Sue Scheff: Parenting Blogs

Recently I am noticing more and more parents are stepping up and talking about their issues, concerns, frustrations as well as sharing ideas and tips they have used in raising their children. All in all, it is about parents helping parents.Years ago when I struggled with my daughter, I felt so alone - and it was such a hush hush mentality. We were all so determined to prove our kids were nearly perfect! Oh, so smart and athletic or gifted and talented in some way. In today’s generation of raising children it is become more challenging.

Here are a few Blogs on Parenting that could help you help your child:

Van’s Mom - Exploring and dealing with an ADHD and ODD daughter.
Tangerine Times - Myrna’s parenting tips on the sweet and sour times of teens.
Phil’s Blog - Why physical education is so critical to children today in highly techy times.
Inhalant Abuse Blog - Parents educate other parents on the dangers of many home products.
Love Our Children Blog - Helping keep today’s children safe.
Sarah Maria’s Blog - Learning to increase your self image to make better choices. (For parents and teens!)
Lori Hanson’s Blog - Holistic solutions for a eating disorders.
ADD/ADHD Blog - ADDitude Magazine offers many parent Blogs on ADD/ADHD and more.
Safe Teen Driving Club - Learn more about teen driving safety tips.

Sue Scheff: On Your Time with Kim Iverson

Sue Scheff talks with Talk Show Radio Host, Kim Iverson about her new book, Wit's End! and her experiences with her own teen as well as helping to educate parents on today's teens. Learn from my mistakes - gain from my knowledge.

Wit's Ends details her experiences with Carolina Springs Academy and WWASPS - take a moment to review http://www.aparentstruestory.com/ - and learn more. Especially if you are considering residential therapy.

Sue Scheff Talks to Global Talk Radio - Parents learn more

Valerie Connelly speaks with Sue Scheff about her book, Wit's End "Resources for Saving Your OUT-OF-CONTROL TEEN," and Kathleen Duey, about her book, "My Animal Family." Also, Ramona Rubio joins to discuss her book, "The Alchemical Woman."
Listen here: http://www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/callingallauthors/

Sue Scheff talks about Wit's End on Walking on Air

Betsy Brint and Sally Higginson are wives, mothers, sisters and friends. The two live five blocks from one another. Betsy is the mother of three; Sally is the mother of two. Their husbands are friends as well as brothers-in law. A large percentage of the time, Betsy and Sally consider themselves happily married. The remaining small percentage of time makes for lively radio.

Visit http://www.walkingonair.org/index.htm to listen and pick-up helpful tips on life today with families and parenting!

Sue Scheff Launches Wit's End!

From the same publishers that brought you the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, now offers you "Wit's End!"

My story if filled with inspiration and hope as well as offers parents and people that work with today's pre-teens and teens, advice and resources for today's struggling teens.

The response has been overwhelming since we launched the book!

I am very proud of my daughter who spoke for the first time publicly in Wit's End! Hear her story of what she endured at Carolina Springs Academy.

Most importantly- learn from our mistakes so you don't make the same ones.

SUE SCHEFF - LIVE ON PURPOSE RADIO - WIT'S END

From: Dr. Paul Jenkins

Hello Parents!

Thanks to all of you who were on our call today. We had Sue Scheff on as our guest, who shared some remarkable resources and her personal story about dealing with her out-of-control teen daughter. You just may want to save a copy of today’s call for future reference, or to share with people you know who might be dealing with this right now. Our association with each other is one of our greatest resources – thank you for being part of this community of parents!

Visit http://www.parentalpower.wordpress.com/ to pick up the audio content – we are getting close to having this available through iTunes so you can just subscribe and get it automatically. Stay tuned.

http://parentalpower.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/sue-scheff-at-wits-end/

Sue Scheff - Wit's End! - How Carolina Springs Misrepresented Us and Harmed my Daughter

Visit www.aparentstruestory.com and read more about our experiences in the WWASPS facility. To hear my daughter's voice for the first time, order our book online today at www.witsendbook.com - you will receive it shortly.

Sue Scheff - A Parent's True Story - Parents Universal Resource Experts

P.U.R.E. is based on reality - especially with today's teen society of technology including MySpace and other Internet concerns for children. Today we are educating children at much younger ages about substance abuse, sex, and more. The latest wave of music and lyrics, television, and movies help to contribute to generate a new spin on this age group. This leads to new areas of concern for parents.

