Ironwood, Maine

[KingBuzzard]

Hey,

So I'm new to this forum.  I'm new to RTC's.  In fact, I didn't even know about escort firms at all until about 2 months ago.  Still can't believe they're legal...

ANYWAYS!  My very good friend was recently taken in the middle of night and transported to Ironwood.  So I've been doing research on their organization for somewhere around a week and found far too little.  I'm pretty decent at digging up information on things and I've hit a wall here.  A few days ago I received a batch of letters from my friend and they detailed some pretty disturbing things.  Apparently in level one they don't even have mattresses an that's barely even a start.

Please, if anyone has any information on this program.  Survivor stories.  News articles.  Anything.  I'm desperately trying to help my friend.  She doesn't belong at this place

[cmack]

Post by KingBuzzard » Today, 00:40
Hey,

So I'm new to this forum. I'm new to RTC's. In fact, I didn't even know about escort firms at all until about 2 months ago. Still can't believe they're legal...

ANYWAYS! My very good friend was recently taken in the middle of night and transported to Ironwood. So I've been doing research on their organization for somewhere around a week and found far too little. I'm pretty decent at digging up information on things and I've hit a wall here. A few days ago I received a batch of letters from my friend and they detailed some pretty disturbing things. Apparently in level one they don't even have mattresses an that's barely even a start.

Please, if anyone has any information on this program. Survivor stories. News articles. Anything. I'm desperately trying to help my friend. She doesn't belong at this place

Try these links:

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=22494&hilit=ironwood

http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Ironwood_Maine

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1 ... 818&v=wall

Good luck. Keep us posted on how she's doing.

[Oscar]

She is starting at an unheated cabin called Frye. Her day consists of being pushed until she is buying into the program. They collect Sap for syrup in the wood until they have "confessed" to their sins.

At that time she will be moved to the barn where she is tested until they release her.

The original program was started with the help of two people from Turnabout Ranch in Escalante in Utah. Wayne constructed Frye based on exeriences from "Roundy" at Turnabout Ranch. That means sleeping on wood, defunct sleeping bags so the teenagers are kept cold, water has to be collected from a nearby creek or during the winter snow can be heated with fires they have to make from scratch. It is basically a lot of discomfort, so the teenagers would do everything in the world - even confessing to the murder of both Lincoln and Kennedy to move on.

There are no use for violence against the teenagers even some claim that Wayne has done so in the past because it is so cold and hard that the teenagers have no will power left to struggle. Wayne has since left Ironwood and is back at Turnabout Ranch in Utah, but his legacy has stayed with Ironwood.

They state on the Frye blog:

We introduce a different level of trust back, so they have the choice of following the rules even when they aren’t being directly “watched” to see if they are following.  They have responsibilities.  They have choices to meet deadlines of certain articles of reading and writing.  Whether that is letters home, web letter, newsletter articles, ethnic night preparation materials, school assignments,  Book of Virtues group paper, What Happy People know book group papers or simple assignments due to a consequence of some sort.  When the right choices aren’t being made their are two options, one a natural consequence or two a given consequence.  For example if they chose not to finish one of their chores they would receive a consequence of a demerit (one hour work on Sunday, their “free” day) or a consequence given to them by staff which might look like cleaning that are they missed again for the next week on top of their other chores.

It doesn't sound like fun. I don't know how long she will use to regain her former self once she return. Hopefully she will - like a lot of the teenagers, have been sent to similar programs - brush it off after 3 months out and return to the life she had before and then take care of any problems she might have struggled with once she is an adult can receive real therapy.

We have no links for survivor stories from Ironwood, but there is one out there from Turnabout Ranch - link

[KingBuzzard]

Thank you both so much for your replies.  All information that I can obtain is invaluable to me.

As for how she's doing, well, she's not doing good.  All the letters I've received are incredibly disturbing (I think I said that already, but still).  She says that she feels like a recently captured wild animal, being broken and readied for a show.  She does not have access to a mattress, so I guess that does mean Wayne's legacy does survive.  My friend and I have sent her paintings that we made and books that we enjoy.  She wasn't allowed to keep those.  She even has to hide my letters to her so that the staff doesn't take those as well.  None of this seems right, but thank you both again.  Sincerely.

[Ursus]

Thank you both so much for your replies.  All information that I can obtain is invaluable to me.

As for how she's doing, well, she's not doing good.  All the letters I've received are incredibly disturbing (I think I said that already, but still).  She says that she feels like a recently captured wild animal, being broken and readied for a show.  She does not have access to a mattress, so I guess that does mean Wayne's legacy does survive.  My friend and I have sent her paintings that we made and books that we enjoy.  She wasn't allowed to keep those.  She even has to hide my letters to her so that the staff doesn't take those as well.  None of this seems right, but thank you both again.  Sincerely.

