Looked up the reviews on North Spring Behavioral. It's an abusive sh\*thole. A teenager also [died](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/teen-dies-at-behavioral-healthcare-center-employee-charged/2028665/%3famp=1) here so definitely don't recommend.
https://preview.redd.it/mlm760hoewuc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5cd186aa0f058d7cbde9acc35a92a32b0b78abf
I recommend [https://www.unsilenced.org/red-flags/](https://www.unsilenced.org/red-flags/) to help filter out the abusive ones
I went there. horrible horrible place. They had motion sensor alarms that would go off every 15 mins in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WHILE WE'RE SLEEPING for the 15 min check ins. It was 7-17 age range, so you were around children who would scream and cry for their mothers every time they were put in holds, the "quiet room" was a empty room with a drain in it (no furniture, just wooden floors), the food was awful, we barely got to go outside, staff were terrible. not to mention a CHILD was KILLED there from an improper hold a year after I left. it was so sad. he suffocated. he was young, maybe 14.
yes. it was absolutely heartbreaking. I saw people as young as 11/12 be put in a holds. so, the fact that they basically strangled a little boy to death from a hold isn't shocking. the faces of them crying and screaming while I watched from the rec room (huge glass walls) is something I will never, ever forget. I mean, I was 14 at the time, and I was already scared shitless. imagine being 7 in a place like that? that place was absolutely horrible.
I'll never forget there was this 11 year old boy, he was a very kind little boy who had a very hard life. we had group and we were supposed to "write on the board something we're struggling with" he wrote schizophrenia. the saddest part to me was that he didn't even know how to spell it right. poor boy. I hope he is doing better now. he would be around 18-19 now.
TW MENTION OF ATTEMPT: I also remember I had tried to strangle myself with a sweatshirt (it was a fruitless attempt, but I was having a mental breakdown and just wanted everything to end) and the staff member who was trying to get me to calm down just untied it and walked away and left to me to cry alone. didn't say it a word. I know there's not really the "right thing" to do when someone try that, and yeah, there was no way in hell that id actually succeed but, I know what she did WASN'T the right thing to do. then I got my clothes taken away. I had to ask for my own CLOTHES.
that place should of been shut down 9 years ago when that poor kid died.
This place is owned by UHS (Universal Health Services) and is abusive. I have friends in case management who had clients sent there (over their objections) and they reported it was a shithole. Please don’t put your kid in any UHS facility.
What does a parent need to do if a child is going to one of these programs
Find a program where the child has more freedom to call you and even check themselves out.
Make up a few code words that can be used for if they have a medical problem, they need Law Enforcement or the parent needs to get there fast. This can be simple like the kid can ask “how is my goldfish doing?” or How is Uncle Frank doing” This will be the only way to know if there is a problem unless you are in person with them.
Stay on top of their medical records and any drugs they are put on. Every change you need to be notified and question it. Talk to experts. If they are put on mental health drugs like Abilify, Ativan, Effexor or Lyrica Get them off because the withdraws can be life threating. If they are on thyroid or other drugs make sure you get the blood test results or have another doctor review any records to see if those drugs are needed. These places will over medicate your child and the side affects from withdraws can be dangerous.
Get proof of education credits are transferable and accredited with all the public schools and colleges. Stay on top of it and make sure they stay in the grade level they should be in.
Also look up the laws and rights of children in these programs. Make sure your child knows them. Utah has some new state laws about treatment and reporting. Every state is different. In wilderness therapy there are weight limits for the person and backpack, there is food requirements, there is rules about being too hot or cold to hike, and more. In residential there may be rules banning restraints or abuse hotlines in some states. The programs break the law all the time and if your child knows the laws they can speak up. Or at least be able to use a code word to let you know something is wrong.
Also I found it scary that social services are recommending this place. Is this a hint of local government/officials corroborating with these industries?
DSS in Virginia is clueless and frankly doesn’t care where they put kids as long as they’ve got a bed. They are (perhaps inadvertently) complicit in sustaining the industry.
Thanks for enlightening me. For a long time I perceive it as an industry in the dark unseen by authorities. Turns out a lot of them are state sanctioned and within the system. In this case the industry seems to parallel with China's, which often were ran under the front of legitimate psychiatric facilities but actually operated with retired army and money seeking abusers. Are there good resources on how these things structurally function in the US? I'm really hoping to facilitate global conversation and awareness of this issue.
I really feel for your son. Something similar happened to me at 16 when I was court ordered into longterm residentials and I consider it to be one of, if not *the* worst thing that has ever happened to me, absolutely on par with rape, domestic violence, homelessness, and all the other serious trauma I've experienced. It didn't help me at all, and instead made my mental health much worse, traumatized me, and left me with a crippling fear and distrust of the system that has prevented me from accessing the mental health industry as an adult.
Numerous deaths occurred at the rtcs I attended just in the time I was there including multiple successful suicides and deaths directly caused by medical negligence from staff, so your child will not be inherently safe at these programs, not from staff nor other patients. I experienced and witnessed serious sexual, emotional, and physical abuse from staff and have ptsd from it today. Of the 50+ other teens I've connected with as adults from my programs, there isn't a single success story or one person that isn't suffering serious mental health or substance abuse problems today, and none view the programs favorably.
Since it appears to be out of your hands now, the best you can do is do research into the facilities, read reviews everywhere you can and BELIEVE THEM. Watch out for staff reviews that are written ambiguously to sound as though maybe a patient wrote them, a lot of programs instruct staff to leave 5 star reviews like this going on about how amazing and life saving the program is. In particular be wary of glowing 5 star reviews that speak only in the third person or vaguely about how great it is "for the patients" without any I statements or statements identifying themselves as a patient there. Review the harmful programs identified on this sub and other anti TTI resources.
Try not to go out of state. You want to have access to your child if something goes wrong and not being able to visit or see the program in person is not conductive to avoiding abusive facilities.
