CBC Fifth Estate AARC piece

[Gopher_dcgn]

Isn't it funny how, if AARC has nothing to hide, why have they now altered their website homepage with language trying to discredit any "critical stories".

I love you Google cache.

Compare their old homepage: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:hdy ... =firefox-a

And their current one (they just updated it): http://www.aarc.ab.ca/index.php

[psy]

Wow, I just watched the program on the Fifth Estate, and I found this post by Googling your name Rachael.

I'm just astounded and outraged that such a program could exist in Canada. I'm not going to try to convince you of what you already know, suffice to say that I support you Rachael 100% and you are a very brave, credible, rational and articulate woman.  :notworthy:  :notworthy:

The story has been submitted to Reddit.com, if you like you can vote for it to help this appalling injustice be exposed.

http://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments ... umiliates/

Much love from Montreal.

The title is accurate, except for the religious part (though that's debatable*).  Cults don't have to be religious... but otherwise thanks for the link!


* Courts in the US have found AA to be a religion, so I suppose you could then argue that any AA based cults (or Synanon based cults) are religious in nature.

[psy]

Isn't it funny how, if AARC has nothing to hide, why have they now altered their website homepage with language trying to discredit any "critical stories".

I love you Google cache.

Compare their old homepage: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:hdy ... =firefox-a

And their current one (they just updated it): http://www.aarc.ab.ca/index.php

Thanks for the tip.  I just took screenshots of both versions.

It's not at all unusual for programs to change their homepage after such reports.  I wouldn't be surprised if they get a little more "specific" in the following weeks.  Since they know no other way to defend then to attack others, I'm guessing that will take the form of slandering Rachael.

I haven't seen the report yet, but hope to ASAP.  Is it available on the CBC website yet?

[Anonymous]

Yes it’s very powerful. AARC will be closed momentarily. Rachael and all of the survivors are shockingly intelligent and...perfect

[psy]

Yes it’s very powerful. AARC will be closed momentarily. Rachael and all of the survivors are shockingly intelligent and...perfect

I'm showing it to the PFC parents too.  They need to see this.

This documentary is...  close to a tombstone for the entire Straight model, IMO.

There is an interview with Phil Elberg too and  a lot of other extras on their website:

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/power ... _kids.html

"one of the reasons it went on for so long because it was so crazy nobody would believe it" - Phil Elberg

Yup.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I just watched the program on the Fifth Estate, and I found this post by Googling your name Rachael.

I'm just astounded and outraged that such a program could exist in Canada. I'm not going to try to convince you of what you already know, suffice to say that I support you Rachael 100% and you are a very brave, credible, rational and articulate woman.  :notworthy:  :notworthy:

The story has been submitted to Reddit.com, if you like you can vote for it to help this appalling injustice be exposed.

http://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments ... umiliates/

Much love from Montreal.

She is incredible. Racheal, you are ...an ideal person.

[psy]

AARC Treatment Records here:
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/power ... ecords.pdf

Mirrored is attached.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Rachael. Thank you Simi. Thanks Bodanna, Christine, and Scott. Your courage to speak out on camera is impressive to the those of us who have yet to do so.

And thank you Fifth Estate for bringing some much needed critical light to AARC. It's almost 20 years since I was in Bergen County with the rest of the Canadian contingent (so strange to see us all flapping our arms on national television...), and it's absolutely amazing that AARC is still going strong. Hopefully this important piece signals a changing tide in the way Alberta tolerates and subsidizes abuse in the guise of help.

To those still under the spell, there is a better way.

[Anonymous]

My favourite part of this program is seeing Dean's Hair Plugs and Face Lift! How "Humble" of you Dean! Did my families $50, 000 go towards that?

[TheWho]

Isn't it funny how, if AARC has nothing to hide, why have they now altered their website homepage with language trying to discredit any "critical stories".

I love you Google cache.

Compare their old homepage: http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:hdy ... =firefox-a

And their current one (they just updated it): http://www.aarc.ab.ca/index.php

This is to be expected.  Anyone who is attacked will try to defend themselves if they believe in their system and what they stand for, although I don’t think they will get nasty about it and start websites like “Rachaeltruth.com” or lower themselves to personal attacks on individuals.  I expect they will take a more professional stand and try to tell their side and point out any discrepancies as they see it.

[Anonymous]

The show could have gone hours longer.

What was missed:

The fact that families in AARC are required to fundraise, provide free labour, cut ties with anyone AARC sees as undesirable - including immediate family members.

The fact AARC aided accused murderers and allowed them to be around the client population then stonewalled the police in their attempts to investigat Cody Bates and Jason Woods. AARC put lives in jeopardy and is still reluctant to assist the Crown and Police.

Very few families are subsidized - if you have assests AARC requires you to borrow against or liquidate the, it is only once these assests are depleted do they provide any subsidy.

Parents are double dipped - not only do they pay the full shot, they must transport, feed, shelter and are liable for the children - sometimes as many as 6 or more children in there care. Can you imagine these costs day after day for a year or two?

