Editorial: ‘Sense of anger, sorrow’

Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 | 8:24 a.m.

Other options having failed, many parents resort to enrolling their troubled teenagers into a military-style wilderness therapy program.

Or they might enroll them in a similarly disciplined program - often called a behavior modification facility or boot camp - outside of a wilderness setting.

Away from harmful influences and forced by unfamiliar and harsh surroundings to learn teamwork and confidence-boosting skills, the kids will come back home with new and positive outlooks - or so the parents desperately hope.

A report by the Government Accountability Office, however, should put all parents on notice about such regimens, known in general as residential treatment programs.

The federal agency's report, released last week, confirmed that allegations of abuse number in the thousands. And it wrote in tragic detail about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 10 teens, including three girls.

One of the girls, enrolled in a program in Oregon, died five years ago during the program's wilderness segment in Nevada. After her death, Nevada officials discovered the program was not licensed to operate here and shut it down, although no charges were brought.

In detailing the deaths, the GAO cited untrained and abusive staff members as a root cause of allegations against several programs. Many teens' dehydration was ignored or simply not recognized. Grueling physical exertion was ordered that many teens could not bear. Teens were subject to extreme physical force or ordered to undergo punishments such as sitting in the sun for hours.

Many parents confirmed the report's findings in testimony before Congress, prompting Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., to say, "I can't think of any testimony that we have heard ... that has caused a greater sense of anger and sorrow."

In Nevada, no wilderness programs are operating, according to a state spokesman. If any do receive a license, they would be bound by state law that requires specific outdoor and first-aid training for the staff.

But the GAO found that laws vary from state to state, with some states allowing the programs to go virtually unregulated.

The GAO is to provide Congress with a more comprehensive report on state and federal oversight next year. We believe Congress should set federal standards to ensure that the children enrolled in these programs get help, not brutality.