I feel a little sheepish, as I just found this organization on the internet today (pcao.org), but I felt compelled to write to them regarding Kids Helping Kids. Below is the text of my letter. It is sitting in an envelope on my desk, ready to go in the mail, but I would be glad to hear corrections -- including typos, misspellings, and factual errors -- and suggestions for improvement in the next day or two. Their website also has an excellent page at:
http://http://www.pcao.org/involved/legislation.cfm#advocacy, regarding legislation and advocacy.
the text of my letter:
Renee Dillon, Executive Director
Prevent Child Abuse Ohio
700 Children?s Drive, H-130
Columbus, Ohio 43205
December 23, 2004
Dear Renee Dillon;
I was glad to find your website today, thank you for your work on behalf of children.
I am writing to bring your attention to a corporation in Ohio that is involved in institutionalized child abuse: Kids Helping Kids of Cincinnati. My own experience and those of other children at the hands of Straight, Inc., a corporation with the same treatment model as Kids Helping Kids, matches the descriptions on your website of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Kids Helping Kids claims to be distinct from and different from Straight, Inc., which was closed down in Ohio in 1987 as well as in several other states in the 1980s and 1990s due to criminal child abuse. However, it is the treatment model itself, based upon known techniques of brainwashing, that is so harmful to children. In addition, the isolation from society that is a hallmark of this treatment model breeds abuse and secrecy about abuse.
I hope that you will take the time to research what has been published regarding Straight, Inc., and Kids Helping Kids, and the undeniable connection between the two programs. Much is available on the internet. One such source is:
http://www.isaccorp.org/kidshelpingkids.html. It is eerily similar to my experience at Straight Incorporated. Straight so powerfully abused the children in its care that there is a high rate of suicide among former "clients". Please see the following internet link regarding Straight, Inc. suicides:
http://www.webdiva.org/straight/.
Thank you for your time and attention to this most serious matter. I look forward to hearing from you regarding your involvement in protecting Ohio?s children from the abuses happening at Kids Helping Kids.
Sincerely,
