Program Staff Information

This is a staff list for Eckerd Youth Alternatives Programs in (FL, GA, VT, RI, NH, NC, TN, TX, LA,

(a.k.a. Eckerd Academy (in TN, also closed and confirmed 2020), E-Ku-Sumee, E-Tik-Etu (Closed/Sold and now campground open to public), E-Ten-Etu (Closed in 2011), E-Mun-Talee (closing/closed by October 2nd, 2010), E-Ma-Etu (closed in 2011, confirmed 2020), E-Toh-Anee (closed/confirmed 2020), E-Hun-Tee (closed in 2012), E-Wen-Akee (Closed in 2012--see article below), E-Nini-Hassee AKA Eckerd Connects, E-Ma-Chamee (closed in 2013), E-Kel-Etu (Closed in 2011, See: http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/94187) , E-Ma-Henwu (Closed***) )

(we are working to acquire the complete records for ALL years)

We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at Eckerd Youth Alternatives' Programs. For information on your rights and how to take action, visit www.heal-online.org/blowthewhistle.htm. If you were fired or forced to resign because you opposed any illegal and/or unethical practices at Eckerd Youth Alternatives' Programs, you have the right to take action.

If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Eckerd Youth Alternatives' Programs, please contact [email protected] if you remember the long-term employees and from which years. This will help! Also, if you recognize any of these staff as having worked at another program, please send in any information about their past or present employment at other facilities and/or cults.

Please don’t place your loved one in Eckerd Youth Alternatives' Programs and rescue them if they are there now.

Name	Unit/Position	Additional Information
Jack and Ruth Eckerd	Founders	ALL Eckerd Youth Alternatives Programs. Founded the program in 1968 in Brooksville, FL. Eckerd is affiliated with the deceptive NATSAP trade organization that masquerades as an "accreditation agency". They are also "accredited" by the very questionable Council on Accreditation that also "accredited" the confirmedly abusive and now closed Pathway Family Center programs. Jack and Ruth Eckerd are not licensed health nor mental health professionals in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Board of Directors	Board of Directors	Board of Directors
Kennedy C. O'Herron	Chair	O'Herron is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
David Dennis	Board-member	There are six David Dennis' holding various licenses in FL. HEAL requires the middle name of this David Dennis to verify whether or not he is licensed. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom President and CEO for ALL Eckerd Youth Alternatives Programs.
(Dr.) Nick Dewan	Board-member	There is only one Dr. Dewan licensed in Florida. His name is Naakesh Amrit Dewan. This may be a different person. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
V. Raymond Ferrara	Board-member	Ferrara is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Nancy Eckerd Hart	Board-member	There are multiple Nancy Hart's with various licenses in FL. HEAL requires Nancy's middle name to verify. There are no Nancy Eckerd Hart's licensed in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Peter Scott III	Board-member	There is a Peter Lawrence Scott (no III) licensed as a medical doctor in FL. This may or may not be the same person. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Kathleen Shanahan	Board-member	Kathie L Huff Shanahan is a licensed registered nurse in FL. This may or may not be the same person. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Jay B. "Trey" Starkey III	Board-member	Starkey is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
James T. Swann III	Board-member	Swann is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Francene Hazel	Admissions	Eckerd Academy--Brooksville, FL We received an e-mail reporting additional staff and background information on this program. Staff are listed below. The message also stated, " Here are some staff names at Eckerd Academy in Brooksville. The program is understaffed, and lacks structure. There is a ropes course and other wilderness type equipment available but not in use. There is absolutely no parent involvement, even contact between parent and child is stifled at best. " Message Received April 1st, 2010 at 4:38am Pacific Hazel is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Bart Downs	Program Director	Downs is a licensed clinical social worker in FL and has been since 2008. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Jacki Malone	Temp Program Director	There are two Jacqueline Malone's licensed under various professions in FL. HEAL requires Malone's middle name to verify licensure. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom Jacki was reportedly replaced by Bart Downs above.
Erin Cotter	Program Director (former)	Cotter is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom Reportedly, "Prior to Jacki (this is all within a 6 mos period) the Program Director was Erin Cotter."
Robert Marshall	Education Director	Marshall is not a licensed educator in Florida. Source: http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/public.asp
Cindy Ralston	Nurse	There are two Ralston's licensed in Florida. HEAL requires the middle name and/or complete name (i.e. Cynthia v. Cindy) of Ms. Ralston to verify licensure. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom Ralston is only reportedly on-site every other week.
Athena (no last name)	Eckerd Education Director	HEAL requires Athena's last name to verify licensure. Education Director for all Eckerd Youth programs, reportedly.
