TS W - NO way am I referring any parent or anyone else to this school. I was duped. I felt desperate at the time and compromised on this placement because he could come home, was allowed a phone, was sort of transparent, seems safe, etc. Some things they blatantly lied to us about, other things they just did not say. (You have to know the questions to ask - or you know nothing.)
I would not refer anyone there but give them the hindsight we have on this "program"! ASK questions, ask everything, who is with your child, what is their training, what background checks have been done, how is stealing and fighting dealt with, how often they get therapy and when does it occur, do they honor the 12 month IEP, who are the teachers, what are their creditials for working with this population, do they have the staff resume available for parents to view, who is on the board, are members of the board a parent of a child in attendance, AND who in their right mind would have roomed Ian and Jeremy together, do they feel shame or guilt!
70 PR - you got it. We all have to do what we fundamentally believe to be the best for our child.
As for whether one really intends on committing suicide or not - unfortunately this does not determine if they succeed or not. Our fear then was he could make a horrible miscalculation or something and achieve it the next time.... 3 strikes.
He isn't any different than most kids. I know there is plenty that I can learn from all of you, that is why I am here.
He does not prefer living at the school by any means! He is accepting the compromise. My fear is what would be if he were home fulltime. I have not found the support and services in our community or near by and this void scares me. I am just buying time.
there are better and cheaper places to live. Even places where he could get real therapy.
This is what I want to know. I really am open to other solutions. I am asking "what is better". I can accept his being home IF there was a meaningful therapeutic program for him to go to. Please tell me names, if you are not allowed to post it, then PM me.... I will do my research but I just need the direction. When I did start looking for outpatient services either he was too young, they served largely a substance abuse population, or the waiting list was 4 months at a minimum. The latter program was more than a hour by car - which really is not local.
Lighten up a little.
Sigh*

ops: you're right -
Teen gets jail in death at Summit School
I would love to talk about this ongoing tragedy and what if anything can be done.
This is
NOT! an example of their benign negligence. I think often of this case and wonder who defended Ian, and if his mother had the where-with-all and means to sue the school for criminal neglect? I know that this child was the scapegoat. I wonder where he is now, what about his life, and the school's horrible error in judgment. I hate to think he is still sitting in a jail, but he probably is.
Have we been trolled here? The OP is starting to sound pretty fake...
What does "trolled" and "OP" mean? I think not.... Do you think I am an imposture?