The following is an excerpt of a letter from PENNY WALKER, KHK EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, to the Honorable Rob J. Portman, Representative in Congress on
4-30-2001,
"RE: Childrens Health Act of 2000 (H.R. 4365)
Dear Rob:
As a professional serving chemically dependent adolescents, I am concerned
that the unintended consequences of H.R. 4365 and the resulting HCFA Rule is
that treatment will be denied children most in need, many of whom will end up in
the justice system.
As you know, Kids Helping Kids (KHK) provides Level II treatment to
adolescents who are behaviorally out-of-control because of their drug use. This
legislation eliminates a significant tool in behavior management.
KHK has treated almost 1100 kids over the last twenty years, almost all
admitted against their will by their parents. The old idea that people must
want help before it is useful is false. The agency has been contracting for
independent outcome studies since 1987. Those studies consistently find
extraordinary outcomes from our graduates, many of whom at one time or another in the
course of their treatment had their behavior shaped by the use of time-out in a
locked room. This time-out is used when less restrictive interventions have
failed, and is under the watchful eye of a staff member over a surveillance
camera.
Joanie is an example of a KHK client. She was 14 years old when she entered
treatment. Shortly before admission, she had taken her parent's car in an
attempt to run away from home. She wrecked it in another state and was charged with
driving under the influence. Before this incident, she often had emotional
explosions, frequently sneaked out of her home, was sexually promiscuous and had
stolen money from her parents. Joanie began using drugs at the age of 11 and
by 14 was regularly using marijuana and alcohol. She had also used LSD, opium,
cocaine, crystal meth, ecstasy, prescriptions pills, and is one of the few
children in KHK who has injected heroin."
to be continued....
