Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)

Teen Mentor (Costa Rica) shut down by authorities

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Ursus:
Comments left for the above article, "Parents revile Teen Mentor, others claim program's value" (by Adam Williams; April 01, 2011; Tico Times):


Johnnathan Lopez · Saturday April 02 2011
its important to encourage the good health for all of the children, but at the same time looks like the PANI was too fast to make a chaos of the situationMichele Ballard · Tuesday April 05 2011
There was no abuse at Mentor and if PANI would have come in and done a professional investigation with cross checks, reviewed student's histories, and interviewed adults ( Staff ) they would have came to same conclusion.

Instead they rushed in to make headlines with no court order or approval, no due process, ignored students who stated there was no abuse, and believed manipulative student without checking their history or background of lying and fabrication.

In the process they robbed dozens of Costa Ricans of good jobs and thousands of dollars to local vendors and service providers.

With unchecked Government officials like this, Costa Rica will struggle in attracting business to the country.

Many of the parents have discussed a lawsuit against PANI not only for the way the handled the investigation but for the lack of supervision and way they handled the students taken in their care.Michele Ballard · Tuesday April 05 2011
Excerpt from sworn statement by Staff at Mentor.............

Let their be no mistake!..... This center was initiated as a "help center", and functioned as such until its wrongful closing......

I here by proclaim that since my collaboration began with MENTOR TEEN CR., (on the second day of November, 2010).... Which ended on the unfortunate day
of the improper closure.

! Have not been whiteness to any sort of mistreatment, of any kind, of any student enrolled in this program !

David Brendon C.Ken Kay · Tuesday April 05 2011
To Whom it May Concern:

As the president of WWASPS, Worldwide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, I was very dismayed with your article titled, “Parents revile Teen Mentor, others claim program’s value” dated April 1st, 2011.

Mentor was not ever involved with WWASPS in any way. The WWASPS has actually done no business with any school for nearly five years and has no members nor does it provide any services of any kind to any school or other organization.

Ken Kay
President, WWASPSMichele Ballard · Tuesday April 05 2011
I spent several weeks living on campus Mentor as a volunteer. I’ve worked in a variety of settings with different age groups including group homes and schools, before coming to Costa Rica and I naturally developed a rapport with the teens at Mentor. There was never any mistreatment or abuse. In fact, I was impressed by the Staff and the care, supervision, and treatment they gave to students.

I was really impressed by the staffs commitment to motivate the kids to want more for themselves and be willing to work for it–and to strive to be accountable. This process can be extremely turbulent and many teens end up struggling to negotiate these challenges effectively. I found that Mentor was working with teens to help them get their lives back on track by learning to evaluate their choices, communicate more effectively, and cultivate healthy relationships with their families and those around them.

Further I was there when PANI raided the place without Court Order and they made no effort to conduct an appropriate investigation. It was very unprofessional and damaging to the students. As Mr. Lopez said, “its important to encourage the good health for all of the children, but at the same time looks like the PANI was too fast to make a chaos of the situation.”

A Dedicated Volunteerlynne stephenson · Tuesday April 05 2011
My daugher attended Mentor Costa Rica for a little over two months. I want people to know that our experience with the program was consistently one of absolute excellence. Our daughter is 17 years old and we have been struggling for at least 5 years to get her help for the various issues she has. Mentor was the first program we have found where she truly found tangible benefit in a very short period of time. My husband and I were consistently pleased with all of the communication we had with the staff throughout her stay and we are so very sorry the program ended the way it did. I personally feel that the sudden shutdown of the school was handled improperly and there was a rush to judgement without a thorough examination of the facts. I have read the various horror stories about the WWASP history and I am not clear about any possible connection between Mentor and WWASP. All I know for a fact is that our experience with this program is 100% contrary to what I have read about any prior history.
We are left as a family to pick up the pieces and start all over again. This should not be the case. I have spoken with all of the parents of the girls that were there and we all felt the same way, our girls were finally getting the help they needed and were making true progress. How sad that this wonderful experience was cut short with such drama and trauma laden on kids who are already very troubled to begin with.
I would also like to add that once PANI was in control, we as parents in the US were left pretty helpless. I received a call one Friday evening from the US Embassy in Costa Rica demanding that I fly immediately to Costa Rica to retrieve my daughter. The demands were very unreasonable and there was absolutely no coordination between the 'authorities', the former therapy staff of Mentor and the Embassy. I was not impressed at all by these authorities who essentially kidnapped our kids and shut down a great facility without conducting a thorough and objective investigation. The damage they caused to my daughter and my family will take a long time to get over.

