Breaking News Story on Teen Advocates USA

[k_arnold1974]

The meeting went fairly well, it is always hard to tell because the group home reps never say anything, they just listen and wait till later to talk to the committee members. Sen. Tom Hatch is welcoming all comments on the Draft Legislation they are going to present, It was not ready to present today, with both sides wanting adjustments made. It is headed in a positive direction at least. Several people spoke but comments were limited in the interest of time. Tom Hatch, Perry Arnett, Ken Stettler, Paul Bittman, Brian Steed, Robin Arnold-Williams and a couple others voiced opinions on the Draft.
I saw 2 problems in the Draft, one is that it does not ask for more inspectors for the office of licensing, so companies who already don't follow the law won't care if there is more law to not follow since they are rarely caught. Second, there is nothing to stop the companies once they have lost their license from doing what Max. Life Skills did and that is to fire the manager and change the name and claim they are a new company wanting to be licensed, and had nothing to do with the prior company. Even though the Board of directors and owners are the same people. They will still be able to get shut down for violations and be able to re-open under a new but similar name as soon as they want. Let me know if you are interested in putting imput for the Draft, they were talking about meeting  right quick to get it all hammered out so they can present it at the next meeting, I don't know when that will be.
Cedar city will try to set up an open public meeting to update those who want info, I will post when and where when I find out. Our city wants to find out alll the other cities out there who are concerned with similar situations. Any info would be great.

[cherish wisdom]

Were there any comments from the public? Sounds like it was dominated by the officials without input from the people most affected.  
Sounds like the same old same old.
They are just trying to appease the people by acting like they are doing something. Apparently they have come up with something very minor that has no teeth whatsoever. I've seen this all before and know exactly what they are doing. This is just a show - a demonstration for those who are complaining. Absolutely nothing will change. Ken Stettler is part of the problem. He has supported the programs instead of the children for years now. The people of Utah live in a cloud - few realize what's going on behind the closed doors of the 200 teen residential programs in the state.
Authorities routinely ignore complaints of abuse and maltreatment by staff, families and patients.  This is an outrage that must not be tolerated by the people in Utah.  There are so many political bribes and under-the-table negotiations taking place in Utah.  It is truly abominable..... and must not be tolerated.  

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
http://laissezfairebooks.com/product.cfm?op=view&pid=FF7485&aid=10247' target='_new'> Thomas Jefferson, 1787

[ This Message was edited by: cherish wisdom on 2004-11-10 22:16 ]

[Anonymous]

There were a few people that commented during the meeting. One being Mr. Green who is a Cedar city council men, Mr. Arnett had a few things to say about the different deaths that have happened within group homes. With one being his son and others being children that had been placed in the different programs. There was some people from the state, and also the city and county attorneys from Cedar city that spoke. I am hopeful that maybe something good will come out of this. We have been fighting this fight for 3 years now so I can only look at this as a positive from where we started and hope for the best.

[cherish wisdom]

Can the public put initiatives on the ballot in Utah?  It seems that the Utah legislature is in the pocket of this teen industry.  Recently they killed legislation that would have made the industry a little safer for children. Does anyone have the minutes of this meeting.

I know from past experience that authoriites will often have these types of meetings to quell public concern and pacify the public. Rarely is anything done to correct the situation though.  It's mainly to pacify the angry public and give lip service.  Sadly this may be the case.  

Truth be told - these programs are an economic assest to Utah.  Thousands of jobs have been created and Thousands of tourists come to Utah to see their privately incarcerated children. They stay in Hotels and go to restraunts and shop in Utah. The owners and administrators of these programs donate heavily to politicians who promise to do nothing to change the status quo.

Authorities get active and have public forums when someone dies as a result of Utah's lack of oversight and regulation.  Often there is a bandaid solution and lip service to the public and press - and nothing more is done.

I personally made complaints about a program - Provo Canyon School - to most of the agencies that are in place to protect children and patients from abuse. Little to nothing was done.  It's safet to say that this is routine.  Complaints come in and people are given nothing more than a carefully worded letter indicating that an investigation has been completed and nothing is wrong.  

