Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Ridge Creek School / Hidden Lake Academy => Topic started by: Anonymous on June 23, 2007, 03:04:53 PM
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Update: HLA has completed their application process and will be approved to operate as a Child Caring Institution effective 6/25/07. HLA will be given a 6 month temporary license and will be subject to all the Rules and Regulations of the Child Caring Institution designation.
(a) Licenses. The department may issue a temporary license, a restricted license, or a license in accordance with these rules.*
1. Temporary License. The department may in its discretion issue a temporary license if the health and safety of the children to be served by the institution will not be endangered.
A temporary license will be valid for a specified period not to exceed one (1) year and may be issued in the following instances:*
(i) when it is found that an institution complies with these rules but has not yet enrolled children; or*
(ii) when the institution is not in full compliance with these rules but has demonstrated satisfactory evidence that it is making progress toward meeting these rules and has submitted an acceptable plan of correction.*
This means ORS and CPS can conduct random investigations and all complaints filed with ORS/CPS will be investigated and HLA has to cooperate.
http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/290/2/5/07.pdf (http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/290/2/5/07.pdf)
290-2-5-.07 Inspections and Investigations.
The department is authorized and empowered to conduct investigations and on-site inspections of any institution required by these rules to be licensed. The proposed and current licensee and staff shall cooperate with any inspection or investigation by responding truthfully to any legitimate departmental inquiry.*
(a) Initial Inspection. Following receipt and review of a complete application package, the department may conduct an on-site inspection of the institution to assess compliance with these rules.
(b) Consent to Entry. An application for a license or commission to operate an institution or the issuance of a license by the department constitutes consent by the applicant, the proposed holder of the license and the owner of the premises for the department's representative, after displaying picture identification to any institution staff, to enter the
premises at any time during operating hours for the purpose of inspecting the facility. This includes both scheduled and unscheduled inspections and includes consent for meaningful access to all staff, parts of the premises, all children present, and all records required by these rules. To the degree possible, inspections of records normally maintained in the institution's business office, such as financial records, will be
conducted during normal business hours, e.g. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. The department shall have the authority to require the production of any books, records, papers, or other information related to the initial or continued licensing of any institution.*
(c) Other Inspections. The department may conduct scheduled and unscheduled on-site inspections of an institution in the following instances:*
1. Annually or at other regular intervals as the department may determine or at the expiration of the current license; or*
2. Upon receiving a report, including a report submitted by the institution, alleging child abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation, or deprivation which occurred while the child was in the care of the institution director or employees; or*
3. Upon receiving information of alleged violations of these rules, including information provided by the institution, which, if true, could endanger the health, safety or welfare of the children in care; or*
4. Upon receipt and review of a request for an amended license, where the department determines that an on-site inspection is advisable; or*
5. Upon the department or its duly authorized representative being made aware of any flagrant abuses, derelictions or deficiencies during the course of the department's inspection or at any other time. The department shall immediately investigate such matters and may make an on-site inspection so as to take such actions as conditions may
require; or*
6. Subsequent to the receipt of a plan of correction, as determined necessary by the department, to monitor whether the plan of correction is being complied with by the institution's personnel.*
(d) Failure to Allow Access. Failure to allow access of the department's representative to the institution, its staff, or the children receiving care at the institution or the books, records, papers, or other information related to initial or continued licensing, or failure to cooperate with a departmental inspection or investigation shall constitute good cause for
the denial, restriction, revocation or suspension of a license, or other penalty as provided by law.*
(e) False or Misleading Statements. No licensee shall make or condone any employee making false or misleading statements to the department in connection with any authorized investigation or inspection being conducted by the department.*
Authority O.C.G.A. Secs. 31-2-6, 49-5-8, 49-5-12. History. Original Rule entitled “Staff” adopted. F. Oct. 1, 1974; eff. Oct. 21, 1974. Repealed: New Rule entitled “Additional Requirements for Institutions Providing Group Care for the Exceptional Children” adopted. F. Aug. 26, 1975; eff. Sept. 15, 1975.
Repealed: New Rule entitled “Inspections and Investigations” adopted. F. June 30, 1994; eff. Aug. 1,
1994, as specified by the Agency.
And here are the new rules:
http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/290/2/5/12.pdf (http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/290/2/5/12.pdf)
290-2-5-.12 Child Care Services.
