Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)
Wisdom Ranch School
Anonymous:
--- Quote ---On 2005-08-31 19:56:00, jellybean wrote:
"Listen, I didn't log onto this website to be riduculed and judged. i was asking for info on this school and I appreciate your feedback however I have not gone into the entire story and probably don't have enough space here. To the person who told me to "be a mom", I take offense to that statement. Maybe I wasn't clear enough that peer pressure and succumbing to it for my son has been three, recent, serious close calls mixing drugs and alcohol and many sleepness nights worrying. This past year has been excruciating and in the last 3 months has been spiraling downward. How many moms do you know have had the guts to take the police to a party where underage kids are drinking and drugging including her own son. Not many parents even care when you try to talk to them and get their help, most won't get off the couch. And before any of you say, well he must have a drug problem, no not yet and that is what I'm trying to avoid as well as accidentally dying from doing something stupid. He has the potential for that and I am more afraid of that than anything else. He lost his father 4 years ago and he found him dead. Regardless of what we have tried, sports, music, anything to give him motivation it only lasts awhile, he's got major wounds to heal and it's not easy for him. He's been in counseling for 4 years and he's not built enough inner strength to stand independently yet and I've tried everything. He has no male role model and is starving for that. He got attached to his personal trainer and then was crushed when he moved, he gets jsut as attached to his friends and will do anything not to lose them even dangerous things. I am not an idiot and I know what it happening with my son I just don't have all of the resources, myself, that I know he needs. I would love nothing more than to keep him at home, I cry everyday just because he's not home now, but I'm trying to help save his life and give him a chance. I am trying to be as careful as I can in this investigation and I know there have got to be good programs out there somewhere, just trying to find them.
Religion is comparable to a childhood neurosis.
--Sigmund Freud, Austrian-born psychologist
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"
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Whatever you do, don't rely solely on the word of an ed consultant or ESPECIALLY some private referral agent (ex-program parents who think they are experts on the placement of troubled teens and who get paid by the PROGRAMS themselves, for referrals ... ergo definite CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!!)
Visit the program and talk to the state licensing agency for info on criminal background checks, citations, etc.
Don't sign away the rights of you and your child to be in contact (written and verbal). Open and uncensored communication is a MUST ... it is the lifetime to your child.
OverLordd:
I noticed jelly did not respond to myt question.
Shortbus:
--- Quote ---
On 2005-08-31 10:15:00, jellybean wrote:
"I do recall seeing that someone on the staff was affiliated with SUWS. I am wondering what they meant by a big joke. I did notice that it is not a punitive style school where contact is limited and such, but hopefully that doesn't mean something bad. This is a stressful process for a parent to research these schools and I have found some bad info on a lot of them such as Diamond Ranch (ouch)! I haven't been able to find anything adverse on this school and was referred to your site for help.
Shortbus quote: The feedback I got from the parents filtered through the theraputic staff that recommended the program was that "the parents thought the school was a joke". The circumstances behind the referral was that the family suggested that their son go to a theraputic boarding school after wilderness, the son figured that to succeed at school and graduate instead of just getting a ged might not be a bad idea. So son agreed to boarding school. The son was adamant about having a say in WHERE he would go. I suggested that he be given a couple days of internet access to do some research. This suggestion was not considered and his therapist at my wilderness program gave him information about one program - Wisdom Ranch. I felt that one choice wasnt really a choice. I again suggested engaging the sudent at a higher level and let him help decide where he wanted to go. One choice was all that was presented. His mother picked him up in New Mexico and flew with him to Idaho and met the father and the three of them visited Wisdom Ranch together. The school is located in eastern Idaho not far from some pretty desolate areas. Rediculously different than the images conjured up when someone mentions Sun Valley (I think their site mentions Sun Valley) - which is kind of close but not really. From what you post and what I know about SUWS from working there, there are some aspects of the program at Wisdom Ranch that might be beneficial. If possible always visit a program and listen to both the good and the bad whenever possible. You need to hear what works and what doesnt to help make an objective decision about what might benefit your son. I read you post and it brought up many sad memories. Its devastating for a child to lose a parent. I had a number of students that had and the loss they felt was beyond words for me. I know how I fell just trying to imagine their pain.
I wish that some of you anon posters would show a little empathy. I believe jellybean is doing the best she can so lay off the shit. Try puting yourself in someone elses shoes for a change.
[ This Message was edited by: Shortbus on 2005-09-01 05:12 ][ This Message was edited by: Shortbus on 2005-09-01 05:20 ]
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Troll Control:
--- Quote ---On 2005-08-31 19:56:00, jellybean wrote:
"Listen, I didn't log onto this website to be riduculed and judged. i was asking for info on this school and I appreciate your feedback however I have not gone into the entire story and probably don't have enough space here. To the person who told me to "be a mom", I take offense to that statement. Maybe I wasn't clear enough that peer pressure and succumbing to it for my son has been three, recent, serious close calls mixing drugs and alcohol and many sleepness nights worrying. This past year has been excruciating and in the last 3 months has been spiraling downward. How many moms do you know have had the guts to take the police to a party where underage kids are drinking and drugging including her own son. Not many parents even care when you try to talk to them and get their help, most won't get off the couch. And before any of you say, well he must have a drug problem, no not yet and that is what I'm trying to avoid as well as accidentally dying from doing something stupid. He has the potential for that and I am more afraid of that than anything else. He lost his father 4 years ago and he found him dead. Regardless of what we have tried, sports, music, anything to give him motivation it only lasts awhile, he's got major wounds to heal and it's not easy for him. He's been in counseling for 4 years and he's not built enough inner strength to stand independently yet and I've tried everything. He has no male role model and is starving for that. He got attached to his personal trainer and then was crushed when he moved, he gets jsut as attached to his friends and will do anything not to lose them even dangerous things. I am not an idiot and I know what it happening with my son I just don't have all of the resources, myself, that I know he needs. I would love nothing more than to keep him at home, I cry everyday just because he's not home now, but I'm trying to help save his life and give him a chance. I am trying to be as careful as I can in this investigation and I know there have got to be good programs out there somewhere, just trying to find them.
Religion is comparable to a childhood neurosis.
--Sigmund Freud, Austrian-born psychologist
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"
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Hey, Jelly. Here is a link to THEIR OWN WEBSITE, staff page, and shows no teachers at all.
http://www.wisdomranch.org/staff.html
Why would they list "student mentors" and not teachers?
What about medical staff? It's a remote place. Who cares for the injured or sick?
Again, I found no mention of any credentialed therapist/teacher/doctor/nurse, etc.
RED FLAGS ALL OVER THE PLACE, Jelly...
jellybean:
Hit the button to soon...
His counselor feels he is very immature emotionally and mentally for his age and he feels that a job would help him and he does think if he had some time away from distractions to grow it would help. he has also cautioned me on thorough investigation of programs and would also prefer a local one, although he, again has not heard of anything here in AZ that is credible.
All religions have been made by men.
--Napoleon Bonaparte, French emperor
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