Jo Lynn Smith	Director	Smith is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom E-Nini-Hassee--Floral City, FL (Wilderness Program) There is no additional information regarding staff at this program.*
Bruce Predmore	Director	Predmore is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom E-Ma-Chamee--Milton, FL (Wilderness Program) There is no additional information regarding staff at this program.*
Tony Hawkins	Director	Hawkins is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottomE-Kel-Etu--Silver Springs, FL (Wilderness Program) There is no additional information regarding current staff at this program.*
Aaron Seymour	Staff (former)	Seymour is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom Aaron Seymour worked at Eckerd from 2000-2002. Aaron Seymour also worked for Three Springs, another confirmedly abusive program.
C. Mike Smith	Director	Eckerd Youth Challenge Program--Brooksville, FL There is no additional information regarding staff at this program.* HEAL requires the full name of "C. Mike Smith" to verify licensure or lack thereof.
Richard Wentworth	Director	Eckerd Academy--Deer Lodge, TN There is no additional information regarding staff at this program.* Wentworth is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in TN. Source: http://health.state.tn.us/licensure/
Tim McMahon	Director	Eckerd Academy--Suches, GA McMahon oversaw Appalachian Wilderness Camp when Travis Parker (13 yrs) was killed by the program. McMahon is not a licensed mental health professional in GA. Source: https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/myverification/Search.aspx
Karen V. Waddell	CEO	in 2004 for all Eckerd Youth Alternatives' programs. Waddell is not a licensed health nor mental health professional in Florida. Source: http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/IRM00PRAES/PRASLIST.ASP#theBottom
Brian Gray	Executive Director	E-Ku-Sumee--Candor, NC There is no additional information regarding staff at this program.* HEAL requires Gray's middle name and claimed licensure (i.e. Nurse, MD, Psychologist, Counselor) to verify.
Theodore Wisniewski	Director	E-Tik-Etu--Elizabethtown, NC There is no additional information regarding staff at this program.* Wisniewski is not a licensed doctor. Wisniewski is not a licensed nurse. Source: http://wwwapps.ncmedboard.org/Clients/NCBOM/Public/LicenseeInformationResults.aspx Wisniewski is not a licensed psychologist. Source: http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/search.htm Wisniewski is not a licensed counselor. Source: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/verification
Michelle Halsey	Contact Person/Admissions	E-Ten-Etu--Manson, NC Halsey is not a licensed counselor in NC. Source: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/verification Halsey is not a licensed psychologist in NC. Source: http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/search.htm
Mike O'Connor	Director	There is no additional information regarding staff at this program.* O'Connor is not a licensed psychologist in NC. Source: http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/search.htm O'Connor is not a licensed counselor in NC. Source: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/verification
Kathi Grenough	Director	E-Mun-Talee--Lowgap, NC (E-Mun-Talee is reportedly closing on or before October 2nd, 2010) Grenough is not a licensed counselor in NC. Source: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/verification Grenough is not a licensed psychologist in NC. Source: http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/search.htm
Daniel Wanta	Director	E-Ma-Etu--Boomer, NC Wanta is not a licensed psychologist in NC. Source: http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/search.htm Wanta is not a licensed counselor in NC. Source: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/verification
Karen Langley	Administrator	E-Toh-Anee--Stewartstown, NH
Chief Ben (Last?)	Staff	E-Toh-Anee--Stewartstown, NH reported via e-mail on 6/24/19 by survivor of program.
Tim Wending	Coordinator	E-Hun-Tee--Exeter, RI
Joel Seymour	Staff (former)	Seymour is a "graduate" of Rocky Mountain Academy. (A confirmedly abusive CEDU cult program) Seymour also worked for the following: Eckerd Youth Alternatives in Rhode Island and Brush Ranch School in Terrero, NM.
Richard Boschwitz	Executive Director	E-Wen-Akee--Benson, VT
Francene Hazel	Admissions	E-Ma-Henwu--Newport, NC Hazel is not a licensed counselor in NC. Source: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/verification Hazel is not a licensed psychologist in NC. Source: http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/search.htm
Keith Cartright	Director	Cartright is not a licensed psychologist in NC. Source: http://www.ncpsychologyboard.org/search.htm Cartright is not a licensed counselor in NC. Source: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/verification
Mike Adamkowski	Director of Statewide Operations-NH	Now works at Beckett Family Services and is Chairperson of NH DCYF advisory board.
Bill Bezanson	Counselor	E-Toh-Anee--New Hampshire. Now works as ER nurse/paramedic at Rutland Medical Center.
Rasheedra Carswell	CM
Brandy Canada	CMS
Dan Ortenga	CMS
Maxpaul Eustache	CM
Corrinne Zajaczkowski	Case Mgr.
Hope Libby	Counselor
Kenneth (?)	Counselor	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2011-2013. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in July, 2019.
Gnolin (?)	Counselor	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2011-2013. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in July, 2019.
Vivian (Last?)	Chief	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2009. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in April, 2021.
Sarah (Last?)	Chief	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2009. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in April, 2021.
Lorenta (Last?)	Chief	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2009. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in April, 2021.