Obviously in the case of Anson - more was done - because he died. Sadly - it takes a death for authorities to do something or acknowledge that there are problems in the teen industry.

I hate to say this - but  all the meeting in the world wont change anything. This has to be a political issue - it needs to be in the forefront of thought.  It is not.  Politicians probably say nothing about it.  

The Lichfields are owners and administators of teen programs and escort services in Utah.

Please go to http://www.opensecrets.com
Under individual donors type in the name Lichfield of Utah.  

You will see that Robert Lichfield and all of his family (probably his dogs as well) donated heavily to politicians who will defend the deceptive and dangerous Utah teen industry.

More must be done and it's really up to the people of Utah - who,unfortunately, are not informed.

Our Bible reveals to us the character of our god with minute and remorseless exactness... It is perhaps the most damnatory biography that exists in print anywhere. It makes Nero an angel of light and leading by contrast.
--Samuel Clemens "Mark Twain", American author and humorist

[Anonymous]

I've known JS for a long time.  He is a great kid at heart and in no way have I seen this so called "troubled" side of him.  I do not like that he has been put under this title without any previous knowledge of who he really is.

[Anonymous]

Kids are just pushed to the limit at these Utah youth programs. There have been numerous reports of abuse ranging from beatings to starvation. The authorities turn a blind eye to reports of abuse and only pop into action when something terrible happens - like this death of Anson.  
Your friend JS probably was a great kid - but stress has a way of building up until it breaks someone. These youth programs do more harm than good to most youth.  Most programs use punitive behavior modification measures.  This program was no different.  The boys who did this awful thing were both happy that they were going to go home soon.  The administrator, not wanting to loose an additional $10,000 per month, told parents they were not ready to go because they had allegedly cheated on a test.  This seems to have been the catalyst that drove them to this irrational and horrific action.  From what I've read it doesn't appear they intended to kill him - they just wanted to knock him out so they could escape.  Obviously they had never done anything like that before.  They were just pushed to the limit of their coping abilities and were not thinking clearly.  Also most facilities prevent frequent parent/child communication. The kids also have little to no contact with the outside world.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if the boys were taking psychotropic drugs, particularly the one who actually hit Anson? The latest data indicates that these drugs can can cause suicidal/homicidal thoughts in teens, particularly SSRIs, hence the new 'black box' warning.

[Anonymous]

No one knows that except the family - it's confidential.  Most programs put kids on several different drugs - anti-depressants and Serroquel is another favorite.

[Anonymous]

careful -

neither the "intent" of the perpetrators, nor the exact number of blows struck, nor the identities, nor the number of hitters have been revealed yet;

it IS known that SG was a "known violent criminal offendor" from another state; he's admitted that

if JS was such an angel, why did he participate?

Obviously, they HAD "done something like that before"...

[Anonymous]

I read that there were two blows - I guess that was from witness testimony of another boy.  Intent - that's something to determine at trial. If the one boy was such a serious criminal he would have been in juvenile hall in his home state - don't ya think?

It was wrong for the boys to strike Anson and kill him as a result. But it's also wrong to privately incarcerate youth in these programs against their will.  It's wrong for the facilities to blantantly disobey rules and regulations to.  It wrong for the authorities to look the other way when complaints come in.  

I don't think all the blame can be placed on two troubled and stressed out boys.  The State of Utah and the corrupt politicians who care more about political donations for owners of these programs are also to blame.  Like Marty Stevens who accepted a $30,000 political bribe from the Lichfied clan after he purposefully let legislation die before it could be voted on.

The government of Utah is corrupt and the attitudes of the people breed this type of horror. Utahans care less about the "hoods in the woods." They'd care less if these kids were lined up and shot to death.  That's what I think.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you should lump all of us "Utahan's" together, Because there are people in Utah who do care about what is going on. That is why we have been trying so hard to change things here. Now if it works or not that is another story. But there are people who do care.
It is also very sickening when you look at the donations that have been made to the Utah politicians. When you think of that how can we ever win.

