HEAL receives thousands of e-mails and phone calls every year.   Many questions and concerns raised are addressed throughout our website.  For convenience sake, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions with our responses below.  This is an "in-progress" list of questions and responses.  Please thoroughly review answers and links provided prior to contacting us for clarification or discussion. 

Is HEAL a biased network?

The general definition of bias is "prejudice".  Prejudice is defined as: "preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge". 

HEAL's opinions regarding the behavior modification industry are founded on our firsthand experiences with behavior modification programs.  HEAL shares court records, news reports, program material reviews, and firsthand reports from clients/survivors and their families regarding behavior modification programs. 

HEAL's Parent Support Network includes parents who rescued their children from behavior modification programs.  Mike and Carla Plotycia rescued their son from Cross Creek (WWASPS) in Utah.  Lisa Haas rescued her son from Cross Creek (WWASPS) in Utah.  Helen Taylor rescued her daughter from Provo Canyon School in Utah.   Catherine Smith rescued her daughter from Provo Canyon School in Utah.  And, our other parent volunteers rescued their children from programs such as Gatehouse Academy and Eagle Ranch Academy.

HEAL's Coordinators are all survivors of behavior modification programs.  If you click the link here or in the previous sentence you will learn more about our individual coordinators and the programs with which we have firsthand experience and knowledge.  John Giesler spent 4 years in Bethel Boys Academy.  Tony Connelly spent over 2 years in Kids Helping Kids.  Angela Smith (daughter of Catherine, mentioned above) is a survivor of Provo Canyon School.  Ms. Smith graduated with honors from Highline Community College in 2000.  Ms. Smith graduated from the University of Washington in 2005 with a double major in philosophy and history.  Ms. Smith is currently on hiatus from law school, but, successfully passed the California State First Year Law Student's Exam ("Baby Bar") in 2009.  The HEAL Team invests a lot of time in research and our public information campaigns.  We believe the information we present is fact-based.  It is our opinion that fraud and abuse are wrong and opposed to sound public policy.  And, this opinion is voiced throughout our website.  However, we do not believe a reasonable person would determine that we are sharing an uninformed opinion regarding this industry.  And, therefore, we do not believe we are a biased or prejudiced network.

Is HEAL a Christian network?

The HEAL network is ecumenical and inclusive.  Our network includes polytheists, monotheists, agnostics, and atheists.  Our primary volunteers include members of the following faiths/beliefs: Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism, Taoism and/or Buddhism, and agnosticism.  HEAL respects all faiths that honor truth, beauty, creation, and love.  And, HEAL does not discriminate based on religion/faith/non-faith, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, skin pigmentation, eye pigmentation, or any other superficial standard.

Is HEAL a violent network?

HEAL does not endorse, encourage, nor participate in any violent or illegal activities.  HEAL is a non-violent, social action network of activists.  We oppose violent and illegal activity and that is why we believe that there should be a moratorium on behavior modification programs that engage in such activity.

Do you approve of any residential treatment programs/behavior modification programs?

HEAL is not a referral service.  HEAL reviews various programs upon individual, public, or program request.  Our resources are limited and these reviews take time.  If we receive a complaint or concern regarding an unknown (with which we are unfamiliar) program, we add it to our "Investigate" list.  Once we've completed our initial investigation, we will move the program to either the teen or adult program watchlists and/or remove the program completely off our website if there are no concerns regarding the practices/methods of that program.  

If parents/guardians are determined to institutionalize a family member/ward, we encourage them to do their own research.  In such a case, we recommend parents/guardians choose a facility that is within convenient driving distance for them and that they will commit to visit, at minimum, on a weekly basis.  We recommend parents actively participate in family therapy and work to keep the family together during times of struggle.  And, we advise that parents/guardians use our warning signs list with questions to ask to determine whether or not a program they are considering is legitimate or questionable and best to be avoided. 

In addition, HEAL provides dozens of program material reviews throughout our website.  These can also be used to compare/contrast with program information provided by programs families consider.  If there are many similar concerns raised by the considered program's materials, then such program is best to be avoided.

While we do not refer to nor recommend any individual programs, we believe we provide the information and tools necessary to make informed decisions for you and your family.

Why does HEAL believe residential programs are unacceptable?

The best answer to this question is our free ebook.  It is available at www.heal-online.org/ebook.pdf.  It explains in detail the concerns we have regarding these programs and their methods.  In addition, our society provides hospitals, jails, prisons, schools, out-patient services, detoxification/rehabilitation facilities, and religious services.  All of these services effectively address the needs/issues raised when families struggle.  In addition, the Congressional Hearings and Government Accountability Office investigation addressed the issues of deceptive marketing and fraud that are prevalent in this industry.  And, based on our research, we believe that the majority of programs marketed to parents/schools/courts to "help "troubled" teens" are deceptively marketed, fraudulent programs that do not provide the services claimed.  This is clearly evidenced throughout our website and we believe a thorough review of the information provided by HEAL will result in an informed, fact-based opinion likely in agreement with those shared by HEAL.

What do you recommend as an alternative to residential treatment/institutionalization?

HEAL is not convinced that the solution to family problems is to use a child as a scapegoat and send them out of state to live with strangers in a lockdown environment without access to communicate with home or the authorities in the event of emergency.  We provide a parenting guide at www.heal-online.org/parent.htm to assist families in considering alternatives to residential treatment.  Please review the parenting guide linked above for our recommendations.  The parenting guide addresses issues commonly raised by "professionals" and families/individuals seeking help.

Do you work with other organizations, if so which ones?

HEAL supports other activist and public advocacy organizations.  Here is a brief list of some of the websites and advocacy organizations we currently support:

The Straights