The Privatization of Eckerd Academy

[Ursus]

This is apparently oldish news, but seems to have not been discussed on the forum... My apologies if it has, and I just wasn't able to find it. (Although this report is dated in February of this year, it was not posted 'till late June on the Struggling Teens site. Not sure why.)

It has a nice paragraph or two re. the program's origins in 1968. Connections to the Salesmanship Club have come up in other programs on fornits. Wish I knew more. It also contains the usual over-the-top pablum of a site visit; when one reads between the lines, 'tis hardly as rosy as it is portrayed, ha ha!

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Posted: Jun 23, 2008
THE PRIVATIZATION OF ECKERD ACADEMY

Deer Lodge, TN
Suches, GA
Brooksville, FL
800-914-3937
http://www.Eckerdacademy.org

Visit by: Loi Eberle, MA, IECA
February 17-18, 2008

Eckerd Youth Alternatives (EYA) has helped more than 70,000 youth in public programs since they were founded by Jack and Ruth Eckerd in 1968. Eckerd eventually created 45 public adjudication programs in seven states. Currently EYA operates 18 Therapeutic Outdoor Treatment Programs and three recently privatized academies. Though I have visited Eckerd Academy in Brooksville, FL, in the past, this was my first visit to the Eckerd Academy of the Blue Ridge in Suches, GA, and Eckerd Academy in Deer Lodge, TN.

Founder Jack Eckerd, a civic-minded pharmacist and philanthropist, originally aimed to "turn tax users into tax payers" by teaching inmates job skills. He and Ruth soon realized they needed to reach youth before they got in trouble and became interested in Campbell Loughmiller's Wilderness Program for Youth, the first of its kind. Sponsored by the Salesmanship Club, Loughmiller's program enrolled inner city children from Dallas, TX. Upon seeing it, Eckerd convinced Loughmiller and his associates, Ken Eggert and Buford McKenzie, to help him start one. This goal was accomplished in 1968 when they started the first Wilderness Education System in Brooksville, FL. Soon after that, Everett Lindstrom, also with the Salesmanship Club, came to Central FL to help Eckerd establish the girl's program. While the origins of many wilderness programs reach back to the Salesmanship Club, the Eckerd programs were unique in that they combined a wilderness program with a school.

Recently the decision to privatize the three academies was facilitated by Richard Wentworth, Director of the Eckerd Academy at Deer Lodge, TN. Eckerd Academy at Brooksville, FL, was then privatized under the directorship of Patrick Curley. Most recently, Tim McMahon, Director of Eckerd Academy of the Blue Ridge, led their re-opening as a private program.

EYA's privatizing process involved three strategies according to Richard Wentworth, and "every step of the way they emphasized the nurturing, relationship based, reality therapy, non-confrontational accountability-based Eckerd Model." Conversations with staff members at the TN and GA programs attributed their program effectiveness and positive staff morale to this model.

EYA's first privatization strategy involved reconfiguring the staff, adding clinicians even to the FL program which was already JCAHO accredited. Adding teachers certified in special education and more direct care staff enabled all three programs to achieve a 1:4 staff to student ratio, and provide remedial through AP courses. The three academies are accredited through COA [Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children], SACS [Southern Association of Colleges and Schools] and their state Departments of Education. They are members of NATSAP.

The next privatization strategy involved further development of their original goal of "roughing it easy." Previously the camper/students worked together to build their living structure, a tactic used to improve the group process. When they privatized, they built semi permanent camp sites that better satisfied basic housing needs and re-focused the group work towards chores and therapeutic processes. Charming community "pods" were created for each of the 5-6 groups. Each pod accommodates up to 10 students with 3-4 campers per cabin as well as private cabins for two 24-hour staff nearby who are supplemented by night watchmen. There is also a food preparation and group eating area in each pod with an outdoor wood burning stove for the meals cooked at the campsite over the weekend. Each pod has a space for the Pow Wow fire that occurs at the end of the day to promote discussion, feedback and symbolic activity. For example, a camper might use a stick to represent an irritation which is discussed with the group and then thrown in the fire, in order to extinguish it to start afresh the next day.

EYA's third privatization strategy involved enhancing program services through increased focus on transition planning. They now create aftercare plans before each student is transitioned home and maintain formal communication for one year post graduation. They also focus on teaching students how to build a purposeful peer group while in the program, helping them learn the process of developing beneficial peer relationships when they leave.

While there, I hiked to the pods and spoke privately with students. The newer Blue Ridge program has a smaller census and more of a focus on learning disabilities. The girls' opinions about the program correlated with the amount of time they'd been there; newer residents hadn't yet become as invested in the therapeutic work, though they were all friendly and supportive of each other. The boys expressed pleasure in how quickly they were learning academic skills and earning credits. They encouraged me to seek students who shared their academic goals, wanting to avoid students who wished to be disruptive. While they acknowledged their own previously disruptive behavior, they said they felt more in control of it now.

