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Human
Earth Animal Liberation (HEAL) PO BOX 58502 Seattle,
WA 98138-1502 (206)244-1894
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HEAL
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(Watch the Congressional Hearing)
HEAL is working to expose the rampant abuse in the "troubled teen/teen help" industry. The SHOCKING reality is that over 50,000 teenagers a year are subjected to private, institutionalized torture camps at their parents and their parents’ insurances’ expense. Over 300 American children have been killed in behavior modification programs in the last ten years. Others have been severely brutalized, raped, beaten, drugged, brainwashed, and extensively tortured. These realities are difficult to swallow and therefore most people turn a deaf ear and blind eye to the experiences of survivors and the cries of the abused. We are asking that you choose to take a look at the reality that is “behavior modification” in the United States today.
Institutionalized
torture masked as “treatment” is the second fastest growing industry
in the United States today. Many
abusive programs are
advertised through www.teenprogram.info
and www.mytroubledteen.com,
a Utah-based organization. The
World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) has
been under heavy suspicion for a long time from progressives for their
abuse of teens. CA Representative George Miller demanded that the Department of Justice
investigate these programs because he had received hundreds of reports
of child torture and neglect, from his constituents.
The Department of Justice refused to investigate.
(For details, visit http://www.nospank.net/ashcroft.htm)
David
Gilcrease, member of the Gilcrease family that founded Phillips
Petroleum based his “behavior modification” techniques on the
research of B.F. Skinner and Fritz Perls who were experimenting with
mind control/brainwashing in the 20th century.
He is founder of Resource Realizations,
which has been sued along
with the Worldwide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)
for mentally and physically torturing and brainwashing America's
children. On the board of Phillips Petroleum, Halliburton, and advisor to the Supreme Court is long time George Bush associate Lawrence Eagleburger. On the board of SkyWest Airlines, servicing and in seeming partnership with George Bush airport in Texas is none other than J. Ralph Atkin, part owner of Teen Help/WWASPS. President Bush is trying to move legislation that will institute the drugging and behavior modification of children in public schools with the “New Freedom Initiative”. (Also educate your self about Teen Screen.) In addition, George W. Bush appointed Mel Sembler (founder of torturous program Straight, Inc. and founder of the Drug Free America Foundation and associated with the new Teen Challenge programs) as US Ambassador to Italy. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush visited Straight Inc. regularly and used tax money to subsidize this torturous program. And, in 2005, Congress passed legislation to grant the Semblers and Teen Challenge 1.75 million dollars. This is not the only hefty tax-dollar donation these abusive programs have received. It is just one example. The largest Utah-based corporate contributor to the Republican Party is World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools. The connections and corruption are deep and these re-education centers need to be exposed and closed immediately!
As of January 9th, 2004, California Representative George Miller demanded an investigation into the WWASPS and the allegations of mind control and physical and mental torture of America's youth in the United States. John Ashcroft refused to investigate claiming that the Federal Government had no jurisdiction in this matter. This is absolutely false! The Federal Government absolutely has jurisdiction to investigate fraud as well as civil and criminal allegations of the most heinous nature, that of the torture (and killing) of children. According to Representative Miller of California, “There is a laundry list of abuse of children at WWASPS schools: deprivation of food, deprivation of contact with their peers, physical abuse, mental abuse,
sexual abuse, and parents are paying big money for services not
rendered," Miller added in a Nov. 6 news release.”
To read the correspondence between Rep. Miller and former
Attorney General Ashcroft, click
here. If you are as disgusted with this as we are, join us and take action now! Sign the online petition! Also, please contact the Utah Child Protective Services at 1-800-374-7005 and tell them you demand an investigation into all reportedly abusive behavior modification programs in Utah including the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools and Provo Canyon School. E-mail the Joint Commission on Accredit ation of Healthcare Organizations and demand that they remove their certification of Provo Canyon School. E-mail the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and demand they remove their certification of Provo Canyon School. E-mail the Utah Department of Human Services and demand they revoke the license for Provo Canyon School. Public outcry is worth something and if enough people whisper a giant thunder will be heard! Also, if you are a survivor of a WWASPS or WWASPS-like program, please notify Congress about the numerous violations of the International Treaty on Human Rights and Constitutional Rights that you experienced in a WWASPS or WWASPS-like program or any torturous “behavior modification” program by visiting: http://www.house.gov/writerep/. Unfortunately, the UN Council on Human Rights has been disbanded. So, you will need to work on this issue solely with US authorities. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll sPECIAL: 2008 eLECTION COVERAGE
What Candidate(s) are HEAL-Friendliest?
