Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

You decision for what is best for your own family has been refuted numerous times on this thread and have you yet removed your child from that place?

WHAT! Because you and others who have the same single minded approach tell me what I should do means you're right and I am wrong and therefore I must obey inorder to remain? Sounds like Nazi program mentality to me. WAKE UP you are really in a stupor!

Yes I did get some info related to my question, not what I hoped to hear but what I believed would be the answer. I accept it. There are no good therapeutic wilderness or boarding type schools - they do not exist- it would be an oxymoron. I GOT IT.

The fact I did not ask about Summit or what I should meant nothing to you only that I am not obeying your pack mentality.

I thought since this was no longer in facilities and in TTI section - we were not on your forum any longer.

GabbaGabbaGabbaGabba You got it right on!
Thank you.


and excuse me for saying this again.... but am I the only one who gets confused with numerous "guests"?
I am starting to hear the different nuances in your writing though.

How do we keep the public's attention on the corruption and maltreatment of our children?
How do we undo the brainwashing of those like Dr. Phil?
I don't believe that everyone is motivate by greed and power - but many rotten apples have spoiled the "industry".
This needs to stop being an INDUSTRY and realize it serves human beings, it needs to become ........?

In response to a previous thread - it all comes down to money!  The good, the bad and the ugly - the fat cats (no insult intended to felines) all want to make money and drive their big fancy Lexasses.

I wondered what $450+ pd bought - it certainly was not the salaries they paid the people out in the field, nor for upkeep. They have turned what might have been a morally commendable goal to help others in need - to filling their greedy hands. Leaving others to pay for their immoral behavior with blood, sweat and tears.

Is it idealism that brings a (young) therapist to a program? What makes them stay once their eyes are open? I don't believe it is an innate desire for power and control. Is it that they are brainwashed and beaten down and feel impotent - that they take it out on the clients?  

I am not a professional, just a parent, and I don't know what it would really take to make this work... but -
       
I have a dream of not just a good program but a great program. One run by licensed mental health professionals, families, communities, survivors - who believe they can make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives they touch.
The program would have to be 100% transparent to all, all the time, anytime.
It would be a leader on the cutting edge of mental health care, using evidence based practices, collaborative team building with all the stakeholders, clients, families and communities.
Serving all children and families in need, regardless of class.

Everyone involved would be highly and consistently  trained and supported. There would be continual on-going training. All would be accountable for their actions, being role models and working towards creating that elusive therapeutic milieu.  

The therapists (licsw, psy d, mhc)- would be involved every step pf the way. No once or twice a week bs. They would be an integral part of what was going on, they would be part of daily life, they would be involved in the nitty gritty, they would be there to support and encourage growth. They would be the front line.

The environment would foster cause and effect, accountability, and the means for growth. It would not be punitive but compassionate and supportive.
Demeaning & abusive behavior of any kind would be out, unnecessary hardships would be out. The consequences to actions would be appropriate for all, not just for the kids.

Family involvement is essential - without family work the child's growth would be in a vacuum, unrealistic, unsustainable and without meaning.


It rained very hard last night. I woke up thinking "if my kid was out in the wilderness in this rain, wind, mud, if he were wet and cold, hungry and afraid, depressed and angry - how by any means would this be therapeutic?

In the mean time, I was touched by a post (I think by a dad) talking about getting the therapeutic benefits by doing community service (ie Habitats for Humanity) or hiking with your kid on a family vacation. Yeah!

Some people don't see Summit as a "program" in the way you are speaking of. But for some people a program by any other name is still a program.

It is not accurate to say

ultimately the child not being submissive and obedient enough and making them be that way, go through a level system, and the whole time disclose their innermost, most personal and embarrassing shit/baggage/you name it to the program.

There is no level system there. A student comes in with all their privileges (cellphone, computers, TV, home visits, trips, movie night) and it is up to them whether they keep them or lose them. They are not requiring or seeking submission from the student.

 

Can't handle it? It would probably be better for your child if you abandoned him than sent him to a program if you can't take the heat.

In my opinion that is a ridiculous statement. But no problem, I've heard worse.

most of them were looking for a quick answer, attention for themselves, or some way to justify and rationalize program placement

Maybe, but not so here. I know there are no quick answers, although I wouldn't mind a magic pill. I am not looking for your agreement nor your submission. I came here seeking information, I heard it, I got it. I have remained so I could explain my choices and give some info on the "summit experience".

The long and short of it all.... is I love being his mom. I would never throw him away or wish for a "different" child/teacher. He is un-freaken-believable! And he makes the best damn brownies ever!