(1) Casework Services. All children in care and families of children in care shall receive case work services as provided in their service plan from their assigned Human Services Professional or other appropriate professionals who shall meet with and counsel with the children. The results of such counseling shall be recorded in the children's case records.
The purpose of such services are to identify and monitor the children's and families' progress relative to the needs, goals and objectives identified in child care assessments and service plans and to discuss any problems being encountered by or with the children in care.
(2) Educational and Vocational Services. An institution shall not admit a child unless an educational program commensurate with the specific educational and vocational needs of the child can be provided.*
(a) Provisions shall be made for mandatory education of all children in care in accordance with O.C.G.A. 20-2-690 et seq. or its successor statute. For purposes of these rules, an on-campus school is defined as a private school, and must be in compliance with the above law.*
(b) A child's assigned Human Services Professional shall monitor the child's educational or vocational progress in the course of providing case work services and planning. Progress reports, such as report cards, and other records or documentation of a child's educational or vocational performance while residing in the institution shall be maintained in the child's case record.*
(c) Children attending public schools who wish to participate in extracurricular activities shall be provided such reasonable opportunities by the institution in accordance with the child's service plan.*
(d) Children's daily activities as stated in their service plans shall provide for study time during the periods the children are attending school.*
(3) Health Services. The facility shall provide for a comprehensive program of preventive, routine, and emergency medical and dental care for all children.*
(a) Within thirty days of admission, an assessment of the children's medical and dental health shall be completed by the designated intake Human Services Professional.
1. A general physical examination of the child shall be provided within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) of admission unless such an examination has been completed within one year prior to admission. Such examination shall be done by a medical doctor, physician's assistant, or public health department and shall include basic diagnostic laboratory work, including but not limited to a Complete Blood Count (CBC)
and basic Urinanalysis; required immunizations; and vision and hearing tests.
(i) Required Immunization. All children shall have current immunizations as outlined in Rules and Regulations of the Department of Human Resources for Immunization of Children as a Prerequisite to Admission to School or Other Facilities, Chapter 290-5-4.*
2. A general dental examination of the child shall be provided for unless such an examination has been completed within six months prior to admission. Such examinations shall be done by either a dentist or a dental hygienist that is employed by the department and County Boards of Health to screen school pupils.
(b) An institution shall ensure that children receive timely, qualified medical and dental care when they are ill and that they continue to receive necessary follow-up medical care. Arrangements shall be made with at least one physician and one dentist or a health care agency that provides physician and dental services for the medical care of the children. Children shall receive annual medical check-ups and semiannual dental check-ups.*
(c) An institution shall ensure that children receive timely, qualified medical care in cases of medical emergencies (life-threatening, limb-threatening, or function-threatening conditions). Policies shall be in place for the emergency medical care of children with a local hospital or other health care facility that provides emergency services or with a local
physician.*
(d) Medications. The institutions shall develop and implement policies and procedures for the use and management of all types of medications. All direct care staff shall receive orientation on the policies and procedures. Such policies and procedures shall include the following:*
1. Non-prescription medications. No child shall be given a non-prescription medication by staff members of the institution unless the child exhibits symptoms that the medication is designed to relieve.*
2. Prescription medications. No child shall be given a prescription medication unless the medication is prescribed for the child by an authorized health care professional.*
(i) Prescription medications shall only be given to a child as ordered in the child's prescription. An institution shall not permit such medications prescribed for one child to be given to any other child.*
(ii) A child's attending physician shall be notified in cases of dosage errors, drug reactions, or if the prescription medication does not appear to be effective.*
3. Psychotropic medications. No child shall be given psychotropic medications unless use is in accordance with the goals and objectives of the child's service plan.*
(i) Psychotropic medications must be prescribed by a physician who has responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment of the child's conditions that necessitate such medication. Continued use of psychotropic medications shall be reviewed by the prescribing physician every sixty days.*
(ii) Psychotropic medication shall only be given to a child as ordered in the child's prescription. An institution shall not permit such medications prescribed for one child to be given to another child.*
(iii) The prescribing physician shall be notified in cases of dosage errors, drug reactions, or if the psychotropic medication does not appear to be effective.*