Dominique (Last?)	Chief	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2009. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in April, 2021.
Keith Bishop	Director	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2009. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in April, 2021. Bishop now works for Q & A Associates.
Anthony Thomas	Counselor	Reportedly worked for Eckerd's Blue Ridge Academy circa 2009. This information was provided via e-mail from a survivor in April, 2021.
*(Eckerd Youth Alternatives' Programs, like many other programs in this industry, keeps a "tight lid" on any specific information regarding their staff, qualifications, and practices. Please contact us with the names of any staff of which you have firsthand knowledge or experience. Thank you for your help.)
Death: Michael Spencer Wiltsie (1999)
Director at youth camp fired--May 2nd, 2009--SILVER SPRINGS - A program director accused of using older boys to threaten younger ones at a camp for troubled youth was fired Thursday, state officials said Friday. Frank Penela, a spokesman with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, said the state agency received a letter from Eckerd Youth Alternatives confirming that Eckerd fired Emeka Virgo, a program director at Camp E-Ke-Etu in the Ocala National Forest off East State Road 40. Eckerd, a private company, runs the camp under a contract with the state. Eckerd officials did not return phone calls Friday. Virgo joins two camp counselors - Roscoe Watts, 30, and Dana Valentino, 32 - who were also fired Thursday for unspecified violations of company policies. For complete story, click here.
Teens learn to face consequences at reform school--April 13th, 2008--... "Kids typically are angry when they get here, angry at their parents for sending them away, angry at us for being here, just angry," McMahon said. "We address that on Day One, asking them why they are here and helping them with their initial treatment plan, then their master plan. Though hundreds of families rave about residential programs such as this one, others have horror stories. Julia Scheeres, author of a best-selling memoir, "Jesus Land," will beg any parent who'll listen to not believe slick brochures and a program director's word. Scheeres, now 41, spent a year in a religious-based reform school in the Dominican Republic along with her adopted brother, David. Her parents sent them there from their Indiana home when Julia was 17. At the school, she witnessed physical abuse regularly and lived in a constant state of fear and depression. "Some kids, who are deep in drugs or other bad crimes, may find these places work," she said. "But for kids like me and my brother — who simply didn't get along with our parents and were doing normal teenage rebellions — they do far more harm than good. I no longer have a relationship with my parents." Scheeres is quick to point out that she has no knowledge of Eckerd. She just wants to tell parents to fully investigate any program before sending kids away. Eckerd has had hundreds of kids come and go through its program over the past 40 years, but its record isn't spotless. In 2000, 12-year-old Michael Wiltsie died at the Ocala, Fla., camp after being physically restrained by a 300-pound counselor. Though Florida juvenile justice authorities were critical of Eckerd, no criminal charges were filed. McMahon also has first-hand experience with tragedy. He was the camp director at the Appalachian Wilderness Camp in 2005 when Travis Parker, 13, died at the state-run camp for troubled boys near Cleveland. Six people were initially charged with murder in Travis' death. McMahon was never charged. He did testify in court that his review of the incident found all the workers properly applied a restraint hold on Travis and didn't use excessive force. Charges against everyone were dropped. For complete story, click here.
Reform school failure--February 12th, 2008-A year after the sexual and physical abuse of young inmates by Texas Youth Commission wardens was disclosed, little has improved and the agency's leadership continues to founder. Entrusted with the custody of thousands of Texas teenagers with behavioral problems, the agency remains a ship adrift in need of a strong captain rather than another deck chair shuffle. The forced resignation Monday of Acting Director Dimitria Pope by Conservator Richard Nedelkoff has key state legislators wondering what measures are necessary to get the TYC out of crisis. Last week Nedelkoff, a gubernatorial appointee and the third person to hold the position in the last 12 months, repeatedly told lawmakers at a hearing that he had not decided who would be named full-time director. He was then embarrassed when Pope testified that he had already ruled her out. Nedelkoff later demanded that Pope resign or be fired, and she stepped down. Pope was brought in from the adult prison program to manage TYC after the previous director and board of trustees resigned. She was criticized for expanding the use of pepper spray to subdue juvenile inmates, ignoring a report on excessive use of solitary confinement and approving the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars for office furnishings. Nedelkoff's own decisions have come under fire. He receives a $160,000 annual salary for his state position, but he also kept his CEO position at Eckerd Youth Alternatives, a Florida company that is in the juvenile corrections business. After becoming TYC conservator, he brought in several consultants with links to Eckerd. After being called on the issue last week, he resigned from the firm, a hollow gesture, as he will likely return to it after the temporary conservator position expires. State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, is an admirer of Pope's performance in the state prison system and said she was in an impossible position at TYC without the resources or administrative support to do the job. Whitmire said a top priority should be relocating isolated youth facilities to more urban settings, where most of the inmates come from and where medical resources and prospective employers are more readily available. Unfortunately, legislators where the institutions are located resist moving them and, by making the issue a hot potato, have delayed much-needed restructuring of the system. Whitmire said Nedelkoff's lack of candor in dealing with legislators last week has damaged his credibility. "To be honest, I'm not sure what we've got in this guy, and I'm going to obviously work with him, because the stakes are too high," Whitmire said. "This agency needs some stability, and he's going to have to prove to me he can provide it." It's shocking and unacceptable that after a year of attempted reform of the TYC by the governor and the Legislature, so little has been accomplished and so much remains to be done. (Unable to locate story at time of archiving. Source: www.chron.com Date: February 12, 2008)
Whereabouts of missing Eckerd camp boys still unknown: July 11th, 2007--Six days have past since three teens went missing from Eckerd Youth Alternatives and authorities are no closer to finding the boys. The search continued Tuesday for the teenagers who ran away from the camp last week. The Henderson County Sheriff's Office search began Friday after the teens were discovered missing. The camp at 1079 Sky Valley Road is a private, nonprofit organization serving at-risk and troubled youth in the county. Interim Director David Boeke said it is designed to help the youths get back on the right path. For complete story, click here.
