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For all of you who have been following the story over the last month and for those who have not. A kid, Patrick, turned 18 while in a UT program and they wouldn't let me go. His mom wanted him there even though she was told he was being abused.

His girlfriend's mom emailed me a month ago and I put her in touch with Simone. We tried everything to get him out. Finally last night Mark Levine put pressure on some folks and had a radio show about it. He was going to do another show tonight but they decided to finally release him. He had no money or food. We were able to get him a cab and buy him a plane ticket to Boston. He will be staying with his girlfriend and her mom. Thank god for Small Miracles! That's what this is all about. If we can even save one kid then it's worth it. Of course there are so many more that still need our help. So onward we fight!

Patrick is in Boston and safe! 

What is the Troubled Teen Industry?

The troubled teen industry has varying formats and varying claims as to what they can accomplish, but all have the same tendency to separate children and parents, limiting contact between a child and their family. Many also limit contact with the outside world. This lack of contact enables programs/facilities to be more abusive due to the lack of scrutiny. There is a lack of concern that someone will catch them, or find out they've done something wrong. Why? Because if your kid is there, then everyone assumes they must be bad; they must be a liar; they must be difficult; they must not be trustworthy. If they are complaining, it must be because they are manipulative liars. They're being disciplined and they don't like it. Discipline is NOT what we're against, it is the line that has been crossed from discipline to abuse and torture that has caused us to stand up and take action.

"Breaking" the children is a common theme, but it is a harmful tactic that ultimately, has devastating results for the individual, later in life. Some of us know this from personal experience. Some of the tactics used are fear, brainwashing, repetitiveness of menial tasks. Other tactics are more severe, harder labor, standing/sitting in stress positions, physical punishments that go beyond swats with a paddle and into violence. Some of this meted out by other teenagers.

"Indoctrination/Brainwashing" is the next step. Repetition of the programs beliefs and standards, without regard to the child involved and without regard to the example they themselves set on a daily basis. They will tell your child he is not good enough to survive in the regular world until they believe or behave the way the program says they should. They may tell you and your child that they will end up insane, dead, in jail or on drugs without their 'help'.

You may believe the driving force behind these programs and facilities is to help your child. It's not. Money is. If you don't believe me, tell them your insurance isn't going to cover the tuition any longer and you've gone bankrupt. See how fast little Susie or Johnny is redeposited into your life.

We are dedicated to preventing others from experiencing the same traumas we have been through. Our goal is to bring awareness to the troubled teen industry and hold the abusers accountable for their actions.

If you're considering sending your child away, take a week and read Help at Any Cost, by Maia Szalavitz first. You owe it to your child.