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HEAL's Teen Liberty Campaign is our primary campaign. We are working on a number of projects. We provide information so parents can be informed and protect their children from the unregulated, corrupt, abusive, and fraudulent "troubled teen" industry. We work with survivors to share their stories and help heal from the trauma of illegal institutionalization. We help survivors and families find legal help and understand their rights. We are also working on an ad campaign to help educate the public at large on this issue to create a public outcry to regulate this industry and/or shut it down! You can help us reach more people on this issue by volunteering or donating today.
HEAL'S Teen Liberty Book Project: We are also creating a book of letters/testimonials written by survivors of abusive behavior modification programs like Provo Canyon School (and others that are listed at http://www.heal-online.org/childtortureusa.htm). If you would like to submit your experience for this publication, that would be great! The format in which the testimonials will be written will be a letter format. Each letter will be addressed: Dear America. Each letter will be signed by the individual author. In the event you wish to withhold your name from the publication, we
can omit it and sign it Anonymous Survivor.
If you wish to only include your first name, first name with last
initial, or only your initials that will be fine
too. Also,
if you know other survivors of these types of programs (residential
treatment centers, behavior modification programs, boot camps,
etc.) please
forward this opportunity to them. They
can e-mail submissions to: heal@heal-online.org.
If
you choose to submit for the project, please include in the message that
you give us permission to use the submission for this project, your
full name
(first and last), and certify that everything you state is true to the
best of your knowledge. We
believe such a book will go far to educate the public on this issue.
Many people think it isn't happening or that it only happens to a
handful of people.
We have met so many people that think what we have experienced is
not a systemic problem. But,
it is. We will continue to
do all in our power
to make change and liberate the children and teens who still suffer
across the nation (and the world). We hope you will continue to support these
actions and join in this project. You may submit your entry via e-mail at heal@heal-online.org, at one of our meetings (schedule online at http://www.heal-online.org/events.htm), or via snail mail at HEAL, PO Box 58502, Seattle, WA 98138-1502. Remember to include a message that you give us permission to use the submission for this project, your first and last name, and certify that everything you state is true to the best of your knowledge. Let’s educate the public together! lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Int'l Survivors Action Committee
Unofficial
Provo Canyon School Site
Milgram Experiment: Obedience to Authority
National
List of Abusive Programs
The Agitator: Comments on Abuse
"Casa
by the Sea: A memory that will haunt me forever," By Jennifer
Ilona
"BREAKING
THE VOW OF SECRECY: A true story about Teen Help / WWASP," By
The Defense Foundation for Children
Loving
Them to Death: The Story of One Teenager's 'Wilderness Experience'
Ethical Treatment for All Youth
Robert
S. vs. Stetson School Inc.
Matthew
Magagna vs. Salisbury Township School
Video: PBS--"Who's Watching the Kids?"
More Videos (Links and Comments provided by Fornits:
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Action Alerts are in order of Priority with Newest/Priority Alerts First! Tell "realitywanted.com" Exploiting Children/Teens is Wrong!--Realitywanted.com is a website that lists casting opportunities for new "reality" shows. See the latest: http://www.realitywanted.com/call/2796-are-you-paying-the-price-for-you-teens-mistakes-now-casting Here's part of the ad: "Do you have a teen who is constantly causing problems? Did they steal your car and go on a joy ride? Did they rack up your phone bill calling long distance? Do you constantly have to take off work to go pick up your teen? Is you wallet going dry because of your troubled teen? Let us help you and earn compensation. Tell us your story now!"
Please write realitywanted.com and shame them
for exploiting children and teens and contributing
to the anti-youth propaganda putting thousands of
American children in harm's way. This has to
stop!
Tell the Grants City Council to "Just Say No" to Boys Town!--The Grants City Council will hear a detailed proposal on Tuesday night from Frank Sipan on the possibility of opening a Boys Town in Grants. Boys Town, which also accepts girls, is a national organization that historically and likely presently harms troubled teens. This is a self-contained community, and members have their own mayor, post office and other amenities. The next regular City Council meeting will be on June 24 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. For more information call the city clerk at 505-287-7927. Please send the Grants City Council a message asking them to deny Boys Town's proposal. For talking points and more info on abuses by Boys Town, see: Franklin Cover Up, http://franklincase.org/timeline.htm, Reports of physical and sexual abuse at Boys Town, and http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/november/41.56.html Please speak out today on this issue.
