Author Topic: Misc. Bitts and Butts  (Read 3571 times)

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Offline Ursus

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Misc. Bitts and Butts
« on: December 17, 2007, 02:10:01 PM »
It would seem that Bonners Ferry, Idaho, is a bit far from Connecticut to just stop by for a visit mid school year?

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THOMPSON VISITS WOODBURY REPORTS

(October 5, 2007) Holly Thompson, Admissions Director of Hyde School At Woodstock, Woodstock, CT, 860-963-4758, stopped by the Woodbury Reports office to visit.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Anonymous

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Misc. Bitts and Butts
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2007, 04:01:38 AM »
maybe she needed a new Tshirt

captcha: traveled Chicago
I shit you not.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Ursus

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Misc. Bitts and Butts
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2007, 10:36:21 PM »
Geeez... how did I miss this one earlier?  Did George Posner become an Ed Con before -- or after -- Hyde?  From StrugglingTeens:

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From my experience as an educational researcher and as a former Hyde School parent[/color], I have found it useful to think of the phases through which parents must pass as a series of realizations. Each realization itself takes place over time as the person progressively internalizes it. This internalization process, stated simply, moves from the head (understanding what needs to be done), to the heart (believing in a course of action), to a commitment to act (ready to do it).

I have seen parents (including myself) come to five realizations during a successful placement process:
    1.) Realization that a problem exists. Overcoming denial is the first phase. It can be triggered by a range of potential precipitating events, including falling grades, parents learning of a child's sexual acting out, verbal or physical abuse of a parent, suspension from school, running away from home, attempted suicide, or arrest, among others. A particular event or set of events, will function as a "turning point" if it moves the parent from denial to the realization that a serious problem exists. Of course every parent has his or her own "turning point." This phase involves not only seeing the behavior, but also realizing that it is neither "normal" or O.K. (just because others are doing it) and that the child will not necessarily grow out of it (and may even die from it).

    Helping a family move from understanding that a problem exists, to a sense of readiness to act can be difficult. I have found that I as a consultant can be instrumental in this process by asking the parents the same question that one admissions director asked me when I was struggling with a decision about my child: "What exactly are you waiting for?"

    2.) Realization that home is not necessarily the best place for the needed changes to take place, and may even be part of the problem. Children typically resist leaving home, younger children because of their attachment to their parents, adolescents more because of their attachment to their peers. Parents resist sending their children to a distant program due to guilt that they have failed as parents, their own need for companionship, and their need to nurture their child. Parent support groups can be crucial in helping parents move successfully through this phase.

    3.) Realization that the problem is serious enough to warrant a major disruption in the family's budget. Treatment programs, schools, transportation, and evaluations all can represent an overwhelming expense, even for those who can afford them. And since no program or school can guarantee results, the parent may have grown so disheartened and disgusted, that desperation has turned to hopelessness and pessimism. These two factors, costs and the lack of guarantees, can interact to become a major obstacle to taking action.

    I have found it possible to overcome this obstacle with an analogy: Suppose your child had cancer and I told you that there was good news and bad news about it. The good news is that the disease is treatable and that treatment is often successful. The bad news is that the treatment will cost a lot of money and that there are no guarantees. Would you say, "Wait. I'm not sure I want you to treat my child.?" Well, your child has cancer of the soul and it could kill him if not treated. However, it is treatable, but it will cost a lot and is not always successful. So, what do you want to do? Sometimes I have pointed out that younger siblings are watching how the parents are dealing with the problems and that decisive action may prevent future problems with siblings, regardless of success with the child who is acting out.

    4.) Realization that it will take a long time before the child can come back home. Everybody would love a quick fix. Even if parents don't expect it at the outset, once they see their child act "normal" within a program and the memory of the crisis begins to fade, the parents can relapse back into denial. Maybe the problem was not so bad after all; maybe they acted too quickly; maybe the child can come home now. This is the time when parents who are not prepared typically pull their child out of the program or renege on their commitment to follow up a short-term program with a longer-term program or school. They need to realize that one to two years of treatment is a short time compared to the amount of time during which the problems were developing. Commitment to graduation from the program is essential before the placement.

