Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Aspen Education Group
Ellen Behren's Industry Study Funded by AEG
Dysfunction Junction:
--- Quote from: "Oz girl" ---youth care was where brendan blum died. He complained and they ignored it charges were filed against the staff. His mother researched the place and was lead to beleive he would get top quality care. I wonder if this study was one of the things that convinced her that the poor boy would be in good hands.
Charges Filed in Death of Brendan Blum
2 youth counselors charged in California boy's death
14-year-old was staying at treatment center in Draper
By Pat Reavy and Rebecca Palmer
Deseret Morning News
Published: October 12, 2007
Two counselors at a residential youth treatment center in Draper where a 14-year-old boy died in June were charged Thursday in connection with the boy's death.
Deborah Cole and Jorge Ramirez, from Youth Care Inc., 12600 Minuteman Drive, each face one count of abuse or neglect of a child, a third-degree felony.
On June 27, Brendan Blum of California was suffering bowel and stomach problems. He had been vomiting and suffering from diarrhea all night, said Draper Police Sgt. Gerry Allred. Rather than contacting the on-call nurse as the facility's policy dictates, the boy was simply given some medicine and put in a separate room away from the rest of the boys, he said. The next morning, the boy, who was listed as a disabled child because he had Asperger's syndrome, was found dead on his mattress.
"There was no really good reason why they didn't take him ... no explanation except they just thought it was an upset stomach," Allred said.
An autopsy determined the boy had an obstructed bowel that deteriorated as the night went on, Allred said. The on-call nurse, who was later interviewed by police, said if she had been called to look at the boy she would have advised he immediately go to the hospital, he said.
The Utah State Medical Examiner concurred, "if medical intervention had been obtained, (the boy's) death would have been preventable," according to court documents.
The boy's mother, Dana Blum, said she is appalled that workers at the facility didn't take him to an emergency room. Any time a child dies while in the care of a licensed facility, the facility should be shut down immediately, she said.
Blum has filed a complaint with the Utah licensing board and is waiting for the investigation to be completed.
She hopes the individuals who operated the facility will be held accountable along with the workers.
"I don't wish them any ill, I would just like to see justice done for my son," she said.
The facility issued a statement shortly after the boy's death saying it was the result of a "medical condition." The group home is operated by Aspen Education Group, based in Cerritos, Calif. It is a division of the CRC Health Group, which runs boarding schools, outdoor education programs and weight-loss camps.
Ironically, the charges came one day after the Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C., found thousands of abuse allegations at camps and other private treatment facilities around the country.
Blum hopes the national attention will result in stricter standards and more accountability across the board.
Brendan was placed in the facility following treatment at a California hospital. Blum said she researched Youth Care Inc. extensively before sending her son there.
"This is double-edged sword for me," she said. "I am not a deadbeat mom."
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Caretakers at Draper youth care center charged with child abuse in death of 14-year-old
By Jason Bergreen
The Salt Lake Tribune Article
Last Updated: 10/11/2007 05:22:00 PM MDT
Two caretakers at a Draper assisted-living facility were charged Thursday with failing to provide medical aid to a 14-year-old resident who died under their supervision in June. Jorge Ramirez and Deborah Cole were both on duty at Youth Care Inc. on June 27 when 14-year-old Brendan Blum of Santa Barbara, Calif., died.
An autopsy concluded that Blum died from an inadequate blood supply to his small bowel, according to a criminal complaint filed in 3rd District Court. On the night of his death, Blum had a loss of bowel control, vomited and complained of stomach pain, but Ramirez and Cole did not provide or seek medical help for him, the complaint states.
Blum was found dead on the morning of June 28. A state medical examiner concluded that Blum's death could have been prevented if he had been given medical attention.
"Secure treatment facilities are responsible for providing appropriate medical treatment and care for the children entrusted to their supervision," Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller said in a news release. "In this case, it is alleged that a young boy's need for emergency medical treatment was ignored and that this negligence resulted in the boy's death." Miller also said that state law requires that treatment facilities and their employees be held to a "heightened standard of care."
Blum was at the facility because he had Asperger's Syndrome, a disorder related to autism.
Cole and Ramirez are each charged with one third-degree felony count of abuse or neglect of a child. The crime is punishable by up to five years in jail.
Posted by Teen Advocates USA at 10:50 AM
Labels: Aspen Education Group, Barbe Stamps, Brendan Blum, CRC Health Group, Teen Advocates USA, Youth Care
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Wow these people were part of Behrens' marketing campaign.
Anne Bonney:
--- Quote from: "Whooter" ---
--- Quote from: "Anne Bonney" ---
--- Quote from: "Dysfunction Junction" ---
--- Quote from: "Guest" ---
--- Quote from: "funny study" --- ... a sampling bias could have potentially have had a large
impact on the results of this study, the excuses I heard not to participate had to do with
behavioral breakdowns as often as they had to do with too many after school
commitments and other measures of success ...
--- End quote ---
So basically out of 190 families scheduled to graduate, only 125 families graduated (65 did not). So right there, there are 65 failures. Out of those 125 who graduated, 25 could not be contacted. That leaves us with 25 unknown, 65 failures. Out of the 100 left, only 30 responded. Those 30 reported well due to sampling bias. That leaves 30 successes, 25 unknown, 65 failures. Out of the 70 remaining, half were still having "issues". The other half I'll give you generously as "successes". That leaves 65 successes (only 30 of which responded to a survey), 25 unknown, and 100 failures. (out of 190 scheduled to graduate). Hardly stellar, even if the numbers are accurate.
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Great breakdown.
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:tup: :notworthy:
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The details to support DJ's numbers can be found here:
Outcome Study
He may have left out the link by accident.
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Outcome study that was bought and paid for by Aspen Ed.
Whooter:
--- Quote from: "Anne Bonney" ---Outcome study that was bought and paid for by Aspen Ed.
--- End quote ---
Exactly!! Imagine trying to find a research firm that just worked for free!! lol I am sure they would have hired them first. I know I would, why pay for it when you can get it done for nothing?
...
Anne Bonney:
--- Quote from: "Whooter" ---
--- Quote from: "Anne Bonney" ---Outcome study that was bought and paid for by Aspen Ed.
--- End quote ---
Exactly!! Imagine trying to find a research firm that just worked for free!! lol I am sure they would have hired them first. I know I would, why pay for it when you can get it done for nothing?
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Of course not and that's not what we're suggesting, but you know that. But when Aspen hires them to do a study do you really think it would be in their best interest to have it come out shedding and unkind light on Aspen? They wouldn't get referrals or any more business from Aspen, but again......you know this and you know that's the context we're talking about but you spin it to fit what you want.
Whooter:
--- Quote from: "Anne Bonney" ---
--- Quote from: "Whooter" ---
--- Quote from: "Anne Bonney" ---Outcome study that was bought and paid for by Aspen Ed.
--- End quote ---
Exactly!! Imagine trying to find a research firm that just worked for free!! lol I am sure they would have hired them first. I know I would, why pay for it when you can get it done for nothing?
--- End quote ---
Of course not and that's not what we're suggesting, but you know that. But when Aspen hires them to do a study do you really think it would be in their best interest to have it come out shedding and unkind light on Aspen? They wouldn't get referrals or any more business from Aspen, but again......you know this and you know that's the context we're talking about but you spin it to fit what you want.
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What are talking about? You are referring to the practices of every research firm, Anne. None of them work for free. They all get paid regardless of whether it is a program or University research study, Private companies.... The research firm still needs to get paid so that they can pay their employees. This study had a review board which oversaw the study and approved it. They look for conflicts of interest and understand the payment for their work.
...
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