Author Topic: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?  (Read 12226 times)

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Offline E.M.B

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Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« on: July 03, 2011, 12:55:23 AM »
For two programs, Turnabout Ranch and New Haven RTC, I found open Facebook groups and numerous amounts of the kids who had been there wrote how good they were doing and that they miss the program. I really need my fourteen year old daughter to get help, she is refusing medications for bipolar l, binge drinking, she won't go to therapy, and she is in and out of inpatient with no change. I would get her to go without an escort service but do you think I will be able to get her into a program without abuse? The facebook groups were really reassuring after I read about abuse at facilities like this and I have not read anything bad about New Haven. Input please?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Fred Thompson

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Turn-About Ranch. Real Values. Real Change.!
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2011, 01:03:27 AM »
Turn-About Ranch - Residential Treatment for Teens on a Working Ranch
Real Ranch. Real Values. Real Change.

Few images capture the imagination more strongly than that of the American Cowboy - this powerful icon of the American West captivates and inspires teens who have become jaded and hostile toward authority. The Ranch setting takes defiant teens out of their comfort zone and reminds them that success is achieved through teamwork and cooperation, not through entitlement and manipulation. They learn that while they might feel entitled to get what they want, when they want it, in the real world rewards come through dedication and hard work.

Turn-About Ranch differs from typical residential treatment centers for troubled teens because it values action – not just talk
. During their time at the Ranch, students don’t only go to school and participate in therapy; they also take an active role in the daily running of a working ranch. They feed the chickens at dawn and bring in the cows before dusk – real-life experiences that enhance the therapeutic process by putting behavioral changes in action, which is much more effective than just talking about doing things differently.

At Turn-About Ranch, once-troubled teens discover the great rewards of working within a family, developing trust toward one another, and earning respect. Real change happens on this historic horse and cow ranch as young people learn the value of a day’s work, experience the power of working in cooperation with others, and develop stronger senses of accountability, respect, and compassion.

We talk a lot about values at Turn-About Ranch. Real values are something teens often forget or ignore as they get caught up in popularity contests, the desire to get the latest gadgets, and the hunger to appear "cool” in the eyes of their peers.

We are a Christian-based residential treatment program. We teach traditional ethics and morals and remind troubled teens how important the values of honesty, respect, teamwork, and accountability are to their success.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2011, 01:18:00 AM by Fred Thompson »

Offline Fred Thompson

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Turn-About Ranch. Real Values. Real Change.!
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2011, 01:07:03 AM »
If your teen is rebellious, self-centered, and hostile toward authority – or refuses to follow the rules, work hard, and achieve in school – Turn-About Ranch can provide a powerful and highly effective adolescent residential treatment program that will turn your child’s life around.

Through consistent correction of negative behaviors and encouragement of positive behaviors in this down to earth ranch environment, the seedling of a new, "turned about" life emerges.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2011, 01:18:21 AM by Fred Thompson »

Offline Fred Thompson

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Turn-About Ranch. Real Values. Real Change.!
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2011, 01:08:45 AM »
Featured on Dr. Phil: Troubled Teens, An Intervention

They smoke, drink, speed, pop pills, disappear all night and disrespect their parents all day -- They are teens gone wild, and Dr. Phil has a huge wake-up call for them and their parents! Parents, if you're in a power struggle with your teen, don't miss this show!

http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1468
« Last Edit: July 03, 2011, 01:18:59 AM by Fred Thompson »

Offline Fred Thompson

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Turn-About Ranch Success Stories
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2011, 01:10:46 AM »
Success Stories

"You've no doubt heard all this before, but probably never tire of hearing it again: Turn-About Ranch gave me my child back. His goal each day is not remotely related to marijuana or other drugs and alcohol. Where he admittedly planned each day around how he was going to get high, he now leaves for work at seven in the morning and spends the day helping build houses for our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He is working all day with adult men who are committed Christians and fabulous role models. Before Turn-About he wouldn't have volunteered one day to help build a house for some family he didn't know. He wouldn't have even gone with me to deliver lunches to the building site! Now he has his own leather carpenter's belt with his own hammer and measuring tape!

