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hello richard, would you give me a reply contact email, as i think you might be able to shed some light on questions i have which could help me out.

Hi, Lazyh. I recommend contacting http://www.isaccorp.org/

RM

 

Ok I might not be in the right place, but your post caught my attention. I have a niece that has been recently put in a reform school in Missouri called ABM Ministries. After talking with her in person this week, what she told me was remarkably the same treatment that you are describing here. I feel uneasy about what she has told me therefore, I am trying to do a little background check on this place. I do not feel that the parents are seeing things clearly. I do not have any basis for this other than a uneasy spirit. Any help that you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Hey, Psy, thanks for your comments. Yes, I am fully aware of the other programs in existence. I hope I can be of service in helping expose them. I know Bill Earnshaw (was on front row with him) and we communicate often. I am happy to consider doing anything he asks, and have written quite a bit on the history of Straight in hopes that the comparisons can be clear. I believe he has been able to use them.

My only concern is that as a person who was on staff from 85 - 89, there are ALOT of people who have never had an opportunity to confront a staff member one on one about their time in Straight. Most of my energies are spent engaging in these one on one discussions, either answering their general questions about how the program worked, or, more importantly, helping people process what I did TO THEM as a staff member. This is pretty draining and I am way behind on reconnects as it is.

So if it feels like I'm non-responsive to aiding in shutting down KHK or PFC or anywhere else, I hope everyone understands that it's because I feel called to a very specific function; helping those heal who are the walking wounded. Does that make sense? I can always answer questions, write down what I know, etc..., but as far as really jumping on board, well, I have a mission, and I can't serve 2 masters. I am always willing to speak out and speak the truth, but I have never had the time to attend demonstrations and other events, mostly because it's pretty exhausting getting that call from the 13 year old kid who I admitted into the program and trying to help him heal, and taking whatever the hell he needs to unload on me. Hope that doesn't sound aloof. - Peace

 

@Rich.  There might still be something you can do to help.  Even though Straight (under that name) is closed, it's program methadology lives on in it's progeny, such as Pathway Family Center (see them motivate and more in that video).  A mother of a pathway family center kid has recently come forward asking for help.  Perhaps there is some way you can help with your first hand knowledge of how straight based programs are run... perhaps, as Antigen suggested, by speaking to the local authorities.  Read ISACcorp's press release here:

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=26483

Also, another video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyK3XlsWIEQ

You are in a unique position in that you were once in an executive position.  This gives you a world of credibility from the get-go as opposed to former "patients" who are seen by many (even often by family) to this day as "druggies", whether or not they even use substances at all.

Regardless of what you decide, thank you for coming forward and apologizing.  I'm sure your words mean far more than you might realize to many of the Straight survivors here.

Thanks Antigen, it was a long time coming. I think it's the first response to the petition, but my hope is that it won't be the last.
RM

That's about the most beautiful post I've ever seen. Thank you, Richard! :rose:

This post is in response to the Straight, Inc. Survivor's Letter Requesting Acknowledgement and an Apology.

My name is Richard Mullinax. From 1985 - 1989, I was a staff member at Straight Incorporated, a drug and alcohol treatment facility for adolescents. If my memory serves me correctly, the dates, locations and positions of my employment were as follows:

Fall 1985 - Group Staff Trainee, Springfield, VA
Fall 1985 - Spring 1986 - Junior Staff, Springfield, VA
Spring 1986 - Winter 1987 - Senior Staff, Springfield, VA
Winter 1987 - Spring 1987 - Executive Staff, Springfield, VA
Spring 1987 - Fall 1987 - Executive Staff, Cincinnati, OH
Fall 1987 - Spring 1988 - Executive Staff, Springfield, VA
Spring 1988 - Spring 1989 - Executive Staff, Atlanta, GA

There were brief periods between 1985 and 1989 that I was not employed by Straight, and I may have some of the months wrong above.