We recognize that each family is different with a variety of needs. P.U.R.E. believes in creating Parent Awareness to help you become an educated parent in the teen help industry. We will give you a feeling of comfort in a situation that can be confusing, stressful, frustrating, and sometimes desperate.

Desperate? Confused? Stressed? Anxious? Helplessness? Frustrated? Scared? Exhausted? Fearful? Alone? Drained? Hopelessness? Out of Control? At Wit's End?...

http://www.helpyourteens.com/
http://www.witsendbook.com/
http://www.suescheff.com/

Sue Scheff - Wit's End is Almost Here - A Mother and Daughter's Experience at Carolina Springs Academy - Learn from Our Mistakes

Sue Scheff is a parent advocate who founded Parents’ Universal Resources Experts, Inc. (P.U.R.E.) in 2001. She has been featured on 20/20, The Rachel Ray Show, ABC News, Canadian CBC Sunday News Magazine, CNN Headline News, Fox News, BBC Talk Radio, and NPR, discussing topics of Internet defamation as well as her work helping troubled teens and their families through her organization. To learn more about P.U.R.E. or visit http://www.helpyourteens.com/ and to contact the author, visit http://www.suescheff.com/.

Sue Scheff Founder of Parents' Universal Resource Experts

My first book - "Wit's End!" will be released very shortly. It is not only a journey of what my daughter and I went through during her adolescents, it will offer parents and others that work with today's teens hope and inspiration.

I have become a voice in this so-called industry of teen-help and I am proud to say we have helped thousands of families at www.helpyourteens.com .

Making mistakes is part of life, but using your mistakes to help others is what matters most.

Sue Scheff - Parent Advocate

Check out my Blog on articles covering parenting, cyber safety and more.

Sue Scheff talks about Carolina Springs Academy

My true story is based on our experiences (my daughter and myself) with Carolina Springs Academy in Due West, SC.

It seems that Carolina Springs Academy representatives are telling parents that my story is false and I lost in a lawsuit with them.

This continues in their pattern of misrepresentation in my opinion.I not only defeated them in a jury trial - I went on to defeat them in the Supreme Court of Appeals when they tried to appeal it!Click here for more details.

Wit's End! coming soon - will give you our story, with my daughter's voice of her experiences at CSA.

Sue Scheff: A Parent's True Story - "Wit's End!"

A must read for any parent that is struggling with their teen or pre-teen today.

"Wit's End!" to be release in July 2008 inspired by "A Parent's True Story" by Sue Scheff.

Do you have a struggling teen? At risk teens? Defiant Teen? Teen Depression? Problem Teen? Difficult Teen? Teen Rage? Teen Anger? Teen Drug Use? Teen Gangs? Teen Runaways? Bipolar? ADD/ADHD? Disrespectful Teen? Out of Control Teen? Peer Pressure?

Find about more about Boarding Schools, Military Schools, Christian Boarding Schools, Residential Treatment Centers, and Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Wit's End! A Mother and Daughter's Story

Our book will be released in 2008 and will not only journey a struggling teenager it will give others hope and encouragement. Wit's End will be a resource book for parents and others that work with today's teens and adolescents.

Sue Scheff sharing our story....

My daughter and I decided together to share our story as a mother and daughter that have gone through some tough times. In my new book being released in 2008 will be a journey of what we had gone through, as well as sharing with you the ways you can learn from our mistakes.

For more information visit www.helpyourteens.com

Sue Scheff - A Parent's True Story

Worldwide Association of Specialty Schools and Programs

WWASP then changed to WWASPS - now it seems they are:

PREMIER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS

Be sure to do your research and know what you are considering for your child.

Read my story.

Sue Scheff (P.U.R.E.): A Parent's True Story

Deception, Misrepresentation & Fraud

By Sue Scheff™, Weston, FL

After experiencing my good teen making some bad choices, I found myself on the Internet surfing until I was so confused and stressed I couldn't make any decision. One group of specialty schools and behavior modification programs kept popping up wherever I clicked; I figured they must be good. Then I received their beautiful glossy literature with a video that could make any parent weep (I actually received 4 packets of the same material)! The cost was reasonable in comparison with other programs, or so I thought until I enrolled my child. The hidden costs added up like a grocery bill. I was totally misled by my rash decision. This is a common mistake when parents are placed in a desperate situation and a swift sales rep is waiting for you; answering every question the way you want to hear it and making promises that convince you that they can help your child.

My true nightmare was just beginning.