"He misses Black Jack(his horse at Turn-About Ranch)....and I know he misses the staff because he has actually written about six letters in the past three weeks. Until Turn-About he hadn't written six letters voluntarily in his entire life."

"You are saving lives....not just lives of the children, but the lives of their moms and dads and brothers and sisters. Our son is blessed to have had the wisdom, counsel, guidance, and friendship of the staff at Turn-About.

S FG - Pikeville, Kentucky

"Yesterday was the 7th anniversary of our son's graduation from Turn-About Ranch. There have been many success stories and failures during this period. But we think that he is still using information and tools that he was given at Turn-About Ranch to wrestle with this experience we call Life! He is a terrific person and his experience at Turn-About Ranch allowed him to see that person more clearly.

"Some of us may see Turn-About Ranch as the solution to the problems that have brought us to seek guidance here. Now seven years later, it's obvious that Turn-About Ranch is only the beginning. Your staff loves and teaches each one of these precious people while they are with you and then sends them out into the cruel world again. We all hold our breath while we wait to see if the tools you've given them were enough to get them through the rough spots. In the end, as parents, we have to let go of them and wish them well, always being supportive with love and understanding. The reward is a call, telling about a success, or a smile when there's happiness inside.

"Turn-About Ranch has touched our family with love and compassion. We think of you often and thank you for giving our son back to us. We will always support him in his life journey."

JC & KC, Olympia, Washington

"I remember how I thought I was never coming home, but I did. It reminds me that you only see what you've done when you're done, not while you're in the middle. I learned so much at Turn-About. I grew mentally, physically, and emotionally while I was there. I found myself. I found love, hope and a new beginning to life. There are times when I wish I could have stayed there. You've shown me a new road to follow. I can never thank you wonderful people at Turn-About for saving my life. I thank my parents for loving me enough to reach out and send me, you guys for showing me life and change, and myself for moving forward and putting my past behind me. It took much effort to be where I am now. I am so proud of myself. You guys will always be in my heart and soul. To think that I was just another dying teenager that you, my parents, and God brought back to life, makes tears stream down my face. Joyful tears, because you took the time to focus on me and help me become who I am today. An honest, respectable, loving, kind, smart, efficient young woman. I'm crying right now out of happiness and love to all of you at Turn-About Ranch. I miss and love you guys so much. Keep doing what you do best....love kids."

KB - Carmichael, California

"Two and a half years ago we were so afraid for our daughter until we found Turn-About Ranch. We sent her there with the hopes of getting our daughter back. We got more than we bargained for! She is doing wonderful. She goes to school in the morning and works in the afternoon. Ed and I don't have a curfew for her...she doesn't need one. She is the most responsible, fun-loving, caring individual you could ever want to know. She plans to go to college in the fall and she is on the Honor Roll at school. She is self-assured and knows who she is and what she wants. Her faith is important to her and the only thing that seems to matter is her family.

"She has good friends who are honest and caring. They care about Courtney and she cares about them. I remember the first year back at school when she came back from the Ranch was the hardest. Many times I would hold her at night while she cried and told me how lonely she was. She had no friends. I assured her she had me and she would find good friends...she did! Most of her friends are out of high school. She grew up quick, but has made some very good choices. She will forever remember Turn-About and the people who came to have such an impact in her life; and we will always remember and be grateful. I look at Courtney now and can hardly believe she was ever the person she was when we sent her to the Ranch. I'll find some pictures and send them.

"I just wanted to tell you how well she is doing. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts."

ES&SS - North Pole, Arkansas
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Oscar

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2011, 03:22:18 AM »
Some years back a survivor of Turnabout Ranch wrote his story. It has been syndicated to the blog Tales from the black school.

