A little background, the SUWS of the Carolinas is owned by a company called Aspen, which owns hundreds of therapeutic boarding schools across the nation. You dont get any warm food, you're given a bag of granola, a bag of oats to mix with iodine water, and a raw head of broccoli. My parents needed a way to send me back to NC because they could not afford to hire escorts to take me back, so my uncle did us the favor and flew me to NC. We can answer any questions you might have about financing your child's treatment with us. See the estimate, review home details, and search for homes nearby. 2023 2023 Its just its not normal. Simply that, and that alone, should make this dangerous pseudo therapy ( it's not actual medical therapy--they don't even claim it to be such--read the contracts!) We have extensive experience helping young people, ages 10-17, and their families work through specific challenges in life. I left that program wanting to change the course of my life. And thanks! SUWS of the Carolinas. They took me to a warehouse to get me my supplies. Love Your Child, Not the Behavior These programming options address a number of conditions within this age group. No where in the lawbooks, other than parental approved kidnapping or court orders does it say YOU have the right to abduct ME as a child. We were aloud to read and some instructors would read to us before we went to bed which was nice. Wilderness therapy is an evidence-based approach to creating enduring change. Aspen Education Group is an American company specializing in providing therapeutic interventions for adolescents and young adults, including wilderness therapy programs, residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, and weight loss programs. We tried ditching him, running around corners, but the faster we got, the faster we got. Outdoor Teen & Adolescent Club Drug Abuse Treatment Center SUWS of the Carolinas is a therapeutic wilderness treatment center that focuses on short-term, high-impact clinical intervention and therapy for adolescents, ages 10 to 17, who are struggling with club drug abuse. Its just like its still there and they have that power over you., Questions about staff qualifications, training. Im so sorry this happened to you. Children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 17 can be treated at one of our programs, Approach, Phoenix Outdoor, Seasons, and SUWS, which are all located in North Carolina. If so, please PM me or email me at the above address. The '+' indicates that both terms must be present. Since their inception, The Jason Foundation has never charged a school, family, or community for use of their programs or materials. I was sent to Oakley boarding school after where abuse continued in a different way. Pretty sure I was the 17 year old girl in that group. It wouldve been hard for my parents to be there, and the escort service was recommended, I would've been able to escape if they hadn't done that, but I met kids who locked their kids in the car and told them they were going somewhere else, but it must be hard for a parent to witness this. I would still love them, but fuck all that. SUWS of the Carolinas is a therapeutic wilderness treatment center that focuses on short-term, high-impact clinical intervention and therapy for adolescents, ages 10 to 17, who are struggling with club drug abuse. Kathleen Reilly said she is speaking out now in hopes it stops other parents from sending their children to Trails Carolina or a similar program. While in our care, adolescents experience the benefits of trust, responsibility, and accountability as they reconnect with their best selves. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I really hated the place but it kind of saved my life. A short time later, I arrived in North Carolina, where I was taken to SUWS of the Carolinas, a wilderness therapy program. SUWS of the Carolinas operates within the Pisgah Nation Forest under permits issued by the United States Forest Service (USDA), and is subject to the USDA Civil Rights Non Discrimination agreement (Form AD-475-C). Many of my fellow group members are at a theroputic boarding school which is probably the scariest part of SUWS because you don't know if you are going to get sent to one or not. It was absolutely traumatizing for a 13 year old girl. No separation. Find a Treatment Center >. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. The flying part was because of my uncle, who owns a watch company, and owns a private jet. All rights reserved. I was basically told that I was a drug addict because I smoked weed and that I was promiscuous but that religion and hiking through snow would save me. SUWS and Aspen Achievement Academy set the standard of what a wilderness program should be. www.jasonfoundation.com. 363 Graphite Rd. At SUWS wilderness treatment program, students work through addiction, depression, developmental disorders, and behavioral issues with experienced staff members in a supportive outdoor environment free from the stresses and distractions of everyday life. I went when I just turned 14 I was the youngest in my group. So we were in the town of Asheville, North Carolina, where we walk into a convenience store. Unlike boot camp programs that place an emphasis on punishment and personal degradation, wilderness therapy employs strategic challenges and comprehensive support to help young people eliminate self-defeating behavior patterns and develop a more positive mindset. One of the issues of the place is that the people that spend the majority of the time with them are not trained therapists.. What type of medical care was provided? They were assholes at first and said if I cooperated I would be able to say goodbye to my parents but I never saw them until after SUWS. I was sent to Aspen Achievement Academy from November 1999-January 2000 and then to Aspen Ranch. Furthermore, when a young person enters our wilderness treatment center, they will undergo a thorough psychiatric and medical evaluation, which will help to identify the presence of any co-occurring mental health disorders that may exist. They're typically involved in their own outdoor activity pursuits which can make them really experienced in the woods. 