    5.) Realization that they as parents played a role in the development of problems and that they are crucial in order to work through the problems successfully. In matters of character there is no way of escaping the fact that parents are their childre's primary teachers. Durable changes in children (i.e. changes that last once the child leaves the school or program) often require serious family work. Again, parent support groups, commitment to family counseling, and parent attendance at Alanon are often important steps for parents to take. As a consultant I try to help parents realize that the time during which the child is away from home is an opportunity for parent personal growth, rather than just time to feel guilty or for parents to escape their problems (e.g. spending more time at work). I try to help parents avoid getting stuck in guilt, but, at the same time, accept responsibility for their roles in the family dynamics.

    Then the next step becomes moving them to take some steps in changing those dynamics. For a child finally doing well in a program or school, a visit (or vacation) home may well be more a test of the family's progress than a test of the child's. How to make the connection between program and home seamless represents a major challenge for any family. This phase is often the most difficult.[/list]
    Each parent moves through each of these 5 realizations at his or her own pace, often getting stuck at a particular one, unable to progress on his or her own. It is at these points that leadership needs to emerge in the family. Without leadership the family languishes or, worse, spirals downward. It is difficult to predict where leadership will emerge. The mother, who has been accused of being overly emotional may be the only one who is finally willing to act on the basis of her conscience, even if her action creates disharmony. Or the father, who has been overly rational, analytic and emotionally inaccessible, may be the one who pushes the family to make fundamental changes in the way it functions. Occasionally the out-of-control child, once he or she is out of crisis, emerges as the leader in the family. People outside the immediate family, such as grandparents or an adult brother or sister, might even take on the leadership role. And leadership may shift from one family member to another as each person progresses at his or her own pace through the phases of growth.

    As a consultant, because of the need to maintain professional distance, I can never lead the family members through the phases of growth, but can only act as a catalyst for these changes: by asking questions, challenging invalid assumptions and beliefs, sharing personal experiences, encouraging phone calls to other parents, and lending reading materials.

    Although my ultimate goal in any placement is always the growth of the child, I understand the importance of the parents in this process. Parents can be the greatest resource in turning a child's life around, but can also be the greatest obstacle. How I as a consultant work with parents can often make the difference.

    Copyright © 1997, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
    « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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    Offline Ursus

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    Re: Misc. Bitts and Butts
    « Reply #3 on: December 29, 2007, 07:23:33 AM »
    Quote from: ""StrugglingTeens""
    (October 5, 2007) Holly Thompson, Admissions Director of Hyde School At Woodstock, Woodstock, CT, 860-963-4758, stopped by the Woodbury Reports office to visit.
    From a November, 2005 post:
    http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=148911#148911
    Quote from: ""Guest""
    CAVEAT - just read that Holly Thompson is head of the LEAD program - and that this is special ed help for your child with hands-on help, etc. - for this you spend several EXTRA thousands - WE did and it is nothing but a mandatory study hall in the evenings - No one was there to "tutor" or "help" - there were random staff assigned each night - it was just a hodge-podge of kids thrown into a room because their parents paid for it - there was NO help at all - caveat emptor....

    Is Holly Thompson still heading up the LEAD program as well as being the Woodstock Admissions Director, or is someone else wearing that hat now??
    « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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    Offline Anonymous

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    Re: Misc. Bitts and Butts
    « Reply #4 on: December 30, 2007, 11:41:11 PM »
    Quote from: ""Ursus""
    Quote from: ""StrugglingTeens""
    (October 5, 2007) Holly Thompson, Admissions Director of Hyde School At Woodstock, Woodstock, CT, 860-963-4758, stopped by the Woodbury Reports office to visit.
    From a November, 2005 post:
    http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=148911#148911
    Quote from: ""Guest""
    CAVEAT - just read that Holly Thompson is head of the LEAD program - and that this is special ed help for your child with hands-on help, etc. - for this you spend several EXTRA thousands - WE did and it is nothing but a mandatory study hall in the evenings - No one was there to "tutor" or "help" - there were random staff assigned each night - it was just a hodge-podge of kids thrown into a room because their parents paid for it - there was NO help at all - caveat emptor....
    Is Holly Thompson still heading up the LEAD program as well as being the Woodstock Admissions Director, or is someone else wearing that hat now??