Tell American Express to Stop Supporting Child Torture!--American Express is giving thousands of dollars to Pathway Family Centers (see: http://www.accessphilanthropy.com/funderinnews.php?funderID=38). For talking points on the abuses at Pathway Family Centers, see: www.heal-online.org/kids.htm and http://www.isaccorp.org/pathwayfamilycenter.asp. You can contact American Express and express your outrage at: http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,24679,00.asp?us_nu=helpnav
Attn: Straight, Inc. Survivors--Tell Straight, Inc. to At Least Apologize for Their Acts!-- Learn more and sign petition at: http://www.petitiononline.com/295561me/petition.html
Tell Oprah Winfrey to Investigate and Expose Dr. Phil McGraw's Child Abuse & Exploitation!--E-mail Oprah
Tell Montel Williams, "Shame On You" for Sending a Child to Eagle Ranch Academy: On Thursday, April 24th, 2008, the Montel Show offered to enroll a 15-year old girl at Eagle Ranch Academy. Eagle Ranch Academy in St. George, UT is an abusive behavior modification program. Here's what HEAL has to say about Eagle Ranch Academy: Eagle Ranch Academy, Inc.--Located in St. George, UT. The belly of the beast that is abusive behavior modification. HEAL recommends no parent subject any child to any program in Utah as Utah is corrupt and refuses to regulate or take action against confirmedly abusive programs such as WWASPS, Provo Canyon School, Sorenson's Ranch, etc... Don't send your kid to UT! Please contact Montel Williams at:
Attn: Montel Williams Viewer
Services
Express your outrage at this blatant assault on youth and support of a corrupt and unregulated industry!
Attention Behavior Modification/Residential Treatment Survivors Abused in Texas! Please Contact Journalist Andrea Ball!--Journalist Andrea Ball is currently working on a story about abuses in Texas. Here is what Ms. Ball had to say, "Essentially, I'm writing about psychiatric RTCs in Texas. I'm not -- at this juncture -- looking at drug or alcohol rehab places. I'd love particularly to hear from anyone in the Austin, Round rock, San Marcos area, but all of Texas would be great." Please contact Andrea Ball if you are willing and able to contribute in her efforts. Thanks!
Were You or Someone You Love Defrauded and Abused by Teen Challenge? Join the Lawsuit!-- Click here to request more information!
Attn: Survivors of Trinity Teen Youth Solutions and Mount Carmel Youth Ranch--Lawsuit!--If you are a survivor or immediate family of a victim of Trinity Teen Youth Solutions or Mount Carmel Youth Ranch please contact us at heal@heal-online.org and we will put you in touch with an attorney working on a lawsuit against them. Attorney is looking specifically for victims of physical abuse, injury, or death. Please contact us if you want to get involved or help! Thanks!
Attention Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Vancouver BC Residents!--Volunteer Now to collect signatures for WA Initiative 999 to protect kids from illegal and extra-legal involuntary institutionalization without due process! Contact us for details and to volunteer!
Should Children be Sentenced to Life without the Possibility of Parole?-- VOTE NO HERE!
Boycott McDonald's and Ronald McDonald House Charities!--McDonald's, the fast-food giant, has donated over $30,000 to St. Christopher Inc., a "faith-based" residential treatment center (behavior modification program) to help "turn around "troubled teens"". Please boycott McDonald's for putting money into abuse instead of family and community! Tell McDonald's you are boycotting them and why!
Take Action Against Media Demonization of Teens!--From anyone inclined to visit www.mapinc.org to write letters to editors on the spun "Youth Drug Use" data, these are good themes. Find recent items to write about at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/index.htm Prevalence(aka "Current Use") is ANY use in past 30 days. Does not indicate "daily use" which is more likely to indicate a problem, but is rarely(never?) mentioned in press releases. It can be dug out as table 4 at http://monitoringthefuture.org/data/07data/pr07t4.pdf Many would argue that even daily use is not a problem, but Data as voluminous at these surveys can be parsed to support any conclusion desired. When kids' "current use" rises (or falls), it means experimental use is up (or down). Problem use, almost by definition, stays pretty much the same. But we don't target that; we try to stamp out ALL use. And..... obviously.... we can't take self-incriminating survey data at face value.
