Name

Unit/Position

HEAL SPECIAL REPORT:

HERITAGE YOUTH SERVICES

APPLICATION PACKET REVIEW

The Heritage Youth Services Application Packet made available to HEAL is incomplete.  It does not include details of the programs or the programs' level system(s).  There are a few areas of concern that have arisen in regards to the application itself.  Throughout this review, We will be alternating between "quoted text" from pages of Heritage Youth Services' (HYS) Admissions Packet (as was downloaded from birdseyertc.com on September 25th, 2010) and HEAL's questions/concerns.  HEAL will not repeatedly link to the Admissions Packet in full throughout this review, and, we advise readers to scroll back and/or open the Admissions Packet in a new window while reviewing our work for accuracy or if additional contextualization is preferred.  This is an independent review and if you are in need of legal assistance or advice, please consult with an attorney. 

Admissions Packet (Page 1)

"Is the non-custodial parent going to be involved in the student's treatment at Stara?"

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

Birdseye RTC is not an accredited school in Utah.  Heritage Youth Services and Stara are not accredited by the Department of Education in Utah.  In addition, the application seems to imply a general application for all Heritage Youth Services programs.  A concern is that Birdseye RTC claims to only treat boys, while the application refers to all students as "she" throughout the application.  This suggests, in the least, unprofessionalism in business practices.  It also appears to be misleading to call enrolled children "students" when the program is not accredited by the Utah Department of Education.

Admissions Packet (Page 2)

"Is there anything significant, unusual, or stressful about the student's relationship with their mother?"

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

The above question is repeatedly asked regarding each family member or applicable family member.  The question seems fairly vague and without the child's input would not produce an effective evaluation of the child being considered for placement.

Admissions Packet (Page 4)

"Heritage Youth Services, does not bill insurance companies.  However, we will provide documentation the parent/guardian requests to be sent to the insurance company for the purposes of billing."

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

This portion of the contract is contradicted on page 20.  See page 20 for more information.

Admissions Packet (Pages 5-7, & 9 )

"TREATMENT GOALS"

"What are your goals and objectives for the student while they are at HYS?"

"Please describe the overall personality of your child in the following three phases:...Birth to Six years of age...Seven to Twelve years of age...Thirteen years of age to present..."

"Has your family experienced any financial difficulties?  If yes, how have these difficulties impacted your family?"

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

The primary issue HEAL has with the "treatment goals" section is that these assessments exclude the child and take the parent's assessments as accurate without further data or professional assessment.  It is all very subjective.  Also, why does the program need to know about the family finances?  This question does not appear on most assessment forms and may be a screening question regarding a family's ability to pay.

Admissions Packet (Pages 11-13 )

"Do they seem to be more sensitive than most?"

"Do you think your child has an immediate and often immense emotional reaction to life events?"

"Does it seem that it takes your child longer than most to get over emotional reactions?"

"Can your child get all her tasks done when she's in a good mood, but accomplish very little when she's in a bad mood?"

"Does your student exhibit low self-esteem or lack self-confidence?"

"Has your child been sexually active?"

"Has your student had any changes in behavior and/or mood?"

"Has your student had any abnormal thoughts?"

"Has your student demonstrated violent, aggressive, cult, or gang-related behavior?"

"Please describe any history of lying, dishonesty, or deceit"

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

The first few questions appear to be taken from a questionnaire on "cutting" or "self-mutilation".  This is a concern since Birdseye RTC claims to be a treatment center for boys with "sexual behavioral problems".  How do these other questions help assess a child's need for sexual behavioral intervention?  Also, the questions are very subjective, and, when answered by someone with a strained relationship with the individual being evaluated, inconclusive and not an accurate tool for assessment.  Many times when people are at fault for hurting the feelings of others, they think the other person is taking too long to "get over it".  Often, the ability to cope with emotional difficulties is cultivated over time and through the process of experiencing life.  If people remember their own development into maturity, it may help them understand that what their children are doing/experiencing is normal and not in need of intervention.  Young adults need guidance and encouragement, not judgment and punishment. 

Moodiness, shyness, and other issues are common experiences of teenagers and children going through normal stages of development.  These are not "signs" of mental illness and again, these questions are too subjective and unhelpful if not directed to the child/individual being assessed or an unbiased third-party. 

