Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Ridge Creek School / Hidden Lake Academy

What about Ridge Creek?

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FLCLcowdude:
I read the part about interventions being stopped in may, load of shit... I got sent in june. Tell Mark Keith he is full of shit!

Deborah:

--- Quote ---(4) The Administrator shall be responsible for implementing the policies adopted by the Governing Body, the on-going operation of the Therapeutic Camp, and compliance with the "Rules and Regulations for Therapeutic Camps."
--- End quote ---

Who is the Administrator/Director? Has he read the regulations? Didn't comprehend, or ask for clarification? Ignored them? Have all staff read the regulations?


--- Quote ---(o) List of friends or others that may be permitted to visit with the Camper if approved by the Camp;
--- End quote ---

Has anyone at RC informed ORS that severing contact with the outside world is a blanket policy? Has anyone at RC every had a visitor? I didn't even get my weekly phone calls with my son. He apparently didn't get the letters I wrote because his 'counselor' at HLA coached him to confront me about why I didn't write while he was there.


--- Quote ---(3) Termination of contacts between the Camper and his or her family shall not be allowed while the Camper is in care unless the rights of the parents have been terminated by court order or it has been determined by the Placement Agency that family contact is not in the Camper's best interest. The frequency and nature of contact shall be based on the needs of the Camper, and shall be determined with the participation of the Camper, his or her family or Placement Agency and Therapeutic Camp staff. Any limitations shall be filed in the Camper's case record. Restriction of a contact shall be based on a determination by the therapeutic team that due to the nature of the circumstances at that time that particular contact is not in the best interest of the Camper. Reasons for the restrictions shall be shared with the Camper and the family and documented in the Camper's record.
--- End quote ---

If "Placement Agency" refers to the Ed Con, they are not qualified or allowed by law, to make such determinations. This might be appropriate for a court-ordered placement, but not an Ed Con placement.


--- Quote ---(10) Discipline shall be consistent with the policies of the Therapeutic Camp and shall not be physically or emotionally damaging.
--- End quote ---

Are "Sternum Rubs" considered appropriate discipline, or does that fall in the catagory of torure?


--- Quote ---4. Denial of shelter, clothing, or essential personal needs;
--- End quote ---

Does RC still have "Survival Night", where the teen is left in the woods alone without food/water, tent/sleeping bag, flashlight? How are the participants trained to respond should they encounter a rattlesnake or bear?


--- Quote ---(19) All living quarters and service rooms shall be provided with properly installed, operable heating equipment capable of maintaining a temperature of at least 50° Fahrenheit if during the period of normal occupancy the temperature in such quarters falls below 50° Fahrenheit.
--- End quote ---

Would this imply that they probably shouldn't be sleeping outdoors when temperatures are below 50*, particularly without protection from the elements? How many of the 28 nights do they actually sleep indoors?


--- Quote ---(34) Food service facilities and program shall meet Chapter 290-5-14 Rules and Regulations for Food Service, Georgia Department of Human Resources.
--- End quote ---

The Rules and Regulations for Food Service, Chapter 290-5-14 are temporarily unavailable online. Please contact the State Environmental Health Office at (404) 657-6534 or your local Georgia county health Department for more information.

I'm going to assume that these Rules are not specific enough for Wilderness programs. Given that kids are hiking 10-20 miles per day, in inclimate weather, they need increased calories and adequate hydration. How many calories in those MREs? ORS should have a look at Utah's regs which are in line with USDA recommendations:
http://www.rules.utah.gov/publicat/code ... 08.htm#T11

R501-8-11. Water and Nutritional Requirements.
(1) Six quarts of potable water shall be available per person, per day, minimum, plus one additional quart per person for each five miles hiked. Although it is not required that the entire amount be hand carried, access to water shall be available at all times during hiking.

(2) In temperatures above 90 degrees F., staff shall make sure consumer intake is a minimum of three quarts of water per day, electrolyte replacement shall be available with the expeditionary group at all times.

(3) In temperatures above 80 degrees F., water shall be available for coating consumer's body, and other cooling down techniques shall be available for the purpose of cooling as needed.

(4) Water shall be available at each campsite. Water cache location information shall be verified with field staff before the group leaves camp each day.

(5) Expedition group shall not depend on aerial drops for water supply. Aerial water drops shall be used for emergency situations only.

(6) All water from natural sources shall be treated for sanitation to eliminate health hazards.

(7) Each program shall have a written menu describing food supplied to the consumer which shall provide a minimum of 3000 calories per day. There must be fresh fruit and vegetables at least twice a week. Food shall never be withheld from a consumer for any reason. Food may not be withheld as a punishment. If no fire is available, other food of equal caloric value, which does not require cooking shall be available.
(a) The menu shall adjust to provide 30-100 percent increase in minimum dietary needs as energy expenditure such as exercise increases, or climate conditions such as cold weather dictate.
(a) Food shall be from a balance of the food groups.
(b) Forage items shall not be used toward the determination of caloric intake.
(c) There shall be no program fasting for more than 24 hours per expeditionary cycle.
(d) Multiple vitamin supplements shall be offered daily.


