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Report: #1036079

Complaint Review: Adolescent Growth - Los Angeles California

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  • Reported By: Former Employee — los angeles California
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  • Adolescent Growth 439 S. Serrano Ave Los Angeles, California United States of America

Adolescent Growth www.adolescentgrowth.com, treatment facility, youth residential, teen Los Angeles, California

*Consumer Comment: I highly suggest this RTC...

*REBUTTAL Owner of company: Adolescent Growth is a family owned treatment facility that offers outstanding level of care.

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Adolescent Growth is a horrible company. The main problem is the ownership, the Lewises. They focus more on cutting costs and cramming so many clients into their one treatment house that the treatment suffers.
Client counts are so high that it goes beyond non-therapeutic and enters the realm of dangerous. Absolutely anything that the Lewises can do to cut costs, they will do, regardless of the effect of quality of care. Any employee who leaves AG must fight for monies owed to them, and sometimes must go to court. You do not want to support a company with owners such as these.

Management-The owners, the Lewises, are quite paranoid and diabolical in their treatment of staff, and sometimes, client parents. They do not know how to properly run a business.  The Lewises are all smiles and motivational talk when interacting with parents; they simply leave the dirty work to lower level employees.

When management makes mistakes, there are no repercussions; they attempt to blame floor staff for most mistakes, but take no responsibility for their own. Most parental inquiries are simply ignored or given the run-around; management does not want to have to answer your questions or address your concerns once you have given them your money.

Therapists-Some of the therapists can be of a good quality, but due to employee turnover and high client count, clients do not get enough session time, as the therapists can also be over-worked.

Floor Staff-Staff is underpaid and over-worked. As such, there is immense turnover and employees with low skill levels. Normal client to staff ratios for a treatment facility such as AG are 3 to 1; at AG, 4 to 1 and sometimes up to 7 to 1 is the standard. This is dangerous, and ensures that your child is not getting proper supervision, proper health services, or proper treatment. Staff is then punished for not being able to handle several jobs at once, while at the same time maintaining a watchful eye on your kids. We are asked to do the impossible and threatened with punishment if unable to do so. Staff is routinely forced to pay for gas or other items out of their own pocket, and must hound the owners for reimbursement.

Some of the management mistakes at AG include:
-management withholding client seizure medication, resulting in client taken to hospital for seizure.
-incorrect client medication dosage information.
-unqualified staff being allowed to work without proper clearance and criminal background checks.
-17 clients being supervised by only two staff members in a small living room, resulting in improper, physical contact between clients.
-decrepit, filthy sleeping facilities and clients covered with mosquito bites due to lack of air conditioning during summer, no housecleaning staff, and no screens on windows at sleeping houses.
-overworked floor staff, resulting in such mistakes as a medication cabinet being left unlocked and clients allowed to steal and consume medication, and clients engaging in reported sexual contact due to lack of
staffing and supervision.
-employees being forced to engage in menial work such as cleaning, cooking, or putting away supplies instead of watching your children.

Your child is simply not safe here at Adolescent Growth.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/19/2013 11:19 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/adolescent-growth/los-angeles-california-90020/adolescent-growth-wwwadolescentgrowthcom-treatment-facility-youth-residential-teen-l-1036079. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
1Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#2 Consumer Comment

I highly suggest this RTC...

AUTHOR: SUSANR57 - ()

POSTED: Sunday, January 05, 2014

I am a parent of a teen in Adolescent Growth.  I am a professional business woman.  I am so grateful for finding this place.  IF you have a teen that you think has emotional issues/disorders and any drug or alcohol exposure (or dependency) - give these people a call.  GET YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILD HELP!  This is such a great place for treating, identifying and addressing the EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL ISSUES, not just the alcohol or drugs.  

