CAFETY - Where is it?

[Anonymous]

CAFETY's vanished.  After reading the posts of their newest admin, Jolynn, it might be for the best.  Seems she's somebody's girlfriend and therefore she gets admin status.  Her postings were weird...

[Anonymous]

Most advocacy and activist groups (regardless of their "mission") self-destruct due to in-fighting and egotisical assholes, but the new generation of survivor discussion boards and alumni groups are kicking ass!

What is really missing is a voice from the inside of a program - like a former licensed therapist - who has credibility and can explain why these one-size-fits-all approaches to therapy don't work, and in fact, can do more damage than good.  I have yet to find a blog such as this, but if there is one, please post a link.  I'd love to check it out!

[Che Gookin]

More and more staff are coming forward. In 2005 when I stumbled onto this scene it was only myself and Dysfunction Junction. The amount of havoc Dj has caused for HLA speaks volumes of just how damaging ex-staff can be against programs.

Don't count Cafety out. I have the feeling they are regrouping and hedging their bets on interest resurging pending the outcome of the congressional hearings.

[Anonymous]

Never under-estimate what one voice can do.  While it's true there is strength in numbers, this is a cultural war and each of us has the power to change hearts and minds.  I have personally stumbled across obscure blogs and/or writings by former inmates of these child prisons that have stopped me cold.  These people aren't looking for glory, pity or even understanding.  They are simply telling their truth with the hope that in doing so, a child may be spared the pain they suffered.

[Troll Control]

More and more staff are coming forward. In 2005 when I stumbled onto this scene it was only myself and Dysfunction Junction. The amount of havoc Dj has caused for HLA speaks volumes of just how damaging ex-staff can be against programs.

Don't count Cafety out. I have the feeling they are regrouping and hedging their bets on interest resurging pending the outcome of the congressional hearings.

Gook makes a great point here.  There is nobody better equipped to expose programs for what they are than the trusted insiders who have access to all of the information in the facility.

IMHO, the best way to deal with these places is to recruit staff to document everything, keep records and copies of such off-site and to take it all when they leave.  This is what happened at HLA.  I spent a LOT of time cultivating sources, appealing to their sense of decency (or revenge, whichever was more effective) and receiving DOCUMENTS.  I cannot stress how important this point is, as when it comes time to go to trial "material witnesses" are often absent.

[Anonymous]

what happened with hla?

Did it shut down?

Did it have to pay damages to victims?

To the state?

[Troll Control]

what happened with hla?

Did it shut down?

Did it have to pay damages to victims?

To the state?

It hasn't shut down, but it's crippled.  Enrollment is down 75%, there are several active lawsuits for debt collection and the action filed by parents against the facility is still active.  HLA is also now required to be licensed by the state as a TC and must be regularly inspected for compliance to state law.  Any way you cut it up, Bucci has lost millions of dollars and cutting off the cashflow is the quickest way to hobble these shitpits.

It's still limping along, but Bucci is focusing now on his new teen lockup facility, Mountain Brook Academy, which is nothing more than a private lockdown prison for children.  It apparently is running on the property of their WT program out of a single lockup dorm building.

[Che Gookin]

More and more staff are coming forward. In 2005 when I stumbled onto this scene it was only myself and Dysfunction Junction. The amount of havoc Dj has caused for HLA speaks volumes of just how damaging ex-staff can be against programs.

Don't count Cafety out. I have the feeling they are regrouping and hedging their bets on interest resurging pending the outcome of the congressional hearings.

Gook makes a great point here.  There is nobody better equipped to expose programs for what they are than the trusted insiders who have access to all of the information in the facility.

IMHO, the best way to deal with these places is to recruit staff to document everything, keep records and copies of such off-site and to take it all when they leave.  This is what happened at HLA.  I spent a LOT of time cultivating sources, appealing to their sense of decency (or revenge, whichever was more effective) and receiving DOCUMENTS.  I cannot stress how important this point is, as when it comes time to go to trial "material witnesses" are often absent.

That is one way of many and it certainly is quite effective.