--- Quote ---(1) Plans of Correction. If the Department determines that either a therapeutic camp or a facility applying to become licensed as a therapeutic camp does not comply with the rules, the Department shall provide written notice specifying the rule(s) violated and setting a time for the agency not to exceed ten (10) working days with in which to file an acceptable written plan of correction where the Department has determined that an opportunity to correct is permissible.....
--- End quote ---

Twelve of the citations were listed as "previously cited" in June and/or July. Are these then considered "repeat violations"? At what point are sanctions (consequences) imposed?


--- Quote ---If a violation is found on two consecutive inspections there shall exist a rebuttable presumption that the violation continued throughout the period of time between each inspection.
1. Categories of Violations. Violations shall be assigned a category based upon the following criteria:
(i) Category I ($601-$1000 per violation per day): A violation or combination of violations of licensing requirements which has caused death or serious physical or emotional harm to a person or persons in care or poses an imminent and serious threat or hazard to the physical or emotional health and safety of one or more persons in care.
(ii) Category II ($301-$600 per violation per day):A violation or combination of violations of licensing requirements which has direct adverse effect on the physical or emotional health and safety of a person or persons in care.
(iii) Category III ($50-$300 per violation per day):A violation or combination of violations of licensing requirements which indirectly or over a period of time has or is likely to have an adverse effect on the physical or emotional health and safety of a person or persons in care, or a violation or violations of administrative, reporting, or notice requirements.
2. Fine Amounts. The specific amount of the fine for each violation in each category shall be determined based upon whether and when the particular or similar rule, law, or order, or the act, omission, incident, circumstance, or conduct giving rise to the violation of the same regulatory requirement, or one substantially similar thereto, has been cited by the department previously. In no case, however, shall a facility be sanctioned for a violation characterized as a subsequent or repeat violation unless the time frame identified in the acceptable plan of correction has passed and the facility nonetheless has failed to attain or maintain correction.
--- End quote ---

Troll Control:

--- Quote from: ""Guest"" ---HLA does send a lot of kids to RCI.  But, there are also a lot of kids that come to RCI just for a wilderness experience and then go back home.  There are also kids that go to RCI first and then get "refered" to HLA.  My bet is that once HLA folds Buccellato is going to try to keep RCI going as a stand alone wilderness program.
--- End quote ---

He can try, but this information that I received from an RCI employee suggests that the future of RCI doesn't look so rosy, despite the PR piece linked above.

Once again, rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic did not stop it from sinking.

Please read this staff account below (emphasis added in bold):


--- Quote ---
Another bit of info - Jeff Holloway took over Mark's position at Ridge Creek. Just about all of the employees have quit and/or are looking for another position. Right now they are down to these employees:

Jeff Holloway - Director
Bill Ingram - wilderness Instructor
Bridgett Abercrombie - counselor degree
Miriah ____ - wilderness instructor
Blake _____ - wilderness instructor
Carrie _____ - (wife of Blake) admissions

Ridge Creek has only 2 students at this time (National Kids - or paying people in other words) The rest of the kids that are there are HLA kids (which HLA gives no compensation to Ridge Creek for HLA kids attending RC) Total kids there right now is 11 - 9 HLA kids and 2 paying national kids.

Basically - not enough staff for proper supervision of students at all times.

Jeff Holloway thnks he is a big shot now - but was told by an ex-employee last week that he had to earn respect not demand it and that he did not know what he was doing and good luck because at that point they were resigning.

--- End quote ---


Doesn't seem so rosy in this context, does it?

Deborah:
Who is Holloway's designee? One of them has to present at all times. The designee must be educated on the regulations and operating procedures.

Troll Control:
OK, here's the latest word from the RC staff:


--- Quote ---"As far as the status of them calling staff back to RC - they called Carrie back who is married to an instructer, Blake, and who she was let go initially but since Danielle quit and was in admissions they had no one to handle it.

However, i will say that she is responsible for the files and did not handle it well prior to her being let go before. Now she is back.

Another interesting note is that Carrie and Blake are also moonlighting for a escort service (transporting kids) and have transported kids for this other company to and from Ridge Creek. i would think that would be a conflict of interest.

I also know that she herself has tried to initiate through the escort service and RC before, which is a no no."
--- End quote ---


Looks like we're going to need to report this information to ORS.  

Apparently there were problems with the way documentation was handled previously by this woman, and now she's back doing it again.  Obviously, moonlighting for a transport service that transports to your own facility is a conflict of interest.

Looks like these changes may require another visit from ORS to investigate...

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