The Dark Side of Youth Rehabilitation Programs
A 20-year-old woman, who we'll call Jane, has had a difficult time sleeping through the night for the past three years. "I often wake up in terror, gripped by panic," she admitted. Jane finds solace in the company of her beloved reptiles, amassing a collection of Russian tortoises, geckos, and snakes since her childhood. She runs an animal rehabilitation center from her home just outside a large city in the Pacific Northwest, transforming her "anger, sadness, and passion" into a meaningful endeavor.
However, the journey that led Jane to this point wasn't aided by the mental health treatment she received – in fact, it was in spite of it.
A Traumatic Childhood
Jane's challenges started early on. Her father abandoned her when she was just 5 years old. By first grade, she was diagnosed with autism, and before she turned 7, she started to have thoughts of self-harm. Her mother, who we'll call Michelle, recounts a chilling moment when Jane questioned, 'Mom, what would happen if I just jumped out of the car right now?' - a question you'd hardly expect from a 6-year-old.
After years of therapy and several hospitalizations failed to protect Jane, Michelle was advised by a consultant to consider enrolling her daughter in a long-term residential treatment center in Missouri. Despite having numerous discussions with the staff and asking countless questions, the reality that awaited Jane was far from what Michelle had anticipated.
Unsettling Experiences
Upon arrival, Jane immediately sensed that something was amiss. "The way that other kids treated each other, how the staff would incite conflict among us — it wasn't normal," she recalled.
Jane and Michelle are now among 15 families taking legal action against the rehabilitation center, alleging emotional distress and battery, among other claims. The center has denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless.
An investigation reveals a disturbing environment of violence and chaos. Police records show over 400 calls made to the county sheriff's office linked to the center's address in the past ten years. Incident reports describe alarming scenes: a 12-year-old having convulsions after swallowing an unknown object, a 15-year-old severely cutting her arm with broken toilet pieces, and residents attacking staff with wooden shards from a broken bed frame.
Moreover, it has been confirmed that at least four former employees have been convicted of crimes committed during their employment at the center, including sexual assault of residents and possession of child pornography. The center responded by stating that all these individuals had cleared state and federal background checks before being hired, and they were promptly put on leave and eventually fired following the incidents.
Loose Regulations and High Costs
Jane's stay at the center was partly funded by her school district under her Individualized Education Program (IEP). Federal law ensures that students with special needs receive education in the "least restrictive environment" possible, which sometimes allows children to cross state lines for private residential programs at public expense.
However, there is no federal law that mandates a minimum standard of care for youth residential treatment programs, thus leaving the oversight largely to individual states.
Another case that stands out is that of Luca, a 20-year-old who went through a wilderness therapy program at age 12, followed by a therapeutic boarding school. His mother, Martha, insists that this experience saved his life. Yet, the cost was astronomical. The family had to deplete two savings and retirement accounts and even took out a loan. They spent close to half a million dollars over two-plus years, with reimbursements covering only about a third of it.
Call for Stricter Oversight and Standardization
Both families wish to see a national database of programs that includes family reviews and complaints, standardized licensing requirements, a federal bill of rights for children in residential facilities, and a requirement for programs to retain security footage for extended periods following incidents.
"I would like to see stricter oversight," Michelle said. She doesn't want any other family to go through what they experienced.
Meanwhile, Jane is focused on the future, channeling her passion into her reptile rescue operation. "I am transforming my anger and sadness into something positive," she said.
If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that help is available around the clock. Don't hesitate to reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
A 20-year-old woman, who we'll call Jane, has had a difficult time sleeping through the night for the past three years. "I often wake up in terror, gripped by panic," she admitted. Jane finds solace in the company of her beloved reptiles, amassing a collection of Russian tortoises, geckos, and snakes since her childhood. She runs an animal rehabilitation center from her home just outside a large city in the Pacific Northwest, transforming her "anger, sadness, and passion" into a meaningful endeavor.
However, the journey that led Jane to this point wasn't aided by the mental health treatment she received – in fact, it was in spite of it.
A Traumatic Childhood
Jane's challenges started early on. Her father abandoned her when she was just 5 years old. By first grade, she was diagnosed with autism, and before she turned 7, she started to have thoughts of self-harm. Her mother, who we'll call Michelle, recounts a chilling moment when Jane questioned, 'Mom, what would happen if I just jumped out of the car right now?' - a question you'd hardly expect from a 6-year-old.
After years of therapy and several hospitalizations failed to protect Jane, Michelle was advised by a consultant to consider enrolling her daughter in a long-term residential treatment center in Missouri. Despite having numerous discussions with the staff and asking countless questions, the reality that awaited Jane was far from what Michelle had anticipated.
Unsettling Experiences
Upon arrival, Jane immediately sensed that something was amiss. "The way that other kids treated each other, how the staff would incite conflict among us — it wasn't normal," she recalled.
Jane and Michelle are now among 15 families taking legal action against the rehabilitation center, alleging emotional distress and battery, among other claims. The center has denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless.
An investigation reveals a disturbing environment of violence and chaos. Police records show over 400 calls made to the county sheriff's office linked to the center's address in the past ten years. Incident reports describe alarming scenes: a 12-year-old having convulsions after swallowing an unknown object, a 15-year-old severely cutting her arm with broken toilet pieces, and residents attacking staff with wooden shards from a broken bed frame.
Moreover, it has been confirmed that at least four former employees have been convicted of crimes committed during their employment at the center, including sexual assault of residents and possession of child pornography. The center responded by stating that all these individuals had cleared state and federal background checks before being hired, and they were promptly put on leave and eventually fired following the incidents.
Loose Regulations and High Costs
Jane's stay at the center was partly funded by her school district under her Individualized Education Program (IEP). Federal law ensures that students with special needs receive education in the "least restrictive environment" possible, which sometimes allows children to cross state lines for private residential programs at public expense.
However, there is no federal law that mandates a minimum standard of care for youth residential treatment programs, thus leaving the oversight largely to individual states.
Another case that stands out is that of Luca, a 20-year-old who went through a wilderness therapy program at age 12, followed by a therapeutic boarding school. His mother, Martha, insists that this experience saved his life. Yet, the cost was astronomical. The family had to deplete two savings and retirement accounts and even took out a loan. They spent close to half a million dollars over two-plus years, with reimbursements covering only about a third of it.
Call for Stricter Oversight and Standardization
Both families wish to see a national database of programs that includes family reviews and complaints, standardized licensing requirements, a federal bill of rights for children in residential facilities, and a requirement for programs to retain security footage for extended periods following incidents.
"I would like to see stricter oversight," Michelle said. She doesn't want any other family to go through what they experienced.
Meanwhile, Jane is focused on the future, channeling her passion into her reptile rescue operation. "I am transforming my anger and sadness into something positive," she said.
If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that help is available around the clock. Don't hesitate to reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.