| 67 | |
Name: | brian schiff
([email protected])
| | Date: | 5/6/2011 11:59:31 AM | | Subject: | three springs paint rock valley | | | DECLARATION UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY
PURSUANT TO 28 USCA 1746
I, Brian Shciff, declare and state as follows:
1. Three Spring Paint Rock Valley
2. Trenton, Alabama
3. 09/07/1996 to 05/07/1999
4. I was a resident at Three Springs Paint Rock Valley program from 1996 to mid-1998. Then I was transferred to the group home until I graduated in 1999. At my time in three springs, I saw and was subjected to many degrading and horrible things. The positive aspects of the program were undone through experiences of things sometimes done both to me and others and by what I saw.
Things such as when counselors thought that the residents were getting out of control they thought that they could restrain them. This happened during the day usually handed efficiently and well. When this happened at night it usually resulted in a mass beating by other residents while being held down. I had experienced many of these attacks as result of arguing with a counselor. I had been repeatedly hit while being held down getting beaten and taking several hits to my face including having my glasses broken into my face. Other times I heard other resident going through this while they were restrained. At this program, you are divided into groups and can only talk to people in your group and your privileges are decided by members of this group as well as family service workers, the counselor, the supervisor, and the psychiatrist, privileges like going on home visits and, advancing through the program. Where your merits are supposed to decide these privileges, I had never seen this. It depended on how the counselor felt about you whereas if they liked you, how they felt on that particular day, or whether you where liked by the other group members. These people, their day to day personal emotions and general opinion of you usually resulted in if or when you got the privileges. It depended on whether you were in the group or part of the group as to how thing would go. The residents would form a group within the group usually with senior members and if you were considered an outsider according to that it would dictate how things would go for you. As disturbing as this was, there were other things such as the staff putting me on a contract that had rewards and punishments to motivate me through the program- depending on how I met the expectations of the contract. The contracts’ expectations were usually unattainable and resulted in being a sick game to the counselors which is something that they laughed at. As far as I know I was the only resident ever put on such a contract. Where I can understand how motivation can be helpful when used in a positive light, using fear of severe repercussions and holding that over my head resulted in me having a severe anxiety disorder and paranoia which drove me to almost lose my sanity. I felt I was being held hostage the contract and by the program.
Other punishments that I received were when I was made to pick up every leaf in an area half the size of a football field with my bare hands and not allowed to use any equipment on a wet cold November night. I was told to do this at dinner time and was told if I did not complete this task before fifteen minutes I would not be allowed to eat. I also was isolated from the group for a time in a punishment called refusal which is when they decide that you are declining to do a task that they thought you were refusing to complete even if you just give the opinion or thought that it was unreasonable, they would consider it wrong and enforce this penalty. This punishment entailed carrying a five gallon container of water, full at all times, and made to sit on a rock. You are not allowed to eat indoors during this punishment, but made to prepare and eat your meals outside while sitting on this rock. You had complete exposer to element like rain, cold, heat, sleet, or snow. It is somewhat difficult to prepare your meal in a rainstorm. During the time that I was on this punishment, I was told that I had run out of time to cook and was told to pull a red hot cast iron pan out of a fire. When I told them that the pan was too hot to touch, I was told that the punishment would be worsened if I did not do as I was told. Afraid to be disciplined more I did as I was told. When I did grabbed the cast-iron pan the indentation seared into my left hand. The staff knowing that I had this burn gave me a pointless task of moving a rock from one end of the field to another for a period of three hours. I was also made to run while carrying a container filled with five gallons of water in front of a car the length of the boys and girls campus twice. In addition, the water we were made to drink either had too much sulphur in it at times or too much bleach which burned your throat. At another time my group was made to climb a hill, which is relatively a small mountain, and descend it through a rocky dry river bed- at night, not allowed to use flashlights causing cuts and bruises subjecting us to possibility of attacks by rattle snakes. This was in the summer. Sleep deprivation and starvation was commonly used as punishments. By law I was told that we were supposed to be allowed four hours of sleep at the times during these punishments. We were lucky to get only one hour of sleep which doesn’t help when you are made to do manual labor as well as high energy activities all day. During my stay, I was sent to the hospital once as a result of an incident at the equine therapy. While I was on a horse that no one had any business riding, I was thrown off and the horse attempted to kick me while I was on the ground. This incident resulted in me having a bruised kidney and severe bruising on my left side. A short time after this incident, I was back at the horse barn with staff members, and there was a trainer there to whom they were giving the horse. She looked troubled and she explained to me that the horse had no business being around kids that this horse was too dangerous. Another severe punishment that I went through was a thing called “primitive” which is complete isolation except for two staff members. The punishment entailed making your own shelter outside away from and not within the sight of anyone. Materials provided for the shelter were inadequate and therefore the shelter could not provide protection from the weather and elements of nature. There were long periods of time at which I was not allowed to go home including holidays nor was I allowed to have much contact with my family. My letters to my family were screened. When I did tell my family of the things going on, they told the school of exactly what I said and the school informed them that these things were untrue and that I was lying. Also we had to various work detail. One such task included cleaning out a fire pit partially extinguished in a wind storm resulting in hot coals being blown onto me setting my jacket and shirt on fire. During my attempt to put out the fire, my group members and counselor laughed at. Thankfully, I was not seriously injured. At another time my group was sent to build a rock wall; however, the location which they picked was over a fire ant mound. When we told the staff of the ants we were instructed and ordered to still build the rock wall. This resulted in server fire ant bites to me and others in my group. When I was transferred to the group home, things got a little better, but there I had to deal with a whole new set of problems.
