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Messages - Miss Antsy Pam

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76
World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) / Re: Thank you
« on: December 22, 2008, 10:04:22 AM »
Quote from: "TB Mom"
My son is at TB right now.   After all the research after sending him there, he is coming home. Yes, I am to blame for not looking more into these programs before he left.  He will have a new beginning at home and I, as well, with parenting.   I thank all former students that have spoke out about this abuse.   If it wasnt for you, I would not be going this week to pick up my son.   After I have him home, the school does not know yet, I will post my experience as a parent and my son as a student.  There has to be something done about these schools.  

A Mom

GO MOM....from one parent to another.  I pulled my son from Casa by the Sea after 60 days...shortly after the raid on Dundee Ranch in Costa Rica. I wish there was something like these forums to help me back in 2003, but very little was know at that time.  You might want to visit the forums at antiwwasp.com...the have sub sections for each school.  There you can read things specific to TB.

When I pulled him, it was like a planned military extraction.  I NEVER alerted the school that I was coming, but the American Consulate in Tiajuana had copies of my passport, my itinerary, and a sworn statement about the school.  If the school even gets a "whiff" that you might pull your son, they will send him to another facility BEFORE you even get there. The letters between my son and me were laced with code words that would mean NOTHING to anyone other than the 2 of us.  Still...he did not know when I was to arrive.

A few tips...
make sure you tuition payment is up to date...I went the day BEFORE my next payment was due.  I heard outrageous stories about parents having to pay thousands of dollars to get the kid out.

BE CALM - this is really important!  When I walked into the office at about 8:30am on a Monday, they asked me what I wanted.  I told them that I was there to pick up my son.  Then they started calling other people into the office..big burly men!  They were telling me all the great progress my kid was making and that I was going to undermine ALL THEIR hard work..yada yada.  I held my temper as long as I could.  They asked me to wait until my son's family rep arrived for the day.  I said okay, but in the meantime....GO GET MY KID!!  I was screaming at them by now...it had already been over an hour.  I was scared but did not let it show.  Whatever they said to me...I just repeated GO GeT MY KID!!!  The family rep arrived and, of course, told me that I was a BAD parent for removing him from the facility and that he would then know that my son "OWNED ME"  They said he is just manipulating me.  I told them my decision to remove him did not require ME to explain ANYTHING to THEM.  GO GET MY KID!!!

Finally...after almost 2 hours 2 big guys escorted Dylan to the office - they told him he was being sent to TB!!!  Once he saw me standing there...silent tears rolled down his hollow cheeks..he had lost 25 lbs in 2 months.  I demanded his passport, then I grabbed him and the passport and we were out of there.  Please note:  I went to pick him up on a Monday...right after his first seminar (Discovery) over the weekend.  He was crying hysterically and said he didn't think he could leave...wanted me to take him back.  

Less than 1 mile away from the school, we were pulled over by a Jeep full of Mexican Federalies toting automatic weapons and pointing them at us.  I have never been so scared in my life!!  I thought we were dead for sure!  Apparently they were looking for drugs and they inspected my vehicle...all the while pointing guns at us.  After about 30 mins or so...they let us go.  I took off like a bat outta hell and headed for the border!  Dylan was still crying and so confused...he didn't know if he wanted to stay or go with me.  He said that he couldn't leave all the other kids in his family.

I could not even take him home right away.  He needed time to "decompress" so we went back to a hotel in San Diego for the night.  It was a harrowing experience to say the least.

Lastly....don't think they will remain grateful for their liberation.  Our time lasted only 2 weeks before he was doing the same crap.  He has continued to cause problems and was becoming verbally abusive to me again.  Despite all that, I stuck with him thru thick and thin..it has been a hard 5 years, but I NEVER EVER regret my decision to pull him.  Feel free to contact me if you need help planning an "extraction"  Email address is [email protected]...put WWASP in subject line

YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING...DO NOT QUESTION OR 2nd GUESS YOURSELF....you know it is the right thing to do.  Best of luck to you and I will hold you and your son in my  thoughts and prayers.  Godspeed to you!

~pam...another Mom :shamrock:

77
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: Interactive Questionnaire dealie
« on: December 04, 2008, 11:11:27 AM »
Does this work for ya Che & Kev???