Depending on the state and age of the child being assessed, it may be perfectly legal for him/her and within his/her rights to engage in sexual activity.  See www.heal-online.org/teenrights.htm for information on the legal age of consent and more.  It is unethical and possibly illegal to confine someone to an RTC for exercising his/her legal rights.  And, parents should really think about that and the message they are sending to their children by abusing their authority in this manner.

Teenagers are going through many changes and will likely try on many "hats" to see what they want for their future.  This is a normal part of growing up.  And, in trying on those "hats", their mood, style, and behavior may change.  Also, everyone's moods and behaviors change every day and all day.  Waking behavior differs from sleeping behavior.  Walking is a different behavior from scrubbing the bathtub.  Reading is a different behavior than watching television.  And, happy because one won a game of chess is a different mood than sad because a loved one passed away.  But, all of these are normal responses to one's environment under the given environmental circumstances and all should be taken into account before trying to make amateur judgments about a child's or any individual's personality or state of mind.

What is an "abnormal thought"?  Some families think Catholicism is an "abnormal" thought.  Some think Atheism is an "abnormal" thought.  Some think wearing blue lipstick is an "abnormal" thought/behavior.  But, what is abnormal to one, if legal to do, should be accepted as normal self-expression and encouraged as an American value.  What does HYS mean by "abnormal thought"?

What does HYS mean by "cult"?  Would HYS consider itself a "cult"?  If not, why? 

Deception and lying are serious issues.  But, parents should also consider if they have been honest with their children and/or if their child is omitting things out of a desire or need for additional privacy and respect.  If parents do not create an environment in which the child feels safe to be honest without fear of punishment or judgment, then the child is likely going to keep secrets.  For parenting help, see www.heal-online.org/parent.htm.   

Admissions Packet (Pages 14 & 16-18)

"Please describe your child's relationships with peers and friends."

"Do you have any concerns about the peers your student associates with?"

"How may close friends would you say your student has?"

"Does your student have any special needs related to gender, age, sexual orientation, culture, religion, nationality, race or ethnic identity?"

"Does your student have a chosen religion preference?"

"Does the student believe in a higher power?  Is the family or your student involved in spiritual pursuits?"

"Describe your student's attitude towards school."

"Has your student EVER been hospitalized for any reason?"

"What is your student's history with taking medications? (overdosing, refusing to take, randomly skips doses..)"

"Is your student currently experiencing any side-effects from their current medication regimen or have they experienced any side-effects with medications in the past?"

"Has your student been on her current medications long enough to be stabilized?"

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

The first three inquiries above are very subjective and unlikely to be known by a parent who is so dissociated from his/her child that they are seeking this intrusive of an intervention. 

The next three inquiries are also a concern.  What does HYS mean by "special needs" in regards to gender, race, religion, etc.?  Also, spirituality and religion are very personal matters that are best left to the individual seeking or interested in religion and/or spiritual growth.  It is inappropriate and unlikely that a parent who is dissociated from his/her child would even know or be able to effectively answer the spiritual interests of their child. 

A student's attitude regarding school can be affected by many factors including bullying, abuse of power by authorities, and inappropriate assessment and placement of the child in too remedial or too advanced classes leading to difficulties.  A student's attitude alone should never be the basis of deciding the child's aptitude for scholastic achievement.  This questions is far too subjective and in not involving the child, again creates an area of serious concern.

Children are generally hospitalized when they are born in hospitals.  What does HYS mean by "hospitalized"?  What instances of hospitalization are they referring to and do they only mean to infer psychiatric commitment?

Medicating children with psychoactive medications is extremely dangerous and ought to be avoided.  Please see our parenting guide for more information on the dangers of medicating children.  Readers may also find a search of the HEAL site for information on psychoactive medications useful. 

In addition, determining if something is a side-effect or not should be left to qualified professionals and/or be directly addressed with the child.  One of HEAL's coordinators was taking hormonal birth control prescribed by a physician.  When she was on this birth control, her skin broke out with acne and psoriasis and she gained over 100 pounds in 4 months.  She did not change her activity level (except to increase her exercise activities when the pounds began to add up) and ate a strict vegetarian diet free of most "fatty foods".  The only explanation for this was the introduction of the hormonal birth control medication.  Her physician, in order to avoid a lawsuit and other liability, claimed that her skin condition and weight gain were not caused by the medication.  This was even though such side-effects were common to that medication, even though commonly to a lesser degree.  Determining what is and is not a side-effect someone is experiencing is a very personal issue and should be discussed directly with the medicated individual.  The medicated individual is in the best position to explain how the medication is interacting with them physically and otherwise. (i.e. increasing suicidal thoughts, etc.)   The "assessment" by the parent of their child in this manner is not likely to result an accurate data or information for further assessment.

