Hidden Lake academy

[Deborah]

***He justified his reasons with "they only eat grass, what could it hurt?"

Well... horses and cows eat grass too, but there are good reasons we don't handle it with our bare hands. I personally would also be concerned about it being tracked into the buildings.
I feel certain that requiring teens to pick up any poop with their hands is a violation of not only health codes, but state regulations.

If you are inclined, you could report it to the Health Dept:
mapalli@dhr.state.ga.us

DFCS might also have an interest in knowing this:
Lumpkin Co. Dept of Family and Children Services
706-864-1980 or 706-864-1651

[Libra]

HLA appears to be very good at keeping the parents in the dark but we are learning.  Right Juniper?  It sure seems like the same things are happening now as when you were there, Deborah.  There is strength in numbers; we're becoming enlightened; but we gotta get our kids out before we can do anything.  My child confirmed the strip searches and a lot of other things posted on this web site.

[juniper]

Libra...Welcome...Darkness has fallen, let's light up the 'house' a bit!

[Deborah]

Welcome to all you new people- ex staff, parents and participants!!
I've been posting at Fornits for four years with very little activity until a couple of months ago. During that time I learned alot about the industry in general, and a few programs specifically. It is uncanny how they're all more alike than different.
Ginger was so gracious to give us our own forum. HLA threads seemed to get lost in all the activity on the Teen Help Industry forum.
So glad you all found your way here!!

[Macaroni3001]

I just left HLA and they do have a bathroom at Lower left and at the lake front where the students may be that may be furthest away from a bathroom.  Student do have to be searched when they come in and believe me that I hate it just as much as they do.  I also work at another place working with adolescents with the same problems and we do the same kind of searches when they leave the campus and return.  

I have seen those geese on HLA campus for the whole 8 months I have been there, and they use the bathroom all over the place.  So it might be a good chance that even I did a push up in some of there mess or sat in some of there mess.  But I never witness anyone doing pushup in Geese Shit.

HLA do not give out former staff information to parents, students, or anyone.  

If anyone have any particular questions I'm willing to answer.

[Macaroni3001]

Is your child a student at HLA now.

[Macaroni3001]

I used to work there.  I just left last month.

[Deborah]

Macaroni,
What attracted you to working with 'adolescents with these problems'?
Which problems are you refering to?
What do you personally feel you have to offer them?
What is your opinion on why HLA doesn't tell parents they will be strip searching their kid?
How are the searches conducted? Why wouldn't it be mentioned in the parent manual, right there with the procedure for searching belongings?

[Troll Control]

On 2005-04-21 18:51:00, Libra wrote:

"HLA appears to be very good at keeping the parents in the dark but we are learning.  Right Juniper?  It sure seems like the same things are happening now as when you were there, Deborah.  There is strength in numbers; we're becoming enlightened; but we gotta get our kids out before we can do anything.  My child confirmed the strip searches and a lot of other things posted on this web site.  "

Again, I don't understand this "powerless" trip.  You're not SHEEP.  You're PARENTS with LEGAL CUSTODY of your kids.  GO GET THEM.

As I have stated before, nobody at HLA can stop you from taking your kid from their "possession."  Show up unannounced and tell them you are there to take your kid home.  

Be prepared for bluster.  They will try to "bluff" you into thinking THEY are in control, not YOU.  This couldn't be further from the truth.

Tell them you are taking your kid NOW.  If need be, call the local sheriff's department.  I GUARANTEE that nobody there will risk a messy confrontation in front of the cops.

The law is clearly on your side.  Now GROW A BACKBONE and go take care of your mess.

[Macaroni3001]

I started working with adolescents when I was in college in as my internship.  I liked the job at the group home.  So I pursued my Master's degree in Social Work because I knew I would be able to work with adolescents or just help people in alot of capacities.

What I offer is a person who understands what they go through, I'm going to be real with them, I will respect them, I will be honest with them, I will show them tough love, I do not look down on them, and I do not disrespect there individualities.  

Let me clarify myself.  What I meant by problems is the reasons they were sent to any out of home placement.  For example, drugs and alcohol abuse, violence, abuse, truancy, ect.

Really I do not know why they did not let the parents know.  In the months I was there I was under the impression that parents knew and understood why they did searches.  I did not like just as much as the students did not like it.  I have worked in this field for about 5 years now, and almost every facility I worked in did searches of some kind.  It all depends on the level of care and the adolescent.  And the searches ranged from just checking pockets, shoes, and bags to full body searches except there private areas.  

