To Whom It May Concern:
I searched for help or assistance from Police Departments, Social Services and other state and federal governmental agencies, which produced neither a remedy to our problems nor any course of action until the child committed crimes for the juvenile court system to step in. Our 20 year old son is currently serving his second prison sentence. This was what we were trying to prevent in the first place. What we wanted was a child who was respectful, honest and have good values that would be a great asset to society and his community. The peer pressure at elementary, middle and high school was greater than what we could produce. His lack of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-respect created the need for him to fit in and be accepted by one of his peer groups which out weighed any attempt by us to keep him in alignment with our family values.
His 16 year old brother has been in two different schools associated with the World Wide Association of Specialized Programs (WWASP). We were determined he would not follow his brother so he began his journey at the age of 14 years old when we drove him to Casa By the Sea. This was on 18 Aug 2001. We have been on that campus many times. This school provided the structure needed to reinforce the values for him to be successful in today?s world. During the 17 months that he was with Casa By the Sea, we were finally relieved to know that our son was safe and out of harms way. We watched him change from the disrespectful child he was to a calm and strong individual with his own values. He graduated High School one week after his 16th birthday and produced a 3.75 GPA. We made friends with the family representatives and administration that were there and they supported our family during these troubled and frustrating time in our lives. They offered us hope and produced results that have not only changed our son?s life but ours as well. We can only thank them from the bottom of our hearts.
We moved him to Spring Creek Lodge on 12 Feb 2003. This move was originally for his transition back into our family. We recently had him home for his first five-day home pass. He now has a really positive attitude and has a vision of what he wants to do in his future. These changes are contributed to the amount of responsibilities and trust that have been given to him and by the type of leadership that has been entrusted in him by the facility. This is done in a very structured environment, which allows him to take risks by making choices and acting upon them. He is awarded for working choices and receives consequences for non-working choices. His ability to communicate and articulate his discussions has improved to the point that he is truly a joy to sit down with and talk about almost anything. He demonstrates the confidence in himself by his demeanor and this is a truly blessing. We have gained enormous trust with the family representatives and administration and thank each and every one of them from the bottom of our heart for their willingness to do what they do for our children and my family.
He has thanked us for loving him enough to put him into these two schools. He also admitted that if we have not of made our decision to intervene with intervention, he would most likely have been dead by now.
Our story is similar to many other parents who have children who were juvenile delinquents, using drugs, drinking alcohol, running away from home, skipping school, violating curfew, taking our car to go on pleasure rides, disregard of house rules, sneaking out at night to party with friends, stealing, destroying personal property, disrespectful to parents, disrespectful to teachers, having unprotected sex and being totally disrespectful to girls.
I can only say that these schools have been a Godsend for my family and I would recommend either of them for any family that has children that are out of control. I only wish that there were more facilities available so more children and families can get the help that they need. In my opinion, if the United States of America would use this type of education system, there would be a greater number of success stories for many young men and women today and a significant decrease in crime by our youth?and there would be no more Columbines.
I have met many graduates of all of the schools with WWASP who have no reason to lie about any abuse at the schools. I would strongly state that I would not want my son?s process or school to be disrupted, disrupted or interfered with because of the opinion of some disgruntled individuals or by bad publicity by the press. To do so would be a great disservice to my family and the multitude of parents who are seeking help for their precious teen. I ask that before any reporter publishes half truths, that they confirm and confirm again before they print harmful stories.
Richard Causer
Since when is it up to the police, social services, state and federal government to do YOUR job as a parent? They have already taken responsibility for one son and you want to give them both? I hope you don't have any more kids you are waiting to give away. In all the "testimonials" we see everything that is "wrong" with the kid and all the "wrong choices" they made but NADA about any insight a "parent" every got about what they themselves did wrong or how they learned to change their own behaviors and attitudes. For this reason alone all TBS are a monumental failure in my opinion. I have no doubt your kid improved; after all their are some so-called ""parents" who are sooooo screwed up and sooooo clueless with such horrible home environments that that a TBS is actually an improvement in the kids life! Here is a clue for the clueless that appeared in today's paper:
It's entitled "Don't trick your kids; teach them:"
Dear Carolyn: Do you have specific advice for teenagers (especially girls) to prevent them from premarital sec, or are you one who smiles and says "You are not mature, but if you must, here is a condom." I need every trick in the book.
Answer: No you don't. (need every trick in the book). You need a clear, coherent, life-long well-thought-out message that reflects your values and shows respect both for your kids' intelligence and for the strength of their hormones. And your kids need to kow your love isn't contingent upon their following the exact road you choose for them, because they aren't going to follow it;' you might as well accept that now. I ft hey know you will love them regardless, though, and if you teach tem the importance of making good choices, they'll find their own way, for their own reasons.
Tricks, on the other hand are advance admissions of defeat, declarations that your kids can't control themselves and so you must try to control them. Your pressure is annoying too - and the annoyed kids of parents who fear premaritial sex know exactly how to ge ttheir revenge..
I would pay close attention to the last sentence. You feel good now that the pressure is off you Your kid is kneeling with his nose pressed to the wall and you get all wet talking about his abuser? Shit man, I'd be after that sucker with a baseball bat. ::stab::
