DHS, Mount Bachelor Academy Settle Case

[Whooter]

So Whooter lets say your right here, congratulations. I can just see you now genuflecting in front of your computer to your almighty Aspen, saying "I got them this time, look at me I'm worthy" as Phil Herschman, President of Aspen Education Group throws you your 30 bits to symbolize your significance.

Whooter once again we have to revert back back to your inability to recognize that children are being hurt here, MBA actually hurt children. They did not see fit to keep our children out of harms way. You know for a fact that "Lifesteps" being facilitated by inexperienced personal can only lead to complications which can have devastating psychological effects. You know this, we can all agree on this.
I am going to be a bit unprofessional here and go out on a line and say I bet there were some mothers and fathers on the investiagtion team from (DHS), we know there were. I'm sure some of their maternalistic/paternalistic emotions were involved.  As a rational mother or father (while working for DHS) investigating apparent abuses of such outlandish behavior conducted because you are forced through peer pressure and with threats of retaliation by staff, you would be mortified. So thank god the initial reaction to suspend operations happened and the subsequent closure. Now we can all agree on this, right. DHS on a daily bases deals with abuses perpetrated on children, I think we all can agree they know how to do their job.
Now once the case gets handed over to the lawyers and they start to perform their ritual of two stepping, well all the smoke generated by this friction should not blind us to the reasons they were dancing in the first place. Children were abused, Whooter we can all agree on this.
As you say all the time to Anne and Ursus their are many programs out there they can not be all bad, well you may be right. This one (MBA) was. MBA wasn't selected out of a pool to be persecuted, they brought a investigation upon themselves. Professionals were sent out to perform their jobs, they did over a period of time and they put forth their results. What difference does it make what the lawyers worked out in a settlement. We all know that pales in comparison to the abuse kids are going through. Whooter you would really get this, if you gave a shit.
Samara, Anne, Ursus, DJ and others understand you more then you understand yourself. I don't believe in all good consciousness you are aware of the depth of pain children have endured while in these programs nor do I believe you want to. Picture this, our daughters at 14 being dressed up as whores made to sit on someones lap and gyrate all the while saying she is a no good slut. Have you got that pic in your head, I fucking almost break down every time I picture it or read it. Who the fuck do they think they are.
I told you before your sins you are committing here, you will have to answer for them at some point. Hopefully your God will show mercy.
You are not a person I could ever like, you do not make that possible.

I have never personally been hurt or helped by a program so I hold a more unbiased and neutral point of view.  I am not very likely to walk into an abortion clinic and put a hole in the doctors head for murder.  I can see both sides of the abortion issues as well as the TTI issue.  I understand the fringe groups passion but I also see how closed mined they are.  Your thinking is clouded and I dont hold any animosity towards you for your attacks.  People like yourself and Anne etal can only see one point of view.. "all programs abuse all the kids in them".  
You never mentioned in your post that DHS made a mistake.  You never mentioned the Journalist and other parents who were happy that the charges against MBA were dropped.  You think that all these kids are abused when they are not.  You never mentioned that the DHS is in damage control mode when they made that statement and isnt going to admit to anything unless they have to.  She wants to keep her job and protect the reputation of herself and the people under her, we all know that but I am the only one to put it in writing here.

Do a search for MBA, no one is disputing DHSs's statement or Aspens statement.  They are both accurate and complement each other.  To try to disregard DHS's statement or Aspens statement is reckless in my opinion.



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[Ursus]

Yes you do.  You know full well what you're doing.  You just won't ever admit to it.

Trying to pass off a press release by Aspen's CEO as being written by either the author of the article or DHS is intentionally misleading and intellectually dishonest.

lol, The article was about MBA and DHS and Aspen and the families it affected.  They were all part of the article.  The DHS had a press release and so did Aspen.  The Journalist had her say as did some of the parents.  The author pulled it all together.

They are all part of the article package, as it was published on that particular occasion, and by KTVZ.com. Portions of that package, save the core article by Barney Lerten, may also be officially published elsewhere.

