Fornits

Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Troubled Teen Industry => Topic started by: kumquatmay on November 10, 2007, 08:30:42 AM

Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: kumquatmay on November 10, 2007, 08:30:42 AM
As a result of a special education classification of emotionally disturbed and acting out at school, my 14-yr old son was sent to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Montana five months ago. He is not doing well. He actually seems much worse now, than when he started at the placement. The results of the facility’s psychiatric testing and evaluation were a vague, broad-spectrum diagnosis of ADHD/BP/ODD and some unspecified type of thought disorder (?). Which sounds to me like a little bit of everything and nothing specifically treatable. They are trying new combinations of medications, but I have my doubts about this program working for my son. Clearly, discovering the right medications will be of great help, but other therapeutic elements of mental health care are critical as well.

At this point, my son despises his therapist and continues to engage in an insolent power-struggle with the staff.  For this reason, he has been continually kept in a highly secure, intensive treatment lodge that would normally just be used for assessment purposes. His stubborn defiance and unmanageability with the staff has led to multiple (i.e. daily) therapeutic crisis interventions or “proceduresâ€
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Anonymous on November 10, 2007, 09:12:44 AM
Ah, looking for the kinder, gentler treatment center. Unfortunately, what you are asking for effectively cannot exist, because if it DID exist, it would  release its patients too fast and so go out of business, along with a large number of other, more subtle, social reasons. You'd be better off looking for Camelot.

I'm certain some Fornits member is going to ask what all he DID to get sent to a place like that.. so, just what was he doing? What were you doing? What the hell happened?

Also notable here is the lack of a real diagnosis. Have you ever had him MRI'd? Chemical balance analyzed in some way? Checked for things like toxoplasmosis or encephalitis? The fact that you know so little about his actual mental illness, if any, is disturbing.

Quote
the facility’s psychiatric testing and evaluation


And you're going to rely on that? Ever taken him to a real shrink, someone with a doctorate and experience who knows what the hell he's doing?

It sounds like your *real* problem is "I can't handle him- find someone who can". In that case, your best bet would be to pull him home and marry a man with the strength of a bull and the patience of a saint, and hope your son doesn't snap your neck like a twig for sending him to that hellhole (which he might do eventually anyway).
Title: Was he ordered out your home (Youth Care incident)
Post by: Anonymous on November 10, 2007, 10:16:00 AM
Was he ordered out of your home by the authorities as it was the case with the boy who was placed at Youth Care?

If that is the case, we have to accept that the best place he can be is at a home with a 2007 standard when it comes to respect children. They are rare but they exist.

What homestate do you come from? Was he ordered out the home by the authorities?
Title: Re: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Pitbull Mom on November 10, 2007, 03:23:45 PM
Quote from: "kumquatmay"
As a result of a special education classification of emotionally disturbed and acting out at school, my 14-yr old son was sent to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Montana five months ago. He is not doing well. He actually seems much worse now, than when he started at the placement. The results of the facility’s psychiatric testing and evaluation were a vague, broad-spectrum diagnosis of ADHD/BP/ODD and some unspecified type of thought disorder (?). Which sounds to me like a little bit of everything and nothing specifically treatable. They are trying new combinations of medications, but I have my doubts about this program working for my son. Clearly, discovering the right medications will be of great help, but other therapeutic elements of mental health care are critical as well.

At this point, my son despises his therapist and continues to engage in an insolent power-struggle with the staff.  For this reason, he has been continually kept in a highly secure, intensive treatment lodge that would normally just be used for assessment purposes. His stubborn defiance and unmanageability with the staff has led to multiple (i.e. daily) therapeutic crisis interventions or “proceduresâ€
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Pitbull Mom on November 10, 2007, 03:34:20 PM
Forgot this in my last post - You also need to contact the state Office of Licensing, and Child Protective Services for the county where the facility is, and file complaints of abuse against your son. No one will do this for you.
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Nihilanthic on November 10, 2007, 04:01:14 PM
Take your kid out of a program, BE HIS MOTHER, and stop throwing him into institutions!