*** Eckerd's E-Ma-Henwu program is closed. The phone number is disconnected and it is no longer included among Eckerd's list of locations. The E-Ma-Henwu program was located in Newport, NC. Please let us know if you have any additional information on the closing of this facility.
Whereabouts of missing Eckerd camp boys still unknown: July 11th, 2007--Six days have past since three teens went missing from Eckerd Youth Alternatives and authorities are no closer to finding the boys. The search continued Tuesday for the teenagers who ran away from the camp last week. The Henderson County Sheriff's Office search began Friday after the teens were discovered missing. The camp at 1079 Sky Valley Road is a private, nonprofit organization serving at-risk and troubled youth in the county. Interim Director David Boeke said it is designed to help the youths get back on the right path. For complete story, click here.
Teens learn to face consequences at reform school--April 13th, 2008--... "Kids typically are angry when they get here, angry at their parents for sending them away, angry at us for being here, just angry," McMahon said. "We address that on Day One, asking them why they are here and helping them with their initial treatment plan, then their master plan. Though hundreds of families rave about residential programs such as this one, others have horror stories. Julia Scheeres, author of a best-selling memoir, "Jesus Land," will beg any parent who'll listen to not believe slick brochures and a program director's word. Scheeres, now 41, spent a year in a religious-based reform school in the Dominican Republic along with her adopted brother, David. Her parents sent them there from their Indiana home when Julia was 17. At the school, she witnessed physical abuse regularly and lived in a constant state of fear and depression. "Some kids, who are deep in drugs or other bad crimes, may find these places work," she said. "But for kids like me and my brother — who simply didn't get along with our parents and were doing normal teenage rebellions — they do far more harm than good. I no longer have a relationship with my parents." Scheeres is quick to point out that she has no knowledge of Eckerd. She just wants to tell parents to fully investigate any program before sending kids away. Eckerd has had hundreds of kids come and go through its program over the past 40 years, but its record isn't spotless. In 2000, 12-year-old Michael Wiltsie died at the Ocala, Fla., camp after being physically restrained by a 300-pound counselor. Though Florida juvenile justice authorities were critical of Eckerd, no criminal charges were filed. McMahon also has first-hand experience with tragedy. He was the camp director at the Appalachian Wilderness Camp in 2005 when Travis Parker, 13, died at the state-run camp for troubled boys near Cleveland. Six people were initially charged with murder in Travis' death. McMahon was never charged. He did testify in court that his review of the incident found all the workers properly applied a restraint hold on Travis and didn't use excessive force. Charges against everyone were dropped. For complete story, click here.
Camp E-Tu-Nake falls victim to state budget cuts--March 10th, 2009--BLAKELY, GA (WALB) - A youth alternative camp in Blakely is closing because of state budget cuts. Camp E-Tu-Nake will close March 27th. For complete story, click here.
Director at youth camp fired--May 2nd, 2009--SILVER SPRINGS - A program director accused of using older boys to threaten younger ones at a camp for troubled youth was fired Thursday, state officials said Friday. Frank Penela, a spokesman with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, said the state agency received a letter from Eckerd Youth Alternatives confirming that Eckerd fired Emeka Virgo, a program director at Camp E-Ke-Etu in the Ocala National Forest off East State Road 40. Eckerd, a private company, runs the camp under a contract with the state. Eckerd officials did not return phone calls Friday. Virgo joins two camp counselors - Roscoe Watts, 30, and Dana Valentino, 32 - who were also fired Thursday for unspecified violations of company policies. For complete story, click here.