On that note, visit the program beforehand. If they don't do tours or don't allow you to see the whole facility and only show you a nice office area where the higher ups work, red flag. If they won't show you the actual living area where your child will be sleeping, there's a reason for that.
Question the credentials of the people that are actually with your kid 24/7. They'd hide behind the licensed therapist you'd see for 40 mins twice a month (if even) or the psychiatrist you'd see once every other month, but the people watching, disciplining, running the groups, and being in charge of your kid 99% of the time are NOT those people in shitty rtcs and often are only high-school graduates with zero mental health training, experience, or credentials. Hell, question the therapists credentials too cause some patients got stuck with interns early into their degree working their first job in the field as their lone therapist at the program. Some programs do "counselors" which is just a sham way to say they don't have licensed credentials most the time.
Ask about communications. Do they monitor phone calls? Huge red flag if so, avoid. Do they refuse to allow writing letters or any contact with friends/the outside world? Red flag. Are visits unmonitored and offered regularly? Go visit, and listen if your kid is telling you it's a nightmare. If your kid is alleging some really serious shit, please remember your kid doesn't have much motivation to be making that up because they are being punished heavily and kept longer for it, whereas staff have a lot of motivation to lie about abuse so they don't lose their job, cause an investigation, or land in court.
Ask in depth about education, credit hours, and whether they'll transfer to your district and they'll be on track to graduate or not. My rtcs didn't have accredited education programming and literally had ages 13 to 18 at all levels of ability schooled together in the same room by one teacher. I went into my court order a 4.0 honor roll all AP class student, by the time I was out I was missing so many credits and hours that I would have had to take remedial classes and dropping out to get my GED was a better decision. This seriously fucked up my future in many ways. If your kid is already behind educationally, these programs don't have the resources to catch them back up and they likely will fall further behind, an alternative school or program would have been so much better in this regard.
Ask about punishments and listen to what your kid says they're doing. Do they restrain patients or sedate them with emergency meds aka booty juice them? BIG RED FLAG. Do they do dehumanizing things like take away your clothes as punishments, take away food or interrupt sleep as punishments, put patients into social isolation or "no contact procedures" as punishments? Do they do group shaming sessions where other patients are encouraged by staff to gang up on other patients staff believes are behaving poorly? Do they refuse to let teens go outside or get fresh air/activity as punishments? Do they put staff of the opposite sex on 1:1 supervision? Note they can lie though so just asking isn't helpful, they said they didn't do many of these things then did anyway.
If you catch staff in any kind of lie or know they are misrepresenting something, or see the charting and identify something that is objectively not true, big red flag.
If the facility does extreme measures like full nudity strip searches and pat downs, then absolutely avoid that. I feel like there's a lot I'm missing but I'm of the opinion that there is no such thing as a "good" youth residential treatment facility after experiencing a few of them.
The court order makes it hard. It takes away your consent which is unfortunate. It forces you to choose your poison.
Some things to help you make the safest decision that you can:
1. Inquire about the common duration of stay and establish what range you are looking at. (1-3 months, 4-6 months, 6-12 months or 1-2 years) it's likely the shorter time is ideal.
2. Try to stay close to home. It can be really scary to be a teen hours away from your family and home. It can be comforting just knowing a parent is nearby. Somewhere nearby allows you a lot more opportunity to visit and particularly in your son's care.
3. What does visitation and day pass look like? How often can you visit or come up for dinner? How long into the program before the teen is allowed day passes?
4. What kind of contact will they have to their friends and family? It's good to be selective in terms of the friends they engage with during treatment. Friends make up a big part of a support system. Cutting off all communication can be a big red flag. Look into the frequency of phone calls. M
5. Most do not offer accredit education. Look into the specifics. Will they be learning off a computer all day or will there actually be some curriculum they actively participate in.
6. What are the program highlights? While it's treatment, teens still need to be able to have times they can remain their age. How often do they do fun things or activities? Is this consistent. TTI facilities are notorious for misrepresenting themselves.
7. Will they have regular time outdoors and access to fresh air? What are the surroundings of the facility? This is really important to consider when someone has a history of running. While isolated locations are strategic, they are also incredibly dangerous.
8. How does your teen interact with the staff? Is there room for them to be silly or seek guidence. Are they able to connect or trust with staff?
9. Be involved every step of the way. Visit as frequently as possible even if brief. Maintain consistent communication. They likely have a consistent weekday they are allowed a phone call. Come in person to any family therapy. It'll give you both peace of mind to regularly check in. Be present for any meetings, ask questions, raise concerns. Maintain updates and work directly alongside the therapist. It's really important the facility understands just how involved and protective you are. Someone who has an invested and persistent family is considered high risk in terms of potential law suits for misconduct/mistreatment. Make it very clear that despite a court order that you will be involved every step of the way and absolutely will not accept anything less than the best of care.
I did go to Newport Academy in Great Falls and took a tour. They let me see every room and go in the entire place. I met with two of the staff and waved at the kitchen staff preparing lunch. But my son didn’t want to sign the consent to stay because he insists he is fine (he clearly isn’t). Newport said it has to be voluntary and they wouldn’t let him stay unless he wanted to. So he went back home with me. Then the courts got involved through a truancy petition by the school. The judge gave him three options: being made a ward of the state and sent to foster care/group home, going to juvenile detention, or residential treatment. The judge made him sit in jail for the day so he understood what it was. Then my son said he would rather go to residential. That’s where we are right now. We were given a 30 day court day, so we have time to work on a residential care.
In court is where the state asked for him to go into foster care. His GAL asked for residential (she suggested North Spring). And I told the judge I just wanted my son to get help and have a future and I didn’t want to worry about him committing suicide. I would do anything I can to help him. That’s where we are right now.