How were you able to find out what she does and does not have access to? Are phone calls allowed?

[cmack]

I'm surprised she is able to send and receive mail from anyone other than her parents, even then the programs usually read all outgoing and incoming letters. It's important that you do whatever you have to do to keep the lines of communication open. If you antagonize her parents or the program they may cut you off.

Can you give us some background on why she was sent away?

How old is she? At 18 she can leave. Until then it's going to be hard to get her out unless you can convince her parents to change their minds.

Good Luck

[Ursus]

...the programs usually read all outgoing and incoming letters...

Mmm. Not always. Some programs are able to instill or cultivate a certain self-censorship in the students/attendees...

[KingBuzzard]

I'm able to exchange letters with her through her mom and yes I know that I cannot antagonize her parents for the risk of being cut off.  I also realize the importance of me keeping the lines of communication open between myself, her, and her parents.  That's my only option for fixing this.  Again, this is why I need information because if I present strong evidence for my side as well as an emotional appeal then I know I have a chance to change their minds

She's 17, turned 17 at Ironwood about 3 weeks ago.  Waiting is not really a viable alternative for me now.

As for why she was sent away, in the words of her father, "Because of her constant defiance!!"  In other words, because she ignored curfew, didn't do her school work, fought with her parents, etc.  Sounds a lot like what most teenagers do.  She did use drugs recreationally as well as drinking underage.  However, the only thing you could have said that she had an addiction too, would've been marijuana.  Even then it was more habitual behavior than addictive.  She had no real psychological issues to speak of, depression and maybe some anxiety issues, but neither were clinically threatening.  She did need some help, I accept that fact fully, but in no way did she require this sort of "help".

[cmack]

I'm able to exchange letters with her through her mom and yes I know that I cannot antagonize her parents for the risk of being cut off.  I also realize the importance of me keeping the lines of communication open between myself, her, and her parents.  That's my only option for fixing this.  Again, this is why I need information because if I present strong evidence for my side as well as an emotional appeal then I know I have a chance to change their minds

She's 17, turned 17 at Ironwood about 3 weeks ago.  Waiting is not really a viable alternative for me now.

As for why she was sent away, in the words of her father, "Because of her constant defiance!!"  In other words, because she ignored curfew, didn't do her school work, fought with her parents, etc.  Sounds a lot like what most teenagers do.  She did use drugs recreationally as well as drinking underage.  However, the only thing you could have said that she had an addiction too, would've been marijuana.  Even then it was more habitual behavior than addictive.  She had no real psychological issues to speak of, depression and maybe some anxiety issues, but neither were clinically threatening.  She did need some help, I accept that fact fully, but in no way did she require this sort of "help".

See this thread: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=38312

Read the ASTART report. It may give you some ammunition to use with her parents. I'll post some links to other sites below. It's a lot of reading on your part, but knowledge is power and the more you know about this industry the better equipped you'll be to persuade her parents.

Programs typically employ coercive persuasion/thought reform/mind control tactics that are designed to break people down and rebuild them in the program mold. Because the vast majority of kids locked up in these places aren't aware of what's being done to them they are powerless to resist it. Even if you fail at getting her released it's important that you are there when she gets out and help her understand what's been done to her. Some program graduates come out praising the program, and refusing to believe they were brainwashed. Years later the nightmares, anxiety, and PTSD surface. Some make the connection to their past program experience and seek help. Others just suffer in silence.

I don't want to overload you right now, so just start with the links below. Let me know when you have digested this information and want more.

http://freedomofmind.com/Info/BITE/bitemodel.php

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=26291

http://cafety.org/index.php?option=com_ ... &Itemid=35

http://www.helpatanycost.com/questions.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maia-szal ... 15023.html

http://www.rickross.com/reference/brain ... ing10.html

http://www.rickross.com/reference/apolo ... ist23.html

If you have any questions, please ask. Thanks for standing up for your friend. Best Wishes. :cheers:

[cmack]

She did use drugs recreationally as well as drinking underage. However, the only thing you could have said that she had an addiction too, would've been marijuana. Even then it was more habitual behavior than addictive.

Okay, I lied. Here are some more links.

http://mensnewsdaily.com/2010/08/08/whe ... mokes-pot/

http://www.peele.net/lib/panic.html

The article linked below talks about alcohol, but the information is valid for marijuana as well.
http://www.peele.net/lib/diseasing3.html

[cmack]

...the programs usually read all outgoing and incoming letters...

Mmm. Not always. Some programs are able to instill or cultivate a certain self-censorship in the students/attendees...