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Ursus:
With regard to all those Michele Ballard comments, I have to wonder if this is the same "Michele Ballard" who has a few "articles" floating out there on the internet re. ADHD/ADD kids (e.g., 1, 2), with the website MyBoardingSchool.com provided as a "helpful" resource apparently manned by Michele herself. Quote from top right hand corner of the home page:

If you would like to ADD A BOARDING SCHOOL to our directory send us an email with your school information. domains@netscraper.net
   
Domain name: MYBOARDINGSCHOOL.COM

Administrative Contact:
Netscraper WebServices
Netscraper WebServices (domains@netscraper.net)
+1.4356356801
Fax:
50 South State Street
La Verkin, UT 84745
US[/list][/size]
On the right side of MyBoardingSchool.com's home page is the descriptive of "2 Types of Schools," with the option of selecting from "Troubled Teen Boarding Schools" or "College Prep Boarding Schools." The latter leads you to a rather incomplete database. The former leads you to a page where you can fill out a form with your particulars and someone will get back to you. Sound familiar? :D

Another banner, on the left hand side, features "Parent Resources - Options for Struggling Teens," which enables you to select from a variety of 1-800 numbers for "boarding schools," "military schools," "boot camps," "teen treatment" and "free home program."

"Featured Specialty Schools" on MyBoardingSchool.com (bottom left hand corner):
Cross Creek Programs
Horizon Academy
Red River Academy[/list]
Quote from near bottom of the page: "*The phone numbers listed on this website may be answered by a number of organizations that specialize in helping struggling teens."


 :rofl:  Jeez Louise...

BuzzKill:
I just want to thank you for finding this and posting it.

Ursus:
From the above comments, emphasis added:

Ken Kay · Tuesday April 05 2011
To Whom it May Concern:

As the president of WWASPS, Worldwide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, I was very dismayed with your article titled, "Parents revile Teen Mentor, others claim program’s value" dated April 1st, 2011.

Mentor was not ever involved with WWASPS in any way. The WWASPS has actually done no business with any school for nearly five years and has no members nor does it provide any services of any kind to any school or other organization.

Ken Kay
President, WWASPS[/list][/list]

Shucks, that's technically correct... as long as you don't look too carefully beneath the surface!

After a brief fling under the umbrella of a company known as Supporting Teens, all the former WWASPS schools just happened to undergo a change in ownership some time in 2006. The "new" company is called Teen Revitalization. :D

Ursus:
Some more comments left for the above article, "Parents revile Teen Mentor, others claim program's value" (by Adam Williams; April 01, 2011; Tico Times), #s 7-10:


Robert Walter Lichfield · Wednesday April 06 2011
I Robert Walter Lichfield the founder of the now bankrupt METOR TEEN in Costa Rica would like to add a few points of clarification to this article and the previous article written by Mr. Williams on March25, 2011.

Regarding the Previous Article "Child Welfare Office Closes Yet Another Teen Reform Center"

• Pani Technical Director Jorge Urbina made comments that show his and Panis' extreme ignorance and bias. For instance he stated" "The place promoted itself as a therapeutic center with recreational offerings," Urbina said. "But in our investigation we found that there was no therapy being performed at the school nor was there a recreational program."

That therapy was provided to the students individually and in-group settings several times weekly is a known fact that would be easily discovered. The Parent's of our students received Therapeutic Progress Reports weekly and the Psychologist gave professional recommendations for administration and staff based on these sessions that being said, it should be noted that at no time did any of these recommendations or any other time prior to quitting did any of the Psychologists or any other staff express any major concern for MENTOR'S policies or procedures. In Fact, Mr. Ricardo the Clinical Director made many if not most of MENTOR'S policies and was in charge of the food service, the student point system (which included discipline) and staff training. Mr. Ricardo was employed in this role for several months.

Regarding the activities, All students that attained level three went on weekly activities which included surfing, turtle release, multiplaza shopping, canopy zip lines, Manuel Antonio, and going to Jaco beach and city. Level three students also went to our beachfront daily (or had the option to) and went in town several times weekly.
Mr. Urbina also stated our students were between 15-17 when they were actually between 13 and 18.

The fact that PANI so grossly mislead the public on things that are easily provable otherwise show their incompetence, ineptness and extreme partiality.

