A giant loss to our community.....

[timer lady]

I learned early this afternoon that the foundation that runs the 3 residential facilities that have expertise in Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) & PTSD are closing February 1st, 2010.

I'm not sure what the foundation is going to do to replace the need for these facilites (they are always full & have a waiting list). kt & wm, between the 2 of them have had 7 stays in one or the other of these facilities.

It's a sad & huge loss to our town, our state, our kids.

 

[crazymama30]

Wow. I would think those type of facilities would be few and far between. Are they more victims of this economy?

 

[Wiped Out]

Linda,
This is tragic and I'm so sorry it is happening.

 

[susiestar]

I am so sorry. This is tragic.

 

[Fran]

Loss of any resources is tragic. There aren't nearly enough.
I know I felt that way when they closed difficult child's egbs. It had a run of trouble with overzealous physical restrictions to the point of injury and death. It was far after my difficult child was gone though. It was a place that stopped difficult child's downward spiral and helped stabilize him. Obviously I was heartbroken that the place that helped difficult child is no longer available and angry that people who should be trustworthy injured children.
Still it was such a big loss.

 

[Sheila]

That's really bad news. And scary. There's such a shortage already.....

 

[TPaul]

I learned early this afternoon that the foundation that runs the 3 residential facilities that have expertise in Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) & PTSD are closing February 1st, 2010.

I'm not sure what the foundation is going to do to replace the need for these facilites (they are always full & have a waiting list). kt & wm, between the 2 of them have had 7 stays in one or the other of these facilities.

It's a sad & huge loss to our town, our state, our kids.

How sad, I have read that many residental care homes are having to close because of cut back in what they receive.

Tpaul

 

[timer lady]

kt & wm always came home from Residential Treatment Center (RTC) more balanced & settled. It lasted from a 1/2 year to now 2 - 3 years in between stays (except for this year). I worry for our kids - especially those in the foster care community or the adoptive community.

Apparently, counties are pushing for more in home help even though with all the services I have here we have still needed these facilities to break the downward spiral as only the staff at these treatment centers could do. These centers have worked with families & their children since 1924. The child guidance clinic will still be in existence (our psychiatrist will still be around). I worry for the exceptional foster care section of this foundation. These parents are some of the best.

As of yesterday no more names were being added to the waiting list & the staff are working on getting the kids in the centers thru as much of their treatment plan as they can.

I think it's a huge mistake & short sighted thinking on all concerned who made this decision. As with many other diagnosis's dealt with on this board, Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) & PTSD combined are horrendous, have little support & a poor prognosis.

Closing date shouldn't affect kt's treatment plan as her discharge date is late January.

I feel as though a safety net has been pulled out from under me.

 

[DammitJanet]

Same thing is happening here. They are closing down Group homes and Residential Treatment Center (RTC)'s. Everything is going to be in home services but they are also cutting down on what in home means. Talk about stupid.

I almost walked into a job at the center that I get my therapy from as what was going to be known as a peer support specialist. I didnt even know I applied...lol. I actually didnt apply, the people there just thought I would be the perfect candidate and were going to offer me the job but when all the cuts came down, the job disappeared.

Funny...lol.

Now all these people who are getting services are having less services. I honestly dont know if I am actually getting services. I never go to the center anymore. I meet my therapist out for lunch. It could be that I have been off the books again. I dont know.

 

[DDD]

Advocating for children in need is getting to be a lose-lose situation. I am so sorry that your family will feel the impact. During my years as a GAL and later a human rights advocate we often heard ourselves referred to "as bleeding heart liberals". Just this week one of the key men in child abuse investigations told me to be thankful I was out of it. The new Judge requires all GAL cases be "registered" before Court begins and then
"wait" to be called after all the other cases on the docket have been heard. That surely is an indicator that "the best interests of children" has been placed in the lowest priority position. Without exaggeraton I fear for the future when the jail is the only facility accepting children. What a crying shame that such a religious Nation can't rally support. I'll say a prayer that William is appropriately placed. DDD

 

[KTMom91]

Our county hasn't had anything for children/teens for years, and even the only 24-hour adult facility has closed. The only local options we have now are the ER or jail. Not good.

 

[DammitJanet]

I just went to have my weekly lunch session with my therapist. When she walked in I noticed she looked stressed. It is bad when the first words spoken are by her and they are "Can I tell you MY stress first?" LOL.

Seems that our state has run out of funds for indigent care for mentally ill people. Effective immediately all people who have no insurance and cant afford to pay cash must be let go. There is no more public mental health system. This state went completely to a private community based mental health system where the services were offered by private companies. In the states great wisdom (said sarcastically) they had this pool of money to give to the various private companies to provide care to the indigent patients. This has now ran out because of budget cuts.

This whole stupid fiasco of eliminating public mental health was supposed to save money but of course, it didnt. Private businesses popped up like mushrooms on cow patties suckling on the public teat. They bilked Medicaid and Medicare and private insurance out of millions if not billions of dollars. Before this whole thing went through, there were 3 agencies here that offered in home aids. When it went through, I watched them pop up. Now there must be one on every corner. They will be gone now.

This is a nightmare.

 

[DammitJanet]

OMG...you cant say a word like a newborn baby pig!

 

[timer lady]

Turns out that the foster care end of this is being closed as well; this effects wm in a BIG way. The home where wm is are the only parents who would/are willing to work with wm.

The foster care is being closed by year end. Foster mum & dad will have to be licensed by another provider or wm will be back here at home.

Prayers are needed on this end of things, please.