Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Troubled Teen Industry => Topic started by: Anonymous on September 19, 2003, 11:46:00 PM
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WHERE DID MR. JADE ROBINSON GO? BACK TO CASA? AS THE SAGA CONTINUES.
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Rumor has it that he is on his way back to Casa...
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http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives ... heard.html (http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2003/5/may03seennheard.html)
(April 25, 2003) The Porterville Recorder, Porterville, California, reports a controversy around a new school called Bell Academy, which has not applied for the ?appropriate license needed to operate a group educational facility" in their articles titled "Concerns surround academy" and "Bell Academy has 15 days to comply". School Director Jade Robinson said he "has a special use permit from Tulare County which allows students to occupy dormitories on campus." He thought he did not need a license to operate a boarding school. The California Department of Social Services informed he does not meet exemption requirements and has given the school 15 days to comply. Owners Robinson, Karr Farnsworth of Utah, and Dace Goulding of San Diego, say they have some association with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs (WWASP), but are not formally part of that organization. Letters by parents to the Porterville Recorder can be found by going to their newspaper archives, and typing "Bell Academy" in the search box.
http://www.portervillerecorder.com/arti ... news01.txt (http://www.portervillerecorder.com/articles/2003/04/24/news/local_state/news01.txt)
excerpts
"There is no record of them applying for a license with us or with the department of education," Roth said. "They must have a license from us to operate within the law."
"I have an affidavit, which I showed them, and I thought that was all I needed to operate," Robinson said. "Here I am doing the due diligence, taking care of matters with the fire department and the health department, and this happens. I didn't know I needed a license. As far as being affiliated with (World Wide Association of Specialty Programs) I probably misspoke when I said we are part of the organization. We do some things with them, but we are not a member yet. No dues have been paid to them."
Robinson said the organization does much more good than bad. He has worked for their programs for nine years, and by far, he said, more families have been helped than have had bad experiences.
LISTEN UP PARENTS. IF THAT WAS THE MOST POSITIVE THING HE COULD SAY ABOUT WWASP/BELL....?
http://www.portervillerecorder.com/arti ... news02.txt (http://www.portervillerecorder.com/articles/2003/04/23/news/local_state/news02.txt)
"We only have preliminary information on them, but I can tell you they are an unlicensed facility," Roth said. "It is unusual to be able to operate a group home or facility of any kind without a license. To do so is a violation of civil law."
ANYONE WHO HAS WORKED IN THIS FIELD AS LONG AS THESE PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT A LICENSE IS REQUIRED.
Parents and students from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities are welcomed at Bell Academy, which is a character boarding school that serves grades nine through 12, according to Robinson.
CHARACTER BOARDING SCHOOL. THAT'S A NEW ONE. WILL THE NEW,CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES FOR CLASSIFICATION EVER CEASE?
A class action suit involving more than 1,000 parents whose children were cared for by the organization is being drawn up against the organization.
http://www2.boisestate.edu/nasc/iaaec.htm (http://www2.boisestate.edu/nasc/iaaec.htm)
Have any parents confirmed that they are meeting the requirements for accreditation with NASC.
Bell is definitely listed as a WWASP facility here.
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The students that stayed there chose to be there, no "against their will" lock down, etc.
Actually, I'm in agreement on this one. If Social Services wanted to put their restrictions on it, it's better off closed. They wanted to make it something it was not.
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On 2003-09-19 23:05:00, Anonymous wrote:
"The students that stayed there chose to be there, no "against their will" lock down, etc.
Actually, I'm in agreement on this one. If Social Services wanted to put their restrictions on it, it's better off closed. They wanted to make it something it was not.
"
So if the place was so above-board, why didn't they just get the license and stay open?
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let's not get too carried away. What confirmation do we have on this. The local newspaper (Porterville Recorder) seems not to have had any recent articles on bell academy.
http://www.portervillerecorder.com/arti ... news02.txt (http://www.portervillerecorder.com/articles/2003/04/23/news/local_state/news02.txt)
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this is typical of wwasp, close on their own behalf before the charges are disclosed, or more media attention opens up. i think they did this in some of their other closings. when they know a big investigation is coming, they close, and of course itis their choice. pleeeezzzzeeee
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****Actually, I'm in agreement on this one. If Social Services wanted to put their restrictions on it, it's better off closed. They wanted to make it something it was not.
Ca DSS regulations are pretty good as regs go. If the allegations are true, then yes, DSS would require them to be something they are not- an appropriately run facility which provides the residents minimal rights.
Here are just a few of the regs certain BM facilities might have a problem with.
http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/getinfo/pdf/gh1.PDF (http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/getinfo/pdf/gh1.PDF)
Definitions:
(g) (1) "Group Home" means a facility which provides 24-hour care and supervision to children,
provides services specified in this chapter to a specific client group, and maintains a structured environment, with such services provided at least in part by staff employed by the licensee. The care and supervision provided by a group home shall be nonmedical except as permitted by Welfare and Institutions Code Section 17736(b). Since small family and foster family homes, by definition, care for six or fewer children only, any facility providing 24-hour care for seven or more children must be licensed as a group home.
