my favorites that reflect problems at MMS are:
We recommend that you beware of residential programs that:
1. Are not state-licensed and accredited
with regard to all 3 aspects of the
program: the (1) educational, (2)
mental/behavioral health and (3)
residential components
4. Do not respect the wisdom and
expertise of parents and youth
? Tell you to expect that your child
will lie to you while in the program,
and encourage you not to believe
reports of abuse because these will be
?attempts at manipulation?
? Do not encourage you as parents to
be active participants throughout all
stages of the program
? Do not welcome feedback (praise or
criticism) from your child regarding
the program
5. Restrict youth & family rights in
terms of:
? Contact with family by phone, mail
and in person (for example, no phone
contact or visits for first month;
censored mail; monitored visits with
no opportunities for parent/child
discussion in private)
? Dress code (for example: require
youth to wear jumpsuits or flip-flops)
? Typical age-appropriate behavior
? Parental rights (for example: do not
contact parents immediately in the
case of illness, injury, emergency or
treatment/medication changes)
? Do not provide hotlines for youth
and families to call at any time if they
feel that their rights are being violated
or they are being mistreated
6. Use harsh and excessive discipline
practices that include: seclusion,
restraint, corporal punishment, punitive
?behavioral modification,? fear tactics,
humiliation, peer-on-peer discipline /
peer pressure, forced labor, heightened
physiological stress* or sedation by
medication
* for example, excessive exercise, sleep deprivation,
exposure to the elements, forced retention of bodily
waste or nutritional deprivation
7. Provide sub-standard therapeutic
intervention
? Do not provide an individualized
program with a detailed explanation
of the therapies, interventions &
supports that will address your child?s
specific needs
? Do not provide the kinds of therapies
and supports that are recognized as
most effective for the problem(s) or
symptom(s) your child is experiencing
? The majority of participating youth
are experiencing problems very
different from the types of difficulties
your child is experiencing?this
suggests that the program emphasis
will not be optimally focused on the
needs of your child
? Claim to serve youth with specific
psychiatric diagnoses* but do not
have full-time licensed mental health
professionals** on staff
? Provide individual, family or group
psychotherapy that is delivered by
staff who are not trained and licensed
mental health professionals
? Force youth to self-disclose personal
information and/or admit to having
problems as proof of ?therapeutic
progress? or ?recovery? or as a
prerequisite for ?graduating? from the
program.
* for example, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD,
Eating Disorders, Depressive Disorders,
Anxiety Disorders, Substance Abuse
** for example, licensed psychologists,
psychiatrists, clinical social workers, marriage/
family therapists and psychiatric nurses
8. Provide sub-standard education
9. Admit youth with psychiatric diagnoses
but then do not provide appropriate
medical treatment