Does Your Child Need Help?
Directions: Answer the following questions and click “analyze” when you are done. When you receive a score, refer to the corresponding recommendation. Or if you just want to talk to someone about your teen in person right now please call             1 (800) 429-5090
 Yes
 No
1. Is your child receiving poor or failing grades or excessive tardies or absences in school?
 Yes
 No
2. Has your child gotten into trouble at school or been suspended?
 Yes
 No
3. Has your child dropped out or been expelled from school?
 Yes
 No
4. Does your child display a lack of motivation with school or family duties?
 Yes
 No
5. Does your child lose his/her temper easily?
 Yes
 No
6. Does your child become defiant when he or she is asked to do something, told “no” or simply doesn’t get his or her way?
 Yes
 No
7. Does your child use abusive language towards you or other family members?
 Yes
 No
8. Is your child willing to compromise personal or family values to be accepted?
 Yes
 No
9. Does your child associate with troublemakers or friends who are making poor decisions?
 Yes
 No
10. Has your child withdrawn from family activities and involvement?
 Yes
 No
11. Does your child use crying, intimidation, threats, tantrums, guilt, or other forms manipulation to get his or her way?
 Yes
 No
12. Does your child have a history of lying?
 Yes
 No
13. Does your child frequently blame others and refuse to take responsibility for his or her actions?
 A
 B
 C
 D
 E
14. Which of the following statements best describes your child’s level of substance abuse? *
a.   To my knowledge my child has never used tobacco, drugs, or alcohol.
b.   My child has tried tobacco, drugs, or alcohol once or twice on an experimental basis only.
c.   My child is using marijuana and/or alcohol and/or abusing prescription drugs on a consistent basis.
d.   My child is using one or more serious drugs on a consistent basis.
e.   My child has a severe drug problem and is addicted to one or more serious drugs.
*Examples of serious drugs: crack, cocaine, methamphetamine, inhalants, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, etc.
 Yes
 No
15. Does your child maintain an image that is associated with a negative peer culture by their clothing, hairstyle, piercings, tattoos etc.
 Yes
 No
16. Does your child listen to music with violent, sadistic, degrading, or gangster-influenced lyrics?
 Yes
 No
17. Does your child disregard the consequences you attempt to enforce?
 Yes
 No
18. Does your child disregard the majority of your family rules?
 Yes
 No
19. Does your child sneak out at night?
 Yes
 No
20. Has your child ever run away from home for more than a few hours without telling you where they were going?
 Yes
 No
21. Has your child been in trouble with the law?
 Yes
 No
22. Does your child slam doors, throw objects, destroy property out of anger, or use intimidation to get his/her way?
 Yes
 No
23. Has your child become physically aggressive towards family members or peers?
 Yes
 No
24. Is your child sexually active?
 Yes
 No
25. Is your child frequenting internet chat rooms, accessing pornography or displaying a preoccupation with sex?
 Yes
 No
26. Does your child attract undue attention to him or herself by dressing provocatively or acting promiscuously?
 Yes
 No
27. Has your child threatened suicide or deliberately cut or otherwise injured him or herself?
 Yes
 No
28. Has your child attempted suicide?
 Yes
 No
29. Has your child ever been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder?
 Yes
 No
30. Has your child ever been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, depressive or mood disorder, anxiety disorder, or reactive attachment disorder?

78
World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) / Re: Darrington Academy's Thanksgiving Dinner
« on: December 04, 2008, 09:34:47 AM »
Quote from: "Guest"
:timeout:

That is just wrong on so many levels, where to begin.

These parents are paying how much to keep their kids there? Thousands per month? This is the best they can do?

When will they realize they are handing their money to a corporation that will spend as little as possible on the kids, so they can pocket the rest?

They hire the cheapest employees available. They buy the cheapest "food" available. They make the kids cook and clean the facility themselves and call it therapy. They pit the kids against each other in order to police themselves and hire less staff.

Are parents really this dumb? Are they really that cruel? Or do they not care? I'll never understand it. Plenty of the parents take a tour of the facility, and see the kids faces, and know what they are buying into. You are a parent who thought WWASP was a good idea? Welcome to the bottom 1% of humanity, you earned it.

