Today we went to go visit Sammy at his new residential placement. In the past I have checked out the placement ahead of time, or very shortly after his placement. I did not do that this time since the facility is well known statewide, I had several good referrals from people I trust, and quite frankly, it doesn’t much matter.

I don’t hold much hope that Sammy is going to be “cured” at whatever facility he is in, but I do check for obvious safety issues, both for Sammy and for the other children.

This facility is ranking high on my “I like this place” radar right now. I felt that away about the first facility he was in, but I also said “for now” after I checked Sammy in. I reserved judgment because I was basing it on the cleanliness and the safety issues. I had not had a discussion about treatment.

So, what about this facility do I like? There are several things.

This is a boys only facility. Sammy needs to work on his life more than a romantic relationship.

Photo credit - Sammy and Hannah today at our visit

The rules are clear cut and in line with our values. In fact, they are more strict than our own personal family rules, but it’s not a bad thing. There are things like having to wear a collared shirt and khaki pants to school. School is held on the premises so this does not make the kids stick out in a public school setting.

The rules are enforced. Other places that Sammy has been there have been what I think of as superficial rules. They are posted, but not enforced. While we were there I saw a clipboard with the rules on them and each boys name at the bottom of the page. I saw the same sheet in Sammy’s room while we were there. If a boy violates a rule, the rule they violated is checked off. The violation has a number of points with it and the points correspond to the time they will be in “time out.” This can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours and is done in the common area so that the child can be monitored.

It is a Christian based facility. My faith and teaching Sammy Christian values are important to me. Sammy does not object to this and at times is very active in Bible study. The Christian ethic is very obvious as you go throughout the various parts of the facility.

The staff listened to me. We took a tour with Sammy, Hannah, my husband and one of the staff in the area he lives in. The staff member and I talked the entire time. We discussed his past, his strengths, his weaknesses, and I expanded on some things that were not fully explained in his file. The staff member said that my husband and I are the exception with the parents they normally work with. We are active and involved in Sammy’s life and treatment. She also asked me to repeat some of the things that I told her to Sammy’s case manager there so that everyone is on the same page.

I’ll have more on this facility and how treatment works while in a facility like this as we go on.