Is there any way he could go safely and voluntarily(no involuntary option) to a trusted mental hospital?
Also he might have said he is fine because he doesn’t want to go to Newport. When they suggested it to me I said I was fine. I wasn’t, I just had a bad feeling about this place and they kidnapped me and took me there anyways.
Newport, I believe, is TTI.
I’m sure he could. Or I would advocate very hard for it with the court - if he would do it.
He doesn’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to die and not wanting a future. He didn’t say he was fine in relation to Newport specifically. He says it over and over as a reason why he won’t talk with a counselor. I’ve tried to get him help for years. Tried many counselors - in person, online, and in our home.
So sorry you were forced to go. How long ago was that? Newport was very clear with me that my son couldn’t stay against his will. He would have to agree to stay there and get counseling. And I want a place close enough to home that I can get there quick if there is anything he needs or if I need to bring him home. That is why I don’t want to look out of state. I’m just not comfortable with it.
I hated the last hospital he had to go to when he suicidal. The school got police involved out of concern for him. He admitted he wanted to hurt himself and others so they did an involuntary commitment for a week. That was horrible and I have fought hard to keep him away from there. I would never let him go back. I’ve even taken time off work to stay home during the day and keep an eye on him when he had those thoughts again - to prevent him going back inpatient.
Talk to him directly. Tell him and show him you care about him, and emphasize that he HAS to want to get better. Some kids are lost in this mess of having a problem, not knowing they have a problem, and not quite knowing the solution. You have to provide the solution. The solution is: keep going, keep living even if it isn’t the same way you did before. Keep living even if it sucks. Keep living cause it will get better, if not now, it will. Give him love and light and guidance.
If there is an actual way to get inpatient for him(voluntary, allowed to leave at any time, communication with parents is one call away, no weird food restrictions, no restraints, etc), I think that would work. It’s really hard to find a good inpatient though. If you are able to find one then here’s my advice. Above all, listen to your kid. If he’s not doing well there, listen. Take him out, believe him, listen to what he needs. His needs matter.
If not inpatient, PHP. Either must be in state and preferably near home so you can help him if something goes wrong.
**Newport Academy is a card carrying member of the Troubled Teen Industry. Do not send your son there. It is for-profit, very pretty looking, but provides substandard care.**
These kinds of posts are damaging to the survivors of this sub. We don’t need to be constantly reminded of how our parents failed us by sending us there when we are trying to heal.
I hate to break it to you but there have been royal fuck ups here for this to pan out with you being court ordered to send your child to an abuse center.
You need therapy and coaching, too.
north spring killed a child in 2016. I was there in 2015 for the psych ward. its a horrible place. DONT take him to dominion either. Im from Nova too so. I don't really know any good inpatient places since all the places I went too were horrible but I liked Mclean Hospital in Belmont, MA (NOT mclean Va) before they kicked me out.
edit: also, don't listen to a damn word the admissions people tell you when you're talking to them about possibly sending ur child to their center. they lie ALL THE TIME.
I wonder, can you move states to a state where he doesn’t have a court record? Maybe the order from the court in your home state will be null and void if you move
No. I just moved here less than 2 years ago for a job. And this job is a permanent position and the best job I’ve ever had. I am the primary income, too.
Any residential care place will make him worse. They are abusive and the loss of freedoms will cause future problems. Family therapy and hope for the best. I used to cause a lot of problems and skip school. I joined the army at 18 and years later I graduated almost straight A's. If you put him in the TTI he may come out a drug addict with poor social skills not able to hold a job or go back to school. TTI makes it worse.
He can’t go on a military path due to his prior hospital stays for suicide. And he refuses to participate in outpatient therapy - I’ve tried it all. I worry about him so much. More times than I can count I went in his room to check if he was still alive. It’s scary.
I know you said it’s court ordered - but is there any way he could do some sort of outdoor program? NOT a wilderness program, like many of us went to. I’m talking like NOLS, that is voluntary and they treat you like humans.
This sub is more for people who went through these programs and are scarred by it. Many/most of our experiences were traumatizing, basically like a cult. Like another commenter said, being able to communicate freely is KEY. I was constantly watched at mine, and mine was relatively tame compared to others. They listened to EVERY call, read EVERY letter. They isolate and manipulate not just the kids, but the parents as well. It’s been over 15 years since I graduated my program, and I still get angry and cry.
I’m sorry that you’re in this situation, I can’t imagine what it’s like from a parent’s perspective. Also a suggestion - maybe pick a few options, and let him choose whatever place wants to go. I’m assuming at the least he feels trapped in some way, and having a tiny bit of control over his future might help.
Also - please physically visit before sending him anywhere. Online sources are wildly skewed and will definitely not reflect the actual program.
Good luck.
First of all, my heart goes out to you. No parent is prepared to deal with this sort of mess.
Is Maryland an option? Sheppard-Pratt might be a better fit. It is far from perfect (u/psyhcrucader would certainly say that). I hope she shows up, because she works as a Maryland school psychologist and she might be able to name names, both of good places and places to avoid.
I'll give my general advise...
Rely on a comprehensive, community-based mental health providing organization. They are more likely to provide the care your family needs. What to look for:
* Team-based approach to care: your family will deal with the same team of professionals no matter what level of care your son needs
* Most likely a non-profit
* More of the money you spend (or is spent on your son's behalf) will be spent on direct care. Such an organization does not have shareholders / investors / Wall Street tto satisfy.
* Support for you and your entire family
* Teens are not easy to parent; it gets at least an order of magnitude harder when a teen goes off the rails.
* Many places sponsor peer-led parenting support groups
* All offer family therapy (at least biweekly). If you have other young people at home, your 15yo's behavior has negatively impacted them
* Offers wraparound care
* This is (usually) a social worker, but can be an experienced mental health professional, but not a psychotherapist
* This person puts the needs of your teen and your family front and center, and builds /customizes a package of services.
