List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Jul-12
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
This is a report about Canadian teens with behavioural issues who are sent to ‘teen boot camps’ or residential treatment facilities, wilderness camps and therapeutic boarding schools in the United States. It tells how a very sophisticated industry in the United States has medicalized typical teenage risk-taking behaviour and turned it into a ‘condition’ that must be treated. It comes not only at a great cost to their parents but has caused the deaths of a number of teens and long-lasting trauma to thousands more.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I visited numerous sites that pay tribute or catalogue mistreatment of teens by these facilities.I visited websites of various schools, treatment centres and wilderness camps. I also joined a number of facebook pages and read the accounts of numerous teens who have formed survivor groups on facebook.I also reviewed a number of documents from the U.S. Government Accountability Office and watched hearings and read transcripts of hearings into these facilities.
Explain types of human sources used.
I interviewed three Canadian teens who were sent to treatment facilities in the United States, one of them kidnapped with her parents’ permission and taken away. I interviewed a mother who had her child kidnapped at the Canada/U.S border. I interviewed the head of an organization trying to close down these facilities as well as one young man who was instrumental in closing one such school. I interviewed a Canadian addiction counsellor who reassured parents that much teen risk-taking can be treated in a more moderate fashion while keeping the teens in their own homes. I interviewed a man who runs a wilderness therapy program in Canada which offers a moderate and short stay approach. I interviewed an American journalist who has written a book on the subject. I interviewed a high ranking American official about documents from the U.S. Accountibility Office and about hearings held on these facilities.
Results:
On a personal note, the story has given a voice to countless Canadian young people who have lost years of their teen lives to live in what often turned out to be abusive situations. It has also helped to validate a growing movement in the United States to investigate abuse at these faclities and close them down.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Use social media to find your interview subjects when you are looking for young people. It is the best way.Also by visiting social media websites you can read conversations that you wouldn’t normally be party to. It really can lead you to your best sources which traditional sources don’t provide. Keep looking on the internet for more information. There are often government documents on a subject that aren’t readily apparent. Just keep digging.