The statement by Phil Herschman, President of Aspen Education Group, on behalf of Mount Bachelor Academy, and published as part of that package, represents certain vested interests and a particular POV, which no one (save you, perhaps) would ever possibly attempt to pass off as an objective one.

Similar can be said for the statement by Erinn Kelley-Siel, Director of Children, Adults and Families at Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), also published as part of that package, although in this case the vested interests lie not with the continued existence of Mount Bachelor Academy or its demise, but with the safety and welfare of its students which, by law and by the very type of governmental organization it is, DHS is beholden to prioritize.

And finally, yes, reporter Barney Lerten tries to pull it all together in the core article, presumably as objectively as possible, as that is part of what one does or is expected to do as a reporter.

These three parts, while all part of the same article package, are authored by three very different individuals or organizations with very different aims, vested interests and standards of objectivity. To try to pass any of these sections off as having been authored by another IS misrepresentation and fraudulent attribution.

Tell me, Whooter, when you see that Aspen press release on other websites, does it carry the byline of Barney Lerten?  

Any part of the article can be quoted and used as reference, plus I provided a link so there was no attempt to be misleading.

Yes, of course any part of the article can be quoted and used as reference, but your deceptive means of quoting and presenting what you quoted WERE not only misleading but flat out dishonest. Your refusal to even acknowledge this, after several pages of this conversation, indicates to me that your deception may even have been deliberate.

Ursus you have had a problem with me posting in this thread from the beginning.

Nope. I was actually kinda grateful that you did. No one else had bitten into a discussion at that point.

You didnt like the comment by the Journalist which was in the body of the article and it gave you heart burn for some unknown reason.

Nope. I had a problem with you chopping it up, quoting it out of context by leaving out the rest of his sentence, and by your trying to pass it off as being what you had quoted earlier.

What you had quoted earlier actually came from Aspen Ed's statement.

Now you are trying to imply that I was quoting Barney Lerten as saying what Aspens statement was.  I did no such thing.

That's right you did not. Nor did I ever imply that. Which hat did that rabbit come from?

When you stated:

Similar can be said for the statement by Erinn Kelley-Siel, Director of Children, Adults and Families at Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), also published as part of that package, although in this case the vested interests lie not with the continued existence of Mount Bachelor Academy or its demise, but with the safety and welfare of its students which, by law and by the very type of governmental organization it is, DHS is beholden to prioritize.

You need to also consider that Erinn Kelley-Siel is trying to save her own job and her statement is damage control for jumping the gun and shutting down MBA.  She has an agenda which is stronger than Aspens.  She choose her words carefully to make it seem like she didnt screw up.  She never said her shutting down of MBA was justified, only that the investigation was and Aspen agrees with her on this point.

Maybe true, maybe not. Personally, I think all parties called it a draw behind the scenes in order to avoid further hassle and litigation. But then, this was not exactly a point of contention, now was it? We weren't even discussing this yet, were we now?

We were discussing your attempt to pass off material from Aspen Ed's statement, on behalf of MBA, as being material from Barney Lerten's article. That was really kinda sneaky and dishonest, if you ask me!

[heretik]

This is not about you Whooter. Children!!!!!

[Whooter]

We were discussing your attempt to pass off material from Aspen Ed's statement, on behalf of MBA, as being material from Barney Lerten's article. That was really kinda sneaky and dishonest, if you ask me!

No I didnt, Ursus.  I usually take quotes from an article and post them.  ( I dont post the whole article sometimes if I dont need to).  You had already posted the entire article so I carve out pieces that we can talk about.  I have been doing this for years.  You are the only one on fornits who spends days posting the entire comments section of an article.

What I do is take one or two comments, post them and speak to it.

I consider Barney Letens words, the journalists words, parents words, Aspens words and DHS words all part of the article.  It would not be complete without them in there.  I think this is where we disagree.



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[Whooter]

This is not about you Whooter. Children!!!!!

