The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Being bullied into silence. Not me. Are you at your wit's end and desperately searching the Internet for help for your out of control teen? Is your child a good teen making some very bad choices ? Failing in school? Underachieving? Defiant? Runaway ? Teen drug use ? Teen drinking? Are you considering a Residential Treatment Center ( RTC ), Therapeutic Boarding School (TBS), Emotional Growth Program, Behavioral Modification Program , Wilderness Program , etc? As a Parent Advocate , I founded my organization after struggling with my own teenage daughter. My story has been widely read and published by Health Communications, Inc - original home of Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. My daughter was harmed at Carolina Springs Academy. I won a court battle in 2004 proving my allegations against World Wide Association of Specialty Programs ( WWASPS - the umbrella that Carolina Springs Academy fell under) and what they did to my daughter and the deception I endured. It...

This week I have received numerous emails from parents, grandparents, relatives and others about the closing of Magnolia Christian Academy, formerly Carolina Springs Academy in Due West, SC. Whether is was pressure from the Attorney Generals office or the bad economy, it is my opinion this has been a long time coming and thankfully kids will not be subjected to what my daughter endured there.  It is all well documented in Wit's End , as well as trial transcripts.  Those sales reps (marketing arms) such as Help my teen or Teens in Crisis - (Lisa Irvin or Jane Hawley and the sales people that work for them) will continue to say I am a disgruntled parent - yes, I am, they abused my daughter - or they tell parents I own - operate - manage - my own schools (I don't) to  excuse my experiences. Now they have a few others programs to market - and I understand that Red River Academy or Horizon Academy is the latest one that people are sharing with me.  Are you considerin...

Read update on December 10, 2010.  Click here. Are you at your wit's end and desperately searching the Internet for help for your out of control teen? Is your child a good teen making some very bad choices ? Failing in school? Underachieving? Defiant? Runaway ? Teen drug use ? Teen drinking? Are you considering a Residential Treatment Center ( RTC ), Therapeutic Boarding School (TBS), Emotional Growth Program, Behavioral Modification Program , Wilderness Program , etc? As a Parent Advocate , I founded my organization after struggling with my own teenage daughter. My story has been widely read and published by Health Communications, Inc - original home of Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. My daughter was harmed at Carolina Springs Academy. I won a court battle in 2004 proving my allegations against World Wide Association of Speciality Programs ( WWASPS - the umbrella that Carolina Springs Academy fell under) and what they did to my daughter and the deception I endure...

It was reported back in early June 2010 that Magnolia Christian School or Academy (depending on what they call themselves that day formerly Carolina Springs Academy) was closed.  I received word from a parent that had a daughter there and was informed he had 24 hours to pick her up.  When he arrived, Elaine Davis (the same director that was there when my daughter was abused and neglected there) was on the porch with the kids waiting for the parents. Animals Abandoned According to this parent - all the other staff left. Then I received emails about the abuse of the animals there recently.  The fact the animals were left to fend for themselves and the video was horrifying to watch.  Animal activists as far as from Alaska were writing me for help on the background of this so-called teen help program.  According to one source , more than 70 carcasses have been found on the property and the Humane Society of Greenwood has removed dozens and dozens more...

My experiences with WWASPS SCAMS? FRAUD? ABUSE?  If you read my Blogs, most know my story.  From the time my daughter turned 14 and started giving me a handful of troubles, to finding a so-called  teen-help program that make me a lot of promises.  Not only were the promises broken, my daughter endured abuse both physically (being placed in a box for 17 hours), sleeping in sewage and other indescribable things - forced me into starting a crusade (as some have put it) to let parents that are desperate know more about this big business of "teen help". Here we are - almost a decade later, and the program that harmed my daughter (did I mention I defeated them in a jury trial?) is finally closed.  Carolina Springs Academy also known recently as Magnolia Christian School (both affiliated with WWASPS) closed their doors.  Hopefully it is for good.  However, that didn't stop the owners, Lichfield brothers , from going abroad. The recent news from T...