Most parents are desperate to avoid the juvenile justice systems for their kids...so desperate that they are, most often, exploited further by the marketing machines these facilities use..they try to give you "hope" that your child will be well cared for and safe...this is a trap that you cannot see when you are in "full crisis mode"   I don't think I was dumb...just desperate.  My son was both physically & mentally abusive to me...I lived in fear of him.  That said...I still pulled him after 2 months.

The 5 years that have elapsed since then has been trying and difficult, but my son and I made a commitment to each other that "maintaining our good relationship" was the TOP priority for us.  Even if that meant that sometimes we could not live together in harmony.  Rather than destroy what we both worked so hard to achieve, we remove ourselves from the conflict first and we have zero tolerance for physical violence.  Please note:  my son has been  diagnosed with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) so that problem is always hovering overhead whenever we have a fight.

Today...life is good with us.  I even rent a room to him in my other apartment upstairs.  He pays rent and I treat him just like any other tenant.  The love we have for each other is the most amazing thing I have ever been privileged to have in my life.  He is my light and my hope....I am truly blessed!

79
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: Statement Contest: About a.p.all
« on: December 04, 2008, 08:55:09 AM »
Quote from: "Che Gookin"
No objects.. Adopt the god damn thing so we can make moar webbie sites NOW!


Looks like we have our mission...let's go out an slay dragons!!!

80
The Troubled Teen Industry / Re: My Forbidden Diary
« on: December 03, 2008, 06:18:55 AM »
Quote from: "psy"
I'm laughing my ass off here at the staff names.  Bravo!

I echo what Psy said...the staff names..everything!  I can't wait for the next installment

 :eek:

81
World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) / Re: Midwest changes directors?
« on: December 02, 2008, 09:21:10 AM »
Quote from: "Guest"
Quote from: "kev ([url=http://www.antiwwasp.com
http://www.antiwwasp.com[/url])"]i'm surprised at how many people told me to not be fooled... jesus christ.. how about something more helpful fornits... :D
You know they're now advertising under other names, right, such as "Teen Revitalization"  Link: http://www.troubledteenprograms.org/tro ... -programs/

Fornits wiki (also mirrored in Denmark) article here:

http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Category:WWASP[/quote

I just called the toll free number for Teen Revitalization...answering machine that sounded like someone's private home phone...odd.  I will call again latter in the day...see if I can actually talk to a "person"

82
World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) / Re: WWASP Downscaling
« on: December 02, 2008, 09:05:11 AM »
It is about damn time that all the facilities get closed.  Maybe that is the "upside" of the current recession.  If parents can't afford to send their kids to these places....enrollment drops..schools close...beautiful!  Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling just thinking about it...YES!!!

 ::puke::  to WWASP

83
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: Statement Contest: About a.p.all
« on: December 02, 2008, 08:52:52 AM »
Quote from: "psy"
Quote from: "Che Gookin"
BEAR! BEAR! BEAR! BEAR! BEAR!

Move to adopt BEAR's revision of Rg's original statement.
I'd have to agree.

I second the motion...thank you Rusty and Ursus.  I love the results of  your collaboration!!

~pam

84
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: Statement Contest: About a.p.all
« on: December 02, 2008, 08:25:09 AM »
Quote from: "psy"
Quote from: "Che Gookin"
BEAR! BEAR! BEAR! BEAR! BEAR!

Move to adopt BEAR's revision of Rg's original statement.
I'd have to agree.

I send the motion....thank you Rusty & Ursus!!!  I love it!!

~pam :notworthy:

85
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: Statement Contest: About a.p.all
« on: December 01, 2008, 07:31:52 PM »
Quote from: "psy"
Quote from: "Rusty Goat"
here's my doodad for the day... If'n you can use any of it, go right ahead... personally, I think the "about us" should be short and firm but sweet... we can have a separate page for "expert opinions" or something... oh, and a "youtube" page would be completely awesome. That venue has already demonstrated itself to be a great program bashing/hurting tactic.  RG

here goes:

Welcome to the AP Alliance website.