What the hell do you expect someone to do if they're stranded isolated and betrayed (yes, betrayed, as in by you, in his mind) and left to strangers who do little more than force them into obedience and to regurgitate program emotional growth nonsense.

If he's actually a danger he needs an actual treatment center. If he has emotional problems, why shouldn't he have the comforts of home and the love of his family to help him feel better? Why on earth would some austere institution be BETTER for... anything except breaking people down?

Its all they do. Until I see at least ONE example otherwise, and I'm STILL waiting, I'm not going to say otherwise either.

To conclude: get him home, DO YOUR JOB, stop sending him away, and MAYBE he won't want to act out because his needs aren't being met and he's being forced into a shitty situation and has no friends, family, or happiness!
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Nihilanthic on November 10, 2007, 04:12:35 PM
Now that I got that off my chest I can start to take in what you said specifically... and honestly this looks pretty... um, shitty.

Quote
As a result of a special education classification of emotionally disturbed and acting out at school, my 14-yr old son was sent to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Montana five months ago. He is not doing well. He actually seems much worse now, than when he started at the placement

IS HE STILL THERE?? WHY IS HE STILL THERE? HELLLLLLLLLLOOOO???? EARTH TO MAMA!

Quote
The results of the facility’s psychiatric testing and evaluation were a vague, broad-spectrum diagnosis of ADHD/BP/ODD and some unspecified type of thought disorder (?). Which sounds to me like a little bit of everything and nothing specifically treatable. They are trying new combinations of medications, but I have my doubts about this program working for my son. Clearly, discovering the right medications will be of great help, but other therapeutic elements of mental health care are critical as well.

Do they have a PhD on staff or are they just doing this illegally? Also, uh, it reads to me like they're a bunch of freaking hacks and/or idiots and you really, really need to get him out of there.

Does "quack" ring a bell? This is definitely one of the quackiest of duckfarms I've seen in ages.

Quote
At this point, my son despises his therapist and continues to engage in an insolent power-struggle with the staff. For this reason, he has been continually kept in a highly secure, intensive treatment lodge that would normally just be used for assessment purposes.


Maybe he hates it there, hates the quack idiots there, the forced medications, and JUST MAYBE sentencing him to hell on earth for "acting out in school" was a stupid idea? And it might have something to do with...

Quote
His stubborn defiance and unmanageability with the staff has led to multiple (i.e. daily) therapeutic crisis interventions or “proceduresâ€
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: kumquatmay on November 10, 2007, 09:52:20 PM
Wow, a lot of intense responses to my post. There is no question that I am having a crisis of conscience concerning my son’s placement. It has truly been a calamity from the start. Especially now, given the accusations of abuse and the antagonistic environment that has subsequently developed there. The staff’s abusive behavior was reported by our attorney and Montana’s Child Protective Services are currently investigating the incidents. Because the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch failed to report the claim, Child Protective Services issued a complaint against their license. Local publicity and a threat of litigation have provided a measure of safety while we work out what to do next.  

The question that keeps being raised is why is my son still at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch? The answer involves maintaining or losing Special Education services available through his school’s Individual Education Plan. He was placed in Residential Treatment to receive mental health and educational services that were not available at home. My son’s situation is complicated by the fact that his behavior is unpredictable and can at times become violent and dangerous. Most often he is gentle, compassionate, funny and intellectually inspired. But, I have had to call the police on numerous occasions to break up fights between my son and his brothers. At school, he was recurrently disrespectful, very disruptive and eventually referred by the school district for placement when he allegedly intimidated a younger peer.

I love and miss my son very much. It is a devastating decision to send a child to a treatment center. It is done in desperation, not to simply dodge one’s duty as a mother. I have been struggling with my son’s behavior problems for years. I’ve looked for an appropriate diagnosis and effective treatments with marginal success at best. I’ve utilized prominent psychiatrists, psychologists, school counselors, church ministers, family therapy, sports therapy, parenting classes, mentors, youth groups, community wrap-around programs and more.  There is the larger issue of parental responsibility and my son’s precarious impact on his siblings and our community. It is truly an impossible choice with too much at stake. My hope is that my son will, with attentive treatment, return to our home and community successfully.  