At Deer Lodge students spoke openly with me about the solutions they used in order to work together more effectively when they experienced a problem with the group. Despite slight grumbling about hiking and chores, the groups expressed pride in chores well done and were friendly, respectful and caring. I ate lunch at Deer Lodge with the entire population of students in the large dining hall and watched how they interacted with "Chief Sara" and "Chief Brent" who presented their assignments and academic themes for the week. Each week a different theme is incorporated into all the classes and elaborated upon in their individualized curriculum. After lunch everyone sang from their songbook of "oldies." Lyrics from the old "hits" selected for the songbook supported the therapeutic work being done.

I visited the computer labs and spoke with the teachers at both programs. Both programs have teacher-led classes and individualized, self-paced curriculum, along with one-on-one instruction for reading and language remediation. Software for career exploration and occasional field trips are incorporated into their curriculum, and life skills are part of their daily activities.

Many of the students I talked with in both programs were open about "anger management issues" and felt their group helped them deal with their problem. They also gave me examples of how everyone seemed willing to re-focus and re-schedule their activities if a particular individual was struggling. In both programs I observed qualified and enthusiastic staff who described their alignment with the childcentered, 40 year Eckerd tradition. All the staff with whom I spoke seemed to genuinely care for and nurture the students.

Richard Wentworth described their typical students as having the basic foundations of pro-social behavior that had simply gone astray. This environment was designed to help them re-connect with their roots. He suggested they would not be appropriate for those who had truly developed more anti-social behavior. The clinical staff listed depression, anxiety, ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder as typical student diagnoses.

What I saw when visiting all three of the Eckerd academies was an environment where students can be nurtured and encouraged to thrive. The wilderness components encourage self-exploration and positive peer interaction, while the academics offer some individualization. Eckerd's philosophy of "Roughing it Easy" has inspired a nurturing milieu that encourages active engagement in life's daily chores while living in a beautiful outdoor environment. At these three EYA academies, students are given opportunities for honest interaction, academic achievement, positive family relationships and self-efficacy.

[Anonymous]

http://thestraights.com/reports/sembler ... ls-pt2.htm

DRAFT
(UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

Sembler's influence over local politicians Part 2.
Contributions to local officials by Sembler and his lobbyists
by Wes Fager (c) 2005

As of Dec. 5, 2005 Sembler had gotten through step 3 of the approval process (approval by the Pinellas Planning Council), but barely. Both seller (Essilor) and potential buyer (Sembler) have hired the same attorney to get them through the negotiations, Timothy Johnson, Jr., founder of Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, (formerly Johnson, Blakely, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel) in Clearwater--the largest law firm in Pinellas County. Using blue blood attorney Tim Johnson is not a bad idea. He has a solid reputation for understanding the maze of government requirements in the approval process for land use and transportation issues. The politicians in Seminole trust and respect him--his uncle was the former "Mr. Seminole." And besides Sembler has effectively used Tim Johnson before--often.

Sembler has bought his way into national and state politics. [See Sembler family contributions, national/state.] The company is so into having good relations with politicians that it has a Vice President of Political and Community Affairs. But does Sembler political largess filter down to the lower levels of politics? Recently Carrie Johnson of The St. Petersburg Times wrote an article titled, Sembler family is flexing its political muscles in city. In her article she quotes Sembler Company CEO Craig Sher who says, "I would take offense to the notion that any politician is in the pocket of anyone. I don't believe a $500 contribution is going to influence anyone." In Florida $500 is the maximum an individual can contribute to the campaign of someone running for public office. We took exception to what Mr. Sher said in our article We take exception to Craig Sher's comment about buying politicians for $500. You should read it. Sembler has made so many $500 contributions via so many different entities that it will make your head spin. Our article responding to Craig Sher focuses primarily on candidates for state office. In this report we concentrate on candidates for municipal and county government offices. And we start with the ever lovely, Susan Latvala.

Pinellas County Commissioners

Susan Latvala

As of 2004 Sembler Company had built 140 Eckerd drug stores for his friend Jack Eckerd. Mel Sembler is Mr. Republican Party in Pinellas County and Jack Eckerd was the former chairman of the Florida Republican Legislative Campaign Committee. Jack Eckerd once ran unsuccessfully as the Republican candidate for governor against Bob Graham. W. J. "Jack" Latvala chaired the statewide Young Republicans organization while at Stetson University and later became the executive director of the state Republican Party in Tallahassee. In 1979 Jack Eckerd wanted more GOP candidates elected to the state legislature, so he hired Jack Latvala and moved him to Pinellas County. Latvala founded a very successful direct-mailing company that included many companies and elected officials like George Bush and Connie Mack as clients.

Follows are in-kind contributions to Mr. Latvala's 1996 campaign for state office made by the Republican Party of Florida:

    * $ 3,500 (08/21/1996)
    * $ 10,912 (09/26/1996)
    * $ 23,833 (10/31/1996)
    * $ 37,110 (10/31/1996).