Some survivors praise the program. If you scan the net of the boot camp in Mexico where children were tied in dog cages all day you will find survivors who praise that program too. But the fact is that the children at Turn-about ranch is placed in Stone circles by day and given defunct sleeping bags at night making them freezing until they give some kind of confession, the therapist can show you as a parent as a prize showing that the program works. If the police were allowed to do the same, they could solve all crimes with random people they would pick up on the streets. It would result in a massive amount of people being convicted for something they didn't do.

I believe that all kind of inpatient treatment produce such confessions which are basically lies made so the participants in the program can survive and get out.

Second I believe that the doctors are too fast to judge too many as bipolar. It cannot be right that such a huge percentage of the population is bipolar. You don't that number in any other country. It must be marketing from the medical industry. As for the binge drinking, she is properly only doing it because it is illegal and forbidden. It is a rather natural thing for teenagers to do. Being in the same situation I would offer her to study at a boarding school in a culture where she can get her diploma and avoid being arrested for something which is legal in other places. Here in Denmark teenagers can buy their own alcohol once they are 16. We don't see binge drinking because we basically have greedy teenagers who want to earn money so they can finance their fun, so they balance alcohol, parties, studies and work. There is something which is called International Baccalaureate. Try researching that.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline E.M.B

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2011, 04:44:50 PM »
I see what you are saying but I don't agree with you. My daughter IS bipolar, she went through over 7 doctors who agreed with the diagnosis. If she isn't bipolar than she has another issue, hallucinating when manic IS an issue. Also she cannot be having treatment at home or in a place where she is not somewhat watched, she is bulimic and is refusing to stop she also has a past with cutting/burning and I think she has gone back to that. I don't think stone circles are that bad, if you go to their Facebook page many of the kids pointed out that was what they didn't exactly like it but it made them think a lot about what has been their life and where it is headed.
I agree that bipolar is severely over diagnosed but I think that is bipolar ll because I notice kids and adults who are just simply depressed being diagnosed, but with bipolar l there is a lot more to see is evidence with Manic states and such. Please keep in mind I am also discussing New Haven and would like input there. Thanks.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Oscar

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2011, 01:39:00 AM »
There is not a lot of information out there on New Haven. They have a "No Contact" policy among the graduates and if they call to ask about other classmates, the staff would lie and tell that they are dead. Well, Facebook very much destroyed that strategy. From the thread Updates for alumni?

Quote
Anne Stein

I strongly believe New Haven has a responsibility to its alumni. Additionally, as alumni we have a right to not be put through an emotional blender from a "no contact after discharge" policy which is obviously long past enforcement. (Side note: The emotional blender refers to being told that many of the girls from 2001 had died.. when, in fact, they hadn't.. although the jury is still out on a few who we all have yet to hear from/can't find because we couldn't get their information before leaving)

I'm not sure how many of you girls still check this group or how many actually care, but I'm proposing that New Haven offer some sort of update for alumni.

I've just sent Dustin the following email in hopes of putting something together:

Hi Dustin,

I'm not sure if you remember me, but I spent about 5 months at New Haven's West House from August 2001 to January 2002. I realize the institution's policy on "no contact after discharge" is running into some snags with the popularity of social networking and I'd like to voice a concern.

Bryanne is claiming she called to say hello to Katie and Joe about a year after she left and was told by another staff member, Aubrey, that Nancy Snyder had committed suicide.

This is pretty disturbing for several reasons, the least of which is the fact that Nancy is alive and, apparently, well with a husband and a new daughter.

I was told several years ago that Ritu had overdosed and I'd like to know 1) if Ritu's story is true 2) how these rumors are started and 3) how they can be contained.

Perhaps it would be in everyone's best interest for New Haven to post an update on their patients. Even something as simple as a list of names with "alive; doing well to our knowledge". Many of us would like to be able to contact old friends with whom we shared a unique experience, but whose personal details we were prevented from collecting. After so many years, I don't remember several of the girl's last names; searching for them is nearly impossible and relying on the testimony of other girls is clearly not the best idea.