[nite owl]

Do you care about the children, staff or both?  If the people of Utah cared so much they would be more vocal about it.  There are hundreds of these programs and they are in almost every town in the state.  Do you know what is going on behind those closed doors?  Do you care?  
Children who have mental illness - children who have been traumatized may be suffering more.
Most of these Utah programs are purposefully unregulated because they provide jobs and other economic benefits to Utah.   This is why the authorities look the other way when reports of abuse surface.  The entire state is corrupt when it comes to these youth programs and they will continue to be an embarrassment to Utah as long as the people do nothing and say nothing.  

UTAH - HOME OF INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD ABUSE.

If the people of Utah truly cared they would do more about it. Truth be told - there are too few who give a damn....

Forgive, O Lord, my little joke on Thee and I'll  forgive Thy great big one on me.
--Robert Frost, American poet

[hurleygurley]

Seriously, who is willing to listen in the Utah government? I have been around and around and find  unresponsiveness and dishonesty to be the standard. I KNOW there must be people who care but I don't know how to find them? Any help? I'll fly up there again to talk to anyone in government who will listen.

[Anonymous]

I think before you say that Utahns don't care or need to speak up more you need to realize that most people don't know about these places, have never heard of the murders and mistreatments, and don't realixze what is really going on. People get busy, they don't pick up a paper or turn on the news. Everyone has different priorities. And quite frankly they don't see how this affects them even though it does. Most of these places hire college kids, and bring in kids from different states. They don't directly invovle the residents, unless you work for them. I probably wouldn't be as involved as i am if i didn't live right next to one of these places. It's sad but true. Some people crusade for other causes and you really have to pick your battles, What are you as an individual willing to fight for. We have so many active worthy causes in Cedar and I know so many outstanding people who donate time and effort to many things and noone can do everything at once. So please don't think those of us who are fighting don't care or aren't trying to make a difference. This new bill may or may not help, but it is something more than we had before. You can only blame the state and these companies for so long, it's sad but these kids are here for a reason, should they be treated this way? no, but it is my job as a parent to protect my children, if you aren't aloud to visit or speak with your children in these places you have to think something is going on. Visit the homes before you place your children, know what you and they are getting into, there are some good programs, very few.There is no easy solution, if you really think Ken Stettler is part of the problem talk with his boss Robin Arnold, Her job is a govoner appointed position and we have just voted in a new govoner, Contact him if you get no where, maybe it can be part of a solution to get the people out of place who are so chummy with these companies.For now we will keep doing what we can. Our city council put a moritorium in place to stop issuing business licenses to any group homes until the end of the leg. session so at least no new ones will be able to open until late march.

[cherish wisdom]

Well - that's good for Cedar City - your backyard. I guess your right - most people don't take a stand before the problem becomes their problem.  It's either in their backyard - or it effects them or their family members.  
I dont' know if it will work or not - but has anyone thought of forming some organization there in Utah?  
I wrote to the governor of Utah - no responce whatsoever. In fact I've sent letters to nearly every legislature in Utah - only one replied - asking if anyone else had made a comment. He was obvioulsy just fishing for information.

When people don't care what's happening in their state - then there is a huge problem. Such ignorance breeds this indifference to human suffering and torture in the State of Utah. I know of people who don't read the paper or listen to the news. They may be intelligent - yet they are so ignorant.  I talked to a friend in Utah recently who didn't even know who was elected as governor of the State she lives in - obviously didn't really care. This is a sign of ignorance.  
When the people of Utah or anyother state become so disengaged they really loose their ability to control the government.
Remember - this is a government by the people and for the people.  If you do nothing and say nothing you loose your power.  
You can do much to inform the others - your neighbors - your community.  There may be some people who will not like you as a result - but you will gain their respect.  I urge you to form a committee and start a letter writing campaign.  Hand out flyers to the public.  Let people know what's going on.  Sometimes you need to make a louder noice to be heard.  Change takes time and patience.  

He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave.
--Author: Sir William Drummond