Support
Teen's Rights of Free Speech on Campus!--"BERWYN, Illinois -
November 6 - Parents of Morton West High School students will gather for a
press conference at 9:30 AM Tuesday, November 6 in front of the school, to
urge school administrators to reverse their decision to expel dozens of
children who marked All Saints Day last week by staging a peaceful,
non-violent sit-in at the school cafeteria to voice opposition to the Iraq
War. "The November 1 school cafeteria event served in part as a
counterpoint in the school setting to military recruiters on campus, who
routinely visit the high school cafeteria seeking to enlist young people
into military service. Dozens of students participated in the anti-war
protest through the course of the day. All Saints Day -- November 1 – is
a revered holiday in the Latino community, when families and friends
traditionally gather to honor dead loved ones. "Students
complied with an administrator's request to move the action outside the
cafeteria after initially being assured that the only disciplinary action
they would face was citation for cutting classes. But administrators have
since issued formal expulsion notices to dozens of students, suspended
many more, and threatened to bring criminal charges against students age
17 and older who participated in the anti-war action. "School
administrators also put the school on lockdown briefly during the All
Saints Day protest. That action stands in stark contrast to
administrators' response to a report of a student with a gun on campus
last month. In that incident, administrators chose not to lock down the
school. WHOLE STORY: http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/1106-01.htm
SIGN A PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENTS HERE: http://www.petitiononline.com/mortonw/petition.html
Tell Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, "Stop Experimenting on Children and Teens"--An advertisement soliciting parents to enroll their child to be experimented on appeared in last week's newspaper. The add reads: "Lack of interest, troubled, strange thoughts & words, withdrawn, DO THESE WORDS DESCRIBE YOUR TEEN? There may be something more you can do! A clinical research study in your area is currently enrolling teens between the ages of 13-17 years. Study participants receive...compensation (financial) for time and travel." Yes, let these people pay you to exploit and experiment on your child! No way! Contact Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences today and tell them that you are appalled by their unethical and unscrupulous business practices. Leave our children alone!
Tell
Andy Borowitz, "Torturing Children Is No Laughing Matter!"--On
Friday, October 5th, 2007, an article on page B7 of The Seattle Times
under local news and penned by Andy Borowitz (with no mention of it being
satirical or for humorous purposes) stated that CBS was creating a new
series called "Kid Detention" where 40 kids would be randomly
selected and sent for 40 days of detainment at Guantanamo Bay with no
legal assistance or representation. This article was in multiple
publications under a variety of titles including, "New CBS Reality
Show, "Kid Detention," Sends Kids to Guantanamo" through
Yahoo News (Yahoo made it quite clear that it was satire or in jest--The
Seattle Times did not). Please contact Andy Borowitz at: andy@borowitzreport.com.
Tell him that there are thousands of "Guantanamo Bay Detainment
Camps" for children and teens around the US and abroad. Tell
him that there is current legislation in the House of Representatives,
"HR 1738--The End Institutionalized Abuse of Children Act" to
stop the rape, torture, and murder of thousands of American children each
year. Tell Andy, According
to Representative George Miller of California, “There is a laundry
list of abuse of children at WWASPS schools: deprivation of food,
deprivation of contact with their peers, physical abuse, mental abuse,
sexual abuse, and parents are paying big money for services not
rendered," Miller added in a Nov. 6 news release.”
To read the correspondence between Rep. Miller and former
Attorney General Ashcroft, click
here.