I think if you could have the opportunity to meet with some of the kids who benefited from these programs you would not be so quick to harshly judge these places.  I dont think you would feel the same way about shutting the programs down and denying these kids the help they desperately need and cannot get at home.

When MBA closed it caused many people to lose their jobs and children to be uprooted once again and replaced into another facility.  Nothing was gained really it was all downside.  I doubt that people have much respect for the DHS in Oregon at this point.  These are compassionate people, I understand that.  We also know that if they really believe that kids are being put in harms way they would have quit their jobs before coming out with a statement like that and letting it continue if they really felt abuse was occurring there.  I would never want to be part of a place that abused children, I dont think anyone would.  Especially if you made the decision to allow them to continue to abuse kids and open up a new program.

Once the DHS reviewed the evidence they realized they made a mistake.  I think that is very obvious.



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[Ursus]

We were discussing your attempt to pass off material from Aspen Ed's statement, on behalf of MBA, as being material from Barney Lerten's article. That was really kinda sneaky and dishonest, if you ask me!

No I didnt, Ursus.  I usually take quotes from an article and post them.  ( I dont post the whole article sometimes if I dont need to).  You had already posted the entire article so I carve out pieces that we can talk about.  I have been doing this for years.  You are the only one on fornits who spends days posting the entire comments section of an article.

What I do is take one or two comments, post them and speak to it.

I consider Barney Letens words, the journalists words, parents words, Aspens words and DHS words all part of the article.  It would not be complete without them in there.  I think this is where we disagree.

Tell me, Whooter, when you see that same Aspen press release on other websites, does it carry the byline of Barney Lerten?

I can assure that it does not.

You attempted to pass off press release material of a corporation doing aggressive damage control, a corporation that owns dozens of teen hell holes, in which kids have died in, as the words of a presumably objective journalist.

That is an egregious misrepresentation.

[Whooter]

We were discussing your attempt to pass off material from Aspen Ed's statement, on behalf of MBA, as being material from Barney Lerten's article. That was really kinda sneaky and dishonest, if you ask me!

No I didnt, Ursus.  I usually take quotes from an article and post them.  ( I dont post the whole article sometimes if I dont need to).  You had already posted the entire article so I carve out pieces that we can talk about.  I have been doing this for years.  You are the only one on fornits who spends days posting the entire comments section of an article.

What I do is take one or two comments, post them and speak to it.

I consider Barney Letens words, the journalists words, parents words, Aspens words and DHS words all part of the article.  It would not be complete without them in there.  I think this is where we disagree.

Tell me, Whooter, when you see that same Aspen press release on other websites, does it carry the byline of Barney Lerten?

I can assure that it does not.

You attempted to pass off press release material of a corporation doing aggressive damage control, a corporation that owns dozens of teen hell holes, in which kids have died in, as the words of a presumably objective journalist.

That is an egregious misrepresentation.

I looked at the link you provided and I never mentioned Barney Lerten wrote anything that belonged to Aspens statement.  I mentioned it was from the article, which it was.  Go back and take a look.  I think you read into stuff a little too much and maybe a little anal about lining things up.

We are all talking about the same article.  Everyone can read and see for themselves, there is no possibility of someone perceiving it as deceptive.




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[heretik]

This is not about you Whooter. Children!!!!!

I think if you could have the opportunity to meet with some of the kids who benefited from these programs you would not be so quick to harshly judge these places.  I dont think you would feel the same way about shutting the programs down and denying these kids the help they desperately need and cannot get at home.

When MBA closed it caused many people to lose their jobs and children to be uprooted once again and replaced into another facility.  Nothing was gained really it was all downside.  I doubt that people have much respect for the DHS in Oregon at this point.  These are compassionate people, I understand that.  We also know that if they really believe that kids are being put in harms way they would have quit their jobs before coming out with a statement like that and letting it continue if they really felt abuse was occurring there.  I would never want to be part of a place that abused children, I dont think anyone would.  Especially if you made the decision to allow them to continue to abuse kids and open up a new program.

Once the DHS reviewed the evidence they realized they made a mistake.  I think that is very obvious.