Police: Benson camp fire is arson By Lucia SuareZ and GORDON DRITSCHILO STAFF WRITERS BENSON — A Vermont State Police fire investigator said a cluster of fires Thursday night at Camp E-Wen-Akee, a former camp for troubled boys, was deliberately set. State police Lt. James Cruise said at least five different fires were intentionally set around 7 p.m. at the camp located at 878 Root Pond Road in a remote part of Benson. The fires damaged five buildings and huts on the property, causing about $25,000 in damage, he said. Benson Fire Chief Thomas Neumann said firefighters were able to save one burning building, but another enclosed structure burned to the ground and three others — two lean-tos and a woodshed — were badly damaged. Nobody was hurt. “There were two different campsites that were up there,” Neumann said. “One has a building that had just started (burning) and we got that right out. The other campsite had significant damage.” The fire chief said the fire did not appear to have spread from structure to structure, and had likely been set separately. “It was definitely suspicious,” Neumann said. “It’s an unoccupied camp.” The camp, which previously served about a dozen troubled boys in grades 8-11, has been closed since February. According to Town Clerk Daphne Batholomew, the 148-acre property on Root Pond Road is listed to the Eckerd Family Foundation based in Tampa, Fla. She said the property is assessed at $911,600 and taxed for multiple buildings. Neumann said he believed the property was being prepared for sale. Fourteen firefighters from Benson, West Haven and Orwell responded to the campsite while more firefighters from Fair Haven and West Haven stood by at the Benson station. Neumann said the crews were able to make do with less than two tankers full of water, so they did not need more than they initially brought with them. However, he said there were some difficulties locating the camp. “The smoke was coming from in the area and there are three different roads to go on,” he said. “With the engine, the road we picked got us to the smallest one first, but we got a save out of that one. I’d say we picked the right road.” Anyone with any information regarding the fire is asked to contact state police at 773-9101 or the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program at 1-800-322-7766. lucia.suarez @rutlandherald.com gordon.dritschilo @rutlandherald.com Source: http://www.vermonttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/RH/20120818/NEWS01/708189917
Theresa H a week ago- I was there in the early 80s. A filthy place with horribly unsanitary conditions. We had 'la ca sitas;' which means little house. What it really means is holes dug in the ground for 2 and 3 seater bathrooms for girls. How the EPA allowed this is ...MoreI was there in the early 80s. A filthy place with horribly unsanitary conditions. We had 'la ca sitas;' which means little house. What it really means is holes dug in the ground for 2 and 3 seater bathrooms for girls. How the EPA allowed this is beyond me! While I was there, my group went on a canoe trip and I ended up with a tropical skin rash covering alot of my body which produced black scabs and I was ultimately sent home as there was no medical care on this trip. Zero privacy and for a young girl, that is paramount! The canoe trip was interesting as well. Began in Valdosta Georgia on the Withlacoochie River to the Little River to the Suwanee. (pardon my spelling) The waters were very high and made it impossible to swim or bathe, so just imagine the stench and unsanitary conditions of 12 menstruating girls in canoes. As an adult, I look back on my time there as one of the worst in my life. I would have never sent my child there. Alot of my belongings came up missing and were ... Source: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=E+Nini+Hassee&lrd=0x88e80e91ad1054d5:0xbd854db952099dbf,1
Eckerd Kids shuts down troubled out-of-hours teen center Christopher O'Donnell, Times Staff Writer Link View all Articles CHRISTOPHER O'DONNELLTampa Bay Times Wednesday, May 10, 2017 6:35pm 0 0 Print 4 My Edition I want to see more articles tagged I'm already following articles tagged TAMPA — The agency that runs child welfare in Hillsborough County is closing a troubled out-of-hours teen center. Eckerd Kids announced Wednesday that it will terminate its contract with subcontractor Camelot Community Care to run the Ybor Heights center, which is used to temporarily house and supervise children entering the foster care system until they are placed with foster parents or in a group home. Eckerd officials declined to state why they were unhappy with Camelot's performance. Efforts last month to find another provider were unsuccessful. No firm other than Camelot bid for the job. "Eckerd Kids has made numerous attempts to improve the performance of Camelot's Teen Center," said spokeswoman Adrienne Drew, in a statement. "We believe this move will provide the best environment for our foster children, which is our number one goal." The Tampa Police Department has responded to 13 disturbance calls and 57 runaway reports at the center this year, records show. Last weekend, a case manager was injured and a teenager was arrested, Eckerd said. In addition to supervision, Eckerd's $500,000 contract with Camelot covers the transportation of foster children to and from school and day care centers. In January, a Camelot driver mistakenly dropped a 4-year-old foster girl at the wrong home in Tampa. The contract for transportation has also been put out for bid. Concerns about the center were raised at a regular meeting of child welfare stakeholders held this week at the Children's Board of Hillsborough County. Children are allowed to stay for up to four hours at the center outside of regular working hours until they are placed. But in some cases children ended up there longer because they did not want to go to certain foster or group homes. "There are a variety of reasons children won't go to some places," said Robin Rosenberg, deputy director of Florida's Children First, a statewide advocacy organization focused on children's rights. "They may not feel safe or the place is not respectful to them." Contact Christopher O'Donnell at [email protected] or (813) 226-3446. Follow @codonnell_Times. Source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/eckerd-kids-shuts-down-troubled-out-of-hours-teen-center/2323500
