Current Parents at HLA

[Anonymous]

Current Parents of Students at HLA:

Like most of us who put their kids at HLA, you were probably in a desperate situation where you felt you had to put your child somewhere for his or her own safety. It's a stressful time in which the only thing on your mind was saving your kid from self-destructing. HLA, by all appearances, seems to be the place that can do that in your time of desperation.Hopefully the dust has settle and you will start asking some tough questiions.

Ask your child's Peer Group counselors about their professional experience in dealing with teenagers - years of experience, where they've worked, etc, are they professionally licensed? On paper they look good, but reality is quite another thing. Your child is obviously there for therapeutic reasons otherwise you wouldn't be spending almost $6,000 per month on tuition.

Ask about your child's teachers - are they certified to teach in GA? What are they certified to teach? Ask to see a copy of their GA state certificates.

Ask HLA to see a copy of their report from SACS and SAIS.

Ask for a tour of HLA's science labs - your paying money for your child to be there, you have a right to see these things.

Ask HLA if they've ever had any lawsuits against them. Settled any lawsuits out of court?

Ask about the strip search policy. Did you know your child is strip searched each time they return to campus? Did you consent to this?

Ask about the qualifications and certifications of the individuals running the Addicitions and Substance Abuse counseling. Are those individuals qualified as Addicitions Counselors? Are they certified in the state of GA as licensed Addictions Counselors?

Ask about the counselors who are providing services to kids that engage in self-injurious behaviors such as cutting - what experience do they have to provide counseling? are they certified or have they specialized in this area? Are they licensed to provide this type of counseling?

Ask about the "interventions".

Ask about the Nightstaff - do they know CPR and other life-saving procedures? Ask to see proof.

Ask why HLA isn't licensed as a Therapeutic Boarding School by the state of GA. (They're not; they're a corporation whose purpose is "Education with Special Purpose".)

Ask HLA whether or not they are licensed through the Department of Human Resources and the Office of Regulatory Services. (They're not so they don't have to follow GA state laws to protect children.)

Ask HLA why they opposed being licensed by DHR and ORS. DHR and ORS ensures the safety of your child - why would any legitimate organization oppose being licensed? (Don't let them tell you they didn't.)

Ask the tough questions. It's your child and it's your money.

[Anonymous]

If a parent were to ask all of these questions they would likely be given some version of "you either need to trust us, or withdraw your child."

[Anonymous]

Or you'll be given very vague answers and they'll try to make you feel like an idiot for asking the tough questions.

Good old fashioned "manipulation" HLA style!

[Anonymous]

My personal experience is they don't like being questioned about anything. They try to shift the focus away from the questions and then go on about how your kid is stuck therapeutically and how you need to focus on your child's therapy. You'll never get a straight answer.

Your *silly* questions about things such as "are the counselors really licensed?" aren't welcomed. You'll get a half-ass answer. Ask another question to get more clarification on the reponse and be prepared to feel the chill in the air.

[Anonymous]

If a parent were to ask all of these questions they would likely be given some version of "you either need to trust us, or withdraw your child."

That's pretty much the same response I got when I started asking questions.

[Anonymous]

Please make sure you talk to your child about what's going on at HLA.  Talk to the other parents in your peer group as well. You'll be surprised at what you learn.

[Anonymous]

Most kids fear staff finding about things that go on there because of interventions and stuff like that. When you talk to your kid, honestly assure them that you won't repeat any of what is said to their counselors, that is probably the only way you will get honesty from your child

[Anonymous]

Current Parents of Students at HLA:

Like most of us who put their kids at HLA, you were probably in a desperate situation where you felt you had to put your child somewhere for his or her own safety. It's a stressful time in which the only thing on your mind was saving your kid from self-destructing. HLA, by all appearances, seems to be the place that can do that in your time of desperation.Hopefully the dust has settled and you will start asking some tough questiions.

Ask your child's Peer Group counselors about their professional experience in dealing with teenagers - years of experience, where they've worked, etc, are they professionally licensed? On paper they look good, but reality is quite another thing. Your child is obviously there for therapeutic reasons otherwise you wouldn't be spending almost $6,000 per month on tuition.

Ask about your child's teachers - are they certified to teach in GA? What are they certified to teach? Ask to see a copy of their GA state certificates.

Ask HLA to see a copy of their report from SACS and SAIS.

Ask for a tour of HLA's science labs - your paying money for your child to be there, you have a right to see these things.

Ask HLA if they've ever had any lawsuits against them. Settled any lawsuits out of court?

Ask about the strip search policy. Did you know your child is strip searched each time they return to campus? Did you consent to this?

Ask about the qualifications and certifications of the individuals running the Addicitions and Substance Abuse counseling. Are those individuals qualified as Addicitions Counselors? Are they certified in the state of GA as licensed Addictions Counselors?

Ask about the counselors who are providing services to kids that engage in self-injurious behaviors such as cutting - what experience do they have to provide counseling? are they certified or have they specialized in this area? Are they licensed to provide this type of counseling?

Ask about the "interventions".

Ask about the Nightstaff - do they know CPR and other life-saving procedures? Ask to see proof.

Ask why HLA isn't licensed as a Therapeutic Boarding School by the state of GA. (They're not; they're a corporation whose purpose is "Education with Special Purpose".)

Ask HLA whether or not they are licensed through the Department of Human Resources and the Office of Regulatory Services. (They're not so they don't have to follow GA state laws to protect children.)

Ask HLA why they opposed being licensed by DHR and ORS. DHR and ORS ensures the safety of your child - why would any legitimate organization oppose being licensed? (Don't let them tell you they didn't.)

Ask the tough questions. It's your child and it's your money.

Looks like the question about the lawsuit has been answered.

[Anonymous]

bump