This is very disturbing, on many levels. How anyone can abuse another human being, esp one with mental disabilities, is just beyond me.
However, I would be willing to bet serious $$ that the employees are NOT properly trained to handle the patients adn their problems. They are NOT properly screened for drug use, esp on the job, and they have little oversight to prevent abuses. I would bet that many employees who want to scam the system take their patients medications, simply because they can and somany medications have street value.
I also bet there are some who want to do a good job and are simply overwhelmed. I know in the psychiatric hospital Wiz was in some staff didn't care much and some really did care. Luckily one of the sr nurses really really cared and was on top of EVERYONE, including parents and psychiatrists. Darla made things great there, in spite of not being paid enoug.
So many of us can't find RTCs or placements for kids who really NEED them, esp for those endangering the family safety (bran, hexemaus, etc..) and then there are places like this which make you afraid to send your child to a placement.
So many things in Tx are backwards, I am not surprised this is one. It is one reason we REFUSED to move to a job offer in Houston when husband was looking. I was NOT putting my kids in those schools. Not after so many parents in Tx have posted on here about problems with the schools and iEPs.
I am sorry so many are being abused, and that the Legislature refuses to fix it. I hope enough social pressure can come to play to force changes for the better.