4. An institution shall designate and authorize classes of staff, such as Child Care Workers, to handout medications and supervise the taking of medications. Only designated and authorized staff shall handout and supervise the taking of medication.*
5. An institution shall maintain a record of all medications handed-out by authorized staff and taken by children to include: name of child taking medication, name of prescribing physician and date of prescription (if the medication is prescription or psychotropic), required dosage, date and time taken, dosage taken, and name and signature of staff member that handed-out and supervised the taking of the medication.*
6. All prescription and non-prescription medications shall be kept in a locked storage cabinet or container which is not accessible to the children and stored separate from cleaning chemicals and supplies or poisons. The keys to the locked cabinets or containers shall not be accessible to residents.*
7. All expired medications shall be discarded and not handed-out for use.*
(e) First Aid Supplies. Each living unit shall have a first aid kit and instruction manual; such kit shall contain scissors, tweezers, gauze pads, adhesive tape, thermometer, assorted band-aids, antiseptic cleaning solution, and bandages.*
(4) Recreation and Leisure. The institution shall provide for a program of indoor and outdoor recreational and leisure activities. When providing these activities, it shall utilize the community's cultural, social, and recreational resources whenever possible and appropriate. Children's activities as stated in their service plans shall provide for leisure
and recreational time. An institution shall procure and maintain a variety of recreational and leisure equipment and supplies such as games, sporting equipment, reading materials, and art supplies.*
(5) Other Services.*
(a) The institution shall ensure that all children have adequate, properly fitting, seasonable clothing as required for health, comfort and physical well-being. Clothes shall be appropriate to age, gender, and individual needs.*
(b) Daily routines of children shall provide for appropriate personal care, hygiene, and grooming commensurate with age, gender, and cultural heritage. All necessary toiletry items and supplies, such as soap, shampoo, hair brushes, tooth brushes and paste, deodorant, and bath towels, shall be provided.*
(c) Children shall not be held solely responsible for the accomplishments of any work activity of the institution such as food preparation, laundering, housekeeping, or facility maintenance. Children shall not be considered substitutes for employed staff.*
(d) Children shall not be used for the purposes of soliciting funds for the institution, nor shall children be used in connection with any advertisement or publicity without the consent of the child and the parent(s) or guardian(s).*
(e) Children shall be permitted to participate in religious and cultural activities in accordance with their cultural and ethnic heritage.*
Authority O.C.G.A. Secs. 20-2-690.1, 49-5-8, 49-5-12. History. Original Rule entitled "Child Care Services" adopted. F. Jun. 30, 1994; eff. Aug. 1, 1994, as specified by the Agency.
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This is great news for HLA and the people on Fornits should be proud that they have been the facilitators of some much needed change. It will be interesting to see if this traslates into increased referals for HLA.
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so how is all of this being assured? does ors have power to inspect them randomly? are they being allowed to stay open? they need to be "held accountable" for all the shit they've done, and that wouldn't be fair.
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Yes, ORS can inspect them at random and they are allowed to stay open as long as they comply with the Rules and Regulations set forth by ORS. They will face fines and closure if they fail to comply with the Rules and Regulations of ORS.
The lawsuit is holding them "accountable" for all the wrongs they've done.
Going forth parents and students can report violations to ORS for investigation.
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I can only see bad coming out of this. But, if they do violate the rules, then it is game over for Lennie.
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Are these changes being implimented now?? If so there will be a VERY big change on the HLA campus. Restrictions will have to completely change over night.
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I am not sure that you are correct about restrictions being totally changed. The rules state that children cannot be soley resposible for upkeep done on campus. HLA hires people to do their yard work and people to clean the campus. The kids can still do work as long as they are not SOLELY responsible for it.
I don't know where ORS stands on kids doing calethstenics.
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yes, but the kids can now REFUSE restrictions, or any other part of the program, and cannot be punished for it. they have RIGHTS now and can EXERCISE them. must have unfettered access to telephones, no mail screening, must have access to atty, doctor, etc. HLA WILL violate these rules - it's their SOP to deny the legal rights of the kids. now we just need to keep reporting the violations...
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I don't know where ORS stands on kids doing calethstenics.
there can be NO physical punishments of any kind.
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I'm not saying you are wrong, but can you tell me where to find the rules regarding phones calls, physical punishment, etc...that you mentioned.
Thanks.
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under ORS rules and regs for childcaring institutions. they've been posted here several times.
deb? can you help with "attendee rights"?