Tell CBS, "Shame On You for Torturing and Enslaving American Children"--(From article by Edward Wyatt--New York Times--8/24/07)"Children who participated in “Kid Nation,” a CBS reality show that has come under fire over questions of whether it violated child safety and labor laws, were required to do whatever they were told by the show’s producers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or risk expulsion from the show, according to a copy of the contract signed by the children and their parents. The contract also specifies that while the children could be paid for their participation, those payments or the agreement to be fully under the producers’ direction did not constitute employment under the producers’ interpretation and therefore was not subject to any state or federal labor laws. The agreement, which was provided to The New York Times by the New Mexico attorney general’s office under an open records act request, appears to anticipate the arguments that were later made by New Mexico state authorities that the show’s producers might have violated state labor laws and licensing requirements for child housing. “Kid Nation,” which is scheduled to have its premiere on CBS on Sept. 19, took 40 children, ages 8 to 15, and placed them in a New Mexico desert “ghost town” near Santa Fe for 40 days, during which they had little to no contact with their parents. The program has been criticized by New Mexico state authorities who have said that they were not notified in advance of the conditions, which they said appeared to violate state laws. The parent of at least one participant has complained to New Mexico authorities that the conditions were abusive and that several children were harmed during the production. The 22-page agreement leaves little room for parents to argue that they did not know what their children might encounter. As is standard in such agreements, the parents and the children agreed not to hold the producers and CBS responsible if their children died or were injured, if they received inadequate medical care, or if their housing was unsafe and caused injury. But while such agreements might be standard for adult participants in a reality show, it also takes on a different tone when the minor and the parent are being held solely responsible for any “emotional distress, illness, sexually transmitted diseases, H.I.V. and pregnancy” that might occur if the child “chooses to enter into an intimate relationship of any nature with another participant or any other person.” The agreement also imposes extensive confidentiality requirements on the parents and the children, including that any interviews they grant must be approved by CBS. Those confidentiality conditions extend for three years beyond the end of the show, not the individual 13-episode cycle in which a child participates but the entire series, however many cycles it includes. The producers of “Kid Nation” have already begun interviewing children to take part in the second installment. Violating the confidentiality agreement carries a $5 million penalty. CBS and the production companies, Good TV Inc. and Magic Molehill Productions, retained the rights to the children’s life stories “in perpetuity and throughout the universe.” And that right includes the right to portray the children either accurately or with fictionalization “to achieve a humorous or satirical effect.” To ensure that parents and the children abide by the agreement, the payment of the $5,000 stipend promised to the children who complete the series and the $20,000 that some of them received for being voted the best participant in each of the 13 episodes can be withheld, according to the contract, until after the broadcast of the entire series. The contract also specifies that the children are able to leave the production at any time, but that in doing so they will lose their right to receive payment and will still be bound by confidentiality provisions."
What You Can Do:
1. Boycott CBS and any/all sponsors of "Kid Nation" until it is cancelled and restitution is made to the victims. 2. Write CBS and shame them for torturing and enslaving children. Visit www.cbs.com and click on Feedback at bottom of the homepage, and/or contact:
3. Write/Call/Protest your local CBS Affiliate. Find yours at: http://www.cbs.com/info/hdtv/hdtv_stations.shtml
Make Children's Medicine Safe & Effective!--Right now, millions of children could be using unsafe medicines and medical technologies. You can help protect them. Tell Congress to make medicines and medical devices for children safer and more effective» With no seat at the political table and no voice in the current health care system, children are at risk of being left behind as science and medicine move forward. Nearly three-quarters of medicines children use are not proven safe or effective for pediatric use.
Journalist Seeks Stories from Survivors Who Escaped a Behavior Modification Program: Journalist Amanda Miller of Topic Magazine in New York is writing an article on the abusive teen help industry and is looking to interview survivors who escaped/ran away from the program. If you were in a residential treatment program (i.e. Provo Canyon School), wilderness camp (Adirondack Leadership Expeditions, etc.), or a boot camp (Bethel Boys Academy, etc.) and attempted to or successfully escaped from an abusive program, please contact Amanda Miller with your story. The deadline for this story is late Summer of 2007 so please respond asap! Thanks!
Tell Montel Williams, "Shame On You" for Sending a Child to Red Rock Canyon School: On Thursday, July 19th, 2007, the Montel Show enrolled a child (escorts and all) in Red Rock Canyon School. The episode was sensationally called "Ticking Time Bombs: People On The Edge". Red Rock Canyon School in St. George, UT is an abusive behavior modification program. “A $6 million wrongful-death lawsuit, (was) filed in U.S. District Court by parents of the teenage girl, Katherine Lank, who fell into a deep crevice while hiking. It was filed against the Red Rock Canyon School, St. George, Utah, on May 28, 2002. The suit, accuses the school of negligence and breach of contract, asks for $5 million in compensatory damages, and $1 million in punitive damages and attorney fees. The Lanks have also demanded a jury trial.” Further information about this is in the article by Michael Vigh of the Salt Lake Tribune. Please contact Montel Williams at:
Viewer
Services
Express your outrage at this blatant assault on youth and support of a corrupt and unregulated industry!