The AP Alliance consists of volunteers, parents, members of several national, international, professional advocacy groups and organizations. This group includes a large number of survivors of behavior modification facilities, boarding schools, and other “teen help” programs. They have combined efforts to share their expertise, experience and vast information resources in an easy to find location on the internet. The AP Alliance strives to offer visitors to this site a birds-eye view of the troubled teen industry including specific details, information and overwhelming evidence of a proven abusive and deadly track record in programs throughout the United States and abroad.

Throughout this site you will find out why this industry should be shut down and the people, agencies and businesses that contribute to, operate, and profit from it should be held fully accountable. This includes politicians, law enforcement, educational consultants, and doctors. The AP Alliance knows no boundaries with respect to states or countries.

Please take some time to research our site. Thank you for visiting.

The AP Alliance

I think i'm leaning towards this as my favorite as a mission statement.

I will echo what Psy said...this is my fav so far

86
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: So what is this all about
« on: November 30, 2008, 06:22:22 AM »
Quote from: "iamartsy"
So is it correct to say that this is more of an invite thing and the that some of us are excluded? I want to say clique but don't want to piss anyone off. You know where to find me.

Once the site goes "live" no one will be excluded unless you do something that goes against our Mission/Charter...like referring to a program.  Yes, certain people have been "invited" to participate as you say, but only in the creation phase of this new project.  Once A.P.ALL.org goes live, you will have access just as you do here on fornits and on antiwwasp.com.

Since we are still in the design phase...opening up feedback on the design of the portal/site would be counter productive at this point.  There is A LOT of negotiating going on behind the scenes and some individuals will retain absolute design control on their respective areas/sites.  This new site is a collaboration of many different organizations....to some it is a miracle that we have even made it this far in such a short time!

Please do not feel as though certain members are being excluded intentionally or as a personal affront.  We are breaking new ground here and don't want to "blow it" before we even get to the gate...so to speak!  

~pam

87
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: Statement Contest: About a.p.all
« on: November 29, 2008, 02:31:51 PM »
I think the list will be useful for other purposes, but I think we need to make our Mission Statement...simple and concise.  I don't want to loose a parent from reading the rest of the content because of the laundry list of things WE ALL oppose.

Let's keep it as simple as possible....we want to "hook them" right away so they will dive into the site for more info...just my 2 cents

~pam

88
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: So what is this all about
« on: November 29, 2008, 10:48:17 AM »
Hello Ursus....nice o meet everyone over here.    The new APALL.org site is amazing and Psy's designs for the individual school sites flow beautifully with Kev's design on the portal site...even though they worked independently...truly amazing, this synergy that is being created.  

~pam

89
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: So what is this all about
« on: November 28, 2008, 10:34:27 PM »
Quote from: "kev (antiWWASP.com)"
waiting on 5 responses before i let the APALL forums go live (only forum inside the portal design, everything else will remain unpublished til im ready)...

 if you want a preview folks, all i need to hear is 5 people to say i can use their writing and/or contributions... just 5 volunteers and we open the forum to the public (registration required)

You can use anything I have given you Kev...not that it has been much.

90
Troubled Teen Industry.com - Program Website Division / Re: So what is this all about
« on: November 28, 2008, 10:30:33 PM »
Thank you all for a very warm welcome here at fornits.  Everyone's cooperation and collaboration on this very important endeavor has been amazing.  We TRULY have what it takes to make the closure of these programs for real.  
Two weeks ago, no one would have thought putting this all together was possible.  Many were skeptical, some jaded, and strained relationships from events that happened in the past seemed as though a true alliance could not be formed...but look what happened.  People not only jumped on board, but graciously and selflessly donated their time and resources to seeing this alliance come to fruition...in less than a week!
Mind you...there we some really rough days this week, but the overall willingness of all these organization to "put their differences aside" and work together to produce a resources for desperate parents, medical professionals, and many others all in one place!  This site and portal will be an amazing resource and with the "kick ass tech team" we will have the highest SEO and blows these guys out of the water!

United we stand....divided, we accomplish nothing.  I have no doubt that the coming year will be exciting as all these websites that are linked through a UNITED  & UNIFIED ALLIANCE!

Oh...and just to piss off Che

1) project first
2) Alliance bullshit later

I see project 1 and 2 already happening as we speak.. ..what a beautiful Thanksgiving it has been...there is much to be thankful about...at least for me.

~pam :cheers:

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