History may eventually look back at today’s standard for children’s mental healthcare treatment as barbaric. Without a doubt, most of the programs I’ve researched are dreadful. I am not convinced, however, that every treatment program out there is bad for children. I believe there must be some people out there who are dedicated to helping emotionally ill children. Villa Santa Maria in New Mexico is exceptional for working with children with Reactive Attachment Disorder. I am researching the Montcalm School in Michigan, which seems to be more positive and maintains a less adversarial relationship with the children. Interestingly, they also have a listing of the alumni organization with former students (going back to the 1920’s) crediting the school with making a big difference in their lives.
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Anonymous on November 10, 2007, 10:08:49 PM
I'm sorry, I gotta call troll here.

Quote
The staff’s abusive behavior was reported by our attorney and Montana’s Child Protective Services are currently investigating the incidents.

And you STILL LEFT HIM THERE??

Quote
The answer involves maintaining or losing Special Education services available through his school’s Individual Education Plan.


Your kid is being tortured and THIS IS WHAT YOU WORRY ABOUT??

This person cannot be real.

Whoever wrote this knows a lot about the industry- probably too much- and doesn't have a fucking clue how to write realistic characters. Go read Stephen King back when he was good, and try again.
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Nihilanthic on November 10, 2007, 10:23:35 PM
You're either a troll or an idiot.

You refuse to listen to what we say.

WTF do you want us to say? What you want to hear?
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Anonymous on November 10, 2007, 10:28:58 PM
Quote
Villa Santa Maria in New Mexico is exceptional for working with children with Reactive Attachment Disorder. I am researching the Montcalm School in Michigan, which seems to be more positive and maintains a less adversarial relationship with the children


Troll works for either of these, or is an ed-con that refers to either.

You know the drill, Anonymous.

DESTROY
ATTACK
DIE
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Anonymous on November 10, 2007, 10:40:58 PM
THIS TROLL IS LON WOODBURY.

http://www.villasantamaria.org/ (http://www.villasantamaria.org/) <-- proudly advertises Woodbury Reports on top right of page.
http://www.starr.org/site/PageServer?pa ... mboys_home (http://www.starr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=montcalmboys_home) <-- Site design shows clear Woodbury influence.

Similarly the writing style is his. He even pre-prepared his response.

Sorry, Lon, you've really stuck your hand into the wrong fucking hornet's nest today.

ACTUAL PARENTS: Yes, Lon Woodbury really does stoop to this. Yes, this is indicative of the industry as a whole. (And aren't you glad you started reading Fornits BEFORE you sent your kid to some shitpit?)
Title: Yuck
Post by: kumquatmay on November 10, 2007, 11:36:03 PM
You guys are so mean-spirited. I am an actual parent and all of this is my actual reality.   If it sounds as if I am very familiar with this “industryâ€
Title: Reality Test
Post by: kumquatmay on November 10, 2007, 11:53:51 PM
OK, since you guys are truly the experts here. Please tell me what your course of action would be if you had a child with a serious mental illness who was prone to violent and dangerous episodes. He was no longer accepted at the public school and was a danger to himself and others. How would you help him? Would you just welcome him back home and love him a little better? Just be a better mother? Is that your solution? Seriously. I would love a credible response.
Title: Re: Yuck
Post by: psy on November 11, 2007, 12:16:52 AM
Quote from: "kumquatmay"
You guys are so mean-spirited. I am an actual parent and all of this is my actual reality.   If it sounds as if I am very familiar with this “industryâ€
Title: & Beyond
Post by: kumquatmay on November 11, 2007, 02:15:01 AM
I would probably portray myself as somewhere between insane and under-informed. I have received tons of beneficial feedback here. Some of it was blatantly hostile, some of it valiantly insightful, the best of it came via PM. It has helped me in making a decision to bring my son home as soon as possible. My main concern is to keep him alive and safe, which is impossible in a volatile environment that can and does escalate at any given moment. My son’s defiant disposition and the fact that he blew the whistle on staff abuses make him a likely target for retribution. I’m not certain what my next step will be, but I will feel better with him away from YBGR.
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Anonymous on November 11, 2007, 02:49:27 AM
Wow Lon, what did they do to piss you off?
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: kumquatmay on November 11, 2007, 03:13:00 AM
Quote from: ""Guest""
Wow Lon, what did they do to piss you off?


