Educational Consultants

[happyday7]

Does anyone know who the top Ed Consultant for HLA is? If the judge were to allow this lawsuit to proceed, does anyone know if the Educational Consultants will be called to testify in regards to what all they knew when they were still sending children to HLA? I would think that educational consultants would be worried about the reputation of HLA now.

[Anonymous]

Jean Hague was one who referred a ton of kids to HLA.

[happyday7]

Does anyone know anything that is going on with the Judge right now? I thought it was past time for him to make his final decision to certify the lawsuit or not.  :question:

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know who the top Ed Consultant for HLA is? If the judge were to allow this lawsuit to proceed, does anyone know if the Educational Consultants will be called to testify in regards to what all they knew when they were still sending children to HLA? I would think that educational consultants would be worried about the reputation of HLA now.

Many received subpeona in December. The answer is yes.
 Prosecuted for knowlingly touting HLA as a TBS...et al..?.Call the Georgia State Prosecutor or Secretary of State , there you may find the answer. Call the Federal Prosecutor for knowingly sending children across State lines, without proper notification and HLA accepting monies from other States for IEPS..for TBS.That would make for an interesting payload.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know anything that is going on with the Judge right now? I thought it was past time for him to make his final decision to certify the lawsuit or not.  :question:

There is no 'past time'...Mostly the judge has all the time he wishes.

[along comes mary]

Martha Kolbe referred me and a bunch of of other kids there...  

(she never met me either... is that kosher?!)

[Anonymous]

Martha Kolbe referred me and a bunch of of other kids there...  

(she never met me either... is that kosher?!)

No, it's not kosher but, unfortunately, it seems to be standard operating procedure for many of these Ed Cons. I've never understood how a supposed professional could recommend placement or treatment for a child s/he has never met. It seems like this would be the equivalent of medical malpractice.

[Deborah]

Elizabeth Hall in Austin, Tx referred my ex. Never saw my son either. Referred based on "owner's reputation". Appears to be common. More discussion on Ed Cons:

http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.ph ... 138#181138
http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.ph ... 767#217767
http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.ph ... 896#250896
http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.ph ... 878#248878
http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.ph ... 683#217683
http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=con

[RobertBruce]

I don't even remember the name of mine. Of course this could be due to the fact that I never met her, she never contacted me, never came to visit the school, never so much as sent me a post card.

But hey she sure earned her money right? A job well done bitch.

[happyday7]

Look at this information below on the NATSAP website. First of all Billy Pichon is not there anymore. They have moved one of the Directors of Counseling into the Director of Admissions jobs since all admission staff left HLA. Also, they say that  the staff chaplain provides ample opportunity for spiritual development. Kids are not all allowed to go to church services. They only let a certain number of students attend church and only if they are chosen to go by the Spiritual advisor. They also say that students participate in all these sports, yet they do not tell you that students on academic restrictions are not allowed to participate in sports or off campus activities. If you have a student at HLA that has learning differences, and is on the academic incomplete list, just know that they will not be allowed to play any team sports or attend any off campus trips etc. It all sounds good, but don't fall for everything you read.  Read the posting below on the NATSAP website. :roll:  


(Therapeutic Boarding School)
 
  Gender: Coeducational Phone: (800) 394-0640
Ages: 13 to 18
 
 
Grades: 7 to 12 Fax: (706) 864-9109
Enrollment: 175 Email: www.hiddenlakeacademy.com
Founded: 1994    
    Admission Contact: Billy Pichon  
Address: 830 Hidden Lake Rd.
Dahlonega, GA 30533  Executive Contact: Leonard Buccellato, Ph.D.
   
       
 
Hidden Lake Academy (HLA), located on a 215-acre campus one hour north of Atlanta, helps young people make significant gains in emotional maturity and academic achievement. Integral to the HLA program is an equal emphasis on the college-preparatory academic curriculum and sudent's therapeutic work. The Hidden Lake Academy staff cooperate to help students develop all aspects of their lives: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. The 10:1 student to teacher ratio ensures individual attention and a return to academic success.

Typical students exhibit oppositional-defiant behavior, low self-esteem, depression, ADHD, deteriorating family relationships, and are making poor choices. Students typically graduate Hidden Lake Academy's therapeutic program with a greatly increased ability and motivation to make decisions that will positively impact their lives.

Hidden Lake Academy utilizes a detailed, sequential therapeutic program which allows for a high degree of program accountability. Each group consists of 14 students and is led by 2 Master's-level counselors. Students participate in three group counseling sessions per week (7 hours). In addition to group therapy, an addictions education course, planned and staffed by specialists in this field, is included in each student's experience. A wilderness component-consisting of a series of exciting and challenging experiences including day hikes, adventure trips, rock climbing and rappelling days, a ropes course, and canoeing is carefully integrated into a program. A staff chaplain provides ample opportunities for spiritual development for students of all faiths and coordinates extensive community services projects and numerous off-campus trips. HLA competes in the Atlanta Athletic Conference. Studens participate in basketball, volleyball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, tennis, softball, golf and track. Sports are balanced by strong Drama and Fine Arts Departments.
 