I had more freedom at the group home; however, the group home was run by the residents with the supervision of counselors. The senior residents and other residents who had more severe crimes or trouble with the law preyed on those that they found weaker. This involved physical attacks and humiliating pranks. It included tainting or tampering with other peoples’ food, such as putting semen into someone’s food, to attacks while you were sleeping which caused me to sleep with my hand on a Maglight under my pillow because I feared for my safety. At one point they even made the worst of them all the leader of the entire group knowing what would happen and how he would conduct himself with this authority. Thankfully this only went on for a short time, but resulted in severe attacks and humiliation for myself and a couple other residents. At one point at the group home, I fell ill with pneumonia. With a high, fever I was made to do work. While other members were concerned that my illness was not being taken seriously, I was told that I was just “milking” it. When taken finally to seek medical attention, the doctors determined that I had a fever of 104 and my lungs were partially filled with fluid- sever pneumonia. While at this program I saw that there were some decent people as well as ones who went on evil and sadistic power trips and tirades. The staff who did stand up and say something were either reprimanded, replaced, or both. On my return home finally I was so beaten down and conditioned to obey without question that I was unprepared for what real life would bring. This led to problems in my life. Where I can see if programs like this could be beneficial if run properly and staffed with proper employees, this program did not help. I had nightmares for years afterward and was jumpy when people attempted to touch me. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I have now recovered from a drug addiction. I was sent to that program not because I was a bad kid or in trouble with the law. I was just a bit rebellious at home and had trouble with my grades, like any 15 year old. I was put into that program which mixed kids like I was with people in trouble with the law and drugs. I lost my adolescence and innocents in that program and I am now happy to hear that it is being shut down.
I give HEAL permission to use this statement. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on May 6, 2011.
________________________________
Brian Schiff
1600 Granby St. #145
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 202-0501
[email protected]
SPECIAL NOTE: STATUTE DOES
NOT REQUIRE NOTARY]
| | | Post Reply | | |
| 66 | |
Name: | Brian
([email protected])
| | Date: | 5/6/2011 11:43:19 AM | | Subject: | Three Springs at Paint Rock Valley - Alabama | | | I declare that all said herein to be true and give my perission to HEAL in order to use this account of the events stated.
I was a resident at Three Springs Paint Rock Valley program from 1996 to mid-1998. Then I was transferred to the group home until I graduated in 1999. At my time in three springs, I saw and was subjected to many degrading and horrible things. The positive aspects of the program were undone through experiences of things sometimes done both to me and others and by what I saw.
Things such as when counselors thought that the residents were getting out of control they thought that they could restrain them. This happened during the day usually handed efficiently and well. When this happened at night it usually resulted in a mass beating by other residents while being held down. I had experienced many of these attacks as result of arguing with a counselor. I had been repeatedly hit while being held down getting beaten and taking several hits to my face including having my glasses broken into my face. Other times I heard other resident going through this while they were restrained. At this program, you are divided into groups and can only talk to people in your group and your privileges are decided by members of this group as well as family service workers, the counselor, the supervisor, and the psychiatrist, privileges like going on home visits and, advancing through the program. Where your merits are supposed to decide these privileges, I had never seen this. It depended on how the counselor felt about you whereas if they liked you, how they felt on that particular day, or whether you where liked by the other group members. These people, their day to day personal emotions and general opinion of you usually resulted in if or when you got the privileges. It depended on whether you were in the group or part of the group as to how thing would go. The residents would form a group within the group usually with senior members and if you were considered an outsider according to that it would dictate how things would go for you. As disturbing as this was, there were other things such as the staff putting me on a contract that had rewards and punishments to motivate me through the program- depending on how I met the expectations of the contract. The contracts’ expectations were usually unattainable and resulted in being a sick game to the counselors which is something that they laughed at. As far as I know I was the only resident ever put on such a contract. Where I can understand how motivation can be helpful when used in a positive light, using fear of severe repercussions and holding that over my head resulted in me having a severe anxiety disorder and paranoia which drove me to almost lose my sanity. I felt I was being held hostage the contract and by the program.