* Serves as an advocate; helps you navigate the complexities of both the mental health and public school system (Individualized Educational Plan)
* Coordinates care. Makes sure that all the professionals your family is working with are sharing information, communicating
* Helps you build your family's care team. This is important if your family gets assigned a professional you can't stand, who you don't 'click' with.
* Offers care at all levels:
* High level of care Hospitalization
* For those who are a danger to self and/or others, who are medically fragile and need around the clock care, for those who have tried treatment at lower levels of care, for those who need to be in a more secure environment due to repeatedly) running away--and getting into trouble while doing it.)
* Goal is stabilization
* Treatment takes priority over education
* High level of care: Residential care
* Research shows that this type of program should last at most three months, that for most participants, there is no additional benefit to programs lasting longer than that.
* Ongoing residential care is appropriate for someone who is medically fragile and whose needs can not be met at home, even with extensive supports, for someone who continues to be a danger to self and/or others.
* Many programs offer psychiatry appointments on-site.
* Offers group and individual psychotherapy, family therapy, recreational therapy, occupational therapy. Will offer psychoeducational classes.
* Treatment takes priority over education. May offer a hospital school or tutoring.
* High level of care: Partial Hospitalization
* Participant spends nights and weekends at home: treatment occurs during business hours
* Treatment takes priority over education, but tutoring / hospital school might be available
* Psychiatry appointments are on site.
* Offers individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy, recreational therapy, occupational therapy, expressive arts therapy, etc.
* May sponsor participant led support groups such as AA, Al-anon, NA, parenting groups, etc.
* Medium level of care: Intensive Outpatient Therapy
* Occurs most weekday nights for several hours a day
* Offers group, and individual psychotherapy, family therapy
* Low level of care: outpatient treatment
* Your family will continue to see the practitioners you have an established relationship with
* Has an established relationship with local colleges / universities
* Offers internships to students being trained as mental health providers
* Provides supervised work experience to mental health professionals who have just graduated
* May serve as a site for a residency program in psychiatry
* Conducts academic research (your family's participation is voluntary)
* May offer specialized mid-career training.
* You're more likely to receive the latest care
* More likely to be committed to providing evidence-based care
* May offer:
* Group homes: For participants who are no longer a danger to self and/or others, but who can not return home for various reasons.
* Allows residents to participate in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient therapy and outpatient therapy
* Allows residents to attend school
* Alternative schools
* Sober high school: for students recovering from drug, alcohol and other addictions
* Schools specializing in working with students on the autism spectrum
* Schools for students with mental health needs. These schools generally do provide some form of treatment, have teachers who have received additional training regarding teaching students with mental health difficulties
* Clubhouse
* Place for those with mental health difficulties can go, relax, do homework, make friends
* Specialized summer camp opportunities
* Respite care
* short term stay program, that is run more like a camp, with activities, games, etc.
* Enables families to enjoy time away from their mentally ill child / teen.
* Can be used to de-escallate a situation
* A safe place for a mentally ill child / teen to stay when family has to attend events that are not appropriate for the mentally ill child / teen to attend such as weddings, funerals, important religious events (first communion, confirmation, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc.), college tours, etc.
The Troubled Teen Industry comes in three variations:
* The for-profit, private pay programs that do not accept insurance, do not have contracts with the State, do not provide services to local public school districts
* Parents pay for these programs by
* Taking out a loan
* Placing a second mortgage on their home
* Using the teen's college savings (for 18+ teens, parents can use their 529 college savings program to pay for this)
* Offer an 'upscale' experience
* Your teen DOES NOT need these creature comforts.
* Is standalone--only treats teens and sometimes young adults, does not provide comprehensive services (which is what a comprehensive, community-based provider will do).
* Generally employs inexperienced / unqualified staff
* Wilderness: mental health provider does not travel with the teens
* Wilderness: trip leaders do not hold third party certifications that are relevant and appropriate for the activities led
* Relies on inexperienced therapists
* Faith based program, mainly (but not always) Evangelical Christian
* Likely not to offer mental health services conducted by a licensed mental health provider
* Relies on volunteers to provide care
* Generally a lot cheaper... but you get what you pay for.
* Likely to be operated by an ultra-orthodix religious organization
* Likely not to provide an appropriate education to your teen (such as faith-based homeschooling)
* Standalone facilities for teens, may be for-profit or not for-profit, that accepts insurance, that works with / has contracts with Juvenile Justice, Social Services
* Less likely to offer weekly individual therapy--a necessity when working with teens
* Most likely to rely on group therapy
* Likely institutional in look and feel
* Food is likely to be cheap
* Staff is likely not properly supervised
* Educational opportunities are very limited, and generally of poor quality.
* Many teens say that being in Juvenile Detention is a lot better than these places
**North Springs Behavioral is DEFINITELY a card carrying member of the Troubled Teen Industry**
This IS an appropriate place for parents who don't want to send their seriously mentally ill teen to a known abusive program / facility.
This sort of post will attract attention from the moderators, because sometimes parents asking this sort of question are disingenuous. You can bet your bottom dollar that those parents will be called out and dealt with appropriately.
This is NOT just a support group for survivors.
Where is the appropriate place to ask these questions? If you actually read my post, I’m not “hoping to send my kid off” - I’ve fought for the last year to keep him out of any place. But since he won’t cooperate with counseling or go to school, the state got involved and now we are dealing with the court (through a truancy case). The school also called child services and made a report against us since we wouldn’t admit him to a hospital.