   
Individual Psychotherapy Available: Yes
Accreditation, Licensure, Approval: The Georgia Accrediting Commission; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Professional Affiliations: NATSAP-Full Member; GAIS; GAPSEC;GISA; NAIS; SSATB,

   
   

NATSAP National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs | 928.443.9505 | 126 North Marina, Prescott, Arizona 86301   Email

[TheWho]

Martha Kolbe referred me and a bunch of of other kids there...  

(she never met me either... is that kosher?!)

No, it's not kosher but, unfortunately, it seems to be standard operating procedure for many of these Ed Cons. I've never understood how a supposed professional could recommend placement or treatment for a child s/he has never met. It seems like this would be the equivalent of medical malpractice.

Has anyone compared these to the requirements?  What are EdCons required to do?  Are there any guidelines that we can go by?  Do they need to meet each child in person before recommending placement?

[RobertBruce]

Whether they are required to or not is irrellavent. How can they effectively evaluate someone if theyve never met or spoken to them?

[Anonymous]

Martha Kolbe referred me and a bunch of of other kids there...  

(she never met me either... is that kosher?!)

No, it's not kosher but, unfortunately, it seems to be standard operating procedure for many of these Ed Cons. I've never understood how a supposed professional could recommend placement or treatment for a child s/he has never met. It seems like this would be the equivalent of medical malpractice.

Has anyone compared these to the requirements?  What are EdCons required to do?  Are there any guidelines that we can go by?  Do they need to meet each child in person before recommending placement?

Your questions point out exactly what is wrong with the Troubled Teen Industry. It's a money making racket that has no oversight, accountability, and few, if any, regulation to protect the children.

Ask yourself this question: Would you allow anyone to make a recommendation of any kind for you without first meeting you?

[TheWho]

Guest wrote:

Your questions point out exactly what is wrong with the Troubled Teen Industry. It's a money making racket that has no oversight, accountability, and few, if any, regulation to protect the children.

Some are “For Profit” others are “Non-Profit”.  But regardless these places are set up for the sole purpose of keeping kids safe and getting them back on track.  Oversight and regulation doesn’t seem to be effective enough  to keep the kids safe in the public school sector which is why many parents are trying to avoid state controlled programs and place them in Private Therapeutic Schools.

Ask yourself this question: Would you allow anyone to make a recommendation of any kind for you without first meeting you?

I was initially asking if there were any requirements for how EdCons need to conduct their interviews and it sounds like there may not be any.  
Personally I have not used an EdCon so I am not familiar with protocol, but I would expect that they would not need to meet every child they recommend schools to.  If he or she conducted the interview over the phone with the parent and then with another professional who knows the child (childs therapist, school advocate etc.), if needed, this may be sufficient to make an accurate assessment.

[Anonymous]

Guest wrote:

Your questions point out exactly what is wrong with the Troubled Teen Industry. It's a money making racket that has no oversight, accountability, and few, if any, regulation to protect the children.

Some are “For Profit” others are “Non-Profit”.  But regardless these places are set up for the sole purpose of keeping kids safe and getting them back on track.  Oversight and regulation doesn’t seem to be effective enough  to keep the kids safe in the public school sector which is why many parents are trying to avoid state controlled programs and place them in Private Therapeutic Schools.

Ask yourself this question: Would you allow anyone to make a recommendation of any kind for you without first meeting you?

I was initially asking if there were any requirements for how EdCons need to conduct their interviews and it sounds like there may not be any.  
Personally I have not used an EdCon so I am not familiar with protocol, but I would expect that they would not need to meet every child they recommend schools to.  If he or she conducted the interview over the phone with the parent and then with another professional who knows the child (childs therapist, school advocate etc.), if needed, this may be sufficient to make an accurate assessment.

Oversight and regulation doesn’t seem to be effective enough  to keep the kids safe in the public school sector which is why many parents are trying to avoid state controlled programs and place them in Private Therapeutic Schools.

This statement makes no sense at all. It sounds like you're suggesting a majority of parents are trying to take kids out of public schools and put them in Private Therapeutic Schools. Do you have any independent statistics that can back up claims that Private Therapeutic Schools are safer than public schools? My child's own personal experience at HLA was filled with violence - something my child never experienced in public schools.

Sorry, but for an Ed Con not to meet with a child is absolute bullshit. That's like me going to a doctor on your behalf and telling the doctor you have headaches. He comes to the conclusion, solely based on what I tell him, that you have a brain tumor and we schedule you for surgery. Come to find out your headaches are actually caused by a food allergy, but because he had never met you and just took my word for it, you were misdiagnosed and not given the proper treatment or care.  Pretty pathetic.