Follows are contributions by Sembler entities to the Republican Party of Florida:

01/10/2005 25,000.00 SEMBLER BETTY
10/29/2002 10,000.00 SEMBLER BETTY
12/20/2002 5,000.00 SEMBLER BETTY
10/15/2002 15,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
03/15/2002 20,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
10/17/2002 10,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
01/10/2005 25,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
10/24/2000 3,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
02/23/2004 5,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
07/03/2003 15,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
06/30/2004 500.00 CHE SEMBLER BRENT
07/07/2004 25,000.00 SEMBLER BRENT
10/12/2004 2,500.00 SEMBLER DEBBIE
08/31/2000 5,000.00 SEMBLER MEL
06/16/2000 250.00 SEMBLER MEL
01/10/2005 25,000.00 SEMBLER
09/30/1998 500.00 SEMBLER, BRENT
09/25/1998 500.00 SEMBLER, BRENT
10/20/1998 500.00 CHE SEMBLER, BRENT
03/31/1998 5,000.00 SEMBLER, MEL
10/20/1998 500.00 SEMBLER, MEL
09/25/1998 25,000.00 SEMBLER, MEL
10/14/1999 4,662.75 INK SEMBLER

Here are some individual contributions to Jack Latvala.

Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 11/02/1999 500.00 CHE SEMBLER, BETTY S.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 02/28/1996 200.00 CHE SEMBLER, BRENT
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 12/18/1997 400.00 CHE SEMBLER, BRENT W.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 11/12/1999 500.00 CHE SEMBLER, BRENT W.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 11/20/1995 100.00 CHE ARMSTRONG, III E. D.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 12/05/1997 500.00 CHE ARMSTRONG, III. E. D.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 02/22/2000 200.00 CHE BOKOR, BRUCE H.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 07/10/1995 500.00 CHE ECKERD CORPORATION
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 09/06/1996 500.00 CHE ECKERD CORPORATION
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 10/15/1996 500.00 CHE ECKERD CORPORATION
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 12/14/1999 500.00 CHE ECKERD CORPORATION
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 09/22/1995 500.00 CHE ECKERD, JACK
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 09/05/1996 500.00 CHE ECKERD, JACK
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 12/17/1997 500.00 CHE ECKERD, JACK
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 06/04/1999 500.00 CHE ECKERD, JACK
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 12/17/1997 500.00 CHE ECKERD, RUTH B.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 06/04/1999 500.00 CHE ECKERD, RUTH B.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 10/25/1999 100.00 CHE JOHNSON, TIMOTHY E.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 11/12/1999 200.00 CHE JOHNSON, JR. TIMOTHY A.
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 10/19/1995 50.00 CHE LOEBENBERG, WALTER
Latvala, Jack (REP)(STS) 02/21/1996 100.00 CHE LOEBENBERG, WALTER

Here are some contributions to the campaign of Jack's wife Susan Latvala who is a Pinellas County commissioner:

Apr 08, 2002 Brent Sembler $300.00

APR 11, 2002 Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein
PO Box 41100
St. Petersburg, FL 33743
Attorney B CHE $250.00

APR 15, 2002 Walter Loebenberg
7834 9th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
Retired I CHE $250.00

Jun 18, 2002 Johnson, Blakely, Pope, Bokor, RUppel & Burns, PA
911 Chestnut Street
Clearwater, FL 33757
Attorney's B CHE $500.00

Jun 20, 2002 E. Armstrong
1614 Santa Barbara Drive
Dunedin, FL 34698
Attorney I CHE $500.00

Sep 19, 2005 Timothy Johnson
911 Chestnut Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Attorney I CHE $500.00

Sep 20, 2005 Walter Loebenberg
7834 9th Ave. S
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
Retired I CHE $150.00

Sep 20, 2005 Betty Sembler
10324 Paradise Blvd
Treasure Island, FL 33706
Retired I CHE $500.00

Sep 30, 2005 Ed Armstrong
1614 Santa Barbara Drive
Dunedin, FL 34698
Attorney I CHE $500.00

Sep 30, 2005 Kwall, Showers & Coleman, P.A.
138 N. Ft. Harrison Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Attorney B CHE $500.0

For 17 years Melvin and Betty Sembler operated Straight, Inc., a controversial juvenile drug rehabilitation program. Eventually all programs in the chain were closed down amidst state criminal and/or health investigations. In 1985 Mel and Betty changed the name and mission of Straight. Straight no longer treats kids for addictions. Its new name is Drug Free America Foundation. Commissioner Susan Latvala is on DFAF's Advisory Board along with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Gov. Jeb Bush, Jeb's wife Columba, and Jeb's Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings.

Today Betty has a new drug program--Operation PAR. Susan Latvala is the executive director of Operation PAR.

John Morroni Chairman

Kenneth T. Welch Vice Chairman (D)

Calvin D. Harris Commissioner (D)

Robert B. Stewart Commissioner (R)

Ronnie E. Duncan Commissioner

Karen Williams Seel Commissioner (R)