Hillsborough judge blasts Eckerd foster care workers for skipping court Judge calls no-shows 'endemic' By: Mark Douglas Posted: Jun 11, 2018 12:40 PM EDT Updated: Jun 11, 2018 06:33 PM EDT Hillsborough judge blasts Eckerd foster care workers for skipping court Copyright 2018 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Video HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - Hillsborough Circuit Judge Caroline Tesche Arkin sees a lot of disturbing things in her dependency courtroom but it’s what she didn’t see last Tuesday at 4 p.m. that sent her into a rant on behalf of foster kids. “I'm getting frustrated,” Arkin said. "I mean when have case after case without case managers in the courtroom, it’s been extremely frustrating.” Arkin ripped into foster care caseworkers from Eckerd Connects and Eckerd’s new foster care subcontractor Directions for Living for repeatedly failing to show up for court hearings, a problem she called “endemic” when children’s lives hang in the balance of justice. “I am getting quite tired of covering for people who aren’t in this courtroom,” Arkin said Tuesday. "Not only is it frustrating for the way the courtroom itself runs but also for the overall questions for the children we are charged to protect." The judge declined an interview request by News Channel 8, but in a three-minute long recorded tirade last Tuesday that we pieced together with video and audio recordings by the court, she unloaded on private agency caseworkers funded with public money who failed to appear for dependency hearings involving foster kids multiple times that day alone. “We believe in exactly what the judge is saying,” Eckerd Connects spokesman Doug Tobin later told 8 On Your Side. “If there’s a court hearing then we need to have a representative in court ready to answer those questions.” Arkin threatened to take legal action such as holding caseworkers in contempt if the pattern continued. "Maybe I start thinking about things like rules to show cause,” Arkin said. "Maybe I start requiring that the case managers become witnesses and they are subpoenaed by the department.” "Our case managers are responsible for letting our supervisors know that something happened that I cannot make court and the supervisor is supposed to come or their supervisor," Tobin said. Tobin attributed the no-shows to a variety of causes including Directions For Living's recent takeover of cases after Eckerd fired its previous foster care subcontractor, Youth and Family Alternatives (YFA), earlier this year. “The reason that it happens sometimes, and not to make any excuses, is the influx of children and sometimes emergencies. Those are the two biggest reasons,” Tobin said. Tobin's boss Chris Card who recently took over leadership of foster care programs for Eckerd later explained that Directions for Living is operating with 30 fewer caseworkers than it's approved number of 77. Eckerd fired YFA back in February. That happened the same day our 8 On Your Side investigation revealed that caseworkers were confining foster kids in their cars day and night in a Wawa parking lot instead of sending them to school or foster care homes. Eckerd later explained the kids kept at the Wawa station were hard to place foster teens who in some cases refused night-to-night home placements arranged by Eckerd. Card says a number of caseworkers quit when YFA turned over operations to Directions for Living and others simply left the profession. Card says there are now 20 caseworkers in training and the agency is looking for more to fill another 10 vacant positions to manage 1,246 foster care kids in Hillsborough. Our Wawa investigation and the disclosure by Eckerd that YFA was simply turning foster kids loose in the community instead of sending them to school or other programs triggered a DCF Inspector General’s investigation and a blue ribbon panel known as the Peer Review Team to dig into an unfolding crisis in Hillsborough’s foster care system. We’re still waiting for the findings of those investigations. Judge Arkin made an oblique reference to those problems in Tuesday’s courtroom tongue lashing. “Ultimately, it’s the department’s responsibility [DCF] but we do have the new case management entity but today has not been a blue banner day by a long stretch,” Arkin said. “Not only is it frustrating for the way the courtroom itself runs but also for the overall questions for the children we are charged to protect.” Arkin told representatives from the Attorney General’s Office and the Guardian Ad Litem program to send it “up the food chain” and return Friday for a rescheduled hearing on the dependency matter that caseworkers failed to show up for. Arkin’s courtroom was packed Friday with caseworkers from Eckerd and Directions for Living as well as supervisors from those private organizations funded by $6.6 million in public money to provide Hillsborough foster care. Eckerd even sent its corporate spokesman to monitor the courtroom in response to the judge’s opening volley Tuesday. “Everything the court says is recorded and subject to review to the world and I’m getting frustrated,” Arkin said Tuesday. On Friday, the judge seemed pleased that she wasn’t staring at a lot of empty chairs when dealing with the same dependency case involving several kids in foster care and parents who are trying to regain custody. “Thanks for being here everybody,” she said. “I appreciate it.” Source: http://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/investigations/hillsborough-judge-blasts-eckerd-foster-care-workers-for-skipping-court/1231670191
UPDATE: On February 9th, 2020 HEAL Mission volunteers sought to contact Camp E Toh Anee in New Hampshire about the program offer. And, we found their phone number disconnected and no evidence that it remains open. So, based on the fact the phone was disconnected, we've concluded it is closed.