What's wrong with you?
Are you on some type of hallucinogen?
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Anonymous on November 11, 2007, 03:42:36 AM
Watch the troll tell us what we want to hear! Watch, watch! They usually don't get this desperate, folks... at least not on page two. Looks like I nailed it.

Now your ass is parked on this forum like a bad case of rectal cancer. Did somebody from Villa Santa Gofuckyourself or Montcalm Boys Hellhole send you some unpleasant email after finding themselves on Fornits in a negative light? Oooooh, that had to hurt. And we're going to go after them now, just because you pissed us off.

You lose, Lon. Seriously, it's really fucking obvious. Real people simply do not type that way, and what appears to you to be a redoubled effort at reality appears to the rest of us as just more gobbly programmie speak.

Quote
I’ve utilized prominent psychiatrists, psychologists, school counselors, church ministers, family therapy, sports therapy, parenting classes, mentors, youth groups, community wrap-around programs and more. There is the larger issue of parental responsibility and my son’s precarious impact on his siblings and our community. It is truly an impossible choice with too much at stake. My hope is that my son will, with attentive treatment, return to our home and community successfully.


I'm laughing, but it's actually kind of disturbing that this comes off to you like a realistic approximation of a parent.

Get off the Internet. Delete your site, send apologies to all the kids you helped torture in your "safer" programs, and finish things up by sticking a lit pipe bomb in your mouth.
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Pitbull Mom on November 11, 2007, 10:25:07 AM
Quote from: ""Guest""
Watch the troll tell us what we want to hear! Watch, watch! They usually don't get this desperate, folks... at least not on page two. Looks like I nailed it.

Now your ass is parked on this forum like a bad case of rectal cancer. Did somebody from Villa Santa Gofuckyourself or Montcalm Boys Hellhole send you some unpleasant email after finding themselves on Fornits in a negative light? Oooooh, that had to hurt. And we're going to go after them now, just because you pissed us off.

You lose, Lon. Seriously, it's really fucking obvious. Real people simply do not type that way, and what appears to you to be a redoubled effort at reality appears to the rest of us as just more gobbly programmie speak.

Quote
I’ve utilized prominent psychiatrists, psychologists, school counselors, church ministers, family therapy, sports therapy, parenting classes, mentors, youth groups, community wrap-around programs and more. There is the larger issue of parental responsibility and my son’s precarious impact on his siblings and our community. It is truly an impossible choice with too much at stake. My hope is that my son will, with attentive treatment, return to our home and community successfully.

I'm laughing, but it's actually kind of disturbing that this comes off to you like a realistic approximation of a parent.

Get off the Internet. Delete your site, send apologies to all the kids you helped torture in your "safer" programs, and finish things up by sticking a lit pipe bomb in your mouth.


Did you miss this on the other thread?

 California Boy Abused at Yellowstone Boys and Girls: Montana  
California Youth Claims Abuse in Montana Treatment Center
A 14-year old child reports being secluded and restrained in his own blood at Montana Residential Treatment Center, but they won't give his parents or attorneys access.

Salem-News.com

October 23, 2007

(BILLINGS, Mt.) - Jeremy Ellis, a 14 year old Laguna Beach special education student who is currently placed at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, a therapeutic treatment center located in Billings, Montana, claims the facility abused him.

In a letter to his attorney, Leejanice Toback, Jeremy described how doors were slammed into his face and he has been put in seclusion or restraints, lying in a puddle of his own blood.