Thank you,
Anne Stein

The girls seem to like the restricted environment once they have adjusted to it, but they all complain about how tough life is on the outside and it is the policy of the facility that they cannot use each other to do that.

We are at the core of the problem with any residential program. Aftercare! People need time to adjust to real life. As a parent you need help or you need to adjust your home to the person who emerge from the program. You can find the best program in the world, but it would be warehousing and not a cure unless the staff is there to guide both her and you when she comes home. By then programs like New Haven lost interest in both you and your daughter.

If you look at some of the other threads you will find that the girls are really disturbed by the fact that the close relation they had with the staff are gone. Not even 5 minutes the staff will give the girls on the phone. Some of the girls state that they are starting to wondering if the relationship was fake and just something the staff did to earn their money. If the girls start to doubt the basis of the program that the staff acted in the interest of them would it not result in the girls starting to doubt any benificial therapy too?

I would put my money on a more clinical approach to stablize your daughter and then set up some support in the home and the school. Can the local social services not be helpful in that regard?

As for the cutting, it looks awful and it leaves awful scars but every 10 girl cuts themselves at some point as an alternative to outpatient therapy which is not working. Find another therapist or speak with her about sharing this too with her therapist if she is basically OK with this person.
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Offline E.M.B

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2011, 02:31:19 AM »
Well this is odd.. The Facebook group has a lot of staff in the group who talk to the kids on there? I heard it has changed a lot in the past years? Maybe they improved it. Also they have Alumni weekend!
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Offline Pile of Dead Kids

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2011, 02:33:27 PM »
I don't know who's trolling who anymore, but in the off-chance that this is, in fact, a real parent, I recommend that you read the rest of Fornits and find a lot of poorly-veiled staff members talking about help and growth and positive change.. and a whole lot of very real victims talking about recurring nightmares, isolation, and crazy shit. The ones who can still talk, anyway. For the ones that can't, see my sig.

You don't want to get involved in this.

"But those weren't New Haven"... what, exactly, makes you think New Haven is any different? Wishful thinking?

And remember, a lot of these Facebook groups are *run* by staff members. They're not about to let reality get a foothold in there.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
...Sergey Blashchishen, James Shirey, Faith Finley, Katherine Rice, Ashlie Bunch, Brendan Blum, Caleb Jensen, Alex Cullinane, Rocco Magliozzi, Elisa Santry, Dillon Peak, Natalynndria Slim, Lenny Ortega, Angellika Arndt, Joey Aletriz, Martin Anderson, James White, Christening Garcia, Kasey Warner, Shirley Arciszewski, Linda Harris, Travis Parker, Omega Leach, Denis Maltez, Kevin Christie, Karlye Newman, Richard DeMaar, Alexis Richie, Shanice Nibbs, Levi Snyder, Natasha Newman, Gracie James, Michael Owens, Carlton Thomas, Taylor Mangham, Carnez Boone, Benjamin Lolley, Jessica Bradford's unnamed baby, Anthony Parker, Dysheka Streeter, Corey Foster, Joseph Winters, Bruce Staeger, Kenneth Barkley, Khalil Todd, Alec Lansing, Cristian Cuellar-Gonzales, Janaia Barnhart, a DRA victim who never even showed up in the news, and yet another unnamed girl at Summit School...

Offline E.M.B

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2011, 11:29:47 PM »
I understand but why is everybody on this site completely against the idea of a good and helpful residential treatment facility? I mean yes there are A LOT of bad places and traumatizing to say the least, but what if there is a place out there that can help? Is anybody open to the idea..? I am not a troll I am just a parent at a loss for what to do.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Ursus

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #11 on: July 05, 2011, 12:30:32 AM »
Quote from: "E.M.B"
Well this is odd.. The Facebook group has a lot of staff in the group who talk to the kids on there? I heard it has changed a lot in the past years? Maybe they improved it. Also they have Alumni weekend!
Mmm. New Haven must be catching on to the fact that ... refresher koolaid doses do pay off in the long run. The damage control, as far as public relations go, make such efforts and expense worth every cent!  :D

Please. Check out any therapeutic or "emotional growth" boarding school mentioned on this forum. Many, if not most, perhaps even *ALL*, have "alumni weekends" or similar such venues, if not even more involved and coercive methods and means of extending the program "experience." Carrot and stick, more carrot after you "graduate."  For some of these programs, it's a means of increasingly the likelihood of the next generation's enrollment.

