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General Parenting
A little angry at Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
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<blockquote data-quote="OTE" data-source="post: 16368"><p>Mine has been in more than a few RTCs over the years. There are some things that are acceptable and some that are not. My first suggestion is to write down each time they call what they said, how long he's been in isolation and so forth. Also each time they call ask for a copy of the written "incident report". In most states this is something they must do and in some states send to the state licensing people directly. But ask them for whatever they have in writing. If they say nothing ask them to send a report to you in writing of what happened.</p><p></p><p>Wendy, I hear you on not recognizing sub abuse. But we as parents are not trained professionals. The licensing of these places requires that they have trained, fingerprinted, background checked, etc people with the specified training in the law as well as the specified ratios, etc. There are extensive rules about how these places are run, eg sub abuse programs have different rules than RTCs and this isn't a sub abuse program. All of these rules are by the State. If they are not following the rules you can, as a parent, report it and the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) will be inspected, including all their records, by the State. Many have been closed due to poor inspections. So I hear you Wendy but I find it difficult to believe that there isn't one trained professional in addition to staff in each cottage. Again, ratios vary by state but....and any training for this field includes at least some training in recognizing sub abuse. ALL difficult children are at risk for sub abuse, including in RTCs. In a true sub abuse program they search the kids each time they come back onto campus, it's required. Which is not to say that mine didn't sneak stuff in inside his sock or whatever but in an Residential Treatment Center (RTC) the rules could be less strict.</p><p></p><p>Beth, they go off campus to school based on where they are in the program. If a child is being prepared to leave the facility they may send them off campus to see how they handle a public school, just as they send them for weekend home visits.</p><p></p><p>The school within the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) is a Special Education school governed by the State education rules and in most states Special Education schools have a different license. Again, that's who you go to with concerns if the school does not resolve your concerns.</p><p></p><p>Them calling you about every restraint and isolation is also probably a law in your state.</p><p></p><p>If your child's behavior is based on inability to communicate it seems to me he/she should qualify for alternative/ augmented communication on the basis that the current form of communication is causing loss of edueational time due to inability to communicate. Seems a straight forward case for inclusion in the IEP. It would be something the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) would bill either your medication insur, the SD of origin since it's required by the IEP, or the state agency paying for his mental health services. In any event, I don't see it as your cost but as medical and/or educational requirement at this point.</p><p></p><p>I wouldn't be on the phone to these people. I would be sending them clear, concise letters with your concerns. If it doesn't improve, second letter threatens to report them to state. Third letter is cc'd to state with a call to state.</p><p></p><p>About the lack of therapy, if it's in the IEP they are required to make up the time missed. Ask them when they are going to make it up. Ask them if the staff in his cottage have been trained to communicate with him. If not, ask them to get his professional speech therapist in to do the training.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="OTE, post: 16368"] Mine has been in more than a few RTCs over the years. There are some things that are acceptable and some that are not. My first suggestion is to write down each time they call what they said, how long he's been in isolation and so forth. Also each time they call ask for a copy of the written "incident report". In most states this is something they must do and in some states send to the state licensing people directly. But ask them for whatever they have in writing. If they say nothing ask them to send a report to you in writing of what happened. Wendy, I hear you on not recognizing sub abuse. But we as parents are not trained professionals. The licensing of these places requires that they have trained, fingerprinted, background checked, etc people with the specified training in the law as well as the specified ratios, etc. There are extensive rules about how these places are run, eg sub abuse programs have different rules than RTCs and this isn't a sub abuse program. All of these rules are by the State. If they are not following the rules you can, as a parent, report it and the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) will be inspected, including all their records, by the State. Many have been closed due to poor inspections. So I hear you Wendy but I find it difficult to believe that there isn't one trained professional in addition to staff in each cottage. Again, ratios vary by state but....and any training for this field includes at least some training in recognizing sub abuse. ALL difficult children are at risk for sub abuse, including in RTCs. In a true sub abuse program they search the kids each time they come back onto campus, it's required. Which is not to say that mine didn't sneak stuff in inside his sock or whatever but in an Residential Treatment Center (RTC) the rules could be less strict. Beth, they go off campus to school based on where they are in the program. If a child is being prepared to leave the facility they may send them off campus to see how they handle a public school, just as they send them for weekend home visits. The school within the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) is a Special Education school governed by the State education rules and in most states Special Education schools have a different license. Again, that's who you go to with concerns if the school does not resolve your concerns. Them calling you about every restraint and isolation is also probably a law in your state. If your child's behavior is based on inability to communicate it seems to me he/she should qualify for alternative/ augmented communication on the basis that the current form of communication is causing loss of edueational time due to inability to communicate. Seems a straight forward case for inclusion in the IEP. It would be something the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) would bill either your medication insur, the SD of origin since it's required by the IEP, or the state agency paying for his mental health services. In any event, I don't see it as your cost but as medical and/or educational requirement at this point. I wouldn't be on the phone to these people. I would be sending them clear, concise letters with your concerns. If it doesn't improve, second letter threatens to report them to state. Third letter is cc'd to state with a call to state. About the lack of therapy, if it's in the IEP they are required to make up the time missed. Ask them when they are going to make it up. Ask them if the staff in his cottage have been trained to communicate with him. If not, ask them to get his professional speech therapist in to do the training. [/QUOTE]
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