This page represents a mixture of people with a focus primarily on empowerment of those who have been harmed by the unregulated behavior modification industry and seeking to take action in support of protecting youth who are institutionalized.
We come from all walks of life, but what we share is that we have been hurt (or know of someone who has) by this growing for-profit industry and will stop at nothing to have our voices heard, and to help protect future generations from going through these same traumatizing experiences.
We feel strongly that youth, like adults, should be afforded the right to being protected from harm and that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure this happens.
We value youth who are struggling from behavioral, emotional and mental health issues as humans who need care, NOT COERCION, and must be empowered and have the right to have their voices heard.
Congresional Hearings on "Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing Practices of Residential Programs" - Testimony of Jon Martin-Crawford
Hearings (Committee on Education and Labor) on "Cases of Child Neglect and Abuse at Private Residential Treatment Facilities October 2007 Testimony by Dr. Allison Pinto Testimony Bob Bacon, father of Aaron Bacon
GAO Report Testimony
Music
We are slowly making our way to get representation in all 50 states and/or recruiting volunteers who wish to focus on activism on a particular state, and/or our national campaign... thus far we have some (minimal) representation in Seattle WA, Utah, Florida, & New York.
There is a documentary about Tranquility Bay somewhere floating around, while we are unable to provide you with a link, we know there's a copy in internet world.
OVER THE G.W. - Based on a True Story
Television
BBC News on America's Tough Love Industry
Escuela Caribe - New Horizons Youth Ministries
......
Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) is a member-driven organization in support of the protection of the human rights of institutionalized youth experiencing behavioral, emotional and mental health challenges.
VISION:
The members of CAFETY envision the day that no young person is harmed in the name of treatment and when youth are empowered to be equal partners in their own care.
VALUES:
We, as CAFETY members, have been moved to act by our having suffered egregious human rights violations in residential placement. Others in this community alliance have come to know the suffering of those who have been confined in such programs and are moved to act as well.
1. As individuals who have been placed in some type of residential setting as youth, we acknowledge that present policies to address the needs of youth struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges are inadequate in both scope and reach.
2. We advocate for measures that would effectively help youth and families remain together and find treatment in their community.
3. We recognize that some youth are inappropriately institutionalized and seek to prevent this type of institutionalization and segregation from the community.
4. We also believe that, in the event youth are placed in an out-of-home setting appropriately, the basic human rights of youth must be protected by the state.
5. Appropriate care includes protection from harm, and access to treatment that is transparent, collaborative, and non-coercive. It also means holding providers accountable for the outcomes of the treatment that they provide.
As the War on Drugs continues to fill America's prisons with nonviolent offenders, many cities and states are looking at mandatory treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Although treatment is generally preferable to prison, not all methods of treating drug addiction are the same. Some methods, particularly the "tough love" programs aimed at teens and adolescents, have documented records of mental abuse, physical abuse, and even death.
In her new book, Help at Any Cost, Maia Szalavitz takes a critical look at the history, controversy, and effectiveness of "tough love" rehabilitation programs. Blending personal stories and anecdotes with the detached narrative of a reporter, Szalavitz paints a troubling picture of the increasingly popular "get tough" approach to drug abuse.
Who I'd like to meet: We are seeking to include more individuals interested in using their knowledge and experience for advocacy work to:
educate the public, policy makers, and legislators
to change policy and enact laws to that end.
We are receptive to all types of supporters. You could have been in a facility yourself, know someone who has, or just be a caring person who recognizes the validity of our cause and with a desire to help!
CHAT HERE! - please be patient, loading may take a moment
ive been home for quite a while now i went there@16 i am now 22 married and i have a beautiful little boy.But i still have nightmares about that place(literally) i spend 4 of my 8months there in either intervention or op.i was also constantily harrased by the upper levels specially when i was still"resisting"the program.NEways i was happy when i found this page becasue no matter how hard ppl try to understand they cant till they've been in a program themselves.. ...Much <3 4all the kids still in these programs.And 4the parents, i am now a mother and i am also one of these kids from the program i spent 8mo of my life in hell.At 16yrs old i went through the HARDEST part of my life ALONE
I just wanted to thank you for all that yall are doing. Just knowing that you exist makes me feel better about the time I had to spend at Mount Bachelor Academy. (2001-2003) My hope is that one day, they will be regulated and monitored so that no one will have to endure what I experienced there. If yall need anything, I am always willing to help!
i went to pine ridge. i couldnt trust all of the staff who were all related to each other. i think they were more concerned about religion and money. they had a job through a family network. they were more concerned about thier mormon families to raise a leave it to beaver lifestyle. true happiness is not earned by money nor god. therfore pine ridge's staff had no place to help someone because they were also confused them selves. although, utah is a perfect geographical pin point of insecurity. utah has the highest depression, failed marriage, and drug use. therfore they turn to god (an illusion) for help. the only people who can help define your character is yourself. i think people worry way to much about others opionions. that is why humans fail in life. i felt that the staff were more worried about lettind robyn down because they were relatives. because of self worry they acted upon selfishness , which effected us
hey, thank you for the add..I attended Mt. Bachelor Academy 02-03' and was finally kicked out after 18 months to spend another 6 months in Draper, UT at Youthcare/Pineridge..I just want to say thank you for the support and evrything you are doing for all of us:)
