Ask Ann McCaig if she knows

[Hamiltonf]

Annie, baby you've been conned just like all the other Calgary Glitterati.  
Do you know where the money's gone?

[ajax13]

Hamilton,
I am currently sending out my information on AARC to a couple of media outlets outside of Alberta.  While this approach may come to naught, I figure that if one starts nosing around then it will help to flush V.  I know of another graduate currently doing time in Grande Cache.  My friend was a shining example for AARC in the immediate period after exiting, but has deep resentment of her mistreatment.  There is a Brown on staff whom my friend believes to be a child of Ann, but I think that this is incorrect.  I'm not sure of Brown's connection to Ann McCaig.
Lirenman, one of the most ardent AARCies and currently on "clinical" staff, has a brother who has renounced AARC.    My friend can provide a more comprehensive list of former "clients" who might provide accounts of their abuses, as well as their observations of the evidence of AARC's expenditures.  She has a temporary email address posted in this forum.
One of AARC's newer supporters is Kelly Hrudey of Hockey Night in Canada.  Lirenman is married to another AARCie, Imbach, who does work for the Flames; this beast don't sleep.

[Anonymous]

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Egmont.
Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
Mr. Herard: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m particularly proud to
celebrate the 300th graduation from the Alberta Adolescent Recovery
Centre in my constituency. Matt and his family graduated from
a life of addiction, pain, and desperation to a life full of hope and
new opportunities. Congratulations to Matt and family.
688 Alberta Hansard April 4, 2006
Mr. Speaker, in 2005 an evaluation of the AARC program was
conducted by a noted addiction program evaluation authority, Dr.
Michael Patton, PhD. He studied and interviewed 100 consecutive
cases and found that 85 per cent of the graduates were still clean and
sober after five years. Those are enviable results, and Dr. Dean
Vause and his staff are to be congratulated. The dedication and
caring of the parent support group is also commendable and a major
factor in the success of the AARC program.
I’m excited to say, Mr. Speaker, that AARC is currently in the
ground on an expansion project that will see their facilities double
to about 70 spaces. The project, estimated to cost around $8 million,
is more than fully funded through fundraising efforts of the board,
chaired by Mrs. Ann McCaig. Congratulations to Ann, her board,
and all volunteers and supporters.
AARC has rebuilt 300-plus addicted lives and that of their
families. Well over a thousand souls have been touched. But,
unfortunately, waiting lists are growing, and demand is accelerating.
Addicted teens take drugs to feel good, Mr. Speaker. AARC
rebuilds self-esteem and teaches addicts to feel good about themselves
by harnessing the power within and sometimes external
higher powers.
Hon. members, please help me thank and honour this marvellous
miracle in Calgary-Egmont.

[ajax13]

Would that be the famous Dr. Patton of the equally famous "Union Institute", passim ad infinitum?   The Union Institute: providing testimonials for AARC since 1993.  On the subject of testimonials, let's have a gander at that independent validation of AARC's outcome.  Now we already know that board member Dr. Goresky,  counsellor Imbach and Mister Doctorvause helped author this study to independantly validate AARC, so now let's look at the figures.  85 grads out of 100 contacted participated.  Also 11 parents of 15 non-participants.  In addition, 30 randomly selected parents.(What dat means?) So 11% of respondents were not graduates, rather their parents. Throws data off by up to 11%.  Additionally, info on 15 to 31% of grads comes from "randomly selected parents".  Now are these the parents of 15,16  or 17-year-olds living at home who are supposed to be sober?  Guess we're looking at maybe being out by up to 30% here, bringing us to a possible grand total of 41% suspect data.  
Kudos to Mr. DoctorPatton, and the whole AARC gang for putting this miasma of numbers together.  
Good to see the honorable member for Calgary-Edgemont carrying on the work of noted specialist in teen drug abuse Mister Lewis DoctorAndrews of the "Yankee Institute", whose adoration for AARC was also expressed in our legislature.  Mister DoctorAndrews saw fit to praise AARC for it's contributions to the field of recovery.  Misterdoctor Andrews was very prescient, what with AARC having just opened and Misterdoctor Andrews being in Redding, Connecticut.   Bravo!  
And Bravo to Mr. Herard for turning 85% who were sober (when Mister Doctorvause and helper Imbach called?) into 85% sober for 5 years.  A miracle!
And speaking of miracles, apparently AARC is able to cure mental illness.  This independent validation of AARC also turned up the little-known fact that AARC has a one hundred percent (reported) success rate for getting kids with diagnosed mental illness off of their meds!  Kudos again to the hard-working psychiatrists of AARC.  Or at least to Dr. Stanhope!

[Hamiltonf]

A superficial look at the credentials -- looks good.  Even at Harvard University  (not the law school -- Graduate studies in Education -- not nearly as prestigious) .

But who was it said, Lies damned lies and statistics?.
Interestingly, I had Canada's top expert on drug's answer a question about AA.  That they were not impressive at all -- they are so selective in their statistics they will always look good.    

Like the Anchorage Program in Edmonton -- run by the Sally Ann.  Claims 85% success  rate with it's "graduates"  but considerably less than 50% actually graduate.   I read somewhere that if you look at the  success rate of treatment options it's really not much better than no treatment at all.  But try to convince Alberta Judges of that, who continue ordering treatment and random drug testing.
And if my suspicions about AARC are right, graduates may actually be more screwed up after than they were before  -- and that include the demon and the monk guy.

[Rachael]

I was just looking at the expansion link on AARC's site (http://www.aarc.ab.ca/AARC_expansion.html). Towards the bottom is this interesting statement:

The funding breakdown of AARC’s annual operating budget is:
50% donors (individuals, corporations, community groups), special events
30% client fees
20% government

Now, client fees are $150/day ($160 for out of province). And AARC has at any given time about 40 clients. So that means $6000 per day comes from client fees. If that is only 30% of their income then they are pulling in about $20 000 per day. Considering that AARC's only expenses are lunch for clients, rent for the building, and electricity - those are some pretty heft salaries for the 20 or so staff especially when the front office is staffed by volunteer parents.

Huh....


Rachael

[hanzomon4]

The only other costs could be insurance, advertisement, or travel. Can you find out if AARC has any kind of insurance on the kids there, I would guess that this would be required, no?

I would also guess that they don't have it, requirement or not.

[Rachael]

Travel?

[hanzomon4]

Well don't the heads of AARC take annual trips back to hell?

[Ursus]

There are a lot of "travel" expenses involved in recruiting new clients... speaking engagements, hotel etc., revving up the crowd with news of the good word...

[Anonymous]

I believe in AARC.  It has to be as credible as this:

http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/

[ajax13]

You believe in AARC?  Like a religion?  Or like the tooth fairy?  Or Bigfoot?  I had the understanding that it operated as a treatment center, not a religion.

[Anonymous]

Read the link -- it's hilarious.

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Ursus]

I'm a full-fledged Pastafarian myself.  My life has been completely transformed by oodles of noodles.

Lynn Gweeny

[Anne Bonney]

Annie, baby you've been conned just like all the other Calgary Glitterati.  
Do you know where the money's gone?

What's this about?