Tell the Committee on Education and Labor Your Behavior Modification Program Survivor Story: I spoke with the person heading up the Committee on Education and Labor investigation into the teen "help" industry, by telephone on Tuesday (yesterday). He/she asked that we keep his/her personal contact information off of the website or any internet website. If you would like his/her specific contact information, please contact: heal@heal-online.org subject: Letter to Congress on Teen Programs. He/she stated that there is no hearing scheduled on this issue at this time. I asked him/her if there was a hearing "tentatively" scheduled for late September (as reported by CAFETY), she/he said there is no hearing scheduled, even tentatively, for September.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Submit Your Personal Story or Family Story of Victimization to: US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor Majority Office 2181 Rayburn House Office Bldg Washington, D.C. 20515
phone: (202)225-3725
In the Event of a Hearing (again, no hearing is scheduled at this time): Submit a "Statement of Purpose" to the above address. Explain that you would like to testify at any hearing regarding the teen "help"/residential treatment industry. Include information on who you are, what program you or a family member was in, and what you'd like to say at any hearing. Please note that members of the public are given 1-3 minutes (in general) to testify at any legislative hearing. And, note that submitting your personal or family story per the information above will be filed as part of the hearing and included in the public record. It may be more effective to submit your statement in writing than to plan to testify. There will be limited time and a limit to how many people can testify in person. Also, there may be no hearing on this issue at any time. It is a vague possibility at this point. There is nothing scheduled at this time. So, it is likely best if you submit your story in writing to be included in the public record as opposed to requesting to speak at a non-existent hearing at this time.
TELL THE UNITED WAY "STOP SUPPORTING PROVO CANYON SCHOOL NOW!": The United Way of Utah County currently refers families to Provo Canyon School, a notoriously abusive behavior modification program that has been destroying lives for over 30 years. To learn more about the abuses at Provo Canyon School, visit: www.heal-online.org/sign.htm, www.heal-online.org/provocases.htm, www.beyondbusiness.net/index2.htm, and/or www.heal-online.org/ashley.htm. Please contact the United Way of Utah County and tell them to stop supporting child abuse! And, please contact the National United Way leadership to report this abuse of public trust at the United Way of Utah County, by referring families to Provo Canyon School!
CONTACT
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THE “Prohibit Federal
Funding for Any Universal or Mandatory Mental Health Screening Act”
(HR 2387): This
legislation was introduced by Ron Paul on May 17th, 2007.
The purpose of this legislation is protect the privacy and integrity
of U.S. citizens. You
may look up your Representatives Contact Information by Visiting:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THE "Bitter Pill Act" (A4245): Here are some excerpts from the bill: Prior to prescribing for an individual under 18 years of age any psychotropic medication, including but not limited to medication for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, required by the federal Food and Drug Administration to have a "black box warning" on its labeling, a physician or other authorized prescriber shall inform the individual's parent or legal guardian about the possible side effects of the medication and shall obtain informed consent from the individual's parent or legal guardian for the notification. A physician or other authorized prescriber who prescribes a medication in violation of this act shall be subject to disciplinary action by the State Board of Medical Examiners. Prior to prescribing for an individual under 18 years of age any psychotropic medication, including but not limited to medication for the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, required by the federal Food and Drug Administration to have a "black box warning" on its labeling, an advanced practice nurse shall inform the individual's parent or legal guardian about the possible side effects of the medication and shall obtain informed consent from the individual's parent or legal guardian for the notification. An advanced practice nurse who prescribes a medication in violation of this act shall be subject to disciplinary action by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. You can do something as well: Please urge General Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts asmroberts@njleg.org to put Bill A4245 on the agenda for a full Assembly floor vote.
Take Action for California Youth: California's youth prison system is broken. It has systematically failed to rehabilitate or educate the 2,600 youth in its charge. In February, California's Inspector General reported that shocking conditions and neglect of youth persist despite court-ordered improvements and years-old recommendations. Please read and sign the petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/289606970#body
No Alamar Ranch in Idaho: Citizens in Boise, Idaho are working to stop the establishment of a new residential treatment program called Alamar Ranch in Idaho. Oaas Laney has no experience or training in helping teens appropriately. This is solely a money-making venture. Please learn more and take action at: www.noalamarranch.com. Thanks! Also, if you are an attorney in Idaho interested in helping stop the teen torture industry, help families and survivors, or stand up for injured victims, please contact us.