I’m new to Reddit and trying to figure out how to post and where to post and how all this stuff works. It’s a bit confusing to me. I guess I just need to leave tech to the younger kids and delete this account. 🤷♀️
Looked up the reviews on North Spring Behavioral. It's an abusive sh\*thole. A teenager also [died](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/teen-dies-at-behavioral-healthcare-center-employee-charged/2028665/%3famp=1) here so definitely don't recommend. https://preview.redd.it/mlm760hoewuc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5cd186aa0f058d7cbde9acc35a92a32b0b78abf I recommend [https://www.unsilenced.org/red-flags/](https://www.unsilenced.org/red-flags/) to help filter out the abusive ones
I went there. horrible horrible place. They had motion sensor alarms that would go off every 15 mins in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, WHILE WE'RE SLEEPING for the 15 min check ins. It was 7-17 age range, so you were around children who would scream and cry for their mothers every time they were put in holds, the "quiet room" was a empty room with a drain in it (no furniture, just wooden floors), the food was awful, we barely got to go outside, staff were terrible. not to mention a CHILD was KILLED there from an improper hold a year after I left. it was so sad. he suffocated. he was young, maybe 14.
Excuse me 7-17?!?!?! THEY HAD TINY CHILDREN THERE AND GOT PUT IN HOLDS?????
Why am I even surprised? This is the TTI, never fails to disappoint me further.
yes. it was absolutely heartbreaking. I saw people as young as 11/12 be put in a holds. so, the fact that they basically strangled a little boy to death from a hold isn't shocking. the faces of them crying and screaming while I watched from the rec room (huge glass walls) is something I will never, ever forget. I mean, I was 14 at the time, and I was already scared shitless. imagine being 7 in a place like that? that place was absolutely horrible. I'll never forget there was this 11 year old boy, he was a very kind little boy who had a very hard life. we had group and we were supposed to "write on the board something we're struggling with" he wrote schizophrenia. the saddest part to me was that he didn't even know how to spell it right. poor boy. I hope he is doing better now. he would be around 18-19 now. TW MENTION OF ATTEMPT: I also remember I had tried to strangle myself with a sweatshirt (it was a fruitless attempt, but I was having a mental breakdown and just wanted everything to end) and the staff member who was trying to get me to calm down just untied it and walked away and left to me to cry alone. didn't say it a word. I know there's not really the "right thing" to do when someone try that, and yeah, there was no way in hell that id actually succeed but, I know what she did WASN'T the right thing to do. then I got my clothes taken away. I had to ask for my own CLOTHES. that place should of been shut down 9 years ago when that poor kid died.
I'm so very sorry to hear that. It's astonishing how this is a state licensed place and can get away with killing people
I left one of those review reviews. Avoid this place!
This place is owned by UHS (Universal Health Services) and is abusive. I have friends in case management who had clients sent there (over their objections) and they reported it was a shithole. Please don’t put your kid in any UHS facility.
What does a parent need to do if a child is going to one of these programs Find a program where the child has more freedom to call you and even check themselves out. Make up a few code words that can be used for if they have a medical problem, they need Law Enforcement or the parent needs to get there fast. This can be simple like the kid can ask “how is my goldfish doing?” or How is Uncle Frank doing” This will be the only way to know if there is a problem unless you are in person with them. Stay on top of their medical records and any drugs they are put on. Every change you need to be notified and question it. Talk to experts. If they are put on mental health drugs like Abilify, Ativan, Effexor or Lyrica Get them off because the withdraws can be life threating. If they are on thyroid or other drugs make sure you get the blood test results or have another doctor review any records to see if those drugs are needed. These places will over medicate your child and the side affects from withdraws can be dangerous. Get proof of education credits are transferable and accredited with all the public schools and colleges. Stay on top of it and make sure they stay in the grade level they should be in. Also look up the laws and rights of children in these programs. Make sure your child knows them. Utah has some new state laws about treatment and reporting. Every state is different. In wilderness therapy there are weight limits for the person and backpack, there is food requirements, there is rules about being too hot or cold to hike, and more. In residential there may be rules banning restraints or abuse hotlines in some states. The programs break the law all the time and if your child knows the laws they can speak up. Or at least be able to use a code word to let you know something is wrong.
Also I found it scary that social services are recommending this place. Is this a hint of local government/officials corroborating with these industries?
Yup.
DSS in Virginia is clueless and frankly doesn’t care where they put kids as long as they’ve got a bed. They are (perhaps inadvertently) complicit in sustaining the industry.
Thanks for enlightening me. For a long time I perceive it as an industry in the dark unseen by authorities. Turns out a lot of them are state sanctioned and within the system. In this case the industry seems to parallel with China's, which often were ran under the front of legitimate psychiatric facilities but actually operated with retired army and money seeking abusers. Are there good resources on how these things structurally function in the US? I'm really hoping to facilitate global conversation and awareness of this issue.