The searches were conducted when a student returned to campus from visits, overnight trips, and other circumstances.  I'm not getting into the specifics at this time.  I would say that I never saw any students private areas.  We basicly searched each article of clothing, under their feet, backs, and arm pitts.  The searchs were always done by two staff and with the same sex. For example if it was a male student it would be two male staffs, and not the counselor of the student if possible. I do not know why it would not be mentioned to the parents.  That was not my job to inform the parents of all policy and procedure when they brouhght their students to the school initially.  If any of the parents I worked with had a question I would answer or get the answer for them.  I'm sure parents knew about searches because the students had to tell them about them.  They tell them about everything else.  

Deborah,
1. Whats your background?
2. Why are you so into HLA?
3. In what capacity is this going to help you or your current situation?
3. What is your opinion on why HLA doesn't tell parents they will be doing searches on the students.
4.  If you have any more questions, HOLLA!!!

[Libra]

We are "going to get our children" and you're simplifying the predicament.  Taking them out of HLA without a plan is not an option.  In fact, it would be a worse mistake than HLA was.  We want our kids to graduate from high school, stay off drugs and alcohol, refrain from abusive relationships, get the medical help they need, etc.  Those problems still exist with our kids and our kids still need help.  If you have any suggestions for alternative boarding schools or other programs I would love to hear them.

[RobertBruce]

Libra I wouldnt consider a high school diploma a reason for keeping your child at HLA, the education there is substandard at best you can view a post written by a former teacher from there which goes into specific detail. Im sure Deborah can post you the link. You should for your own childs benefit get them out NOW. Get them out and allow them to pick a LICENSED therapist whom he or she can trust. I assure you your child will have major trust issues for years to come as a result of their experience at HLA. What he or she is dealing with right now, is being degraded every single day, being forced to admitt crimes and sins to people who are often masicistic. I hope your child has a drug problem, because if they dont they are still forced to attend drug rehab. If he or she is punished for any reasons the punishment will border on abuse and will of course go on indefinitly. Espically when your child is innocent of any crime and refuses to cop to the guilt. As far as Mrs. Grey goes, she chooses to forget many of the more unpleasant aspects of HLA, simply because shes aware the food that was put on her table for seven years came as a result of organized child abuse. Oh and as another neat little token, HLA systematically lies to the state about its true purpose. They tell parents they are a TBS yet tell the state they are not, the reasons of course being if they were listed as a TBS they would be subject to review and would have to completly overhaul their disciplinary procedures. Again Deborah should be able to post the link for you. Any specific questions you have Ill be happy to answer for you.


Mrs. Grey, one more time you fail to back up your own statements, you claimed you "knew my situation" yet you for some magical reason cannot offer up a single specific detail about me. Why is this/

[Anonymous]

didn't macaroni mention what the licenses are?  was he correct, just wondering...or if those were just accreditations?

[Anonymous]

if you show up to take your kid, no one will stop you, sure they will give you the benefits of them staying blah blah blah, it is their job, but if you are genuine about taking your child out there is nothing to stop you and no one who will stop you.  you may lose some money (deposit or the like) but that shouldn't matter as long as you get your kid.  just remember the reasons you chose to place them there most likely have not gone away and perhaps find somewhere else for them prior to taking them out (sorta like not quitting one job before having another) cause the problems will probably still be there and they will probably be really angry at you, too.
just a thought!

[Anonymous]

On 2005-04-22 16:17:00, Libra wrote:

"We are "going to get our children" and you're simplifying the predicament.  Taking them out of HLA without a plan is not an option.  In fact, it would be a worse mistake than HLA was.  We want our kids to graduate from high school, stay off drugs and alcohol, refrain from abusive relationships, get the medical help they need, etc.  Those problems still exist with our kids and our kids still need help.  If you have any suggestions for alternative boarding schools or other programs I would love to hear them."

Here is a suggestion for you.  Why don't you keep your child at home, be the best parent you can be, love them unconditionally, teach them good values, kindness, etc and let them grow up.   In most all cases, you will be pretty happy and proud of your children.   I know this to be true...statistacally, most people grow out of bad behavior.  That is why our prisons (not jails) are full of mostly very young and very old people. That is why most people that use drugs as children aren't all dead, insane or in jail.   People grow up.

I am a 44 year old man and have a 24 year old son.  My son was a very difficult child to say the least;  But, I did not put him away to a school or program.  These places are not helpful in the long run, or often the short run either.  I know this because I spent 15 months in a program as a child.  Cure was far worse than the disease.  My disease was rebellious youth, the "cure" broke me for many years.

I adopted my son when he was 9.  Head strong, and wonderful child.  He was a challenge.  He tried my patience, arrests, et al.  But we did not put him away.  He is all grown up now. Great son, good friend.  Be a parent, keep your child at home.

I'd write more, but I gotta get to work.   Good luck.