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From what I can gather from the ORS regs, the students have to have access to a phone at all times.....I see a problem with this. If it was a regular boarding school, this wouldnt be an issue. But some of these kids are looking for any way out, even if its against the law or dangerous. They will (and have) called their boyfriends and/or friends to come pick them up and snuck out. What is ORS's take on kids who are at risk for running away?
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Of course you see a problem with it Bullfrog, youre position has always been that any kid who claims hes being abused at HLA is lying; therefore he has nothing to report.
Too bad for you and your kiddie beating friends you arent getting your way anymore.
Its funny that you now claim that HLA isnt a regular boarding school, not too long ago you wouldnt shut up about how it was a magical hybrid and thus exempt from all laws.
why the change of heart Bullfrog?
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Back to the question...What is ORS's take on kids that are at rist to run away?
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From what I can gather from the ORS regs, the students have to have access to a phone at all times.....I see a problem with this.
Copy the regulation(s) that gave you this impression.
If it was a regular boarding school, this wouldnt be an issue. But some of these kids are looking for any way out, even if its against the law or dangerous. They will (and have) called their boyfriends and/or friends to come pick them up and snuck out. What is ORS's take on kids who are at risk for running away?
Read the regs and see if you can find the one that addresses this.
BTW, how did they call their friends to pick them up? What phone did they use? How with 24/7 supervision and night staff did they 'sneak out'?
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I think part of the appeal to parents about HLA is that it is not a lock down facility. The kids are allowed a degree of freedom compared to other therapeutic interventions. Because of this it is not entirely impossible for a kid to slip away, walk down the road, and find a phone to use. The vast majority of the kids stay on campus, but some do run away. In fact, if a kid decides to leave all HLA staff will typically do is follow them off campus and then call the police. At that point the police decide what to do.
Because of this it makes it even more important that HLA accept appropriate kids into the school.
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If a parent says to HLA, "I don't want my child calling anyone except us" is it against ORS regulations to honor the parents wishes?
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This can happen ONLY if it is THERAPEUTICALLY JUSTIFIED by a LICENSED THERAPIST treating the kid. The patient, of course, has the right to see a lawyer and a mental health advocate to challenge the treatment plan. They canot be denied this right or held incommunicado as they are now.
Let's remember, HLA's policies run counter to patient rights and cannot be employed any longer. If they continue to run "the program" they'll be faced with continuous reports of violations and endless red tape associated with patients asserting their rights under the law.
Things are going to change drastically at HLA or it will close. Plain and simple.
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I think part of the appeal to parents about HLA is that it is not a lock down facility. The kids are allowed a degree of freedom compared to other therapeutic interventions.
A degree of freedom? 1 degree? 10 degrees? What 'therapeutic intervention(s)' are you comparing HLA to?
I know of no other intervention, therapeutic or otherwise, that severs contact between parent and child as a blanket policy. Or only allows 10 minutes of phone time with parents per week, following 4 months of no verbal contact. Or censors mail without a court order or direct order from a mental health expert.
You well know that the blanket policies at HLA wouldn't fly in an evidence-based, ethically operated facility that houses kids 24/7, even Juvey.
HLAs blanket policies haven't been shown to be effective or a humane form of 'treatment'.
Because of this it is not entirely impossible for a kid to slip away, walk down the road, and find a phone to use. In fact, if a kid decides to leave all HLA staff will typically do is follow them off campus and then call the police.
The nearest phone is 10 miles away. Plenty of time to be arrested by police.
Again, how exactly are kids escaping at night when the windows are bolted, alarm systems in place, nightwatch on duty?
You also know that kids trying to leave have been physically restrained (in a 'no restraint' facility) and/or held against their will and denied access to a phone. The fact that there's no barbed wire fence doesn't 'prove' HLAs not a 'lock down'.
Because of this it makes it even more important that HLA accept appropriate kids into the school.
Would that be kids who 'want' to be there, or kids who are too timid to fight for their rights?
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I think part of the appeal to parents about HLA is that it is not a lock down facility. The kids are allowed a degree of freedom compared to other therapeutic interventions.
A degree of freedom? 1 degree? 10 degrees? What 'therapeutic intervention(s)' are you comparing HLA to?
I know of no other intervention, therapeutic or otherwise, that severs contact between parent and child as a blanket policy. Or only allows 10 minutes of phone time with parents per week, following 4 months of no verbal contact. Or censors mail without a court order or direct order from a mental health expert.