Other punishments that I received were when I was made to pick up every leaf in an area half the size of a football field with my bare hands and not allowed to use any equipment on a wet cold November night. I was told to do this at dinner time and was told if I did not complete this task before fifteen minutes I would not be allowed to eat. I also was isolated from the group for a time in a punishment called refusal which is when they decide that you are declining to do a task that they thought you were refusing to complete even if you just give the opinion or thought that it was unreasonable, they would consider it wrong and enforce this penalty. This punishment entailed carrying a five gallon container of water, full at all times, and made to sit on a rock. You are not allowed to eat indoors during this punishment, but made to prepare and eat your meals outside while sitting on this rock. You had complete exposer to element like rain, cold, heat, sleet, or snow. It is somewhat difficult to prepare your meal in a rainstorm. During the time that I was on this punishment, I was told that I had run out of time to cook and was told to pull a red hot cast iron pan out of a fire. When I told them that the pan was too hot to touch, I was told that the punishment would be worsened if I did not do as I was told. Afraid to be disciplined more I did as I was told. When I did grabbed the cast-iron pan the indentation seared into my left hand. The staff knowing that I had this burn gave me a pointless task of moving a rock from one end of the field to another for a period of three hours. I was also made to run while carrying a container filled with five gallons of water in front of a car the length of the boys and girls campus twice. In addition, the water we were made to drink either had too much sulphur in it at times or too much bleach which burned your throat. At another time my group was made to climb a hill, which is relatively a small mountain, and descend it through a rocky dry river bed- at night, not allowed to use flashlights causing cuts and bruises subjecting us to possibility of attacks by rattle snakes. This was in the summer. Sleep deprivation and starvation was commonly used as punishments. By law I was told that we were supposed to be allowed four hours of sleep at the times during these punishments. We were lucky to get only one hour of sleep which doesn’t help when you are made to do manual labor as well as high energy activities all day. During my stay, I was sent to the hospital once as a result of an incident at the equine therapy. While I was on a horse that no one had any business riding, I was thrown off and the horse attempted to kick me while I was on the ground. This incident resulted in me having a bruised kidney and severe bruising on my left side. A short time after this incident, I was back at the horse barn with staff members, and there was a trainer there to whom they were giving the horse. She looked troubled and she explained to me that the horse had no business being around kids that this horse was too dangerous. Another severe punishment that I went through was a thing called “primitive” which is complete isolation except for two staff members. The punishment entailed making your own shelter outside away from and not within the sight of anyone. Materials provided for the shelter were inadequate and therefore the shelter could not provide protection from the weather and elements of nature. There were long periods of time at which I was not allowed to go home including holidays nor was I allowed to have much contact with my family. My letters to my family were screened. When I did tell my family of the things going on, they told the school of exactly what I said and the school informed them that these things were untrue and that I was lying. Also we had to various work detail. One such task included cleaning out a fire pit partially extinguished in a wind storm resulting in hot coals being blown onto me setting my jacket and shirt on fire. During my attempt to put out the fire, my group members and counselor laughed at. Thankfully, I was not seriously injured. At another time my group was sent to build a rock wall; however, the location which they picked was over a fire ant mound. When we told the staff of the ants we were instructed and ordered to still build the rock wall. This resulted in server fire ant bites to me and others in my group. When I was transferred to the group home, things got a little better, but there I had to deal with a whole new set of problems.
I had more freedom at the group home; however, the group home was run by the residents with the supervision of counselors. The senior residents and other residents who had more severe crimes or trouble with the law preyed on those that they found weaker. This involved physical attacks and humiliating pranks. It included tainting or tampering with other peoples’ food, such as putting semen into someone’s food, to attacks while you were sleeping which caused me to sleep with my hand on a Maglight under my pillow because I feared for my safety. At one point they even made the worst of them all the leader of the entire group knowing what would happen and how he would conduct himself with this authority. Thankfully this only went on for a short time, but resulted in severe attacks and humiliation for myself and a couple other residents. At one point at the group home, I fell ill with pneumonia. With a high, fever I was made to do work. While other members were concerned that my illness was not being taken seriously, I was told that I was just “milking” it. When taken finally to seek medical attention, the doctors determined that I had a fever of 104 and my lungs were partially filled with fluid- sever pneumonia. While at this program I saw that there were some decent people as well as ones who went on evil and sadistic power trips and tirades. The staff who did stand up and say something were either reprimanded, replaced, or both. On my return home finally I was so beaten down and conditioned to obey without question that I was unprepared for what real life would bring. This led to problems in my life. Where I can see if programs like this could be beneficial if run properly and staffed with proper employees, this program did not help. I had nightmares for years afterward and was jumpy when people attempted to touch me. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I have now recovered from a drug addiction. I was sent to that program not because I was a bad kid or in trouble with the law. I was just a bit rebellious at home and had trouble with my grades, like any 15 year old. I was put into that program which mixed kids like I was with people in trouble with the law and drugs. I lost my adolescence and innocents in that program and I am now happy to hear that it is being shut down.