Impressed by the fancy words and glossy brochures, I enrolled my child with the understanding that they were qualified help. I am ashamed to say, I never did a background check on these programs. I had called their parent references that they gave me (and later found out they were paid to talk to me, some actually receiving a free month’s tuition). I know many of you are thinking I must have been nuts, and you are right. While in this stage of my life, I was in a total frenzy. I truthfully just wanted help for my child and thought for the money I was paying, it must be good.

Long story short, my frenzy and desperation was my biggest mistake I made. This was not what they sold me. It was more of a warehousing of teens program. I was looking for therapy and internalization through the help of professionals. I believe if you take a negative child, and put them in a negative environment, it builds resentment and anger. Literally, this is what I had done. I had no idea as to what I did. Fraud, misrepresentation, combined with a vulnerable parent can lead to danger for a child in my opinion.

I attempted using the so-called Independent Educational Consultant that immediately wanted a check for $350.00 just to talk to me. They claimed they could help me (without even knowing my daughter) for about another $3000.00 or more.

It was a couple of months later, after I attended some very bizarre seminars that were mandated in order to visit your child that I realized I had made a big mistake. I wrote my withdrawal letter immediately after the second seminar. Actually, in retrospect, red flags went up shortly after I dropped my child off and I asked who the psychologist would be, and guess what, there was none, unless I wanted to pay extra! So who led the group therapy they raved about? There was no group therapy, there was a person who sat in a circle with them as they reflected, which was usually another student. I would have hired their psychologist for another $100 per visit, but why? We could have done that at home. Their sales reps told me that there was a licensed therapist "on staff and on site". I should have pulled my child then, however I thought I was over-reacting since I was in such confusion and frenzy. The staff was very good at convincing me to "trust the program" instead of addressing my concerns.

During my child’s entire stay of almost 6 months, I was never allowed to speak with my child. I only spoke with an employee once a week for about 15 minutes (In my further research, these employees had no credentials and many didn’t have education beyond High School including the President of the Organization). My child wrote me letters: some good, some bad. The good ones were considered manipulation; the bad ones were considered proof that they needed to stay longer. I couldn't win and neither could my child.

After observing and listening to some of the other teens there and their families, I realized it was all very strange. Some of these kids were there for well over a year and the families were so deep into this program, it was sickening and sad. The support group meetings were like a Stepford Family Reunion, with a leader making her financial profits. These poor kids just wanted to be loved and held by their parents, who couldn’t be there. I later found out it usually takes up to 6 months to speak with your child, and in most cases up to a year to see them. Although they sell you another story, the truth be known, most take 2-3 years to graduation. Recently I understand a law was passed that mandates you can see your child after 3 months. I am not sure if this group of programs is abiding by this new regulation; however, it is in place.
I brought my child home and when she felt confident I wouldn’t send her back, I heard some unspeakable stories. The stories were very consistent with many others I was hearing and reading about. My child went immediately into real counseling where, after almost two years, we are recovering from this traumatic experience in our lives. My child was suffering from depression and nightmares from the stay at Carolina Springs Academy. The fear of being sent back, had created suicidal thoughts, however the excellent psychologist helped my child through this horrible post experience of WWASP. I have heard from many other post-WWASP students and families suffering from the same symptoms, which is very sad.

I firmly believe, until you walk the shoes as a parent of a teen, you really don't know the feeling of hopelessness. I have been there and I have survived and learned from it. I believe in sharing my knowledge of this, very political, industry with as many families as possible. It is very scary to know that even Independent Educational Consultants (that are supposed to be professionals) have no state or government regulations. In other words, anyone can state they are Educational Consultants. This combined with the misrepresentation of schools and programs, is very frightening and costly in many ways.

Our experiences occurred with Carolina Springs Academy, one of many of their programs that are part of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs (WWASP or aka WWASPS or aka Premier Educational Systems). Some of the programs names are: Cross Creek Manor -UT, Cross Creek Center - UT, Spring Creek Lodge - MT, Tranquility Bay - Jamaica, Casa By The Sea (closed due to allegations of neglect and abuse), Academy at Dundee Ranch (raided and closed), Academy at Ivy Ridge - NY (accreditation suspended in April 2004; 2005 State Attorney General Spitzer made Ivy Ridge pay approx. $1.65 Millions Dollars in fines and to parents for Educational Fraud), Majestic Ranch - UT, Pacific View, Midwest Academy - IA, Paradise Cove (closed due to allegations of neglect and abuse), Morava Academy (closed due to allegations of neglect and abuse), Darrington Academy - GA, and Horizon's Academy - NV. I feel all of their programs are simply boot camps that claim internalization; however, lack it tremendously. Their specialty is cash cropping children; marketing and using a child are part of their strategy. They are, in my opinion, a children’s warehouse and a parents’ escape from their desperate situation. Their deluxe *Marketing and Pyramid skills seems to be what they specialize in.