• Make no doubt about it, Pani didn’t come to check out some reported allegations when they showed up on the 18th of March they cam to close MENTOR down. They came with 60 people/police surrounding the hotel like a swat team would surround a dangerous situation not like impartial authorities trying to determine the welfare of our youth.
• I did respond by email to Mr. Williams email to me dated March 31, 2011 on April 1, 2011 stating that I would be willing to clarify things for him
• At no time did I witness or hear of any mistreatment of any student I would like to know if Pani still claims such to outline in writing the student, date and how they were mistreated. In fact, I spoke with the students individually and collectively several times each week and while I was "told things are better when you are here" I was never told of any mistreatment outside of one minor instance of a Staff calling a student a name which the staff was promptly written up and didn't do it again.
• While there were occasional inconsistencies regarding the food service the food portions and quality overall was on par with or exceeded most Costa Rica typical restaurants that I have been to and certainly was adequate. The students ate three meals a day along with three snacks. The food was typically very healthy and had a combination of fruits and vegetables as well as pasta, meats and rice and beans. Again, Mr. Ricardo our clinical director and the primary person spearheading the PANI thing when he became disgruntled was in charge of our food service. Staff also ate the food everyday same portion same food except staff didn't have the thrice daily snacks.
• Any student that had a medical need promptly saw a medical doctor. I would guess 6 or so of our students saw a medical doctor for various issues. Not one instance of a student requesting to see a doctor was denied whereas we had many students that chose to not see a doctor when asked f they would like to. To my knowledge we had at least two medical doctors on our campus. In addition, We had a referral from a Psychiatrist of a student that had previously been discharged well after the student was home which obviously, wouldn't happen if there was anything improper.
• Myself and one of our Psychologists met with both Miss Barger and Miss Sylvester privately at length and afterward gave each a tour of our facility whereby they spoke with MENTOR staff, other students and etc. They individually must have been impressed because they enrolled their precious children to MENTOR'S care.
• All of the students but one signed a document outlining their needs were satisfactorily met and they stayed at MENTOR through their own volition. The sole student that didn't agree, we informed his parents' to make arrangements to pick him up.
• It should be noted that MENTOR'S attorneys believe that the PANI and other officials violated several Costa Rica laws in their entrance of our facility and the subsequent hijacking of MENTOR students and its forced closure. In addition, their timing when they presumably knew ( the Psychologist knew I was going to the USA) I was with family in the USA and late on a Friday afternoon leaving no opportunity to file an injunction was believed to have been done strategically in an effort to entirely bypass the judicial system and afford no proper due process.
• Pani and the US Embassy demanded that the childrens' parents pick them up in Costa Rica and then discriminately later allowed some children to leave without such showing inconsistencies and bias and on some that they did allow to leave unaccompanied they messing up on getting students to the airport on time and thereby forced them to miss their flights.
• I came across something the other day that I wish I would have known before opening Teen MENTOR and that is the World Bank's Index on "Ease of Doing Business" which ranks Costa Rica amongst the bottom 33%. Costa Rica was most recently ranked at 125 out of 183 ranked countries. The Ease of business index factors such things as corruption, protection of investments, access to due process, governmental hurdles and etc. I believe that although Costa Rica is a beautiful country with an educated populace that is hard working, Miss Chinchilla will not realize her dream of having Costa Rica be the first developed country in Latin America as long as Costa Rica ranks so poorly on the things that this index measures. These government authorities closed our campus without any due process based upon their bias from my uncle's business from years ago that had nothing to do with teen mentor (My uncle was exonerated of all charges as a matter of fact) and the disgruntled feelings of a few former Psychologists one of which was the person in charge of the student living and discipline of the students (and if anything was amiss would be the person that should be disciplined loose his license and etc.). We had dozens of visitors to our campus (which was in the middle of town next to the police station) every week including doctors, former NFL players, musicians, artists, police, community members, perspective clients, perspective employees and etc. and not one felt or voiced concern over any improprieties. In any event, the governmental authorities caused the disruption of literally hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in the local community through wages, professional services, support services and etc. Unfortunately for many of the fine Costa Rica citizens that put their heart and souls into assisting our student's lead more productive healthier lives are without the employment that they need doing the work they love.Patrick Hewes · Wednesday April 06 2011
In Costa Rica any and I mean ANY psychologist can and should report on any alleged mistreatment they believe, assume or overheard by a third party. This is also valid for around the globe.
Most of the times PANI don't go further with the alleged accusations and these are just filed and archived, because of not enough evidence or lack of consistency provided by the alleged victim or victims. This was not the case!

Teen Mentor was not close because the one psychologist was disgruntled, it was close because not one, not two but three yes, you heard right three psychologist "believe, assume or overheard by a third party" about the alleged abuses. They went to PANI which is the Child protection branch, and PANI went to talk to the kids, most of the kids confirm what was reported.

Besides, the facility that the program had at a different location was similar to those reported on http://www.caica.org web page. At this site they had no psychologist, no nurse no doctor the only staff there was guards watching the door of just plain dark rooms without ventilation, without water, without bathrooms, and the objective of having the kids in those conditions was merely for them to sit and think, while they write essays and if refuse to do so they was deprived of food, water or any of their basic needs.

