Antigen - I never really got a good swig of the Kool Aid. I have been completely free of it for a year now.
Its the others here, calling everyone and their brother liars, I don't like the idea of him having to deal with. He has grown accustomed to being trusted and believed. I'll ask him tho if he wants to take a look, and consider chiming in.
FaceKhan - He is no longer In a program. But the one I transferred him to was so different from what you think of as a program - the word hardly fits. He was offered the opportunity to return as an employee, and thats why he is living out of town. This 'program' is voluntary - the kid has to willingly attend. The kids can call home at will - and parents and family can visit at will. Its very small by industry standards, and is operated in the 'family style.'
The one positive thing we got from Dundee was an abundance of letters begging me to find something else - anything else - which was taken as a willingness to attend by the program I moved him to. That was a year ago - and I am so glad. For us, our family, it has been a real blessing.
Antigen - I know what you mean about friends. One thing I noticed while on the BBS, was how lonely the grads were. Parents would post - she/he is doing well - but so lonely. The kids would post how lonely they were. I never wanted Nathan to feel that way. There are people I have advised him it would be wise to avoid - but he has two good friends who wouldn?t make the grade by ?Program? standards, that I think will be good friends anyway. I trust them to be a friend, and not encourage him to partake of what they know is devastating for him. So far, so good.