    Holly Thompson was hard up for a husband and finally found one of the fathers who she married. When I was there she certainly did not practice Truth Over Harmony and in fact needed some lessons in learning how to tell the truth!  Does this ring a bell Holly?
    « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

    Guest

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    Misc. Bitts and Butts
    « Reply #5 on: December 31, 2007, 12:31:23 AM »
    Poor Holly.  She certainly won't get any lessons in telling the truth at Hyde, land of double-speak.  "Truth" at Hyde is only when it is convenient or inconsequential, ie., when it benefits them.  Not exactly what those of us in the real world think of it as.

    Kids, be careful!  Those administrators at Hyde are really ethical misfits masquerading as grownups!  A suit from Brooks Brothers does not a human being make!
    « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

    Offline Anonymous

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    Misc. Bitts and Butts
    « Reply #6 on: December 31, 2007, 05:50:37 AM »
    Quote from: ""Guest""
    Kids, be careful!  Those administrators at Hyde are really ethical misfits masquerading as grownups!  A suit from Brooks Brothers does not a human being make!

    Quoted!
    « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

    Offline Ursus

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    Re: Misc. Bitts and Butts
    « Reply #7 on: January 18, 2008, 10:25:38 PM »
    Is Mark Murrell the one who is responsible for building up Hyde's website?

    Hmm. But a "200% increase in admission inquiries" seems to have failed in increasing actual admissions...




    Mark Murrell, Vice President, Eighty20
    416-383-1300 x 580

    Mark has almost 10 years of experience in helping schools better market themselves online. Formerly the Director of Internet Communications for Hyde Schools (Bath, Maine, Woodstock, CT, Washington, DC, Bronx, NY, New Haven, CT ), Mark was able to achieve a 200% increase in admission inquiries. Mark avidly researches current trends and widely shares how they relate to the independent school industry.



    How To Apply The Seven Secrets to Marketing your School on the Internet
    December 7, 2007 - Friday, 12:00 - 1:30 PM EDT REGISTER NOW

    Get ready to learn how you can apply the Seven Marketing Secrets for your own School so that you can double your admission inquiries and generate more qualified traffic to your website.

    Participate in this LIVE online web assessment for an Independent School that has volunteered to be our case study, and you get to watch this process unfold. This assessment will be carried out by an Internet Marketing specialist, Mark Murrell, former Director of Internet Marketing for Hyde Schools, who will be using his 10 years + experience and knowledge to show our case-study school what they can do to immediately generate increased admission inquiries and visitors to their school.

    You don't want to miss this one-of-a-kind online training, and the opportunity to learn from Mark who has helped a number of schools increase their admission inquiries by 200% in just under 6 months! To register, simply click here.
    « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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    Offline Ursus

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    Re: Misc. Bitts and Butts
    « Reply #8 on: March 02, 2008, 10:59:48 AM »
    It would appear almost everyone coaches something or other while they are on staff there... I guess it's cuz you're being "coached for life!"
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    Offline Ursus

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    ECS forms partnership with Homeward Bound
    « Reply #9 on: October 09, 2008, 12:22:41 AM »
    Update on George Posner's gig, Educational Consulting Services:

    They've partnered with the "aftercare" program Homeward Bound; see this Family Front thread for more info on that program. Homeward Bound founder Tim Thayne and at least some other H.B. personnel appear to have the Aspen program Outback Therapeutic Expeditions (formerly known as Walkabout) as well as TBS Maple Lake Academy in their backgrounds. (Homeward Bound / Family Front are not very forthcoming about their employees' career specifics.)

    ECS is a small EdCon group based in Syracuse, NY and Salt Lake City, UT. Three people are noted on its website. ECS founder is George Posner, former Hyde School parent. Judging from tracks left on the internet, I would say he has tended to favor Aspen programs (and Hyde, I'm sure). More info on the third post in this here Bitts and Butts thread (see above), and on the EdCon forum.