In many parents and professionals’ opinions, the fine line of their cult-like program is enough to destroy many families and children, as we have many testimonials to. (Please review some of our Informational Articles for more true stories). I am speaking from experience. I used to sell their program and market their schools to gain free months’ tuition. Yes, whenever you refer a family, you would get a free month! What a concept, and I fell for it! Being involved in selling the program controls your mind in the consistency of how great they are when in reality, you have not even spoken to your child. I had no idea how the program was working; I was just trained to sell like a good follower.

There are many followers of this program who have become programized. There is many like myself, and more waking up daily. Dateline, Primetime, 48 Hours & Inside Edition has done segments on this organization that paint the same picture of negative experiences. There are many newspaper and magazine articles (including People, Forbes, New York Times, LA Times, News Day, Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, Guardian, Jamaican Observer, YM Magazine, Salon, Time Magazine, Spin, etc.) and lawsuits pending against WWASP that they are struggling to keep silent. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. Why take a chance with your child?
Many wonder why they are allowed to continue, it is simple, money and plenty of it. Money is usually the root of evil, and it seems obvious with this. I am a firm believer that one day WWASP aka WWASPS aka Premier Educational Systems will be held accountable for their actions. The day will come that many truths will be exposed. For the sake of the silent cries of the children, the sooner the better.

Please take a moment to review these Links that have FACTUAL reports of what WWASP represents. It also includes sworn testimony (dated August 2002) from graduates of the program of WWASP and the abuse they lived through. I want you to realize that these are graduates, as many WWASP representatives use the excuse if a child is not functioning or a parent is not convinced is because they did not graduate which means the child is not fully-baked. Yes, they refer to baking our children.

Sworn Transcripts: (Click here to view transcripts)These transcripts are extremely sensitive, gruesome at times, as well as factual. I want to prepare you for some very disturbing facts from graduates. The Closing Arguments are very compelling. It does have a happy ending, as the boy was released from the program immediately. Please note, it was a third party (a cousin) that actually brought this lawsuit to action and she won the release of her cousin over the father's rights.

Factual Articles and Reports:

Two time Pulitzer Prize Winner, Lou Kilzer, has written a very compelling series entitled "Desperate Measures", linked here:

http://www.denver-rmn.com/desperate/site-desperate/mpg2-desperate.shtml http://www.denver-rmn.com/desperate/site-desperate/mpg4-desperate.shtml

First Lawsuit WON Against WWASP:

PURE is proud to have defeated WWASP (click here to learn more about this victory) as they attempted to silence P.U.R.E. and myself. Please note that we won in their state of Utah. I believe this is the first of many wins.

I hope my experiences have saved parents from making the mistake I made in desperation. I am sharing my personal experiences to create awareness about the misrepresentation and fraud I endured. This story was not written out of malice against WWASP (World Wide Association of Specialty Programs), it was written for the principle and morals that they lacked. I think they call it "Accountability". I am accountable for what I have written as being the truth as I experienced it.

*As a footnote for their Marketing, when I was searching I was recruited by a Miami based parent that has made a mission (in many peoples’ opinions) of building this pyramid for WWASP. Although she claimed she had no financial gain from this, we have further learned that she collects large sums of money for her involvement with WWASP. Although she states she makes her income from her Title Company, it was discovered that she was arrested in February 2002 on charges of illegally diverting nearly $6 million in trust money through a variety of schemes. Lynn Pretzfeld, of Miami Florida, was charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft.

According to the Florida Department of Insurance, the now closed Title Examiners Inc. diverted money into personal accounts from escrow accounts.

UPDATE - According to public record, on June 3, 2003, Lynn Pretzfeld is now a Convicted Felon and on 10 years probation as well as paying restitution. Case #F02003735B (Click here to view PDF file)

Please note that WWASP seems to make it a habit to change their names. When I was involved, it was WWASP. A couple years ago, it became WWASPS (with an "s") and presently we understand they are opening under Premier Educational Systems. I assume when parents do Search Engine research, it eliminates any bad press that may be associated with previous names. This is just an opinion. If you have nothing to hide, why the constant name changes?