To you "Off topic" folks -Instead of bashing parents or staff of programs, and making assumptioms without facts, when you don't even know what happened, let's focus on realistic changes that can be made at the state and/or federal level to stop the madness of teens dying in treatment.
Anyone with actual useful information or documentaable proof about negligence about the innerworkings of the state of Utah in regards to reform in residential treatmemt programs and why criminal charges are rarely filed, lack of stiffer licensing and enforcement, etc should post this information so that the family can contact the appropriate high level officials and get effective action. These are not "disposable" kids, shame on those who bash the parents for being the problem instead of actively advocating for legislative change. Get a life and get moving and do something responsible....This boys death is tragic, but let's all turn it into something positive for all the other troubled kids out there who have needs for alternative placememts.
A Sad Friend
I worked at Youth Care for 2.5 years as a line staff and also as a 'key' staff. I'm easily identifiable - I was assaulted by a student and required facial reconstruction surgery - and any time I post my old 'friends' who still work there are told to have no contact with me, so I know I'm pushing some serious buttons.
The night I was attacked there were not enough staff on shift, a common occurence at this program. There were two staff assigned to a house with 14 students - I was only there to finish up paperwork from the day shift. The student that attacked me was able to walk away from his group, sneak up behind me, and when I hung up the phone he started swinging. Another student was also able to walk away from his group to come watch.
You want first hand knowledge? I would come in to work in the mornings and watch the graveyard staff unplug their xbox/ps2/dvd players/laptops, hurry and check all the boxes on the log sheets signifying that they checked the students every 15 mins for signs of life (breathing, movement, etc...) and leave. Sometimes the graves were still asleep when I got there (they weren't supposed to sleep). This student was sleeping out of his room which, according to our training, he should have been checked on every 15 mins. If they were checking, how did the student's body proceed through rigor and livor mortis before the staff even noticed he was deceased?
I finally quit in disgust when the student who watched me get assaulted was re-admitted to the programm despite my concerns for my own safety or the safety of others (he had a history of sexually acting out/flashing female students).
Programs in Utah, and I worked in a few until I gave up and moved to adult corrections, rely on a cheap student labor market and the mystique that 'Utah' is a great, safe place. Youth Care is like most other programs - profit driven, not care driven.
I worked with some great staff, I tried to be a good staff. Too bad the administrators can't be more like some of the staff they're fortunate enough to have on the payroll.