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Whooter, children. What is so hard about this.

[Whooter]

This is not about you Whooter. Children!!!!!

I think if you could have the opportunity to meet with some of the kids who benefited from these programs you would not be so quick to harshly judge these places.  I dont think you would feel the same way about shutting the programs down and denying these kids the help they desperately need and cannot get at home.

When MBA closed it caused many people to lose their jobs and children to be uprooted once again and replaced into another facility.  Nothing was gained really it was all downside.  I doubt that people have much respect for the DHS in Oregon at this point.  These are compassionate people, I understand that.  We also know that if they really believe that kids are being put in harms way they would have quit their jobs before coming out with a statement like that and letting it continue if they really felt abuse was occurring there.  I would never want to be part of a place that abused children, I dont think anyone would.  Especially if you made the decision to allow them to continue to abuse kids and open up a new program.

Once the DHS reviewed the evidence they realized they made a mistake.  I think that is very obvious.



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Whooter, children. What is so hard about this.

Very simplistic, I think we agree here, Heretic.  Their welfare should always be in the forefront.  I believe DHS and Aspen came to the same conclusion.



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[Anne Bonney]

 People like yourself and Anne etal can only see one point of view.. "all programs abuse all the kids in them".  

YOU keep saying that we say that but I never have.  I've said that all programs that use LGAT-type methods are abusive in nature, but I've never said that "all programs abuse all the kids in them".  

You never mentioned in your post that DHS made a mistake.

They didn't.  They've withdrawn the action BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN.

 

You think that all these kids are abused when they are not.

 

Your opinion.  My opinion is that they were abused by being subjected to the methods of "treatment" that MBA used.

You never mentioned that the DHS is in damage control mode when they made that statement and isnt going to admit to anything unless they have to.  She wants to keep her job and protect the reputation of herself and the people under her, we all know that but I am the only one to put it in writing here.

 

Why would he?  That's YOUR take on it.

[Whooter]

YOU keep saying that we say that but I never have.  I've said that all programs that use LGAT-type methods are abusive in nature.  

We differ here.

They didn't.  They've withdrawn the action BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN.

I read through the article a few times and never saw this.  Do you have a link?

Your opinion.  My opinion is that they were abused by being subjected to the methods of "treatment" that MBA used.

DHS thought the same thing too initially.



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[Anne Bonney]

YOU keep saying that we say that but I never have.  I've said that all programs that use LGAT-type methods are abusive in nature.  

We differ here.

Yeah, no shit Sherlock.  You keep saying that we've said things we haven't.  Yeah, that's a bit of a difference.

[Ursus]

Here's another article on this development, which came out shortly after Barney Lerten's piece for KTVZ.com posted above. Jason Chaney's article (below) goes into a little more detail re. the conditions of the settlement reached between Aspen Ed/MBA and the state of Oregon's DHS:

-------------- • -------------- • --------------

Central Oregonian

Mount Bachelor Academy, DHS reach settlement
Oregon Department of Human Services agreed to dismiss or modify abuse findings, school will stay closed

Jason Chaney
October 07, 2010

Nearly a year after the Oregon Department of Human Services ordered Mount Bachelor Academy to discontinue therapeutic services, the two parties have reached a settlement.

Although a settlement has been reached, the possibility of the therapeutic boarding school for teens re-opening is still in question.

"We are pleased that the ongoing legal dispute between Mount Bachelor Academy (MBA) and the State of Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) has finally been satisfactorily resolved," Aspen Education Group President Phil Herschman said in a written statement on behalf of MBA. Aspen owned MBA and still owns other therapeutic boarding schools in several states throughout the country.

Last November, DHS completed a seven-month investigation into numerous allegations of child abuse by the MBA staff, finding several substantiated incidents of abuse. As a result, DHS ordered MBA to suspend therapeutic services and residential services, giving them 90 days to correct the violations. The violations were not corrected and the school remains closed.

