I am new- what can I do?

[Anonymous]

I have never heard of these place before in my life. I am in college and a friend told me about this website.

I am horrified at what I have read. My question to you is what can I do to help alleviate the suffering of children in these programs you talk so eloquently about? I really want to do something!!!!

[hanzomon4]

Here's some simple tips from the Super Mega Ideas thread!!:

I sat all day at a location that has high visibility to parent-aged looking people.

I held a sign that read
"Kids are being tortured right now - find out why at fornits.com"

If you notice an increase in your net traffic, now you know why.

I think if we all wore t-shirts, had bumper stickers on our cars and spent our free days holding signs we could really do something great.

In two weeks I am embarking on my cross country program sit-in. I am considering doing a hunger strike in front of a program, if I get it cleared with my doctor. Who wants to join me?

A simple Idea from this thread.

If you have free time find out what the laws are regarding complaints against teen facilities( RTC, wilderness, whatever) in your state and add it to the thread linked above.

• What government agency should a survivor complain too?
  
• What access do parents have to complaints filed against a particular facility?
  
• Are programs required to disclose any complaints filed against it to perspective parents?

It won't take up much of your time and you can do it all from home, just hop on the phone.....

I'll also add these two,

• Go to your local libraries and see if they have a copy of Maia Szalavitz's book  Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids. If they don't buy a copy and donate it.
  
• If you have time draft a short summery explaining this issue and pass it along to any local PTA or PTO groups in your town. Engaging school consolers and making them aware of this issue would also be a good idea.

[psy]

I have never heard of these place before in my life. I am in college and a friend told me about this website.

I am horrified at what I have read. My question to you is what can I do to help alleviate the suffering of children in these programs you talk so eloquently about? I really want to do something!!!!

Holy shit.. I think he/she actually gives a shit.  it's quite rare.

Hang around some more and ideas will come to you.  Read, educate first, then take action is my suggestion.  It's best to know your enemy.  I'll post more tomorrow.  But I should probably get to bed.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard of these place before in my life. I am in college and a friend told me about this website.

I am horrified at what I have read. My question to you is what can I do to help alleviate the suffering of children in these programs you talk so eloquently about? I really want to do something!!!!

Broaden your perception by looking beyond this site. Programs exist because they fill a need. Find out all you can, from as many sources as you can.  Try to be honest and objective. Talk to parents about why they chose this sort of thing. Try not to hitch a ride on any bandwagons that run on drama and fear.

[psy]

I have never heard of these place before in my life. I am in college and a friend told me about this website.

I am horrified at what I have read. My question to you is what can I do to help alleviate the suffering of children in these programs you talk so eloquently about? I really want to do something!!!!

Broaden your perception by looking beyond this site. Programs exist because they fill a need. Find out all you can, from as many sources as you can.  Try to be honest and objective. Talk to parents about why they chose this sort of thing. Try not to hitch a ride on any bandwagons that run on drama and fear.

By all means, Look beyond this site. But also know that this site is unmoderated, where all opinions are allowed.  The same is not true anywhere else.