Note the reference to Safe and Sound transport, one of the teen transport companies PURE recomends. Second, it appears to me that Isabelle Zehnder (CAICA) is endorsing forced transports of children INTO programs, not just out of them.
Anyway, what is the skinny on Ironwood? It appears to me some of the staff have ties to Utah.
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Escort or Abduction? The Other Side of the Story
by Isabelle Zehnder
When the Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse (CAICA) was founded its main focus was to inform parents and the public about abuse in residential programs for children and teens. Though this is still our focus today, we realize we must do more than that - we must work to help parents in finding safe options. Therefore, we are working with people who we find to be credible and whose main focus is the best interest of the children and their families.
By far the most important thing to me is the safety and well-being of children. The troubled child/teen industry is, for the most part, unregulated and just about anything goes. A very scary proposition when you are talking about the lives of children. It is our hope the industry will become regulated and that oversight will follow, but until then the best we can do is try to inform parents of the dangers so they do not fall into the same trap others have fallen into,
and to offer safe alternatives - a rather difficult task for those who choose to try to make a difference in the lives of families.We are aware that by the time a parent has reached the point that they are seeking help outside of their local communities they are usually at their wits end. Typically things at home are spiraling out of control and they feel they could lose the most precious thing to them - their child. They are desperate and there are people, unfortunately, who prey on their desperation.
Donna Hedricks, the pioneer of advocates for children abused in residential treatment facilities, passed away several years ago. Donnas dream and vision was to provide safe alternatives for children and hope for their families.
She believed in being realistic, not radical. She understood that in todays fast-paced world and with a rising number of broken families many children turn to drugs, violence, sex, self-mutilation, gangs, alcohol, suicide, to name a few.
She knew that though it would be ideal for parents to be able to help their children at home and in their local communities it was not always possible and outside intervention was sometimes needed. She understood the need for safe, effective programs for truly troubled teens. She was aware some transport companies resorted to handcuffs, pepper spray, and shock devices on the children, and understood the need for safe transports.
A group of advocates for these children and their parents have worked very hard in an attempt to keep Donnas dream alive. Donna did not support those who are radical in their thinking that all programs are bad, that all programs should be shut down, and that parents should somehow feel guilty for their teen spiraling out of control.
Rather, she saw the need to work with the parents in finding safe alternatives for their children and in reuniting families. She believed in programs that build the child up, not programs that break the child down. Such programs do exist, there is hope for families, and there is hope for children who are desperately crying out for help.
CAICA realizes that no matter how much we would like children to be home with their families, many will be sent to programs for one reason or another.
Like it or not, it is a reality. So, CAICA has decided to work with a team of people who are all dedicated to helping children and their families, and to finding the safest alternatives for these children.One piece of this very complex puzzle is the child/teen transport industry. While most people have no idea it even exists, children are being taken from their beds in the middle of the night by complete strangers, hired by their parents, and then transported thousands of miles to facilities their parents have often never visited with strangers they have often never met. Again, a very scary proposition when you are talking about children.
I know this to be true because it happened to me. A teen who we agreed to care for because of troubles at his home was abducted from our home in the middle of the night, taken abruptly from my arms to an abusive facility thousands of miles from home. We lost all contact with this child for three years until he was able to contact us and inform us what happened to him. We also learned his sister was abducted in broad daylight at a parking lot. She was handcuffed and thrown into the back of a car like a criminal. This was an honor student with a love for the arts who had never been in trouble with the law. Again, I speak from person experience as I have known these children for many years.
This is how I became involved in fighting for the safety of children in abusive programs.
The child/teen escort business is virtually unregulated, much like the troubled child/teen industry. There is cause for concern and parents need to do their homework when deciding who will transport their child if it is necessary.
Though I believe parents should transport their children whenever they can, I know this is not always possible.Over time I have heard from parents and children that their experience with their transport has been a very positive one. As difficult as it was for me to believe at first, I felt I owed it to these families to listen.
I have done my homework and interviewed not only people working in the industry but children who were transported and their parents, and have come to realize there is another side to this story. Not all transport companies are alike, as not all programs are alike.