(b) The licensee shall ensure that the child's authorized representative is notified no later than the next working day if the following circumstances have occurred without the authorized representative's participation:
(3) Each time the child has been placed in a manual restraint, to be reported as required in
Section 84805.
(A) California Code of Regulations, Title 9, Section 1901(v) states:
"'Physical restraint' means physically controlling a child's behavior. Physical control
includes restricting movement by positioning staff, restricting motion by holding, the application of mechanical devices and involuntary placement of a child in a seclusion room or any other room in which they are involuntarily isolated."
Must report:
(6) When the Incident Report is used to report the use of manual restraints, the report must
include the following:
(A) Date and time of other manual restraints involving the same child in the past 24
hours.
(B) A description of the child's behavior that required the use of manual restraints, and
description of the precipitating factors which led to the intervention.
(C) Description of what manual restraints were used, and how long the child was restrained.
(D) Description of what non-physical interventions were utilized prior to the restraint; explanation of why more restrictive interventions were necessary.
(E) Description of injuries sustained by the child or facility personnel. What type of medical treatment was sought and where was child taken. Explanation if medical treatment not sought for injuries.
More on restraint: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/getinfo/pdf/gh4.PDF (http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/getinfo/pdf/gh4.PDF)
"(D) All orders for physical restraint shall become invalid two (2) hours after the restraint or seclusion is initiated for children ages 9 to 17, one (1) hour for children under age 9, and four (4) hours for any special education pupils ages 18 through 21 remaining in the facility
under continuing stay provisions. If continued physical restraint or seclusion is needed a new order shall be required.
ADMINISTRATOR QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES (Continued) 84064
(A) Have a master's degree in a behavioral science from an accredited college or university, plus a minimum of one year of employment as a social worker, as defined in Section 80001s.(4), in an agency serving children or in a group residential program for children.
(b) The licensee shall employ those administrative, child care, social work and support staff necessary to perform the assigned duties specified in applicable law and regulation.
84072 PERSONAL RIGHTS 84072
(a) In addition to Section 80072, the following shall apply.
(b) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:
(1) To visit the facility with his/her relatives and/or authorized representative(s) prior to
admission.
(2) To file a complaint with the facility, as specified in Section 84072.2.
(3) To have the facility inform his/her authorized representative(s) of his/her progress at the facility.
(4) To have communications to the facility from his/her relatives and/or authorized representative(s) answered promptly and completely.
(5) To have visitors visit privately during waking hours without prior notice, provided that such visitations are not prohibited by the child's needs and services plan; do not infringe upon the rights of other children; do not disrupt planned activities; and are not prohibited by court order or by the child'' authorized representative(s).
(6) To wear his/her own clothes.
(7) To possess and use his/her own toilet articles.
(8) To possess and use his/her own cash resources except as specified in Section 84026.
(9) To possess and use his/her own personal items unless prohibited as part of a discipline program.
(10) To have access to individual storage space for his/her private use.
(11) To have access to telephones in order to make and receive confidential calls, provided that
such calls are not prohibited by the child's needs and services plan; are not prohibited as a
form of discipline; do not infringe upon the rights of other children; do not restrict availability of the telephone during emergencies; and are not prohibited by court order or by the child's authorized representative(s).
(A) The licensee shall be permitted to require reimbursement from the child or his/her
authorized representative for long distance calls.
(B) The licensee shall be permitted to prohibit long distance calls upon documentation that requested reimbursement for previous long distance calls has not been received.
(C) Calls permitted to be prohibited as a form of discipline shall not include calls to the child's authorized representative or placement agency.
(12) To send and receive unopened correspondence unless prohibited by court order or by the child's authorized representative(s).
84072.2 COMPLAINT PROCEDURES 84072.2
(a) The licensee of a group home shall develop, maintain and implement written complaint procedures by which children or their authorized representatives are permitted to file complaints, without fear of retaliation, with the facility administrator regarding facility staff or operations.
84080 RESIDENT COUNCILS 84080
(a) Each facility, at the request of a majority of its residents, shall assist its residents in establishing and maintaining a resident-oriented facility council.
(2) The licensee shall document notice of meetings, meeting times, and recommendations from
council meetings.
(3) In order to permit a free exchange of ideas, at least part of each meeting shall be conducted
without the presence of any facility personnel.
(D) An application for a child 14 through 17 years of age not within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court shall be documented by a written consent to treatment signed by both parents or the admitting parent must submit a court order demonstrating that they have sole legal custody and control of the child and one of the following:
"Each patient shall also be given notification in a language or modality accessible to the patient of other constitutional and statutory rights which are found by the State Department of Mental Health to be frequently misunderstood, ignored, or denied. "The rights specified in this section may not be waived by the person's parent,
guardian, or conservator."