SIGN CLOSE PROVO CANYON SCHOOL PETITION NOW!—Please take a moment to sign the Close Provo Canyon School Now petition located at http://www.beyondbusiness.net/closepcs.htm. Provo Canyon School is one of many snake pit schools that HEAL is targeting in the teen liberation campaign.
TAKE ACTION NOW!--GET TEEN TORTURE NEWS IN A NATIONAL NEWSPAPER!--This article, ran over the weekend in the North West Indiana Times. The reporter did an excellent job of laying out the history of Pathway Family Center and how it is modeled after Straight, Inc. In true cult-fashion, Pathway's director slandered us and the reporter and editor have been deluged by hate mail from program supporters. According to the editor, if he receives enough letters in SUPPORT of the article and the newspapers efforts to reveal the truth, he will see that the article is published in a national paper. Please click the link above and read the article. If you believe that more of these types of FACTUAL stories about treatment fraud and abuse need to be published, please send an email to the editor at letters@nwitimes.com or the reporter, ROBYN MONAGHAN at rmonaghan@nwitimes.com
SIGN PETITION FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN OREGON: Children in the city of Portland, OR have written a Bill of Rights for Children stating they "have the right to loving care and a healthy environment at home" and the "right to be safe in our homes... and to be protected from all types of abuse and exploitation, whether physical, verbal, emotional or sexual, and to be supported in reporting and combating abuse." Please click here to read and sign their petition.
Tell Your Representative: Don't Cover Up for a Child Sex Predator: Americans were shocked to learn this past weekend that a United States Representative, Mark Foley (R-FL), had been sending sexually-explicit e-mails and instant messages to 15- and 16-year-old boys interning in the House of Representatives. But the members of the House leadership -- foremost among them Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert -- were not shocked, because they already knew. It's become quite clear in recent days that several other high-ranking members of the House of Representatives knew about Mr. Foley's despicable (and possibly illegal) behavior for months -- and took no steps to stop it. Could it be that the House leadership cared more about protecting one of their own than protecting the safety of their teenage pages? Tell your Representative that they should convene a special session of the House immediately to get to the bottom of who knew what, and when.
Stop
TeenScreen’s Unscientific and Experimental “Mental Health
Screening” of American School Children: TeenScreen
is just one of many moves to bring abusive, invasive, and corrupt
mind-altering programs to public schools. Take action now
at: http://www.petition
TAKE ACTION NOW TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR WHITMORE ACADEMY SURVIVORS: SAC has learned that Cheryl Sudweeks, owner of Whitmore Academy in Utah, has been offered a plea deal by Juab County Attorney, Jared Eldridge. Sudweeks is scheduled to stand trial next month on 7 counts of child abuse and hazing. Child welfare investigators said they substantiated eight instances of physical abuse, educational neglect, medical neglect and environmental neglect. According to the plea deal, Cheryl Sudweeks will only have to:
1) Obey all laws.
2) Write a letter to Eldridge stating she attempted to haze 4 students and will not open another program in Juab County.
3) Pay any damages awarded in the current civil case against Sudweeks and Whitmore Academy.
4) Stay away from any program or school dealing with teenagers.
After one year her record will be expunged.
It is exactly THIS kind of lax "prosecution" that allows abusive program owners to simply relocate and carry on with business as usual.
ISAC encourages everyone to contact Jared Eldridge and Judge Lynn Davis and voice your outrage to this ridiculous bargain that would allow a confessed child abuser to have no criminal record at all.
Jared Eldridge Juab
County Attorney Email: Jarede@co.juab.ut.us
Judge Lynn W. Davis Fourth District Court, Provo 125 North 100 West Provo, Utah 84601 Fax: (801)
429-1137
Background Information:
Cheryl and her husband Mark have a long history of ignoring laws in 3 countries.
In 2002, 29 starving horses belonging to Mark Sudweeks were discovered on property he owned in Canada.
In a landmark case by the SPCA, Sudweeks became the first person to be banned from ever owning animals in British Columbia.
