Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Aspen Education Group
My son at Aspen Ranch
Oscar:
--- Quote from: "Guest" ---Psy, thats a terrible thing to say about those families. Why would you try to dirty their posts because they dont fit with your agenda?
Nigel, I mentioned that you would need to read between the negative propaganda. Your son is going to be fine. Listen to your sons therapist who is trained and licensed and has seen the successes that these other posters were talking about. He is a professional.
--- End quote ---
But is this therapist trained and licensed?
A meating at the local board which oversee the licensed staff reveal that it is often NOT the case:
--- Quote ---Ms. Taxin explained that Ms. Kucharski contacted the Board Secretary to cancel her in person interview due to the driving distance and requested for the Board to review the application without her being present.
Ms. Taxin stated that Jan Gardner, Licensing Specialist, reviewed the Aspen Ranch website and noted that Ms. Kucharski is listed as a licensed
therapist. Ms. Gardner contacted Ms. Kucharski to have the website corrected.
--- End quote ---
They could have checked up on the rest of the staff, but they had to consider the risk of loosing jobs and this woman was the only one who was so stupid to apply for a local license so they settled with having her name removed.
AuntieEm2:
Nigel,
--- Quote ---I also know that there are a lot of people that are giving me their honest opinions and are truly trying to help( I am very appreciative of your help).
--- End quote ---
It is good to see that you are open minded about considering both sides.
I have so much sympathy for the worries and fears of a parent who is trying to help a child. It angers me that programs like the Aspen programs take advantage of parents who desperately wanted to do the right thing.
Please think carefully about the fact that the US Congress and the GAO saw a need to investigate this industry and are in the process of passing federal legislation to regulate them (HR911 passed the House of Representatives in April with bipartisan support and a more than 2/3 majority). As the forensic investigation documented, this is not a few bad apples, but a systemic problem of widespread abuse, maltreatment, neglect and death in residential programs of all stripes.
Please look at this link to the US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, and read the specifics of the "Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009." http://http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/02/the-stop-child-abuse-in-reside.shtml Watch the video of the hearings and listen to the testimony of parents whose children died in programs. Read the list of organizations that have endorsed the legislation, including:
•American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry »
•American Academy of Pediatrics »
•American Bar Association »
•American Psychological Association »
•Child Welfare League of America »
•Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth »
•Easter Seals »
•National Child Abuse Coalition »
•National Disability Rights Network
And lastly, please do what the parents of my niece failed to do: Ask your family and friends for help and support. Ask if your son could live with them for a time to give you a chance to sort things out. My niece went to a 3 month Aspen wilderness program, and sure enough was referred to a boarding school, and the parents shelled out a quarter of a millon dollars over three years when she could have been living with loving caring responsible family members.
Auntie Em
TheWho:
Nigel, When my child attended 2 of the parents pulled their children after several months and they both reverted back to their old behavior almost immediately, neither went back to school. One became pregnant and moved out and the other moved away a week after getting home. Their children were able to manipulate them into believing they had changed. The remainder of my daughters peer group stayed and graduated and all of them were accepted to the college of their choice after finishing high school, with one finishing 6 months earlier than expected.
My daughter wanted to come home also and now she can look back and knows that it was the best place for her. She never liked being there but it helped her. Try to get as much information as you can. Read here on fornits, contact the school and ask to speak with parents who have had kids complete the program. Speak to your childs therapist with your concerns also. But don’t give up on your son. You may not get a second chance if you pull him out too soon.
Good luck with your research. I know the decision is a hard one.
Anonymous:
Hey Guest21:
How about for shits and giggles you let Psy link your posts together? I'd wager all the guest posts on this thread in support of aspen come from the same person. If I'm wrong I get egg on my face. What have you got to lose?
iamartsy:
AEG does not use official therapists. Most kids I know who have gone there have not received any help. I would pull your child ASAP. I have read the pages of kids that have gone there, and they have all had poor experiences.
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