maddog

There are alternatives to restraints and in many occasions, restraints are overused. Kids are dying, lots of them. There is a list being compiled of deaths in residential treatment programs, many from restraints. You can find that list at www.caica.org, click on "Deaths" link at the top, then click on "list".

These are children - children who deserved to live. Many of them were sent to programs for ADHD, depression, drug use, and so on. Many facilities are not regulated and do not hire licensed, qualified staff. If you want to learn about these places visit www.caica.org.

I understand that some staff members do not want to lose the ability to restrain kids, but really, there are other de-escalative ways that work. Do you think sometimes staff resort to restraints rather than taking the time to try other, more kind, humane approaches with kids, approaches that are of a loving nature, and that could result in a more positive outcome?

What we are learning is that restraints, especially prone restraints, kill far too many children and should be outlawed everywhere. I know that's harsh and some of you will disagree with me, but I have talked to families whose children have died this way and it is a horrible way to die. And needless.

Please consider there are other ways to treat children than with force. Yes, sometimes a child or adult is completely out of control and something must be done for everyone's safety. But, from all the stories I have read and all the families I have talked to, that was simply not the case and other less physical approaches would have worked in most of those cases.

The Mental Health Association in PA is working with the state to eliminate the need for restraint of children and teens. Restraint is not treatment, and does not improve behavior. www.mhapa.org will have complete information on our restraint work debuting in an online newsletter next month. A good resource for parents and others interested in learning about alternatives to restraint is "In the Name of Treatment, A Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Child From the Use of Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion". This guide is available at http://aprais.org/information.html#ParentGuide. The state is also organizing regional meetings- more info at http://pacassp.psych.psu.edu/DPWACT/home.htm Wendy Luckenbill mhapa.org

IZ

I'm inclined to believe that once again the "bottom line" is more important than the safety of anyone, patients or staff. I'm not necessarily taking the side of the patients or voicing an opinion against any of the staff but there is obviously a problem when a kid is dieing due to suffocation. If the center can't protect everyone involved then it needs to close.......... And that's what I see, CRYSTAL CLEAR, with NO GLASSES!!!!