Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Aspen Education Group

Aspen marketing - concern expressed by FamilyLight

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Oscar:
Familylight writes about problems with a former Mount Bachelor detainee. Rather interesting.

Aspen Marketing -- Referral from One Aspen Program to Another

Pile of Dead Kids:
They weren't giving him big enough kickbacks.

If you seriously think an ed-con gives half a flying fuck about anything relating to ethics, I have news for you.

Whooter:

--- Quote ---When Mt.  Bachelor Academy closed, we had an opportunity to have a close look at two situations in which students were referred to Academy at Swift River.  In one case the student became our client. In the other, the parent discussed a client relationship with us, but resolved the need ultimately without our help.   In both cases we had extensive information about the student.  In both cases, Aspen representatives recommended transfer to Academy at Swift River as their only recommendation.
--- End quote ---

This is a good point.  I think this is a problem in any industry and it stems from what the people know and are exposed to.  The officials at Mt. Bachelor (or any of the Aspen programs) read about each others programs thru Aspen News letters.  They don’t have any knowledge or have very limited knowledge  about programs outside the Aspen Ed group.  So their natural inclination would be to refer to what they know best and that would another Aspen program.
Although when my daughter was attending SUWS there were 2 kids in her group who were rejected by ASR because of violence issues and ASR referred them to Elan up in Maine.

As a basic rule the correct thing to do is to refer to an educational consultant because the people managing programs or a specific program is not trained in ed consulting as their specialty.


--- Quote ---In the case of the client who became our client, the young man had learning issues which Academy at Swift River was not equipped to serve.   We noticed that first, when reviewing records.  Our opinion was validated when Academy at Swift River notified the boy’s parents that he was not eligible to enroll there, due to the same learning issues we observed.

We can’t describe the other student in any detail because if we did, the circumstances would identify him.  But it was another case where Aspen representatives identified Academy at Swift River as the only reasonable choice until the management at Academy at Swift River took a close look and said “no.”
--- End quote ---

This supports many of my previous arguments that programs don’t just take any warm body that comes along in order to fill an empty bed.  In order for programs like ASR to maintain a high degree of success with these children they need to meet certain requirements prior to being accepted and eligibility for acceptance is very high in many cases.



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Oscar:
It seems that some in the Aspen management team have a different point:


--- Quote ---We do not know whether or not there is a connection, but Dr. Bartolomeo resigned at Academy at Swift River a few months after this.  We doubt that he was forced out. It would not surprise us if he was just tired of dealing with the corporate culture. Remember, he has the highest standards of competence and integrity.
--- End quote ---

Do you know if the standard you observed during your daughters exile has been lowered?

Whooter:

--- Quote from: "Oscar" ---It seems that some in the Aspen management team have a different point:


--- Quote ---We do not know whether or not there is a connection, but Dr. Bartolomeo resigned at Academy at Swift River a few months after this.  We doubt that he was forced out. It would not surprise us if he was just tired of dealing with the corporate culture. Remember, he has the highest standards of competence and integrity.
--- End quote ---

Do you know if the standard you observed during your daughters exile has been lowered?
--- End quote ---

I believe it has continued to increase each year.  Many of these schools take feedback from the parents (including myself), monitor the kids (post graduation) and make changes based on the information they receive.  Many of these places are exceeding an 80% success rate and want to continue to grow that number.  One way to do this is to continue to change and evolve.  Dr. Bartolomeo stepped in and made many improvements and raised the standards at ASR and has now moved on to allow someone else to continue to add new ideas.

It may have been the corporate culture that he found he was not compatible with, but we just dont know. People like Dr. Bartolomeo are driven solely by getting results and focusing on the kids immediate needs because he is in contact with them everyday and sees this.  The corporation is further away,has to consider keeping the profits up and therefore may not be as sensitive to these needs and I can see this as creating conflict that would wear one down over time.  This is common in most industries.



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