Wilderness Camps-Tips, Support, HEAL UPDATED

One alternative that adoptive parents use for temporary behavioral care is a wilderness camp. Unfortunately many of these camps have been associated with abuse. The organization  HEAL has tips, support, abuse support and information that is a must-read before enrolling your child into a wilderness camp.

According to their homepage, HEAL “is an egalitarian network of activists self-empowered to plan events, create change, and make the world a better place for all life. Our goals include the liberation of humans, nonhuman animals, and the earth! We work in cooperation with like-minded organizations that put compassion in action!” They have chapters in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Knetucky, New York, Washington and Wisconsin.

Warning signs about abuse and questions to ask before enrolling can be found here and is pasted below:

“A Treatment Center/Wilderness Program/Boot Camp/etc. Is Likely Abusive If:

1. Verbal and/or written communication between the client and family members is prohibited, restricted or monitored.

2. The program requires the parents or client to sign a form releasing the program of liability in case of injury during treatment.

3 . The program requests/demands legal custody of juvenile clients.

4. The program houses clients in foster homes or host homes instead of allowing them to reside with their parents.

5. The client or parents are forbidden from discussing the daily happenings at the facility. Often this policy is called “confidentiality.”

6. The client is denied access to a telephone.

7. Client phone calls are monitored.

8. The program uses confrontational therapy.

9. The staff includes former clients of the program.

10. Clients are restrained or otherwise physically prevented from leaving the facility.

11. The program claims that self-injury or cutting/carving on ones body is normal behavior for a client in treatment.

12. Parents are not allowed to stay with their child during the entire intake/entry process.

13. The program inflicts physical punishments on clients such as exercising, running, food restrictions, and cleaning.

14. Reading materials are prohibited or restricted.

15. The facility does not have a clearly visible sign outside the building stating the name of the program.

16. Clients must submit “chain of commands” or any other such requests for basic needs such as clothes, shoes, personal items and medical care.

17. The program is run or staffed by persons who lack adequate experience or credentials.

18. The program requires parents or siblings of clients to volunteer services and/or raise money for the facility.

19. A medical doctor (MD) is not present at any time during normal operating hours.

20. Clients of the program conduct, participate in or supervise the intake/entry process.

21. Staff members offer to help the parents obtain a court order forcing the client into the program.

22. Clients are observed on any level of the program, while bathing, dressing or using the toilet.

23. The purpose of the program is to treat drug abuse, but the program does not conduct a drug screen prior to entry.

24. The program requires clients to be strip-searched.

25. The program does not allow clients to follow their religion of choice.

26. Staff members must approve friends, siblings, family visits, or employment.

27. Juvenile clients are not afforded an education in accordance with state requirements.

28. Medication is recommended, prescribed, approved or dispensed by anyone other than a medical doctor (MD).

29. Staff members make statements such as “your child will die without treatment” to the parents of prospective clients.

30. Clients escort/supervise other clients.

31. The program lists a post office box instead of a physical street address.

32. Clients have to “earn” the right to speak during group sessions.

33. Clients are denied outside activities on any level/phase.

34. Staff must approve the withdrawal of clients from treatment.

35. The program expects total and unquestioned support of parents.

36. Clients on any phase/level are forbidden to speak to other clients.

37. Program questions parents in-depth but cuts off parents’ questions and/or refuses to answer or redirects when asked specifics about program policies and procedures.

38. See the Federal Trade Commission warnings and suggestions at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro27.shtm ”

HEAL also links to a 2004 DOS announcement about the dangers of foreign behavioral centers in this pdf.

They also have a list of organizations that they are investigating for abuse here.  They take complaints from former participants.

Terrance Olson Ph.D., Professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University (BYU) is one of the people that brought programs to a wilderness camp, ANASAZI. ANASAZI is on the investigation list. He was honored this week with the Osborne Award for those “who demonstrate enduring excellence in the teaching of family studies.”

“He has been a Fellow of the Wheatley Institution since 2008, where he addresses ethical issues in family interaction and education in the public schools.”

Additionally “[f]rom 2000-2003, he assisted with curriculum writing and training for a federal grant to the National Council for Adoption designed to promote infant adoption.”
Utah + infant adoption + NCFA =

Update: Hat tip to a reader. The General Accounting Office produced a report on Wilderness Camps in 2007. See the 38-page  pdf here.

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