Spedschools.com is not a licensing agency it is a member agency a trade organization so the state has nothing to do with them or their practices. Well hmm Struggling Teens I think they speak for themselves, if you believe that paying folks airfare, hotel, and meals to come out and write a story about a program then well, I don't know what to tell you. As a matter of fact I emailed Lon Woodbury personally about Cold Springs he had nothing to say worthwhile my decision was after the emails and no return call that they paid for the advertising and they don't care where the money comes from - no standards there. Academy at Swift River is NOT LICENSED IN MA - what else can I tell you - they are not licensed and not referred to either by anyone with any stature or credibility. Harbor is approved and licensed went through some terrible things, major changes, and is up and running pretty well at least doing much better, Castle also licensed and approved and doing well. Stetson also licensed and approved for 766. Again what is your point here, the programs that are approved and licensed in MA are Residential Schools they are approved and licensed as that. Your information from woodbury reports is well exactly what it is, and 766 Member means nothing - it is a trade organization. What means something is Licensed by the Office for Child Care Services (the state licensing and oversight agency) and 766 Approved (means they are approved as a special education school in MA from DOE). You are arguing facts from websites that mean nothing NOTHING! I have given you the facts and still am not sure where you are coming from. SPEDSCHOOLS.COM AKA MAAPS is a member trade organization they promote their members programs, they also buy bulk insurance etc., I am not fond of them but at the same time they have a right to be there and do what they do. Struggling Teens is exactly what it is and I hate that term struggling teens we started a list serve which didn't pick up much to try to get folks steered from that. It makes me sick, the kids who do need thereputic residential schools are not struggling teens they are living with a disability. Big difference!
Bottom line - we are trying to stay on top of the programs in MA - they are up and running so we need to make sure they are safe or do our best to make sure. When they are not we are all over them all over them. Unfortunetly the information you got was from sites that are not the licensing agencies, one was a site I find very unreputable and the other was a trade organization site. Why do you continue to want to argue facts? Where is this getting you? Your fact finding is well, not have anything to do with what PFRR does or it's mission. It is links you found on two sites that are not of any issue with me, I can't control where programs advertise nor are a member of. Your hard work is commendable, and I can see you have a passion which is wonderful, but again to try to discredit my knowledge and our mission is not constructive at all, when you realize I am not one of the awful Ed Consultants - you will be fine, ask Shelby I do the right thing by children and families. I give them proper information, and also help them a lot when they call unfortunetly when they place in a Academy at Swift River or old Desisto - they reach me only after something has happened I let parents know when a school is properly licensed if they reach me before hand. It is the first Sunday morning with no rain in a long time in MA - I am going to try to plant my garden this morning before it rains. It has been an awful spring here loads of rain I am ready to build an ARK.
Good luck.