For 19 years, I gave very little thought to my actions as a staff member of Straight. Then, in the Spring and Summer of 2008, I began to interact with Straight Survivors and listened to their experiences. As the weeks and months progressed, I became increasingly aware of the damage I caused to Straight Survivors as a staff member. After much reflection on the events of the 1980's I have become very much aware that many Straight Survivors lost their integrity, innocence, sense of self worth, youth, ability to trust others, family relationships and more as a result of my actions as a staff member, and I deeply regret that I am responsible for this as a Staff Member.

I realize now that many Survivors still suffer from diagnosed psychological disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, severe depression, social phobias, panic disorders, etc. caused by imprisonment in Straight, Inc, and that many Survivors still endure vivid Straight, Inc. nightmares, can still hear the screams of children as they were abused, and cannot forget the abuse they personally endured or witnessed as vulnerable children. I am deeply ashamed of my role in this, including not putting a stop to it.

By publishing this this letter in a public forum, I publicly acknowledge that Straight, Inc. unjustly committed various crimes, abused children, and utilized extremely unethical practices against innocent young clients, which included, but were not limited to the following:

1)   Brainwashing (aka coercive thought reform);
2)   Physical abuse;
3)   Usage of illegal and or unethical restraints – children routinely restrained children at the direction of staff for minor infractions (i.e. not motivating, not paying attention, etc.);
4)   Unethical forms of extreme humiliation, including but not limited to; beltlooping, no privacy/watched while urinating, defecating, or bathing, motivating;
5)   Food deprivation (ie. peanut butter diets, inadequate portions of food);
6)   Sleep deprivation – caused by unwarranted, prolonged daily group hours (12), other time spent in the building (up to at least 3 additional pre and/or post group hours), lengthy commuting time, and in many cases, due to intentionally withholding sleep as punishment for not “cooperating” to coerce compliance;
7)   Verbal abuse – unduly harsh confrontational tactics that included swearing, screaming, yelling, spitting, belittling, humiliating, etc., a child in front of a large group of child clients;
8   Sexual abuse; (while I was not aware of this while on staff, in recent months I have become aware, through the testimony of other Straight survivors, that this did happen)
9)   Psychological abuse;
10)   Coerced confessions;
11)   Unjustifiable and lengthy isolation in intake and/or time out rooms;
12)   Denial of necessary medical care;
13)   Kidnapping;
14) False Imprisonment;
15)   Accepting clients with little/no drug history (the so-called “dry druggie” theory); (Specifically, I was personally responsible for conducting client intakes that resulted in children with little history of drug or alcohol use);
16)   Employing uneducated, unprofessional teenage staff. Specifically, I allowed myself to be employed by Straight as a counselor, knowing full well that I had no outside training and no education.

Additionally, I apologize for the allowing the abuse, unethical practices and crimes to continue for years, and lending my name to, sponsoring, recommending, and endorsing Straight Inc., and for admitting children, their siblings and parents to Straight Inc., and for failing to properly and adequately oversee and monitor Straight, Inc.

I regret my decision to go on staff and I regret my actions as a Straight staff member. I made the decision to go on staff and I made the decision to advance to Executive Staff. I am responsible for these actions and take full responsibility. As a former Straight client myself, I, of all people, should have known better.

I am aware of several former Straight clients who have taken their own lives. Many of these people I knew personally. I can't begin to understand the circumstances of each death, but I have no doubt that in some of these deaths Straight had a role in this. My heart aches for the victims of suicide and their loved ones. I wish I could bring them back.

I would like to turn the clock back to 1985 and make better decisions. However, I am unable to undo the damage I have caused. I am unable to make any financial restitution to former victims, as well. However, in recent months, I have had the honor and privilege of interacting with former Straight clients who were victims of my actions and the actions of other Straight staff. It is my hope that these interactions have been a step toward healing the wounds that have remained for 2 decades.

Along those lines, there is something I can do; I can make myself available to Straight Survivors. If you or someone you know feels it would be productive to communicate privately with me for any reason, please contact me at [email protected]

In closing, it is my sincere hope that survivors of Straight can find the healing and closure that they need and deserve. I look forward to being a part of that healing.

Sincerely,

Richard Mullinax
Straight Inc. Staff
1985 - 1989