Psy - I am glad you asked. I would love to share one of my stories about how Summit misleads and under serves. As far as I know they have not lied. Their mentality is more the "don't tell if they don't ask" approach to things.

Without any doubt this example will be the give away of my identify to any admin at Summit. I am not afraid of the boggie men, I am not afraid...

This is about not getting what is contracted for and being mislead to believe services will be/are being rendered. We were told that Summit ran numerous therapy groups (which is not true). This was a major selling point for my son's psychopharm in his encouraging us to accepting this placement. Supplying group therapy is included in his (12month a year) IEP.

When I asked when he will join a group there was one excuse after another. Finally 4 months later, only because I kept asking did they finally tell me that they might not have an appropriate group for him, as they only had 2 groups, one focused on cutting and the other on substance abuse (or was it adoption?).

I was very clear that they needed to create a group that would be appropriate for him. (I was not just talking about my child, but most if not all their clients could benefit from this experience. And to create a truly therapeutic milieu you can not just have 1% of your population doing the work.) It seemed obvious to us that there was/is an endless choice of appropriate themes for Summit to choose from, issues of adolescence to anger management to developing coping strategies to peer relationships, etc.

It took 5 months from when he started at the school to creating a group that he could join. With all the choices to choose from they brought in a national program called "SADD" this is not bad in and of itself but it is not group therapy. I let it go, hoping it was a step in the right direction. Then SADD's focus was directed towards a non-smoking campaign. This is a great thing to do but not as part of a therapeutic group - in addition to setting these kids up to being targeted by other students not in SADD and who smoke. Why did Summit choose this topic? It seems that the state cracked down on Summit for allowing underage students to smoke during school hours. Summit used the kids in SADD to do their work. Looking for any good points I understood that the social workers could use the time to work on group dynamics, so I let it go.

Then one day my son said something about his being late to a class because of SADD. I very cautiously asked some questions only to find out that SADD's meeting time was changed from after school to during school. I was so upset by this - as if there was too much for the students to do after school so they moved it? I still don't know why this move was really done. What made this even more frustrating was that the class my son was missing is the class he has a LD issue in.

They justified the time change and his missing some of the class because it was only for 15-20 minutes. They did not realized what they were saying but how can 15-20 minutes for group therapy mean anything! They had no intention to make this group meaningful, to work on issues that are core to helping these adolescents/young adults develop any necessary and useful tools. Time is so precious and they are so irresponsible by throwing it away!

I remember they said one reason for changing the meeting from after school to during school was because they have day students too and this way they can participate. Well the day student population is at most 1/5 of the school. I think this should be an after school activity and school should run at least until 4 instead of 2:30.  

Another point on therapy - no one ever offered this information but most if not all the individual sessions with the social workers are during class time.

TS W - why would I be a "troll" or fishing, or making a prank when all I asked was how to know which "guest" is responding and what have they written before. That really was my motivation.

Nilla - We are not considering a wilderness program. One thing I have gotten from this board is the risk out weighs the minuscule potential for therapeutic benefits. We have talked about his attending a 1 or 2 week camp like adventure - rafting, biking, physical activity w/o the "therapy" or therapists.... just kids being kids.  

Yes I do have a laundry list on this place so why is he still there - at the time we made this decision it was too risky to leave him home alone. He is still at this school because he has benefited from the structure they offer. He also has a community where he does interact with others. This has been a good thing.

I have to wonder why the Dept of Ed would pay this school's rate. I believe there are better schools, that happen to cost less but the DoE will not fund it because it is out of state. One school I thought had potential is Chamberlain in Mass? I know nothing about them other than what is on their website. Just for reference, I would like to know if anyone can share info on this place.

Is there a way to tell which "Guest" is writing?

Is it him or is it you? How do you know it can't be changed?

What can not be changed? What do you mean? Have you read the thread?

When was the last time you tried?

Come on! Do you think all I am trying to do is waste my time? You haven't heard me at all. You don't hear anything you don't want to hear because you believe you have all the answers and anyone who differs is wrong.
You sure is make a lot of judgments and are quite judge-mental. Too many assumptions going on. You don't know anything about what we have done or who we are.

So what is it you think you're paying for? What do you think he's getting out of it?

HELLO.... have you been paying attention at all?
This is past getting useless, good night.
PS - I wish all the "Guests" would at least identify themselves with a number or letter or different spelling.  I have no idea who is writing what.
Why haven't you registered?
BTW Is anyone going to share something about the school?