[Anonymous]

And the parents provide the food for holidays, prepare the food, serve the food, clean up afterwards.... and they need to purchase TICKETS to attend the mandatory event!!

In addition to this they must provide a raffle item, purchase raffle tickets... and are encouraged to give the prize away in the event that they win it!

Parents must also work at the center on the weekends providing labour with no compensation.

[Ursus]

AARC bleeds them to a blanched pulp -- financially as well as psychologically. When will people wake up?

[Anonymous]

i would like to clear up a few misconceptions, probably a waste of my time but you never know

1)  I would like to thank all of you for your concerns regarding fees, food, host homes, fund raising  etc.  It is nice to know that people care about my time and money. I can assure you that I, along with 99% of AARC graduate parents, would do the program again despite all these extra things. Please save your concerns for those who really want them. I have yet to meet a parent who would not put a 2nd kid into the program because of the extras.

2) The CBC documentary had a laughable assertion - that parents put non-addicted kids into the program because we have "issues" we can't handle. I can't even begin to think how to refute this as it is one of the dumbest assertions I have ever heard. My daughter's heart stopped because of a cocaine OD and she used two days later. That is a common story that the kids have coming into AARC. The reality is that if all parents knew the full extent of their kids abuses, we would need 100 AARCs in Canada.

3) Rachel, I am not certain if this was your intent, but the documentary seemed to imply that the rapists were directed by AARC to do this in order to teach you "powerlessness". I am completely stunned that anyone could actually believe this. We all know that you have suffered from psychosis but do you really think that Doc V and Mrs I ordered a rape? I am pretty sure this was a case of the CBC putting their slant on a story but this is how it came out.

4) The documentary says that normal programs offer a 30-40% success rate. We had our kid in AADAC until we found out that only 4% of their clients found sobriety. I would have loved to avoid the time and cost of AARC but it was the last resort. This actually brings up another point.  The critics of AARC seem to focus on what they think are mistakes. I wish that there was an aspect of psychology that had 100% success in anything but that clearly isn't the case. Yeah, mistakes get made but the vast majority of families are helped.

I hope critics of AARC don't hold themselves to the same level of expectation that they hold AARC.

[Anonymous]

i would like to clear up a few misconceptions, probably a waste of my time but you never know

1)  I would like to thank all of you for your concerns regarding fees, food, host homes, fund raising  etc.  It is nice to know that people care about my time and money. I can assure you that I, along with 99% of AARC graduate parents, would do the program again despite all these extra things. Please save your concerns for those who really want them. I have yet to meet a parent who would not put a 2nd kid into the program because of the extras.

2) The CBC documentary had a laughable assertion - that parents put non-addicted kids into the program because we have "issues" we can't handle. I can't even begin to think how to refute this as it is one of the dumbest assertions I have ever heard. My daughter's heart stopped because of a cocaine OD and she used two days later. That is a common story that the kids have coming into AARC. The reality is that if all parents knew the full extent of their kids abuses, we would need 100 AARCs in Canada.

3) Rachel, I am not certain if this was your intent, but the documentary seemed to imply that the rapists were directed by AARC to do this in order to teach you "powerlessness". I am completely stunned that anyone could actually believe this. We all know that you have suffered from psychosis but do you really think that Doc V and Mrs I ordered a rape? I am pretty sure this was a case of the CBC putting their slant on a story but this is how it came out.

4) The documentary says that normal programs offer a 30-40% success rate. We had our kid in AADAC until we found out that only 4% of their clients found sobriety. I would have loved to avoid the time and cost of AARC but it was the last resort. This actually brings up another point.  The critics of AARC seem to focus on what they think are mistakes. I wish that there was an aspect of psychology that had 100% success in anything but that clearly isn't the case. Yeah, mistakes get made but the vast majority of families are helped.

I hope critics of AARC don't hold themselves to the same level of expectation that they hold AARC.

Hmmm. I went through AARC many years ago. Of the group I was in, at least half are drinking, mostly without problems. One group member was clearly not addicted. He was 15, hardly used drugs and drank a couple times. He is now a successful business person. Several of my newcomers were under 16, only one or two had what I would consider a borderline problem with drugs or booze. They were clearly "behavioral" problems, but because they had experimented they were "level 3" and stayed, usually more than a year, mostly they took months to get Step 1 - why did they struggle?  Hmmmmm. No addiction, no step 1.

I am active in AA in Calgary and have watched many graduates over the years. The relapse rate after one year of being out of AARC is staggering. What is more staggering is how spectacularly they fail. My guess is that less than 25% stay sober past 5 years. I wish AARC did work for kids who need treatment. I see the kids that are truely addicted usually relapse and keep going back to AARC for the same old treatment/cult speak. The kids who are not addicted lie and comply their way through, learn about drugs and crime then get into it heavily when finished.

I am grateful the fifth estate did such a good job. They tried desperately to get in and interview and film, but Dean Vause laid so many preconditions that could not be met they were locked out. No one was a bigger supporter than me, now I am hugely disappointed in what AARC has become.