I wrote this letter in response to a parent considering Shortridge Academy.....Take it for what is worth.
I graduated RMA (CEDU) in 1990. As a model RMA graduate I went on to graduate from a respected University, etc. etc. etc.. My family still swears that "RMA saved my life".
It took me about 15 years to completely realize what a warped, detrimental, developmental detour RMA was.
RMA had no checks and balances. No oversight. It was a runaway train.
To answer your question:
Adam Rainer was an RMA student from 1989 to 1991 (give or take 6 months). Adam started Shortridge.
According to Shortridges' website, Mike Strader (sp) and Bruce Wilson work there. Mike is a graduate of RMA and Bruce was an RMA staff member from circa 1986 to 1993.
My advice to you:
1. Be wary of anyone who tries to close their sales pitch with lines such as these, "It saved my life" - "Without that program I'd be dead"
2. If you are really considering Shortridge you should go visit it. During your tour you’ll hear their sales pitch. When you get to brass tacks, they'll give you a dose of their omnipotent essence. They’ll be sure to give you the 'new and improved' neutralizer to any set of your prepared ‘hard hitting’ questions. Many of these programs websites encourage prospective parents to ask these hard hitting questions.
"Please parents, ask us anything. We'll be forthright and upfront with you. Our school has evolved. There are bad programs out there. Ours is different".
At that point call an official time-out.
All of these programs say that.
Go back to your hotel, sit your ass down and take a breather.
Why?
Your nerves at that point are beyond shot, you're exhausted and that's exactly where they want you.
Vulnerable.
You need to make this decision with your head not your heart.
Sure, there's a 1% chance that Adam got it right. Let’s say Shortridge is a great place. I don't know I haven't been there. But from everything I've heard about Shortridge - it is another modern day CEDU. No one from their organization has felt that they are so beyond reproach and pure that they can contribute something positive to a discussion on Fornits. Ask Shortridge to respond to my 2 cents. If I ‘m wrong about Shortridge's program, I’ll openly admit it. I fight fair. As I said, I don't have hands on knowledge about Shortridge. I do have historical information about Shortridge. And, I'm willing to engage in an a fair, intellectuall discussion about Shortridge any day of the week.
There's a fellow here named "the who" that is here to encourage parents like yourself to send their kids to a CEDU like program. He claims his daughter went to ASR (Academy at Swift River). Which is owned by Aspen which is owned by CRC (
http://www.crchealth.com/). At least 4 staff members that I knew of from RMA (1986-1993) ended up becoming staff members at ASR (1995-?), Brett & Lisa Carey and Rea & Sharon Kreider. I mention this for 2 reasons.
1. "The who" is not a parent of a child who went to ASR. He is an employee of CRC/Aspen. He is paid to do 'damage control' on the internet for the programs that his corporation owns.
2. There isn't 1 RMA staff member (from the 1986-1992 era) that can be located/contacted. They have evaporated. Their sins just absorbed themselves and disappeared. No one is accountable. Not one staff from that era has the character to stand up and call a spade a spade. These former life saving “counselors/therapists/life coaches” from CEDU have vanished. They live guilt ridden, secret lives (I have found 1 staff member from my RMA era who has a website. If you are truly interested in understanding CEDU and Shortridge I will be happy to forward you her website).
I say all this because CEDU set the precedent for all future programs within the industry. In 1990, 'tough love' programs, wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, Residential Treatment facilities became very fashionable. These programs claimed to be robust solutions to the 'troubled teen' problem. Ironically, these programs provide short term, miraculous reformations in adolescent behavior. Ultimately, these wreck less excursions in behavior modification put everyone in an uncontrollable tailspin. Their experimental, unregulated, coercive, 'tough love' quack therapy only compounds the child's original problems. At their core, these programs are profit driven. They intentionally manipulate parents who are emotionally exhausted, desperate and unable to find the proper resources to help their children.
On that note I recognize, there is no easy answer. Life can be challenging. Grueling in stretches. We often times find ourselves in situations where there is no easy or acceptable answer. I recognize this. However, for your own sanity and your child’s well being think 20 years down the road.
Program advocates will never let you (truly) examine the sum of their program’s parts. They'll always tell you to look at it's "whole". This is called manipulation. It’s called smoke and mirrors.
Do yourself a favor. When you finish your visiting and interviewing each program ask them 1 question.
Ask them this. Should the program work - should my child do well for 5 years and then fall flat on his face. Will you be there to answer my questions? Or come 5, 10, 15 years from now, am I able to contact at least 1 staff member or will they have magically disappeared? Will I look around and find my self surrounded by other, nascent, cutting edge, programs that have no accountability for their predecessors?
I appreciate your attention to my long winded response