Costa Rica is a great country to invest, but you can't just rent a Hotel, hire people and call it a Center, you need permits, for whatever activity you are planning to operate you need permits, Teen Mentor didn't request none of the required permits and thought they could fly bellow the radar.
If your kid was at Teen Mentor because of drug issues, they needed a permit that they failed to request to the proper authorities.
If your kid was at Teen Mentor because of school, they needed a permit that they failed to request to the proper authorities.
If your kid was at Teen Mentor and he/she took medication they needed a Nurse or/and Doctor and Teen Mentor didn't have any on their payroll and having an ambulance service is not the same of having a nurse or/and doctor on site. And so on.

The similarity and coincidences with WWASP are just too carbon copy to not think they are not part of it, but then again, that is behind the point.

These are the things that their lawyer should have advise them about.

So my fellow Americans yes you can visit Costa Rica, yes you can Invest in Costa Rica, yes you can continue to send your kids to programs that are based in Costa Rica, next time just make sure you request a copy of the permits, it is your right to do so, and we are obligated to produce them for you.[/list]
Alan Jeffs · Thursday April 07 2011
Patrick,

I guess you were there when all of this went down? Or by reading your post sound like a business lawyer in Costa Rica or a brilliant investor.

Just so you know Costa Rica is not a great place to do investments they barley rank in the top 10 in Central America which is not saying much at all http://www.heritage.org/index/Country/costarica

When you rank 125 out of 180 of Ease of Doing Business I don't think that supports your statement
http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings

When Tourism is your number 1 industry that is not saying much.

Where is Mr. Ricardo's and the other Therapist Written Complaints prior to the facility being shutdown? The therapist did not act in the best interest of the students or families instead of focusing on the children safety and security they focused on there own person vendetta and feelings.

Don't know if you are one of Sue Scheff's puppets but you are referencing a so called Child Advocate Group ran and started by Sue Scheff http://www.sueschefftruth.com/

All real child advocates and ex-disgruntled students have little regard for Sue Scheff and her trying to play both sides.

I guess anything you say we should really consider the source or who's saying it.

Patrick please post your resume I am sure a lot of companies will want to work with you and your excellent insight[/list]
eddie u · Thursday April 14 2011
WELL FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING THIS IS ALL A BIG LIE . I STARTED WORKING AT THIS FACILITY 1 AND 1/2 MONTHES BEFORE IT CLOSED . WHEN I FIRST STARTED I WAS INPRESS IN HOW MUCH MR ROBERT AND OTHER MEMBERS REALLY WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE IN THE LIVES OF THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT DIDNT KNOW HOW TO MANAGE LIVES AT HOME . FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERCE . I AS A FATHER OF FOUR UNDERSTOOD THE INPORTANCE OF THE FUTURE OF OWER CHILDREN .THATS THE MENTALLITY I CAME INTO THIS JOB . AS I STARTED WORKING THAT DAY AND MANY OTHER DAYS AFTER I WAS INORMED BY MISTER RICARDO THE THAT HE WAS IN CHARGE OF ALL THE OPERATION OF THIS PLACE . IN THE TRAINING IN OF STAFF IN THE MANGEMENT AND OPERATION . IN THE BUYING AND SETTING UP OF THE FOOD AND NURICHMENT OF THE STUDANTS IN WHITCH I ALSO ATE .IT WAS TIPICAL COSTA RICAN FOOD VERY HEALTHY . SOME TIMES WE ALSO HAD HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS . ANY WAY AS I WORKED AND A FEW DAYS PAST BYE I DIDNT SEE ANY REAL ATTENTION IN THE STUDANTS TO PROGRESS SO I TOOK UPON MYSELF TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE . WELL ALOWING FOR ME TO MAKE CHANGES OF THE SYSTEM THAT MR RICHARDO HAD IMPLIMENTED . WELL DOING THESE CHANGES I FOUND OUT THAT MR RICHARDO DIDNT LIKE THE CHANGES HE BECAME R RATED . TO A POINT THAT HE WANTED ME FIRED .ALL THIS IS TRUE ANYWAY . ABOUT ALL THE ALIGATIONS I JUST ITS ALL A BUNCH OF LIES .I KNOW I WAS MAKING A DIFFERANCE IN THESE YOUNG BMEN AND WOMEN . I KNOW THEY DID APRICIATE ALL THE GOOD THING I DID FOR THEM . I CAN WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF - I KNOW THE TRUE AS WELL AS EVERYBODY DOES ESPECIALY GOD . I KNOW THAT THE PANI DOSENT KNOW ANYTHING IF THEY DID THEY WOULDNT HAVE DONE WHAT THEY DID AND HOW THEY DID IT .MR RICHARDO WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH GOD ONE DAY FOR WHAT HE DID . P.S. NOBODY EVER CONTACTED ME AND MY NUMBER IS STILL THE SAME

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