2023 If you are unable to read or view this page please call SUWS of the Carolinas at (828) 489-3198. While this was happening, one of my friend's mom saw me, and called my mom because she knew I was supposed to be in rehab. To parents who are reading this, I highly recommend that you research a lot about sending your child away because it still effects me and haunts me today that i will get sent back. The staff are fun, honest and helpful. I was experimenting with all types of drugs and hanging out with some pretty bad people before I was sent away. Had to rashen our food and hike 12+ miles a day with extremely heavy back backs. The letter said the facility follows a six-day training program and attached a schedule outlining which activities take place on specific days. And on three different occasions, Trails Carolina was cited for failing to protect participants from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation. on my back, I ran away in the middle of the night with another kid my age. Still, the physical is more immediately dangerous. We would then spend the time needed to convince the teen to come along peacefully. Through the use of the wilderness, in combination with traditional therapeutic methods, we help encourage change in each youth that comes to us for care. Especially the way they went about it. They're typically involved in their own outdoor activity pursuits which can make them really experienced in the woods. Write a Review Get Help Overview: Acadia Healthcares behavioral health treatment facilities specialize in helping children, adolescents, adults, and seniors who are suffering from mental health concerns and/or drug and alcohol addiction. SUWS is set in a gorgeous area of western NC. SUWS of the Carolinas is located in Old Fort, North Carolina, and provides wilderness therapy programming for youths ages 10-17. Did you witness any type of governmental oversight? It can be difficult to determine if your son or daughter is abusing club drugs, but if he or she is displaying several of the following it may indicate the presence of a club drug abuse problem: There are many harmful effects associated with the use of club drugs. The wilderness therapy offered at SUWS was the dynamic solution needed to help my son with his behavioral issues. The accounts about AAA referenced here seem fairly accurate, however, I look back on my experience differently. For Reilly, most of their time was spent with their group of eight to 12 students, living in tents in the woods. I looked for my best friend who had no idea what happened to me, and he told me I could crash at his house. They two girls who came and helped me change into the SUWS clothing were extremely nice and helpful and made me feel more comfortable. I went to Turn About Ranch two times (a 4 month total) which is an Aspen Education program. At least 2 people have died on site from the "torture as therapy" of SUWS wilderness programs. They made us feel heard and finally not alone with what we were going through as a family. According to arecent CDC survey, 15.4% of North Carolinas high school youth said that they have made a plan to attempt suicide in the past twelve months. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for North Carolina youth ages 10-24, with more than 200 young lives lost 2018. I was sent there from 4-21-05 for about 9 weeks. YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION COMES TO SUWS OF THE CAROLINAS, Community Resources OR Local Mental Health Support Groups, 363 Graphite Rd, Old Fort, NC 28762. Specialized Military & Family Support Services, 363 Graphite Rd, Old Fort, NC 28762. I hated my time at SUWS too.. SUWS changed my life and my families because now I'm happy and they are happy too. Id seek different help. We went once 17 days without showering, Reilly recalled. socially intolerable. It is the goal of the Phoenix Program, with the use of the wilderness and multiple therapeutic approaches, to help encourage effective change in each adolescent that comes through our doors. Something with professionals that arethat we would be involved in more, she said. I had kids that tried running away. This means that users never really know the type, quality, or amount of chemicals that they are putting their bodies. I remember laying there every night praying to a god I dont even believe in saying if you get me out of here, I promise I will do whatever I can to help whatever child so they dont have to go through this, she said. At SUWS of the Carolinas, we know it can be difficult making the decision to send your child to treatment. I tried running away and fighting back, but four of them overpowered me and arrested me and took me to the airport, where there was a plane waiting for me to fly back to the program. It uses the majestic wilderness of the Carolinas as an alternative to conventional treatment environments, while providing clinical intervention, assessment and traditional . Today, we are proud of all that our 200 employee workforce does to help others. Our typical family has exhausted all local resources with school counselors, outpatient therapists, and other mental health professionals. At base camp or in the wilderness, young people receive essential guidance as they take important steps on their path toward a brighter tomorrow. We followed the railroad and made it to town. We accomplish this by: If your child has been acting out, you may fear that a respectful and compassionate approach might be too soft to achieve results. They are interested in your experiences, whether they were negative or positive. Old Fort, N.C. (PRWEB) June 17, 2008 SUWS of the Carolinas wilderness program in North Carolina was recently featured in the Concord Monitor, as part of the story of Carolynne St. Pierre who died Feb. 10, 2007, at the age of 44, after a three-year battle with a rare form of liver cancer. For more information or to find the closest JFI Affiliate Office, visit JFIs website. I genuinely still have trauma from our camp. I made it to "buffalo" a week or two before i got sent to graduation group. If you are unable to read or view this page please call SUWS of the Carolinas at (828) 489-3198. What access to mental health services were available? We had no money to get home, so we got onto a free bus taking us to the bus station to bum for money. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. It was all boys except myself and another 17 year old girl. If your child is engaging in disruptive, defiant, or aggressive behavior, you probably feel desperate to help him or her, all while grappling with profound frustration. Also, my AAA wilderness program was based in Loa, Utah. I worked as an adolescent transport agent, some years back, and I'm almost certain I took one teen to SUWS. NR BBB rating. It was gone. It sounds a lot like ShearGenius's post but not as wilderness-y. She was 16 at the time and had no clue what was going on. 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