A high level of professionalism, communication and accessibility, with transparency.    Yes, they are a for-profit company - but I see where some of the profits go - right back into the facilities!  They provide a beautiful "home" environment for the teens -  quiet,  peaceful, encouraging and they learn communication skills, respect, gratitude while having access to therapists and a psychiatrist  who are "ON IT"!  They have their own 12 step program in house, they go to a fitness/gym every day, in house school, and provide great meals - my teen is eating SALADS every day - that is HUGE!  I have seen all 4 locations, each of the homes are tastefully and beautifully decorated, recently painted, beautiful fireplaces, flooring and the kitchens are open and roomy - lots of cushy sofas and a quiet environment for the teens to focus.  

The responsiveness from this company is EXCELLENT!  I have interacted with several, if not all, of the staff - admissions, billing, insurance review, therapists, psychiatrist, staff members and the owner, Dr. Joy - when I send an email, I either get a call back within an hour or a professional response via email, ALWAYS offering me to call them if there are other questions or if I'd prefer to discuss this on the phone.  NONE of the emails are auto-responders.  Dr. Joy???  I was in a bit of a crisis with my child's father who has limited access - and there was some confusion about the court documents (I had not provided them with exactly what they needed)  Dr. Joy called me at 6:15 am - AM - (I am an early morning person) to just affirm they were supporting me and my daughter and working within the law and simply asked - "What can we do to support you?"  We worked it out.  She and her husband attend the Saturday Family meetings and greet each parent.  THESE ARE THE OWNERS...not a big corporation...just kind people who are running a business THAT MATTERS. 

The therapists?  wonderful,  Look, if you are looking for a place to just "store" your teen - THIS IS NOT IT!  You, as the parent(s) and your family - are going to be involved for the 45 days of treatment and then on an on-going monthly basis - The entire family that lives together is going to be asked to participate in therapy - so please note that you are going to have to attend Saturday meetings (via online if you live 100+ miles away) and you will have an additional therapy session with your teen and the assigned therapist at least once a week - YOU have to be committed and let's face it - THIS IS A FAMILY ISSUE.  Family Sessions  are intimate, personal and enlightening - they provide donuts for breakfast and a great lunch, too!  Two therapists run the meetings from 9:30 - 2:00 and it is structured for the entire family - you won't want to miss it - and you feel supported!  The provide you training and tools to CHANGE your reactions, responses and to create better communication at home.

The staff?  LOVE THEM!  As I've said, I've been to all 4 locations and at each and every location. I have been immediately addressed (kindly and professionally) they go out of their way to assist the parents - I love that the staff are young, outgoing and interact with the kids in a very POSITIVE and SUPPORTIVE manner - they are respectful to the kids, not rude and not tyrants!  And they do this all the time, not just when the parents are around.  You have time alone with your child each week and phone calls daily, so you get the "truth" and the "truth" is the staff bond with the teens in with healthy boundaries, clear communication and positive support.    There was a time when the teens in the house got into a heated argument, the staff members called in a therapist (after hours) who arrived at the house within the hour and there was a therapeutic session for them...as I said, they address the issues, as they arise, as they are needed.  The staff are well trained and are a cohesive team.

There was a small fender bender while a staff member was driving the teens to a field trip - I got a call from the staff member, letting me know.  Nobody was injured, not a big deal - but they COMMUNICATE!

The psychiatrist?  a teen and adolescent psychiatrist - last week during my teen's weekly session with her, she called me and described what behavior was being treated, asked my permission to change the medication and then explained clearly why she was doing it and how they were monitoring the meds and behavior asked if I had any questions and took her time in talking with me.   Available at some Sat mtgs,as well.

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#1 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Adolescent Growth is a family owned treatment facility that offers outstanding level of care.

AUTHOR: Adolescent Growth - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Adolescent Growth is a family owned treatment facility that cares genuinely about all of our clients and their families. We are a comprehensive eating disorder, mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders program that specializes in the treatment of adolescent males and females who are struggling emotionally, behaviorally, or psychologically.
We have an experienced team of professional and caring individuals committed to helping adolescents and their families get well. Our qualified staff is exceptionally gifted at building rapport with adolescents and helping them to implement lasting change.
As a testament to our dedicated staff, our client focused program and our individualized approach, we have seen many clients and their families successfully complete the program and go on to build healthy and confident lives for themselves.

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