[ This Message was edited by: Deborah on 2003-09-20 08:51 ]
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Why aren't those the law in other states!!???! WWASP would be toast! But watch the communication rules, and how it talks about "Within the child's service plan," that smells like a WWASP loophole to me, as their program is a "service plan."
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All states have some kind of regs for any facilty that houses kids 24/7. Some more lenient than others.
The service plan is created for a child considering their individual needs (which may or may not be accurate) and with certain rights kept in mind. The service plan must be created before enrollment by a qualified mental health professional, which the state defines.
Under normal conditions, communication with the outside world is not easy to cut off.
WWASP and other facilities do not want to bother with creating service plans for each individual participant/inmate. They are all treated the same. They intend for all of them to stay the maximum length of time.
All states do have regs. The problem is that BM facilities skirt them.
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not only have there been 5 wwasps facilitys closed down for abuse, but there will soon be a chain reaction within all of wwasps and all of there facilitys will be ceased and shut down. Just wait, theres somethin comin...
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You may want to look into this, but I heard they were supposed to open in both WI and OH and didn't get in. So maybe some states are waking up.
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On 2003-09-20 14:04:00, Anonymous wrote:
"not only have there been 5 wwasps facilitys closed down for abuse, but there will soon be a chain reaction within all of wwasps and all of there facilitys will be ceased and shut down. Just wait, theres somethin comin..."
Bell Academy did not close for abuse - no allegations or otherwise. Considering the incompetent state of California's social service department, I'm not surprised they didn't want to be a part of their regulations. Take a look at what they DO oversee and then you'll get an idea of why.
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BELL ACADEMY WAS CLOSED BECAUSE OF WWASPS ABUSIVE METHODS THAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR. HOW STUPID DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO OPEN NEW ONES WHEN THERE ALREADY BEING SHUT DOWN??
DONT YOU SEE IT, WWASPS IS ALL COMING TO AN END.
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On 2003-09-21 11:54:00, Anonymous wrote:
"
On 2003-09-20 14:04:00, Anonymous wrote:
"not only have there been 5 wwasps facilitys closed down for abuse, but there will soon be a chain reaction within all of wwasps and all of there facilitys will be ceased and shut down. Just wait, theres somethin comin..."
Bell Academy did not close for abuse - no allegations or otherwise. Considering the incompetent state of California's social service department, I'm not surprised they didn't want to be a part of their regulations. Take a look at what they DO oversee and then you'll get an idea of why. "
Bwahahahahaha
Suuuuuure. You just keep telling yourself that.
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The truth can be so painful you sometimes have a hard time seeing it. Right Anon? Got a job at risk?
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I ask the same question today that I asked Saturday: What confirmation do we have that Bell Academy has actually closed? The Porterville Recorder Article was from a few months ago. I find nothing more recent on Google.
Couldn't some of our WWASP program parents come forward and tell us that Bell is or is not still functioning?
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[ This Message was edited by: KarenZ on 2003-10-18 13:57 ]
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good god. if children are removing asbestos-laden material as unpaid labor then they really are guilty of depraved indifference.
Cant't some of our faithful WWASP monitors confirm or deny these reports and shut up us chattering pigs?
Hey, back in the thirties the Treasury Department had to resort to a tax fraud case to bust Al Capone. Maybe a mundane little criminal OSHA/CA-OSH case can have an equally salubrious effect.
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Considering the source of the asbestos theory is from Karen....I'd say it's another rumor.
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[ This Message was edited by: KarenZ on 2003-10-18 13:59 ]
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ITS CREDIBLE, CALL DSS IN CA THEY WILL CONFIRM. BELL DIDNT WANT TO GET A LICENSE IS WHAT IS BEING SAID. TYPICAL.
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Bell probably didn't want to get a license for something they were not. THey were not a boarding school for troubled teens. They were a transition home for the upper levels...maybe that's wrong, but that's what I heard. If California is as bad as some other states with the social services dept, I'd refuse too.
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When you warehouse children for 24/7 you have to be licensed or accredited, period. The latter if you're a bonified boarding school for academics only, with no psuedo-psych treatment.
The problem is that WWASP and others believe they are above social law and regulation. They lie and decieve, ironically what they punish the teens for. What a joke. They need to be severely "consequenced" for their defiance.
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So what happened to all the kids? Ship 'em around to the rest of the programs like they did when Dundee went under? Does anyone know? My money's on SCLA....
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i heardthey went to wwasps newest one midwest academy, iowa.
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Did they really think they are above the law and didnt need a license?It seems the program not only doesnt know how to handle kids, they dont know the laws either.
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They know the laws, maybe not specifics, but they certainly know they need a license. This is sooo common in the industry. Operate unregulated until you're caught, then plead ignorance. BS. State regulators need to get on the ball and slap violators with the $200+/ day fines they are within their rights to assess. Why change when there is no consequence to do so.
That is one thing ISAC or some similar organization could do- go down the list checking each facility for proper licensure and report those flying below the radar.
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Or you could Deborah - maybe you and Jeff Berryman could run for public office together in separate states and get somewhere.