Take Lorraine Colpitts, for example. She drove school buses for years and now runs her own transport company out of Maine Safe and Sound Youth Transportation, Inc. Lorraine will transport children only to programs she knows to be helpful, not hurtful. In an interview, Lorraine said, If it is not a place that is safe and therapeutic enough for my own child, then I would not leave any child there. She has actually taken students to programs, felt the situation was not in the best interest of the child, turned around, contacted the parents, and brought the child home. In one case, the parents and their son worked together to find a safer placement and the parents were able to transport him there without the use of a transport service. This is always preferred, though not always practical or feasible.
Lorraine does her homework, she visits the programs. She knows the industry. If she hears anything negative about a program she will not take a child there. Lorraine does not resort to handcuffs, pepper spray, or any other form of restraints.
Lorraine believes that because she is the first person the child will encounter during this difficult time, she wants to make the experience as painless as possible for everyone involved. She does not enter a childs room, wake them up, and leave them feeling they are being abducted by complete strangers. She works with families, having the parents talk with the children and coming to terms with what is about to happen. Many children are willing to go, they want to get help. Some are not. It takes a special person to be able to work with children at a time like this. Being a mom, she is able to use her wits and common sense rather than force and intimidation. She explains to the child that she did not create the situation, but she is the person who will be taking them from point A to point B.
I asked Lorraine what she feels warrants the need for a child to go to a program. She responded, When a child is into self-harm, such as cutting, and parents cannot find the resources they need within their own communities, it is beneficial for the child to go to a place where they specialize in helping these kids. This is not something they typically get over, rather they go deeper into it. Drugs are another reason, kids heavily involved in pornography and inappropriate sexual behaviors. Also kids who are severely depressed and suicidal.
Lorraines belief is, If a child is going to have to be transported to a facility, I would rather it be with me. Rather than using handcuffs and pepper spray, she uses kindness and care. These go a long way for children. She finds out what kids like before she picks them up, and is sure to have their favorite McDonalds burger, M&Ms, garlic bagel - waiting in the car.
Marcia, who works with Lorraine, says, We do an incredible job on our transports and as hard as it is sometimes we always get the kids there safely, usually they are laughing and forgetting their troubles at least for a short time. I remember one trip with a very difficult young lady. We were rapping songs about silly things most of the way from Maine to Tennessee. She went on to say, Lorraine goes the extra mile to be sure she has the childs favorite food and a warm blanket. She matches the transport workers to the child as much as possible. Im older, so my job is usually to sit in the back talking quietly and making sure all of the childs needs are met.
Ron and Amy Davis wrote to Lorraine, Our son is doing good and came home in July. He is anti-drug and looking at getting into college. He has hope he never had before. We want to thank you for your professionalism and let you know we appreciated what you did for us. You provide a valuable service for families that need help.
Lorraine said, There are many things that I can do, but this is what I choose to do. And I will do this and be present on as many transports as I physically can be present for. We have transported over 400 kids in the past four years successfully. I am proud of our team, we have a great mix of people working together in the best interest of these children and their families. I asked her how she decides who will be present for the transport, and she said, We do our best to match the child with someone they will relate to. We learn about the child and determine what the childs reactions might be, what kind of intervention they might need. What kind of movies do they like so they can watch them on the portable DVD players. We have 24 people on our team so we have been very successful at finding the right match.
Terrys daughter was transported by Lorraine to Ironwood in Maine, a facility known to build the children up, not tear them down. In a telephone interview, Terry said, My daughter was headed down a dark path and Lorraine was key in saving my daughters life. She truly is amazing and continues to be my friend.
I asked Lorraine what the greatest rewards were of this position and she said, You couldnt give me a job I would be better suited for than this. Being a mom, having kids give me a hug and thank me for getting them there safely. Ninety percent of the time they hug and thank me, telling me they havent talked to an adult as much as they talked to me in years. Its very rewarding.
When kids have asked her, How can you do this type of job? She responds, Because Id rather be giving you your favorite hamburger or candy bar than have someone throw you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Im a mom and I care. She looks back, their eyes meet, and a smile comes over the childs face. They connect and make the journey safely together.
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Testimonial on Ironwood's Website:
http://www.ironwoodmaine.com/parent_tes ... david.htmlNote: Boy transported (unwillingly) to Ironwood, by Safe and Sound, Transport, the same company Zehnder writes about.