    —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•—

    Homeward Bound
    Lehi, UT

    George Posner's Education Consulting Services Partners With Homeward Bound

    Contact:
    Tim Thayne
    801-768-1441
    http://www.homewardbound.net

    October 6, 2008

    Despite economic downturns, many families across the country are still in desperate need of help for their troubled teens, and a new partnership between placement and consulting firm, Education Consulting Services (ECS), and after-care experts, Homeward Bound, offers these families the assistance they need to achieve greater long-term success.

    “We have been impressed, as many of our clients have been, with Homeward Bound’s professionalism and positive outcomes,” said Dr. George Posner, founder of ECS and director of eastern services. “Many of our families have credited their teen’s successful transition home to the aftercare support they received as a family from Homeward Bound. We believe our partnership will allow us to further improve the overall outcome for ECS families.”

    Through this partnership, ECS will be able to custom-design comprehensive aftercare plans for its clients with the help of transition specialists at Homeward Bound. All ECS clients will receive a complimentary subscription to Homeward Bound’s online collaboration, communication, and parent education tool called The Family Bridge. Other available aftercare resources include in-home coaching, 24-hour professional support, and parenting seminars.

    “The Family Bridge is truly innovative,” said Sarah Finney, a licensed marriage and family therapist and director of western services at ECS. “We’ve never seen anything like it and are excited to offer this feature to every family we work with.”

    In addition to offering greater success through aftercare treatment and support, the partnership between ECS and Homeward Bound may also help to make treatment options more affordable for families.

    “By including intensive in-home services and multi-systemic support as an option within the overall treatment plan, treatment lengths can be shortened,” said Dr. Tim Thayne, founder and CEO of Homeward Bound. “This makes the placement of troubled teens in out-of-home treatment settings more financially feasible to a larger number of families than ever before.”

    For more information about Homeward Bound’s aftercare services or its partnership with ECS, contact Tim Thayne at Homeward Bound.

    About Homeward Bound:
    Created in response to a need for more effective aftercare help for troubled teens, Homeward Bound is recognized as the industry leader in aftercare and transition management. The company’s innovative, evidence-based aftercare program helps teens and families bridge the gap between out-of-home treatment and the return to real life. For more than three years, Homeward Bound has assisted teens and their families throughout North America in navigating the transition process and achieving long-term success, unity, and happiness.

    About Educational Consultant Services:
    Established in 1994, Educational Consulting Services (ECS) advises and guides families from across the U.S., Canada and abroad seeking solutions for children and other family members with emotional, behavioral, learning or substance-abuse issues that require intensive support and intervention. ECS has offices in New York and Utah and can be found on the web at gposner.com.
    « Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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    Offline Ursus

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    Re: Misc. Bitts and Butts
    « Reply #10 on: October 16, 2008, 02:33:41 PM »
    Lols. George Posner's ECS is trying for both ends now. The economic meltdown is forcing a lot of these places to branch out and diversify.

     —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•—

    Posted: Oct 15, 2008

    Educational Consulting Services
    Ithaca, NY

    George Posner's Consulting Firm Announces Intensive Early Care

    Contact:
    George Posner, IECA, CEP
    607-273-5400
    http://www.gposner.com

    October 14, 2008

    Educational Consulting Services (ECS) of New York and Utah announces a new service intended to help struggling families without the disruption and cost of an out-of-home placement. Dr. George Posner, founder of ECS, says that Intensive Early Care is a truly innovative intervention service. By providing in-home coaching, 24/7 access to a family specialist, increased coordination and communication amongst all professionals and family members, a teen or young adult library, drug testing, a parenting library and parenting seminars, families can modify practices, address underlying issues, and help their children overcome difficulties. Sarah Finney, Director of Western Services for ECS and a licensed marriage and family therapist, says that this new service demonstrates ECS's commitment to each family and to helping each family develop a support system. For more information visit the firm's website at http://www.gposner.com.

    Copyright © 2007, Woodbury Reports, Inc.
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