| | | Post Reply | | |
| 65 | |
Name: | Brian
([email protected])
| | Date: | 5/6/2011 11:34:20 AM | | Subject: | Three Springs at Paint Rock Valley - Alabama | | | I declare that all said herein to be true and give my perission to HEAL in order to use this account of the events stated.
I had more freedom at the group home; however, the group home was run by the residents with the supervision of counselors. The senior residents and other residents who had more severe crimes or trouble with the law preyed on those that they found weaker. This involved physical attacks and humiliating pranks. It included tainting or tampering with other peoples’ food, such as putting semen into someone’s food, to attacks while you were sleeping which caused me to sleep with my hand on a Maglight under my pillow because I feared for my safety. At one point they even made the worst of them all the leader of the entire group knowing what would happen and how he would conduct himself with this authority. Thankfully this only went on for a short time, but resulted in severe attacks and humiliation for myself and a couple other residents. At one point at the group home, I fell ill with pneumonia. With a high, fever I was made to do work. While other members were concerned that my illness was not being taken seriously, I was told that I was just “milking” it. When taken finally to seek medical attention, the doctors determined that I had a fever of 104 and my lungs were partially filled with fluid- sever pneumonia. While at this program I saw that there were some decent people as well as ones who went on evil and sadistic power trips and tirades. The staff who did stand up and say something were either reprimanded, replaced, or both. On my return home finally I was so beaten down and conditioned to obey without question that I was unprepared for what real life would bring. This led to problems in my life. Where I can see if programs like this could be beneficial if run properly and staffed with proper employees, this program did not help. I had nightmares for years afterward and was jumpy when people attempted to touch me. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I have now recovered from a drug addiction. I was sent to that program not because I was a bad kid or in trouble with the law. I was just a bit rebellious at home and had trouble with my grades, like any 15 year old. I was put into that program which mixed kids like I was with people in trouble with the law and drugs. I lost my adolescence and innocents in that program and I am now happy to hear that it is being shut down. | | | Post Reply | | |
| 64 | |
Name: | Andrew
(@[email protected])
| | Date: | 3/3/2011 12:47:16 AM | | Subject: | eckerd youth alternatives | | | I was at this place from 2003 to 2004. I was sent here by the state of tennessee, as the result of a dirty drug screen. 11 months, due to a first time failed drug test. Im not here to justify my faults, but moreso the punishment. Camp e-sun-alee is a joke, it isnt there to "help" anyone, only the directors and their wallets. Abuse is an understatement. there where so called 5 point restraints, used to subdue aggressive behavior, yet i cant remember once was this protocol followed. i firsthand was engaged by a conselour, fist fighting with a program director(Jim Lovra) only after i had stood and defended myself after initial confrontation was the restraint used, and even then 3 staff members forced me to the ground, kneeing me and punching me till i stopped moving..yea you're saying i was a delinquent, i saying i didnt want a perverted old man hug me from behind so he could put his crotch up against my back, and when i called him out on it, i was repremanded as so...it isnt somewhere u want to send your child. i held my own, and was a group leader, and the crap i caught was from the staff alone, but if u didnt gt accepted by your group, then you had a long stay at camp ahead of you..other kids sneaking in to the tents and beating up fellow group members, pissing and shiiting in their beds and footlockers. i even witnessed a boy take his "fun" rag after he had ejaculated in it and make a boy stick his fingers in it or be beat up. the worst part is the cheifs or staff, whatever, knew and did nothing to intervene.. PARENTS, LOOK INTO THESE PLACES BEFORE MAKING A DECISION!!!! IT COULD AFFECT UR CHILDS LIFE AND FUTURE...thank you, Andrew-Class of 2004, camp E-Sun-Alee, Deerlodge, Tn | | | Post Reply | Display replies to this message
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| 63 | |
Name: | The Elan School
([email protected])
| | Date: | 2/22/2011 11:46:27 PM | | Subject: | If you do less than an hour of work you will see hundreds of sworn abuse testimonies from past + recent residents. | | | http://theelanschool.tumblr.com/
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