Learn more about Magnolia Christian School (formerly Carolina Springs Academy - which you may want to Google) since although the name has changed, it is believed the majority of staff has remained.  Who am I?  I am, what the sales reps for programs like Magnolia Christian School call me - a disgruntled parent.   However what they aren't tell you is I defeated them in a jury trial - proving my story what what happened to my daughter there, as well as many others, was not posted falsely.  Read my story here .

Are you a parent with an at risk teen, considering a residential treatment center? Maybe a therapeutic boarding school? Do you have a good kid that is making some not so good choices? Are you at your wit's end? Please read my earlier post on Magnolia Christian School .

Are you a parent with an at risk teen, considering a residential treatment center ? Maybe a therapeutic boarding school? Do you have a good kid that is making some not so good choices? What do you know about Boot Camps ?  Are you at your wit's end ? Please read my earlier post on Magnolia Christian School .  Read my story .

Please note that Carolina Springs Academy , the program that harmed my daughter and defrauded us, has had their license revoked this month. They have recently changed their name to Magnolia Hills Christian . It is believed the staff will remain and I believe nothing will change except the name. Falling under a Christian/Religious umbrella may not require them to meet the same regulations a traditional accredited school or program would meet. The irony of this change is when my daughter asked for her Bible at Carolina Springs Academy, they took it from her – and she got demerits. They were not allowed Bible Study or to have any Bibles. She prayed every night that she wouldn’t wake up – it was that bad. She was cautious not to be caught praying since that would have been a demerit, too. Our story is published in Wit’s End (Health Communications, Inc. July 2008) or you can read A Parent’s True Story . The marketers (Teen Help, Lisa Irvin , Help My Teen, Jane Hawley, Teens in Crisis, Life ...

On this Mother’s Day - I am re-printing my experiences almost a decade ago. I wrote my story and published my book in hopes of helping other families that are struggling with their teens today. There is hope, you are not alone. Happily I can say my organization that was developed from this experience, Parents Universal Resource Experts , (P.U.R.E.) has grown tremendously - we have literally helped over 20,000 families in the past 9+ years! Many parents ask how my daughter is doing - she is happily married (wonderful son-in-law) and has two beautiful children and working at her dream job. Yes, I am very proud and I can’t help but think our horrific experiences were not in vain - since we have touched so many lives. A Parent’s True Story - A mother and daughter’s story of courage, strength and inspiration. This story is now published in detail, with my daughter speaking out for the first time about the horrors she endured at Carolina Springs Academy. Wit’s End! A Mother and Daughter’s...

Why change your name all the time? What are you hiding from? Seneca Ranch Second Chance Youth Ranch Carolina Springs Academy Magnolia Christian Academy Next...... If a t first you don't succeed.....  Are you at your wit's end with your at-risk teenager?  Surfing the Internet and tired of all t he marke ting ploys you are finding? Before you make your plu nge , take 5 minutes to rea d my s tory - www. aparentstruestory.com - I was once in your shoes.     I get it, we need help, your teen needs help.  There are excellent re sources out there.  However when a p rogram is consta ntly changing their name, what are they running from?   Th ink about it--- do you really want to trust your child with p eople are always changing their name? Be an educated parent.  Get yo ur teen help.  Do your research.   This is only my opinion - based on my firsthand experiences.  Parents are feel to do what they feel is best f...

Making the right choice takes time. Don't get scammed. As a victim of the WWASPS organization - I am often called or receive many emails about our (my daughter and I) experiences with them.  Obviously not pleasant.  Though I am happy to say the program she was at, Carolina Springs Academy, which attempted to go through a name change to Magnolia Christian Academy (or School) depending on the day you Googled it, is finally closed - it has been rumored some of the staff is now at their affiliate program - Red River Academy. Let me be clear for legal purposes - these are rumors - but if I were placing my child in program, I personally wouldn't take any chances - and furthermore, Red River Academy is clearly named in the current lawsuit which is extremely disturbing with allegations of fraud, abuse, neglect and much more - ( click here ) that is current. So when the "sales rep" tells you that " Sue Scheff " is a disgruntled parent - I say - YES, I was - y...