UPDATE: February 12th, 2020 Camp E-Ma-Etu has been closed since April 22nd, 2011. Source above: https://www.journalpatriot.com/news/eckerd-camp-to-close/article_c60cdfea-6787-11e0-a9c7-0019bb30f31a.html
UPDATE: February 22nd, 2020 volunteers sought to contact Eckerd Academy in TN and found their website gone and phone disconnected so we believe it to be closed.
UPDATE: December 22nd, 2020: Camp E Ma Chamee has been confirmedly closed since 2013. Source: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/ewes-e-ma-chamee-camp-profile
THE TRUTH: All segregated congregate care providers, including those on our watch-list, are welcome to contact us to correct any information or provide additional data that may assist with delivering the whole truth to the public. We've found in many cases where this offer has been abused or resulted in revealing additional basis for our concerns. For some examples see: http://www.heal-online.org/tcfl.htm, http://www.heal-online.org/bolthouse.htm and http://www.heal-online.org/abundant2.htm. Now, we are willing to look at the facts and may have questions or require documentation backing up any claims. We do verify licensing, academic backgrounds, and other qualifications when investigating and researching programs on our watch-list to assist consumers seeking additional information on such programs or victims requiring assistance with getting corroborating evidence of their claims. We do that in order to make sure the information we provide is accurate and verified and cite our sources. In the event any information we've posted is in error, we're happy to make a correction. And, for information on how such requests are handled and have been resolved historically, see: http://www.heal-online.org/requests.htm. HEAL does not support segregated congregate care for many reasons which include that many such facilities are abusive, exploitative, fraudulent, and lack effective oversight often as a result of fraudulent misrepresentation coupled with the ignorance of those seeking to enroll loved ones in such facilities, programs, schools, or centers without a valid court order and involuntarily. In the United States such involuntary placements done without a court order are apparently illegal as they either violate the Americans with Disabilities Act community integration requirement or due process rights of those involuntarily placed. Now, in regards to parents, in the United States parents have the right to waive their own rights, but, not the rights of their minor children. See http://www.heal-online.org/legalarguments.htm for more information. Now, most facilities on our watch list include waivers, indemnity clauses, and sworn statements parents must sign assuring the program that the parents have the right to make the placement involuntarily and without due process in a segregated congregate care environment, however, California and federal prosecutors as well as settled law appears to suggest that is not the case. In fact, in the David Taylor case found at http://www.heal-online.org/provocases.htm, Taylor sued Provo Canyon School and his mother as co-defendants. His mother was found liable for 75% of the damages awarded to Taylor as a result of multiple complaints including false imprisonment, while the program was found only 25% liable because the mother owed a duty of due diligence to investigate anyone to which she would entrust care of her child and she failed to do so. Now, HEAL opposes segregated congregate care and we find most placements are happening illegally in the USA which if the youth understood their rights would result in unfortunate outcomes for the parents, particularly when they don't exercise good judgment and support the fraud and abuse rather than their own children when they need remedy and justice. And, HEAL supports all victims of fraud and abuse in seeking remedies at law for any crimes or torts committed against them. And, that's true whether or not the program or victims are in the USA. HEAL has a 5 point argument against segregated congregate care we'd like you to consider: a. Segregated care is unconstitutional and a civil rights violation. It is only permissible if a person is unable to survive independent of an institutional environment. For more on this, watch the HEAL Report at https://youtu.be/C4NzhZc4P0A. Or, see: http://www.ada.gov/olmstead/ which includes in part: "United States v. Florida – 1:12-cv-60460 – (S.D. Fla.) – On April 7, 2016, the United States filed an Opposition to the State of Florida’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. In the Motion, the State had asked the Court to rule, on a variety of grounds, that the United States could not recover damages for unnecessarily institutionalized children to whom the State had been deliberately indifferent." b. Institutionalization is always dehumanizing and coercive. Institutionalization always harms the institutionalized and deprives them of protected civil rights. Dr. David Straker, Psychiatry Professor at Columbia University's School of Medicine (Ivy League) explains this in detail at http://changingminds.org/disciplines/sociology/articles/institutionalization.htm. "Many institutions, from prisons to monasteries to asylums, deliberately want to control and manage their inmates such that they conform and do not cause problems. Even in less harsh environments, many of the institutionalization methods may be found, albeit in more moderated form (although the psychological effect can be equally devastating)." (See website linked in this paragraph for more info.) c. Institutionalization is not in the best interest of children. Institutions are not ever better for a child than living with a loving family. Source: http://www.unicef.org/cambodia/12681_23295.html d. Reform schools, residential treatment programs, and other segregated congregate care settings have been shown to be ineffective and harmful. Best source on this