You well know that the blanket policies at HLA wouldn't fly in an evidence-based, ethically operated facility that houses kids 24/7, even Juvey.
HLAs blanket policies haven't been shown to be effective or a humane form of 'treatment'.
Because of this it is not entirely impossible for a kid to slip away, walk down the road, and find a phone to use. In fact, if a kid decides to leave all HLA staff will typically do is follow them off campus and then call the police.
The nearest phone is 10 miles away. Plenty of time to be arrested by police.
Again, how exactly are kids escaping at night when the windows are bolted, alarm systems in place, nightwatch on duty?
You also know that kids trying to leave have been physically restrained (in a 'no restraint' facility) and/or held against their will and denied access to a phone. The fact that there's no barbed wire fence doesn't 'prove' HLAs not a 'lock down'.
Because of this it makes it even more important that HLA accept appropriate kids into the school.
Would that be kids who 'want' to be there, or kids who are too timid to fight for their rights?
HLA's effectiveness is up for debate. To my knowledge, there have been no studies to test its effectiveness. HLA has done some surveys, but the way they were worded were not valid at all. All we really have is personal testimony, which seems split. My opinion is that HLA is very effective with kids that are appropriately placed there and all parents are in support of the placement. HLA is not effective at all with kids that are innapropriately placed and kids from families whose parents are divided on the placement. Unfortunately, when HLA started accepting kids that they should not have it negatively affected the appropriate placements.
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Are you saying that HLA had an effect in the first place? Cut me a break. Go to HLA, and you will see just how effective it is...
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There are a large number of people that HLA has been very positive for. Obviously there are those that feel differently as well. There are also two other categories that people can fall in to...those that say that they hated HLA and complain about, but would be far worse off if they had not been there. AND, to be fair...there are those that had very positive experiences at HLA that probably would have figured things out on their own even without HLA.
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There are a large number of people that HLA has been very positive for.
That's intersting. I don't consider a handful of staff a large number. Does anyone else here?
Oh, right! You meant the victims. Sorry, but "they needed it" doesn't exactly fly on Fornits. Try that one on a rape survivors board next time.
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To play devil's advocate here, Deb, there are times during the day when it is very much possible to slip away. Think of all the times you've heard accounts on this site of students doing anything "out of agreement". Having sex, smoking, doing drugs, hooking up, whatever. All of those were times that students we not properly supervised... Now I wouldn't call a lack in supervision a "degree of freedom", because just because they have unattentive, untrained staff doesn't mean they are being given freedom.
And guest. It would be a death sentance for HLA to only admit "appropriate" students, by your definition of the word. There is only a small group of students whose parents would be ok with that relaxed of security for their children. Most parents send their kids there to get away from negative influences, drugs, whatever, or so they can just ship them off and avoid the "problem". None of these cases would the parents think it appropriate for the students to have unlimited access to a telephone, uncensored mail, and so on. And especially for the parents just shipping them away, I don't think the rights that are going to have to be given to the students by the ORS ruling would fly with them. Therefore, this cuts HLA's admission down to almost zero.
Most parents in search of a TBS are going to look for a place that is going to "protect" their children, and because they are scared, they think its a place like HLA was, with strict rules and restrictions on the students behavior. Parents dont usually want to do the harder thing of actually WORKING with their children through their issues, and feel that locking them up in an HLA-esque place is "for the best".
And your saying about the parents being "supportive" of working with their children's placement at HLA. Supportive of exactly what? What are the parents really contributing or participating in? One ten minute phone call a week from their child, one weekly update from the counselor, a "workshop" 4 or 5 times over the course of almost 2 years?? I don't really call that support. If these parents are really as devoted to their kid as they wail about on here and doing the "harder thing" in sacrifice for their child, why is there so little involved? Do they really think its that easy of a fix?? So effortless? With these children going through the hardest experience they ever will endure (and I assure you, other than becoming a parent yourself, it is), why is there so little expected from the parent?
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There are a large number of people that HLA has been very positive for. Obviously there are those that feel differently as well. There are also two other categories that people can fall in to...those that say that they hated HLA and complain about, but would be far worse off if they had not been there. AND, to be fair...there are those that had very positive experiences at HLA that probably would have figured things out on their own even without HLA.
Of course there's the third category of kids who never needed to be there, were abused and mistreated, and would have been much better off having never set foot there.