In the letter, Jeremy described how a staff member slammed doors in his face twice, causing his face to bleed and how he has regularly been put in seclusion and/or restraints for over one hour, denied medical attention and given nothing to stop the bleeding. In addition Jeremy reports how he has been punched and kicked by a particular male staff member. He has told his mother that his therapist regularly refers to him and other children as "morons."

Jeremy was referred to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch by Orange County Mental Health Services. Jeremy's attorney, Leejanice Toback, originally requested a placement at Villa Santa Maria in New Mexico, but Orange County Mental Health Services refused, stating that the facility was not on their agency's approved list.

After receiving Jeremy's letter, Ms. Toback phoned Yellowstone's C.E.O. Glenn McFarlane. He is alleged to have refused Ms. Toback's demand to report the incident to the Montana Child Protective Services Agency. Mr. McFarlane told Ms. Toback that Yellowstone would do its own investigation.

Ms. Tobak says McFarlane stated that, "if we reported all these complaints, we would spend all our time reporting incidents to Child Protective Services." Dave Schwarm, the Quality Improvement Specialist from Yellowstone confirmed to Ms. Toback she says, that in the last month there were at least three child abuse allegations made. She says he stated that according to his records, Jeremy is self abusing. When asked about evidence to support that claim, he hung up.

Written requests to the facility to cease abuse of the child have gone unheeded, attorneys and family members say. As of October 8th, Yellowstone reported to Jeremy's mother that he was again put in restraints, this time for touching his nose.

Jeremy's parents and his attorney are trying to relocate him to a safe and secure treatment center, but they have been unsuccessful due to the records generated by Yellowstone painting Jeremy as uncontrollable and self injurious and the lack of cooperation by Orange County Heath Care Agency, who are insisting that Jeremy be transferred to a particular approved facility which has ten locked seclusion rooms for their one hundred twelve residents.

"Parents place their special education children in these facilities for the purpose of treatment and structure, not so that they can be brutalized. We treat prisoners better than this", Ms. Toback stated.

"The full color brochures and videos that these places prepare don't have pictures of kids secluded in stark rooms with no pictures, toys, books or music or restrained by adults three times their size."

A recent Cornell University study found that over a ten year period there were forty-five deaths of children and adolescents in residential facilities due to the use of restraints.

Jeremy's family is considering all options, including legal actionagainst Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.
Title: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch & Beyond
Post by: Nihilanthic on November 11, 2007, 05:38:44 PM
(http://http://enigma.dune.net/~eric/Do-not-feed-the-troll.PNG)

In the weird case that this is a real person, just really... um. messed up and/or stupid, or REAL parents are lurking - STOP SENDING YOUR KID TO INSTITUTIONS THAT CLAIM TO DO YOUR JOB FOR YOU.

DO IT YOURSELF.

LOVE,

THE PLANET EARTH.
Title: Just A Person
Post by: kumquatmay on November 12, 2007, 06:14:07 AM
Okay, I’m brand new here. I was looking for some insight concerning my child. Clearly, I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of vicious responses to my posting. One question, how is this forum supposed to be effectual if you attack and alienate anyone who posts? There seems to be a modest number of “regularsâ€
Title: Re: Just A Person
Post by: Anonymous on November 12, 2007, 08:37:37 AM
Quote from: "kumquatmay"
Okay, I’m brand new here. I was looking for some insight concerning my child. Clearly, I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of vicious responses to my posting. One question, how is this forum supposed to be effectual if you attack and alienate anyone who posts? There seems to be a modest number of “regularsâ€
Title: Birching - after effects.
Post by: Anonymous on November 12, 2007, 08:48:31 AM
(http://http://www.corpun.com/manxq.jpg)

Taken from this article: http://www.corpun.com/ioju6507.htm (http://www.corpun.com/ioju6507.htm)

This picture show some young men after being given 9 strokes with the birch.

At the borstal 18 stokes - the double often meant the difference.[/img][/list]