One thing that *I* find more than a bit unnerving is how New Haven RTC managed to get so many alumni involved in naysaying HR 5876, Rep. George Miller's bill to federally regulate private residential schools and programs. Two discussion threads on the above linked FB group, New Haven RTC (in utah), PLEASE SUPPORT TREATMENT FACILITIES and Letters to Committee on Education & Labor, expressly exhort New Haven alumni to lend their personal voice to a NATSAP cause. OP from that first thread:

Quote from: "Kristin"
New Haven is shortly going to be sending you a letter asking for your help in creating balanced testimonies so that the Committee on Education & Labor can understand the need for and benefits provided by treatment facilities. For more information about this cause, please see this group:
http://utah.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8533307987
Because we are students, new to careers, to just because we're young adults, our addresses tend to change a lot. New Haven may not have your most up to date mailing or email address. Please let me or New Haven know your current address so that we can send you the information so that you can help this important cause. Information about how you can help and send letters can also be found in the group linked above.

Thanks so much!!
Kristin (Crick) Gourley

The above referenced FB group, In Support of Therapeutic Treatment Facilities, regardless of how you feel about the issue of HR 5876 or its descendant/renamed entity HR 911, is clearly an industry marketing and PR ploy, and promoting its agenda on a FB group ostensibly geared to serving the needs of an RTC alumni population is beyond the pale as far as therapeutic ethics is concerned.

Geeezzz. Just what does this say about the so-called professional "therapeutic ethics" of New Haven RTC?
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Offline E.M.B

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #12 on: July 05, 2011, 03:25:16 AM »
Okay, so what do you guys recommend doing for my daughter? I honestly think having her at home is just not safe for her or us anymore, it is getting out of hand because she won't take her medications! What other things could I do or place her in?
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Offline Pile of Dead Kids

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Re: Facebook groups show that kids are really great full?
« Reply #13 on: July 05, 2011, 06:06:05 AM »
Get her on this forum. I'll scare the living shit out of her in thirty minutes, tops.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
...Sergey Blashchishen, James Shirey, Faith Finley, Katherine Rice, Ashlie Bunch, Brendan Blum, Caleb Jensen, Alex Cullinane, Rocco Magliozzi, Elisa Santry, Dillon Peak, Natalynndria Slim, Lenny Ortega, Angellika Arndt, Joey Aletriz, Martin Anderson, James White, Christening Garcia, Kasey Warner, Shirley Arciszewski, Linda Harris, Travis Parker, Omega Leach, Denis Maltez, Kevin Christie, Karlye Newman, Richard DeMaar, Alexis Richie, Shanice Nibbs, Levi Snyder, Natasha Newman, Gracie James, Michael Owens, Carlton Thomas, Taylor Mangham, Carnez Boone, Benjamin Lolley, Jessica Bradford's unnamed baby, Anthony Parker, Dysheka Streeter, Corey Foster, Joseph Winters, Bruce Staeger, Kenneth Barkley, Khalil Todd, Alec Lansing, Cristian Cuellar-Gonzales, Janaia Barnhart, a DRA victim who never even showed up in the news, and yet another unnamed girl at Summit School...

Offline rules

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Place your daughter in a psychiatric hospital!
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2011, 07:08:58 AM »
Quote from: "E.M.B"
Okay, so what do you guys recommend doing for my daughter? I honestly think having her at home is just not safe for her or us anymore, it is getting out of hand because she won't take her medications! What other things could I do or place her in?

Your daughter needs to be in a psychiatric hospital where they give her medication.  She will die if you don't take immediate action.  Do you want her blood on your hands?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »