Since June of 2008 there has been a client that has been enrolled in the drug rehabilitation/behavior modification center of Pathway Family Center, and literally stuck on the programs first phase/level for over six months. This has been happening at the programs Southfield, Michigan location. It has been reported recently that Michigan authorities are considering removing the child client from Pathway.
Apparently this type of treatment has become a troublesome pattern for Pathway, to keep a new client on phase/level one for six months or more at a time. For those of you who are not exactly familiar with the ramifications of what a six month or more stay on first phase/level means for a client at Pathway Family Center, I will attempt to paint the picture more clear for you.
The child client being subjected to first phase/level for six months or more means that they first and foremost have not been able to hold an unmonitored talk or conversation with their parent(s). It also means that the child client has not been able to even attempt to call their parent(s), email them or even write them a letter via regular mail. This is a very troublesome occurance considering the structure of the program: http://www.isaccorp.org/khkandstraight.asp
http://www.isaccorp.org/pathway/handbook.pdf
This particular client has not been able to speak to their biological mother, who has joint custody with the childs father, the whole time. Pathway Family Center has denied this mother her inalienable right to visit with her child for over six months.
The press release about this incident was released by ISAC(International Survivors Action Committee) yesterday on http://fornits.com at http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=26483
Here is a copy of the press release below:
ISAC Corporation reports that a 14 year old boy has been detained against his will in an outpatient drug treatment program in Southfield MI since June 6, 2008. The name of the program is Pathway Family Center. Since that date, this boy has been residing away from his parents in unregulated, locked “host homes” run by the parents of clients in the program. Additionally, this program uses a level system, the first of which prevents clients from having privacy in the bathroom, attending school, reading, using the phone, watching TV, listening to the radio and a host of other restrictions that are consistent with the systematic thought reform methods utilized in its related program called STRAIGHT, Inc. That program was reported to have been closed in 1993, however, Pathway Family Center continued to treat clients from STRAIGHT, Inc. using the same methods and principles. There is at least one staff member from that program currently employed by the Southfield facility. Pathway also operates two other facilities located in Indiana. The facility they operated in Milford Ohio was closed earlier this month.
The mother of this boy has joint legal/physical custody of her son and his father orchestrated his placement against her wishes. They have been divorced for nearly a decade. Pathway Family Center has repeatedly refused the mother’s request to speak to her son in private. According to the policies of the program, the client must send complaints through what is known as a “COC” chain of command. If this complaint is deemed viable by the staff, it progresses through the chain to an appropriate level. At no point is the client able to call CPS or DCH to complain. Level one is the most physically and psychologically abusive portion of the program. To be kept on this level for over 6 months is nothing short of pure torture. This boy is being kept from his schooling and away from his mother who is trying to help him get out of this situation.
This boy must be immediately removed from this program. At the very least, he can stay with his grandparents until the parents come to some resolution regarding his future. The mother is willing to speak to someone, as is a psychologist who saw the boy earlier this month who has indicated a willingness to speak to the media regarding this issue.
ISAC Corporation is a 501c3 organization dedicated to exposing and reporting abuse and fraud perpetrated in privately owned drug rehabilitation programs, behavior modification and boarding schools. We retain a substantial amount of documentation that supports allegations of abuse and fraud regarding Pathway Family Center in each state in which it has operated its program. This is the first time a Pathway Family Center client parent, who retains joint physical/legal custody, has come forward to ask for our help. Her rights are being denied, her son is being tortured and Pathway Family Center is getting paid a substantial amount of money in the process.
In reply to this letter, the Sheriff of Porter County, David Lain says:
Mr. Earnshaw:
Thank you for your email regarding Pathway. I am sensitive to your concerns and have forwarded them to the local Pathway office. Please understand that addiction has affected far too many families and we as a society must explore a variety of methods to overcome this scourge. That said, I would never advocate harming someone in order to save them. I am not aware of such being the case at Pathway. Should your allegations be substantiated I of course would have to rethink my position.
Sincerely,
Sheriff David Lain
Anyone that is inclined to help this client and mother please contact Michigan authorities as soon as possible. This is a public outrage that this is even still happening!
Michigan authorities: Michigan Dept. of community health:Licensing Division – Licensing Boards
(517) 335-0918 (517) 373-2179 Health Investigation Division, Main Number, Lansing
(517) 373-1737 (517) 335-4886 Investigation Section, Detroit (313) 456-0300 (313) 456-0451
Health Regulatory Division (517) 373-9196 (517) 241-2389 Allegation Section (517) 373-9196 (517) 241-2389 Enforcement Section (517) 373-4972 (517) 241-1431
Email: bhpinfo@michigan.gov
Southfield, Michigan Police Dept. Chief of Police: (248) 796-5300 Detective Bureau: (248) 796-5540 Mayor’s Office: Telephone:(248)796-5100 Fax:(248)796-5105 E-mail:blawrence@cityofsouthfield.com
Southfield, City Council: Phone: (248) 796-5150 FAX: (248) 796-5155 Southfield City Attorney’s Office: The main office number is (248) 796-5770
Michigan Office of the Attorney General: Email: miag@michigan.gov (313)456-0240 Fax:(313)456-0061