In 2001, the Sudweeks were ordered to leave Mexico after authorities determined they were illegally operating a treatment facility for troubled teens.
For complete information about the Sudweeks and Whitmore Academy, please visit: www.isaccorp.org/documentsnz.asp#whitmore
Department of Social Services wants hitting children kept legal: The Department of Social Services in Massachusetts (DSS) oversees all child abuse cases and foster care in that state. Despite support from dozens of other Massachusetts organizations, as well as legislators, activists and voters, DSS has rejected all proposed laws to curb corporal punishment of children, even hitting and hot-saucing infants! They -- who should be in the forefront of reform -- are standing in the way of legal reform to protect children! You can ask DSS to change their position by emailing the Commissioner of DSS, Harry Spence, at harry.spence@state.ma.us . And CC the Boston Globe at letter@globe.com. You can also call DSS at: (617) 748-2000 or (617) 748-2329. You might remind them that their first priority is protecting children and stopping child abuse! Studies show that about half of all child abuse cases in Massachusetts are the result of legal corporal punishment. About 2,000 children die and nearly 150,000 children are injured in the US each year from corporal punishment. The time is past due for those who are mandated to protect children to become proactive in curbing abuse, and not wait until after a child is injured or dead. Silence=complicity. PTAVE implores every reader of this message to act now. Telephone, e-mail or both.
SUPPORT
THE CHRISTOPHER BILL - THE JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM ACT:
In SC and other US states, children as young as 10 are being arrested,
tried, convicted and sentenced as adults under mandatory sentencing
mandates. Children are being sentenced to mandatory terms created to
net young people involved in gang violence and the drug trades.
Children are being sentenced to life without parole. Often under the
influence of prescription drugs, otherwise average and above average
children commit unthinkable crimes. These children are then thrown
into
a court and sentencing system designed for hardcore adult
criminals. Mandatory sentencing does not take into consideration the
past non-violent social history or the effects strong prescription
drugs have on young minds. The results are ruined young lives. We need
your support. Please sign this petition and lend your name to the
pursuit of Juvenile Justice.
Your signature will affirm the belief that we need this
slightly major problem
corrected. Immediately.
Please give a moment of your life so that children will retain many
moments for their own lives. You do make a difference.
Sign petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/429258617?ltl=1114901126#
PLEASE
ASK THE MCILHENNEY COMPANY TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSE:
Many
parents are using Tabasco sauce as a punishment for their children.
This is an abusive measure and can only be administered under
duress. Please ask The
McIlhenney Company to put a warning label on their product stating
that product is not intended for and should not be used to punish
children. You may e-mail
them at: countrystore@tabasco.com
LARRY ELDERS OF “THE LARRY ELDERS SHOW” HAS PAID TO SEND A CHILD TO A WWASPS PROGRAM, TELL HIM TO RESCUE THIS CHILD IMMEDIATELY AND PUBLICLY ADMIT TO HIS ERROR IN JUDGMENT!—Larry Elders recently paid to send a child to Spring Creek Lodge, a WWASPS program. Please contact him immediately and urge him to rescue this child and publicly admit his error. Survivors of WWASPS programs are urged to take this action. Even if you are not a survivor, we encourage you to write Mr. Elders and let him know what Rep. George Miller has stated about
WWASPS: “There is a laundry
list of abuse of children at WWASPS schools: deprivation of food,
deprivation of contact with their peers, physical abuse, mental abuse,
sexual abuse, and parents are paying big money for services not
rendered," Miller added in a Nov. 6 news release.”
You can e-mail Mr. Elders at: http://larryelder.warnerbros.com/letters_to_larry_contact.html
TELL DR. PHIL THAT PROVO CANYON SCHOOL and SUWS ARE NO PLACES FOR CHILDREN!!!-- On Wednesday, Nov. 23. Dr. Phil was profiling a family with a 12 year old girl with Reactive Attachment Disorder. At the end of the segment, Dr. Phil announced that he was sending the girl to Provo Canyon. In his words Provo Canyon "has a proven track record of helping young people." The parents, of course, were clueless, and agreed to this immediately. We need to flood the Dr. Phil show with letters, faxes and emails. Send an e-mail by visiting: http://www.drphil.com/email/email_phil_show.jhtml or snail-mail him at: Dr. Phil Show, 5482 Wilshire Boulevard #1902, Los Angeles, CA 90036.
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