currently is: https://www.acgov.org/probation/documents/EndoftheReformSchoolbyVinny.doc e. Boarding Schools, even the "good ones", result in a form of social death, isolation, and cause both anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is clearly not in the best interest of the youth subjected to those environments. Sources: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun/08/boarding-school-syndrome-joy-schaverien-review and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/11662001/The-truth-about-boarding-school-syndrome.html Beyond the above arguments against segregated congregate care, we have reports from the NIH, Surgeon General, Yale University Studies, and much more showing the methodologies of behavior modification are damaging, harmful, and ineffective. You can request these documents via e-mail. In addition, for such programs offering academic services or claiming to offer diplomas, certifications, or the like, it is important to check to see if it is a diploma mill with no accredited academic services. Please see article: "Avoiding Scams: What You Need To Know" for important information on how to avoid education/training scams. If you'd like to see what HEAL suggests rather than segregated congregate care (i.e. committing a crime or tort against your child if done against their will without a court order), please see articles: "Fix Your Family, Help Your Teen" and "Emancipation Guide". If you have a complaint against any facility, please file a complaint with the appropriate law enforcement agency or your home state's attorney general. For reporting resources see: http://www.heal-online.org/report.htm. (Reporting guide is for USA only at this time.)
January 6th, 2021: COPE CONVERSION PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT: Eckerd Connects (FKA Eckerd Youth Alternatives)
REPORTING GUIDE FOR VICTIMS, SURVIVORS, AND WHISTLEBLOWERS: The two Eckerd programs/locations still open and on the watch-list are E Nini Hassee AKA Eckerd Connects in Floral City, Florida and E Ku Sumee in Candor, NC. In Florida, the criminal statutes of limitation are 1 year on misdemeanors, 2 years on first degree misdemeanors, 3 years on first and second degree felonies, and no statute of limitations on more serious felonies where the death penalty or a life sentence is the penalty. For civil suits in Florida, the statute of limitations is 4 years. In North Carolina, the criminal statutes of limitation are 2 years on most misdemeanors, no statute of limitations on malicious misdemeanors and most felonies, and 10 years for misdemeanors (not malicious misdemeanors) where the victim was a child. Here are your options: 1. Report crimes such as fraud, assault, battery, false imprisonment, labor trafficking, and child abuse to law enforcement in Florida and North Carolina. You can call the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (Florida) at 352-726-1121 and/or Candor, NC Police at (910) 974-4777 to inquire about filing an official complaint which may provide the probable cause needed to get a warrant for investigation and/or prosecution. 2. File a consumer complaint with your home state's attorney general against Eckerd and include your request for compensation for any harm done to you. You can find the easy online forms for filing such a complaint (which may result in an investigation, prosecution, and/or civil resolution on your case) under your home state's (state where you currently reside) header at https://www.heal-online.org/report.htm . If your home state is Florida or you'd like to file with the Florida State Attorney General as a non-resident, here is that link: https://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/Main/60FD9BD8FA71A5B185256CD1005EE5C5 If your home state is North Carolina or you'd like to file with the North Carolina State Attorney General as a non-resident, here is that link: https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/ 3. If you do not wish to file a consumer complaint, you can contact a private personal injury attorney and look into suing in tort/civil court. However, if you can't afford the retainer, you should expect to settle out of court with a non-disclosure agreement which may bar you from speaking publicly about the incident because you've agreed (even if with a grumbling assent) to the terms of the settlement. You can find legal resources at https://www.heal-online.org/legal.htm and legal causes of action related to institutionalized abuse claims at https://www.heal-online.org/legalarguments.htm . 4. You may post a statement about your experience at your program on our unmoderated message board at http://pub40.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=3407841501&cpv=2 OR send a new e-mail to [email protected] with subject "Post My Feedback" and we will post your feedback (e-mail printed to .pdf disclosing your name and e-mail address and any information in your e-mail with that subject) to https://www.cope.church/feedback.htm and add a direct link to those .pdf files to this page . 5. You may also wish to provide a guest sermon. Guest sermons are posted at https://www.cope.church/sermons.htm , under Progress Reports/Guest Sermons at https://www.heal-online.org where appropriate, and on program info pages when applicable. So, one provided by you on your program would also be placed on this page . Guest sermons should be written into the body of an e-mail and sent to [email protected] . Your first and last name will be disclosed (contact info will not be unless you expressly ask for that). For sermons available on our site see https://www.cope.church/sermons.htm (and sermon archives linked on that page). If you have questions about this option, please contact [email protected]. Please see https://www.cope.church/givetoday.pdf to get an idea what your sermon may be worth.

Last Updated: April 5th, 2021

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