Admissions Packet (Page 20)

"For the purpose of paying all or part of monies owing to Heritage Youth Services for services it has or will render to above patient, the undersigned hereby irrevocably assigns to Heritage Youth Services any payments payable for the benefit of said patient by the above insurance company or companies and all rights and interest in said policy but only to the extent necessary to pay Heritage Youth Services in full.  Undersigned agrees to accept liability for payment of the full amount of all monies billed by Heritage Youth Services as a result of rendering services to the above mentioned patient...Undersigned understands that the nature of patient's disability may be such that no benefit payments will be payable under the policy specified above...In the event that collection efforts are undertaken by Heritage Youth Services to enforce any of the terms of this agreement, all expenses associated therewith, including reasonable attorney's fees will be paid by the undersigned."

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

We have included the above to show that Heritage requests the insurance information and implies that they will attempt to bill the insurance company directly.  This seems to contradict page 4 of the application.  Heritage Youth Services is licensed to provide Outpatient Treatment.  However, Birdseye RTC is licensed solely as a Residential Treatment program.  Utah defines "residential treatment program" as "a 24-hour group living environment for four or more individuals unrelated to the owner or provider in accordance with Subsection 62A-2-101(15)." (from www.rules.utah.gov, September 22nd, 2010) 

Here is how the law defines "Residential Treatment Center" in relation to Interstate Compact Placement Request forms (purpose of inclusion is to show Federal definitions of Residential Treatment Center):

"Residential Treatment Center: a group care facility which provides a specific treatment program outside the realm of a medical hospital, psychiatric hospital or institution for the mentally retarded or mentally ill; e.g., a residential program for the treatment of alcohol/drug abuse. The receiving state is not obligated to supervise this type of placement made by the sending state." (Taken from ocfs.state.ny.us on September 20th, 2010)

It is a concern because it is unclear if there is any legitimate oversight of Birdseye RTC by the Department of Human Services.  Also, if your child's "disability" isn't covered by insurance, it most likely is not a legitimate "disability" and does not warrant this type of invasive intervention.

Admissions Packet (Pages 21-24)

"Please mark or highlight any symptom that your student has displayed in the past year or that you are worried about.  Some symptoms are listed twice-please mark you answer twice because the symptoms are grouped according to diagnosis and it will assist our clinicians in the diagnostic process."

"Irritable mood"

"Indecisiveness"

"Low self-esteem"

"Inflated self-esteem"

"Defiant behavior"

"Often feels restless"

"IQ Below 70"  "IQ between 71-84"

"All visits must be pre-approved by your therapist and the treatment team...Visits are contingent on your student's advancement in the program."

"Calling privileges are according to the Program."

"Mail privileges are according to the program."

HEAL's Questions/Concerns

HEAL is concerned that a diagnostic assessment is being asked to be given by an untrained parent to assist the diagnostic clinician with diagnosing the child without ever having consulted or met with the child.  This is highly unprofessional and shows a lack of real concern for the needs of the child being assessed.  In addition, a parent is not in a position to understand the difference between the lay-person's interpretation of a "symptom" and the legitimate findings of a trained professional.  How is a parent to determine the IQ of their child?  Why is this question being asked of parents?

It is a warning sign when a program limits or disallows parents and/or children to communicate and/or visit with each other at any point in the treatment process.  Parents should be welcome and encouraged to visit their children as often as possible when being confined to any treatment or correctional setting.  In addition, the implied conditions of the program in regards to "earning" the privilege of uncensored/unmonitored mail and/or telephone calls, are also warning signs of abusive programs.  Please see HEAL's warning signs list and questions you should ask any program prior to admission. 

Based on preliminary findings, HYS appears to be operating behavior modification programs using a multi-level phase system that includes deprivations and implied civil rights violations during early phases of the program.  HYS is also using the Positive Control Systems model utilized by Eagle Ranch Academy and WWASPS.  Based on this information, we would recommend against placing any child in HYS' programs.