You were right. Per their website: http://www.ironwoodmaine.com/faq.html

http://www.ironwoodmaine.com/faq.html

What kind of communication will I have with my teen at Ironwood?

During the initial period, it is imperative that the teen uses this time for reflection and without any outside influence. During this period, Ironwood encourages frequent letter-writing to his or her family. Ironwood respects the troubled teen's privacy and will not read any outgoing or incoming mail. Youths are required to write at least two letters to parents per week. This process establishes a pattern of thoughtful communication with parents. The teen’s therapist will schedule weekly telephone calls with parents to update the family on his or her progress.

Once the resident has reached Level 2, weekly family therapy sessions, via telephone conference call, are implemented. When the resident reaches Level 3, he or she is allowed a once-weekly private, unsupervised phone call with his or her parents.

[KingBuzzard]

So basically I took the information that you guys gave to me and did my best to write somewhat of a research paper on the subject.  It's not completely unbiased, but I did my best to present the information appropriately.  If anyone would like to read over it and give me pointers or something that would be great.  

I plan on delivering this to her mother tomorrow along with printed copies of some of the articles listed at the bottom.

[cmack]

So basically I took the information that you guys gave to me and did my best to write somewhat of a research paper on the subject.  It's not completely unbiased, but I did my best to present the information appropriately.  If anyone would like to read over it and give me pointers or something that would be great.  

I plan on delivering this to her mother tomorrow along with printed copies of some of the articles listed at the bottom.

Very Good!

A couple points before I forget: There are a few grammatical and syntax errors you might want to correct. Also, don't make any accusations you can't support. Was Wayne really let go because of sexual harassment?  Is that in writing somewhere? And the description Oscar posted above about Frye. Did you find a source saying that came from a former student? You wrote a good paper. Just don't overplay your hand.

To continue the poker analogy. make your best argument and then accept the outcome. Her parents are unlikely to immediately reverse course, however the seeds you plant will continue to grow. I'm sure they acted out of fear and maybe a little anger. At this point both have probably lessened. By now they are probably second guessing their decision. That's one of the things programs work on. Buyers remorse is fairly common in this industry. The programs are masters at manipulating parents. At some point "M" will have to write a 'come clean' letter detailing all her misdeeds. If it's not dirty enough the program may pressure her to rewrite it. Some kids in some programs have been coerced into making up things to confess to. One of the reasons for this letter is so programs can show it to the parents and convince them that their kid is actually much worse off than they believed before. The information you are providing her parents will blunt some of these tactics so don't get impatient, and don't piss her parents off. If you push too hard they may only strengthen their resolve. Give them some room and time. Stay on their good side. The approach you've taken in your letter is very  good. You come across as intelligent and articulate.

If you are one of her new friends and the parents had questions about you then the way you conduct yourself will have a huge impact.

On a different note. Adolescence is an extremely important developmental period in a person's life. The job of the adolescent is to break away from their family and reach toward independence. Programs work counter to this. Programs are regressive. Teens yearning for adulthood are regressed to the level of toddlers. Their environment is tightly regulated. What decisions can "M" make now? Virtually none. If you remember the BITE model of mind control, her entire world is controlled. This is not healthy and can result in a person who is incapable of making any decisions for themselves.

See this link: Brainwashing Teenagers is Easy http://veracityvoice.com/?p=97

Ever notice how many program graduates want to go back and work at the program?  If you visit the facebook pages for some of the wilderness programs you'll read posts by those who hated the program and thought it was abusive and posts by those who thought it was great and want to go back and work there. The ones who want to go back bought-in to the program teaching. Their thoughts have been successfully reformed. The problem is that they can no longer function in the real world. The only place they feel comfortable is inside the program cult.

Read the ASART report. viewtopic.php?f=24&t=38312

It might impress her parents as being more authoritative than some of the other stuff I've given you.

Iirc, the Ironwood program typically lasts 6 to 9 months, but I read on their blog on a student who was there for 13 months and another I believe was there for 2 years. "M" will be 18 is less than a year. presumedly she will be going to college next fall. Do her parents not want her to ever live at home again? Time is running out for them to bridge the gap that has grown between them and build a strong familial bond. If they can't negotiate some kind of understanding with her she may just cut them off when she gets out. There are a number of posters on fornits who haven't spoken to their parents in years for this very reason.

In support of what you wrote in your letter: research shows that for most teens community based services work best. The problem is seldom just the teen's. As you suggested family counseling sounds like a good idea. Read this: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/m ... /sec7.html

Stay in touch.

[Pile of Dead Kids]

KB, there are a lot of people on this board who have direct personal experience who have been through this themselves and can presumably talk to her parents in language they'll understand completely. Consider giving her parents' name and number to people like Ursus (in case they haven't asked you already).