Are you considering residential therapy for your teenager? Do you have a good teen making bad choices? Are you surfing the Internet, totally confused by all those toll free numbers, marketing arms, and sales reps? Are you totally at your wit's end ??? As responsible parent, we need to get our teen help, however we also need to stop, think, research and consider what is best for your individual teen. Many years ago, I struggled with my own teen daughter and her unacceptable behavior and needed outside help. My story has made headlines - and also lead to a book - Wit's End ! that has helped many parents when they are about to make a major decision. I was sucked in by a group that told me all I " needed " to hear - and delivered on just about zero of it. Learn from my mistakes - gain from my knowledge. If you are considering any of the above referenced "teen-help" programs (in the title) or marketing arms - take your time - do your research and please read my...

This is  big decision, take your time! Are you confused yet? Looking for teen help and realizing this is a BIG BUSINESS? So, your teen is driving your crazy.  You are at your wit's end . You have finally decided you need outside help. You have exhausted all your local resources.  Local therapy doesn't help, heck, you can't even get your teen to attend.  Your teen is failing in school, he/she is very smart yet doesn't want to attend school and believe they know it all.  Many say, " typical teen ", but as a parent, we know it is more than that. Where did our good kid go?  Good kids making bad choices - and they don't need to be placed in an environment that will make them worse in my opinion - learn from what happened to me! As a victim of the WWASPS organization - I am often called or receive many emails about our (my daughter and I) experiences with them.  Obviously not pleasant.  Though I am happy to say the program she wa...

Are you considering residential therapy for your teenager?  Do you have a good teen making bad choices? Are you surfing the Internet, totally confused by all those toll free numbers, marketing arms, and sales reps? Are you totally at your wit's end ??? As  responsible parent, we need to get our teen help, however we also need to stop, think, research and consider what is best for your individual teen.  Many years ago, I struggled with my own teen daughter and her unacceptable behavior and needed outside help.  My story has made headlines - and also lead to a book - Wit's End ! that has helped many parents when they are about to make a major decision. I was sucked in by a group that told me all I "needed" to hear - and delivered on just about zero of it. Learn from my mistakes - gain from my knowledge .  If you are considering any of the above referenced "teen-help" programs (in the title) or marketing arms - take your time - do your research ...

Coming to the conclusion you are in need of residential treatment for your teen is not an easy admission for any parent.  It is a point of realization that you can no longer help them and by denying them the opportunity of an intervention, you may be enabling them into a dark future. As my previous Blog post stated, finding the right placement for your teen is a tedious and time consuming job, however extremely necessary.  This is a major financial and emotional step and as a parent, you need to take the reins and be part of this process. Some thoughts and tips (from my own experiences) are the following: Beware of all these toll free numbers that go to places unknown - are marketing arms for a variety of programs and usually don't have your child's best interest, rather they are suggesting programs or schools that will " pay " for the referral. With this thought- always speak with the owner or the director.  Someone that has a vested interest in your child...

With the recent closing of Magnolia Christian School , which was formerly Carolina Springs Academy , it seems that World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) is slowly decreasing in size.  Is it the economy or the fact that there are many disturbing stories out there, as well as successful lawsuits such as mine .  Currently I believe Red River Academy is their East Coast/Central States main program as Horizon Academy and Cross Creek are on the West Coast. Are you considering residential therapy ?  Are you are your wit's end with your teenager?  Researching these programs and schools can be a daunting experience.  Glowing websites and slick sales reps at many toll free numbers - how do you know who to trust? I can't answer that except to say to remember, your child is not for sale. You will know in your gut if someone is being sincere or simply doing their job. I am considered a disgruntled parent by WWASPS, and I will accept th...