Hancock, New York.  You seem very defensive and appear to be making snap judgements.  I graduated from there and went on to a attend and IVY league school.  I may not agree with everything that went on there, but I also would not have graudated high school, or attended college if it was not for the school.  I would also not be the person I am today, and may of the people that I use to hang out with...are now dead!  Many people try to run away while at the school, and they may tell you horror stories that are not necessary true.  Most people end up there due to poor behavior and manipulations.

[Anonymous]

Hello;

You must be addressing me.  Well, as for your claim that you went to an IVY (capitalized) league school, let's saunter over to the Family school website itself and rummage over the list of colleges that its students were accepted to:
http://www.thefamilyschool.com/index.ph ... =Academics

I see no mention of any Ivy League Universities on this page, just some low level community colleges and demoninational schools.  Purdue and NYU are pretty much the standouts on this list. Therefore you are a liar and a fraud; wouldn't it make sense that the "Family" would triumphantly place this Ivy League acceptance prominently on this page?  And how am I defensive; I don't recall getting attacked in any earlier posts.  Please don't psychoanalyze me; be honest with the school you actually attended and maybe we can build bridges from there.  I've heard enough stories about the 5 hour study halls, forced religion, carrying buckets of rocks, etc. to not worry about making snap judgements.  During any time at the school, were you allowed to have contact with the outside world, except for mummy and daddy who footed the bills?  Any school that engages in these unconstitutional restrictions must be shut down.  There's no need for any of that, and simply perpetuates the imbalance of power that these poor kids are faced with over on that barren hill in Hancock.  Try better next time, Ivy Leaguer.