Referral-Free Zone: Buyer Beware of Businesses Exploiting Children and Families
Victims, Moms, and Advocates Join Forces to Expose Fraud and Child Abuse in a Booming Billion Dollar Industry
After operating separately for years, a group of survivors, moms, authors, and advocates have joined forces against child abuse in privately operated children’s programs. The group emphasizes that parents looking for family help, especially over the Internet, have no idea that agents and programs are operating without federal oversight.
The “wolves in sheep’s clothing” begin with the self-described parent “resource experts” and referral agents. “No one is federally regulating or reigning in these businesses,” claims Shelby Earnshaw, who operates International Survivor’s Action Committee (ISAC). According to the coalition, the self-described "parent resource expert" or agent may frighten a parent looking for help for his or her child with descriptions of one bad residential program, only to lure the parent into another, from which the so-called "expert" is making big money.
ISAC is a watchdog organization that warns parents, collects evidence, and reports child abuse to authorities about privately operated children’s programs and those who refer to such programs. Ms. Earnshaw should know—she was a victim herself. Now an adult, with a family of her own, Ms. Earnshaw has dedicated her life to exposing the proliferation of fraudulent residential children’s programs. “Many times the best help for the money is near home. We are here to at least warn parents about the unethical practices of self-described resource experts and referral agents.”
Some referral organizations tout their membership with the Better Business Bureau, claiming they are “parents helping parents,” while, in fact, they are uneducated in relevant fields of child development or disorders from which children may be suffering. In reality, these Internet savvy companies are marketing experts --making their businesses traps for honest, but unwitting parents.
Thus far, such businesses are operating with impunity because there are no federal standards by which to regulate and punish them when they go too far. Ms. Earnshaw states, “It is not uncommon for skilled agents to talk parents into moving their children across state lines and even out of the country. The parents needing help may be under severe pressure and these companies take advantage of the parents’ vulnerable state of mind.”
In starkest contrast, the REFERRAL FREE ZONE is designed to provide information from researchers, authors, advocates, and parents who have no financial interest whatsoever in referring to children’s programs. “It’s not uncommon for the operators of these programs to lie about the fact they are receiving fees. There are also no federal laws requiring ‘parent resource experts’ or agents to reveal child abuse or neglect that has occurred at the programs they have just referred someone to—it’s buyer beware, at its height."
One program may refer to another, with the parent not understanding the connection between the two companies. The sites all look very different from one another, giving the appearance they are independent of one another. “This is an obvious conflict of interest,” says Ms. Earnshaw. “We know of cases where owners are up on criminal charges or in the middle of criminal investigations for child abuse, but the ‘expert or agent’ turns a blind eye because they may be friends with the owners and they have been paid. It’s very dangerous for children.”
According to the Referral-Free Zone, the latest trend is to “appear” to advocate, while referring to another company that earns money. Ms. Earnshaw explains, “Since people have gotten wind of the for-profit referral business, referrers are now teaming up with ‘child advocates.’ These ‘advocates’ will gladly tell you how awful a particular facility is, and direct you to someone who will help you find an alternative, which happens to be a business in which they have an interest in one way or another.”
The Referral-Free Zone only allows dedicated members who do not refer to children’s programs. The coalition is committed to advocating and creating true public awareness about the increasing popularity of using our children as business commodities.
ISAC said the strength of the Referral-Free Zone’s will be through the Internet, books, and films, as well as political and media campaigns. “Our power is growing and we will not stop until meaningful action is taken to regulate this dangerous private industry. The Referral-Free Zone will unify our efforts to educate and advocate.”
(PURE, Sue Scheff, CAICA, Isabelle Zehnder, Whitmore Academy, Focal Point Academy, Hidden Lake Academy, WWASPS, CEDU, Straight, Inc., Kids Helping Kids, Hyde, Elan, etc.)
BOY DIES AFTER ALTERCATION WITH STAFF AT JUVENILE REHABILITATION CENTER
Two civil liberties organizations are calling for an independent investigation into the November 18, 2006 death of a 15-year-old Bronx boy who was incarcerated at the Tryon Boys Juvenile Rehabilitation Center.
Isaiah Simmons (17) died during a struggle with staff at the Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Baltimore, Maryland. According to the chief public defender youths at Bowling Brook watched as staffers sat on Simmons for three hours until he passed out and died.
Timothy Joe Souders (21) had been placed in solitary at the Southern Michigan Correctional Center where he was physically restrained for 17 hours. On August 6th, he was released to take a "shower" but collapsed and died. An autopsy found that he died from hyperthermia, with dehydration as a contributing factor.
March 15, 2007: Saying it was the "right thing to do", Florida Gov. Charlie Crist asked state legislators recently to authorize a $5 million settlement to the parents of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson who died of suffocation at a Bay County boot camp last January, allegedly at the hands of sheriff's officers.
It's a desperate situation for many parents -- their child is unruly, rebellious, and out-of-control, and they don't know where to turn. Many find hope in private schools that promise a "faith based" program. In Florida, these private schools are allowed to operate with virtually no state oversight - just like in most states across America. "We just want to save these little girls," says 27-year-old Jennifer Connolly as she stands outside Victory Christian Academy protesting the private, faith-based school.
TEEN SUICIDE AND PREVENTION - HELP IS JUST A CLICK AWAY!
Suicidal thoughts and feelings usually occur when one’s experience of psychological pain exceeds one’s resources for coping with it. Suicidal thoughts, feelings and impulses are most often due to untreated or under treated clinical depression. Fortunately, depression responds very well to treatment and suicide is now preventable. For important information and resources to help you or someone you know who may be struggling with depression and/or suicide ideations.
A few years ago, Lynn Paddock sought Christian advice on how to discipline her growing brood of adopted children.
March 16, 2006 I North Carolina I A Johnston County mother accused of murdering Sean, her 4-year-old adopted son, and beating two other adopted children -- surfed the Internet, said her attorney, Michael Reece. She found literature by an evangelical minister and his wife who recommended using plumbing supply lines to spank misbehaving children.
The former governor's connections to abusive "tough love" camps
Maia Szalavitz | June 27, 2007
When Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he’d support doubling the size of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, he was trying to show voters that he’d be tough on terror. Two of his top fundraisers, however, have long supported using tactics that have been likened to torture for troubled teenagers.
Resources for Survivors of Residential Treatment Abuse
Facility Watchlist I Discussion Boards I Volunteer I Report Abuse I Database
Books
"Over the GW,” written and directed by Nick Gaglia, is a poignant story based on his experience in a cult-like rehab. This film exposes corrupt rehabilitation centers which prey upon vulnerable teens and their parents and are still widespread throughout the world. Tony (George Gallagher) and Sofia (Kether Donohue) are two troubled teenage siblings from the Bronx. Out of options, their mother brings them over the GW Bridge to a rehab in Jersey. What is meant to be a 30 day stay turns into a traumatic 2 ½ years in which Tony and Sofia experience abuse, brainwashing, and false imprisonment. The director of the program, Dr. Hiller (Albert Insinnia) leads Tony and Sofia to believe this is the only institution that will keep them sober and if they leave they will die -- instead, the siblings enter into a psychological and physical struggle for their lives!