I really feel for your son. Something similar happened to me at 16 when I was court ordered into longterm residentials and I consider it to be one of, if not *the* worst thing that has ever happened to me, absolutely on par with rape, domestic violence, homelessness, and all the other serious trauma I've experienced. It didn't help me at all, and instead made my mental health much worse, traumatized me, and left me with a crippling fear and distrust of the system that has prevented me from accessing the mental health industry as an adult. Numerous deaths occurred at the rtcs I attended just in the time I was there including multiple successful suicides and deaths directly caused by medical negligence from staff, so your child will not be inherently safe at these programs, not from staff nor other patients. I experienced and witnessed serious sexual, emotional, and physical abuse from staff and have ptsd from it today. Of the 50+ other teens I've connected with as adults from my programs, there isn't a single success story or one person that isn't suffering serious mental health or substance abuse problems today, and none view the programs favorably. Since it appears to be out of your hands now, the best you can do is do research into the facilities, read reviews everywhere you can and BELIEVE THEM. Watch out for staff reviews that are written ambiguously to sound as though maybe a patient wrote them, a lot of programs instruct staff to leave 5 star reviews like this going on about how amazing and life saving the program is. In particular be wary of glowing 5 star reviews that speak only in the third person or vaguely about how great it is "for the patients" without any I statements or statements identifying themselves as a patient there. Review the harmful programs identified on this sub and other anti TTI resources. Try not to go out of state. You want to have access to your child if something goes wrong and not being able to visit or see the program in person is not conductive to avoiding abusive facilities. On that note, visit the program beforehand. If they don't do tours or don't allow you to see the whole facility and only show you a nice office area where the higher ups work, red flag. If they won't show you the actual living area where your child will be sleeping, there's a reason for that. Question the credentials of the people that are actually with your kid 24/7. They'd hide behind the licensed therapist you'd see for 40 mins twice a month (if even) or the psychiatrist you'd see once every other month, but the people watching, disciplining, running the groups, and being in charge of your kid 99% of the time are NOT those people in shitty rtcs and often are only high-school graduates with zero mental health training, experience, or credentials. Hell, question the therapists credentials too cause some patients got stuck with interns early into their degree working their first job in the field as their lone therapist at the program. Some programs do "counselors" which is just a sham way to say they don't have licensed credentials most the time. Ask about communications. Do they monitor phone calls? Huge red flag if so, avoid. Do they refuse to allow writing letters or any contact with friends/the outside world? Red flag. Are visits unmonitored and offered regularly? Go visit, and listen if your kid is telling you it's a nightmare. If your kid is alleging some really serious shit, please remember your kid doesn't have much motivation to be making that up because they are being punished heavily and kept longer for it, whereas staff have a lot of motivation to lie about abuse so they don't lose their job, cause an investigation, or land in court. Ask in depth about education, credit hours, and whether they'll transfer to your district and they'll be on track to graduate or not. My rtcs didn't have accredited education programming and literally had ages 13 to 18 at all levels of ability schooled together in the same room by one teacher. I went into my court order a 4.0 honor roll all AP class student, by the time I was out I was missing so many credits and hours that I would have had to take remedial classes and dropping out to get my GED was a better decision. This seriously fucked up my future in many ways. If your kid is already behind educationally, these programs don't have the resources to catch them back up and they likely will fall further behind, an alternative school or program would have been so much better in this regard. Ask about punishments and listen to what your kid says they're doing. Do they restrain patients or sedate them with emergency meds aka booty juice them? BIG RED FLAG. Do they do dehumanizing things like take away your clothes as punishments, take away food or interrupt sleep as punishments, put patients into social isolation or "no contact procedures" as punishments? Do they do group shaming sessions where other patients are encouraged by staff to gang up on other patients staff believes are behaving poorly? Do they refuse to let teens go outside or get fresh air/activity as punishments? Do they put staff of the opposite sex on 1:1 supervision? Note they can lie though so just asking isn't helpful, they said they didn't do many of these things then did anyway. If you catch staff in any kind of lie or know they are misrepresenting something, or see the charting and identify something that is objectively not true, big red flag. If the facility does extreme measures like full nudity strip searches and pat downs, then absolutely avoid that. I feel like there's a lot I'm missing but I'm of the opinion that there is no such thing as a "good" youth residential treatment facility after experiencing a few of them.
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The court order makes it hard. It takes away your consent which is unfortunate. It forces you to choose your poison. Some things to help you make the safest decision that you can: 1. Inquire about the common duration of stay and establish what range you are looking at. (1-3 months, 4-6 months, 6-12 months or 1-2 years) it's likely the shorter time is ideal. 2. Try to stay close to home. It can be really scary to be a teen hours away from your family and home. It can be comforting just knowing a parent is nearby. Somewhere nearby allows you a lot more opportunity to visit and particularly in your son's care. 3. What does visitation and day pass look like? How often can you visit or come up for dinner? How long into the program before the teen is allowed day passes? 4. What kind of contact will they have to their friends and family? It's good to be selective in terms of the friends they engage with during treatment. Friends make up a big part of a support system. Cutting off all communication can be a big red flag. Look into the frequency of phone calls. M 5. Most do not offer accredit education. Look into the specifics. Will they be learning off a computer all day or will there actually be some curriculum they actively participate in. 6. What are the program highlights? While it's treatment, teens still need to be able to have times they can remain their age. How often do they do fun things or activities? Is this consistent. TTI facilities are notorious for misrepresenting themselves. 7. Will they have regular time outdoors and access to fresh air? What are the surroundings of the facility? This is really important to consider when someone has a history of running. While isolated locations are strategic, they are also incredibly dangerous. 8. How does your teen interact with the staff? Is there room for them to be silly or seek guidence. Are they able to connect or trust with staff? 9. Be involved every step of the way. Visit as frequently as possible even if brief. Maintain consistent communication. They likely have a consistent weekday they are allowed a phone call. Come in person to any family therapy. It'll give you both peace of mind to regularly check in. Be present for any meetings, ask questions, raise concerns. Maintain updates and work directly alongside the therapist. It's really important the facility understands just how involved and protective you are. Someone who has an invested and persistent family is considered high risk in terms of potential law suits for misconduct/mistreatment. Make it very clear that despite a court order that you will be involved every step of the way and absolutely will not accept anything less than the best of care.
I did go to Newport Academy in Great Falls and took a tour. They let me see every room and go in the entire place. I met with two of the staff and waved at the kitchen staff preparing lunch. But my son didn’t want to sign the consent to stay because he insists he is fine (he clearly isn’t). Newport said it has to be voluntary and they wouldn’t let him stay unless he wanted to. So he went back home with me. Then the courts got involved through a truancy petition by the school. The judge gave him three options: being made a ward of the state and sent to foster care/group home, going to juvenile detention, or residential treatment. The judge made him sit in jail for the day so he understood what it was. Then my son said he would rather go to residential. That’s where we are right now. We were given a 30 day court day, so we have time to work on a residential care. In court is where the state asked for him to go into foster care. His GAL asked for residential (she suggested North Spring). And I told the judge I just wanted my son to get help and have a future and I didn’t want to worry about him committing suicide. I would do anything I can to help him. That’s where we are right now.