According to the settlement recitals, one month after the order, MBA requested a hearing to contest the complaint and corrective order and suspension order. The recitals went on to state that in March 2010, MBA reached an agreement with DHS regarding the orders.

The recitals also recounted four legal proceedings initiated by MBA and its executive director Sharon Bitz between December 2009 and July 2010.

First, Bitz sued DHS in December 2009 to contest allegations against her. Then in April 2010, MBA and Bitz separately submitted notices of claim for damages to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. Finally, in July 2010, MBA filed a lawsuit to contest the DHS abuse allegations.

According to the agreement, DHS will modify the findings of its investigation while MBA and Bitz will withdraw any legal action they have pursued.

"The findings as regards MBA will be modified to replace the 'substantiated' with the following two sentences: 'Based on the evidence available to the Department (DHS), the Department found that there is reasonable cause to believe that abuse or neglect occurred. The Department's conclusion is based on evidence collected solely by the Department as of Nov. 2, 2009 and not on information provided or available after that date.' "

These modifications are reflected in a statement released by Erinn Kelley-Siel, DHS director of children, adults and families.

"MBA acknowledged that based on the evidence available to DHS on Nov. 2, 2009, the agency had reasonable cause to believe that abuse or neglect occurred at the school as uncovered by the investigation," the statement said. "In addition, MBA agrees that DHS had a reasonable basis to investigate the allegations of abuse and neglect and to seek corrective actions."

Herschman, on the other hand, suggested in his statement that the agreement shows the DHS lacked the grounds to shut MBA down.

"The DHS' withdrawal of its order suspending MBA's license supports out position that they did not have justification for that order in the first place," his statement reads. "The DHS has acknowledged with this settlement that in fact there was additional evidence no abuse had occurred."

In addition modifying the finding against MBA, DHS will withdraw the substantiated findings against Bitz on the condition that she enrolls in and successfully completes a two-year course in child/adolescent psychology. The course must be pre-approved by DHS. If she fails to complete the course, DHS will enter the findings into their computer system.

The agreement further requires the dismissal of any legal action or claims pursued by MBA or Bitz with the understanding that no new actions will be filed.

As far as the future of MBA is concerned Kelley-Siel's DHS statement said that school is closed and, "by all accounts, will remain closed."

Herschman does not dispute that MBA is closed, but he expressed the intent to install a new school on the property at some point.

"Despite the tragic circumstances of Mount Bachelor (Academy's) closure, we hope to open a new, even more successful school on the MBA campus in the future," his statement said.


© 2009 | Eagle Newspapers, Inc.

[Dysfunction Junction]

Nice follow up, Ursus.  Once more Whooter has been proven to be lying and has been exposed and caught with his pants down yet again without any facts.

DHS kicked MBA's ass, sanctioned the director and shut the shit hole down for abuse and neglect.  End of story.

[Whooter]

"The findings as regards MBA will be modified to replace the 'substantiated' with the following two sentences: 'Based on the evidence available to the Department (DHS), the Department found that there is reasonable cause to believe that abuse or neglect occurred. The Department's conclusion is based on evidence collected solely by the Department as of Nov. 2, 2009 and not on information provided or available after that date.' "

I had not seen this yet, thanks Ursus, I think the wording says a lot.  Both parties (MBA and DHS) agreed that based on the evidence presented in November of 2009 that DHS has reason to believe there was abuse occurring at MBA and that and investigation was warranted.

"MBA acknowledged that based on the evidence available to DHS on Nov. 2, 2009, the agency had reasonable cause to believe that abuse or neglect occurred at the school as uncovered by the investigation," the statement said. "In addition, MBA agrees that DHS had a reasonable basis to investigate the allegations of abuse and neglect and to seek corrective actions."

It was the information that became available to DHS after that that lead them to believe no abuse had occurred and therefore they are modifying their records.  MBA has dropped all their lawsuits against the state.

"The DHS' withdrawal of its order suspending MBA's license supports out position that they did not have justification for that order in the first place," his statement reads. "The DHS has acknowledged with this settlement that in fact there was additional evidence no abuse had occurred."

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