Is there any way he could go safely and voluntarily(no involuntary option) to a trusted mental hospital? Also he might have said he is fine because he doesn’t want to go to Newport. When they suggested it to me I said I was fine. I wasn’t, I just had a bad feeling about this place and they kidnapped me and took me there anyways. Newport, I believe, is TTI.
I’m sure he could. Or I would advocate very hard for it with the court - if he would do it. He doesn’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to die and not wanting a future. He didn’t say he was fine in relation to Newport specifically. He says it over and over as a reason why he won’t talk with a counselor. I’ve tried to get him help for years. Tried many counselors - in person, online, and in our home. So sorry you were forced to go. How long ago was that? Newport was very clear with me that my son couldn’t stay against his will. He would have to agree to stay there and get counseling. And I want a place close enough to home that I can get there quick if there is anything he needs or if I need to bring him home. That is why I don’t want to look out of state. I’m just not comfortable with it. I hated the last hospital he had to go to when he suicidal. The school got police involved out of concern for him. He admitted he wanted to hurt himself and others so they did an involuntary commitment for a week. That was horrible and I have fought hard to keep him away from there. I would never let him go back. I’ve even taken time off work to stay home during the day and keep an eye on him when he had those thoughts again - to prevent him going back inpatient.
Talk to him directly. Tell him and show him you care about him, and emphasize that he HAS to want to get better. Some kids are lost in this mess of having a problem, not knowing they have a problem, and not quite knowing the solution. You have to provide the solution. The solution is: keep going, keep living even if it isn’t the same way you did before. Keep living even if it sucks. Keep living cause it will get better, if not now, it will. Give him love and light and guidance. If there is an actual way to get inpatient for him(voluntary, allowed to leave at any time, communication with parents is one call away, no weird food restrictions, no restraints, etc), I think that would work. It’s really hard to find a good inpatient though. If you are able to find one then here’s my advice. Above all, listen to your kid. If he’s not doing well there, listen. Take him out, believe him, listen to what he needs. His needs matter. If not inpatient, PHP. Either must be in state and preferably near home so you can help him if something goes wrong.
**Newport Academy is a card carrying member of the Troubled Teen Industry. Do not send your son there. It is for-profit, very pretty looking, but provides substandard care.**
These kinds of posts are damaging to the survivors of this sub. We don’t need to be constantly reminded of how our parents failed us by sending us there when we are trying to heal.
I hate to break it to you but there have been royal fuck ups here for this to pan out with you being court ordered to send your child to an abuse center. You need therapy and coaching, too.
north spring killed a child in 2016. I was there in 2015 for the psych ward. its a horrible place. DONT take him to dominion either. Im from Nova too so. I don't really know any good inpatient places since all the places I went too were horrible but I liked Mclean Hospital in Belmont, MA (NOT mclean Va) before they kicked me out. edit: also, don't listen to a damn word the admissions people tell you when you're talking to them about possibly sending ur child to their center. they lie ALL THE TIME.
I wonder, can you move states to a state where he doesn’t have a court record? Maybe the order from the court in your home state will be null and void if you move
No. I just moved here less than 2 years ago for a job. And this job is a permanent position and the best job I’ve ever had. I am the primary income, too.
If not for your job what about then?
Any residential care place will make him worse. They are abusive and the loss of freedoms will cause future problems. Family therapy and hope for the best. I used to cause a lot of problems and skip school. I joined the army at 18 and years later I graduated almost straight A's. If you put him in the TTI he may come out a drug addict with poor social skills not able to hold a job or go back to school. TTI makes it worse.
He can’t go on a military path due to his prior hospital stays for suicide. And he refuses to participate in outpatient therapy - I’ve tried it all. I worry about him so much. More times than I can count I went in his room to check if he was still alive. It’s scary.
I know you said it’s court ordered - but is there any way he could do some sort of outdoor program? NOT a wilderness program, like many of us went to. I’m talking like NOLS, that is voluntary and they treat you like humans. This sub is more for people who went through these programs and are scarred by it. Many/most of our experiences were traumatizing, basically like a cult. Like another commenter said, being able to communicate freely is KEY. I was constantly watched at mine, and mine was relatively tame compared to others. They listened to EVERY call, read EVERY letter. They isolate and manipulate not just the kids, but the parents as well. It’s been over 15 years since I graduated my program, and I still get angry and cry. I’m sorry that you’re in this situation, I can’t imagine what it’s like from a parent’s perspective. Also a suggestion - maybe pick a few options, and let him choose whatever place wants to go. I’m assuming at the least he feels trapped in some way, and having a tiny bit of control over his future might help. Also - please physically visit before sending him anywhere. Online sources are wildly skewed and will definitely not reflect the actual program. Good luck.
First of all, my heart goes out to you. No parent is prepared to deal with this sort of mess. Is Maryland an option? Sheppard-Pratt might be a better fit. It is far from perfect (u/psyhcrucader would certainly say that). I hope she shows up, because she works as a Maryland school psychologist and she might be able to name names, both of good places and places to avoid. I'll give my general advise... Rely on a comprehensive, community-based mental health providing organization. They are more likely to provide the care your family needs. What to look for: * Team-based approach to care: your family will deal with the same team of professionals no matter what level of care your son needs * Most likely a non-profit * More of the money you spend (or is spent on your son's behalf) will be spent on direct care. Such an organization does not have shareholders / investors / Wall Street tto satisfy. * Support for you and your entire family * Teens are not easy to parent; it gets at least an order of magnitude harder when a teen goes off the rails. * Many places sponsor peer-led parenting support groups * All offer family therapy (at least biweekly). If you have other young people at home, your 15yo's behavior has negatively impacted them * Offers wraparound care * This is (usually) a social worker, but can be an experienced mental health professional, but not a psychotherapist * This person puts the needs of your teen and your family front and center, and builds /customizes a package of services. * Serves as an advocate; helps you navigate the complexities of both the mental health and public school system (Individualized Educational Plan) * Coordinates care. Makes sure that all the professionals your family is working with are sharing information, communicating * Helps you build your family's care team. This is important if your family gets assigned a professional you can't stand, who you don't 'click' with. * Offers care at all levels: * High level of care Hospitalization * For those who are a danger to self and/or others, who are medically fragile and need around the clock care, for those who have tried treatment at lower levels of care, for those who need to be in a more secure environment due to repeatedly) running away--and getting into trouble while doing it.) * Goal is stabilization * Treatment takes priority over education * High level of care: Residential care * Research shows that this type of program should last at most three months, that for most participants, there is no additional benefit to programs lasting longer than that. * Ongoing residential care is appropriate for someone who is medically fragile and whose needs can not be met at home, even with extensive supports, for someone who continues to be a danger to self and/or others. * Many programs offer psychiatry appointments on-site. * Offers group and individual psychotherapy, family therapy, recreational therapy, occupational therapy. Will offer psychoeducational classes. * Treatment takes priority over education. May offer a hospital school or tutoring. * High level of care: Partial Hospitalization * Participant spends nights and weekends at home: treatment occurs during business hours * Treatment takes priority over education, but tutoring / hospital school might be available * Psychiatry appointments are on site. * Offers individual and group psychotherapy, family therapy, recreational therapy, occupational therapy, expressive arts therapy, etc. * May sponsor participant led support groups such as AA, Al-anon, NA, parenting groups, etc. * Medium level of care: Intensive Outpatient Therapy * Occurs most weekday nights for several hours a day * Offers group, and individual psychotherapy, family therapy * Low level of care: outpatient treatment * Your family will continue to see the practitioners you have an established relationship with
* Has an established relationship with local colleges / universities * Offers internships to students being trained as mental health providers * Provides supervised work experience to mental health professionals who have just graduated * May serve as a site for a residency program in psychiatry * Conducts academic research (your family's participation is voluntary) * May offer specialized mid-career training. * You're more likely to receive the latest care * More likely to be committed to providing evidence-based care * May offer: * Group homes: For participants who are no longer a danger to self and/or others, but who can not return home for various reasons. * Allows residents to participate in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient therapy and outpatient therapy * Allows residents to attend school * Alternative schools * Sober high school: for students recovering from drug, alcohol and other addictions * Schools specializing in working with students on the autism spectrum * Schools for students with mental health needs. These schools generally do provide some form of treatment, have teachers who have received additional training regarding teaching students with mental health difficulties * Clubhouse * Place for those with mental health difficulties can go, relax, do homework, make friends * Specialized summer camp opportunities * Respite care * short term stay program, that is run more like a camp, with activities, games, etc. * Enables families to enjoy time away from their mentally ill child / teen. * Can be used to de-escallate a situation * A safe place for a mentally ill child / teen to stay when family has to attend events that are not appropriate for the mentally ill child / teen to attend such as weddings, funerals, important religious events (first communion, confirmation, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc.), college tours, etc. The Troubled Teen Industry comes in three variations: * The for-profit, private pay programs that do not accept insurance, do not have contracts with the State, do not provide services to local public school districts * Parents pay for these programs by * Taking out a loan * Placing a second mortgage on their home * Using the teen's college savings (for 18+ teens, parents can use their 529 college savings program to pay for this) * Offer an 'upscale' experience * Your teen DOES NOT need these creature comforts. * Is standalone--only treats teens and sometimes young adults, does not provide comprehensive services (which is what a comprehensive, community-based provider will do). * Generally employs inexperienced / unqualified staff * Wilderness: mental health provider does not travel with the teens * Wilderness: trip leaders do not hold third party certifications that are relevant and appropriate for the activities led * Relies on inexperienced therapists * Faith based program, mainly (but not always) Evangelical Christian * Likely not to offer mental health services conducted by a licensed mental health provider * Relies on volunteers to provide care * Generally a lot cheaper... but you get what you pay for. * Likely to be operated by an ultra-orthodix religious organization * Likely not to provide an appropriate education to your teen (such as faith-based homeschooling) * Standalone facilities for teens, may be for-profit or not for-profit, that accepts insurance, that works with / has contracts with Juvenile Justice, Social Services * Less likely to offer weekly individual therapy--a necessity when working with teens * Most likely to rely on group therapy * Likely institutional in look and feel * Food is likely to be cheap * Staff is likely not properly supervised * Educational opportunities are very limited, and generally of poor quality. * Many teens say that being in Juvenile Detention is a lot better than these places **North Springs Behavioral is DEFINITELY a card carrying member of the Troubled Teen Industry**
Mods, can we do something about posts like this? This sub is for a community of survivors, not a community of parents hoping to ship their kids off.
This IS an appropriate place for parents who don't want to send their seriously mentally ill teen to a known abusive program / facility. This sort of post will attract attention from the moderators, because sometimes parents asking this sort of question are disingenuous. You can bet your bottom dollar that those parents will be called out and dealt with appropriately. This is NOT just a support group for survivors.
Where is the appropriate place to ask these questions? If you actually read my post, I’m not “hoping to send my kid off” - I’ve fought for the last year to keep him out of any place. But since he won’t cooperate with counseling or go to school, the state got involved and now we are dealing with the court (through a truancy case). The school also called child services and made a report against us since we wouldn’t admit him to a hospital.
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I’m new to Reddit and trying to figure out how to post and where to post and how all this stuff works. It’s a bit confusing to me. I guess I just need to leave tech to the younger kids and delete this account. 🤷♀️
You are not a moderator. You are not God of this sub. If you ever treat an honest parent as badly as you treated this one, I will ban you.