Views On Shadow Mountain Academy Practices

I talked to several therapists about young male adults in recovery. My son was kicked out of Shadow Mountain Academy for taking up too much of their time. He resisted the idea of being "clean and sober".

What I have been told is that not being on board can be a part of the early process with people trying to recover. In other words, my son's behavior fell within the range of being "normal". I guess clinical director Bruce Dechert was not on board with this school of thought.

I still think this is an awful place to send your child.

Still Waiting For My Deposit From Shadow Mountain Academy

Still waiting for whatever was left of my $3,000 deposit for my kid's expenses. Should be about $2,500.

Check is in the mail.

Ann Bruno's Background

Ann Bruno is called "Family Workshop Therapist" at Shadow Mountain Academy. She also has an educational consulting business called Ann Bruno Educational Consulting

According to Ann's site:

An Education Consultant is a professional who works with families to find the best opportunities for their child or young adult who is struggling in life with school, family and peer relationships or drug and alcohol issues. They serve as an advocate for families as they are involved in major life decisions for the child. They can consult with parents on testing and assessment, secondary school and college placement, crisis management and special needs. Consultants charge a consultation fee to develop an educational or therapeutic plan for your child.

Is that a conflict with Ann's work as a therapist at Shadow Mountain Academy? She sounds too busy?

Ann?

Bruce Dechert's Education Background

Shadow Mountain Academy clinical director Bruce Dechert says he graduated from "the University System of New Hampshire". We have never heard of anyone graduating from a "system."

We have a note into the "system" to see how this works. There are four campuses, University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State, Keene State, and Granite State.

Did Bruce go to one of them, or all four?

Bruce, feel free to drop us a note

Who Stays At Shadow Mountain Academy At Night?

My son told me that all of the staff, except for a caretaker, leave the facilities at night. No one is there to supervise any troubling behavior. One of the residents is given a radio to call out in case of an emergency.

Given the age of the residents and the fact that they are not at the facility due to their outstanding judgment, it is a bit surprising that this goes on.

In all of the conversations I had with clinical director Bruce Dechert, this never came up. I hope that the information is not accurate. Otherwise Dechert was being irresponsible.

Dechert can drop us a note if there is something inaccurate about this account.

Shadow Mountain Academy Deposits

More checking on deposits for Shadow Mountain Academy showing up in another Holub business--Art of the Stars.

Have contacted New Mexico and California tax authorities about whether a business in one state can effectively take deposits from a business in another.

In addition, there is a concern that if something were to happen to the Art of the Stars company that deposits for residents at Shadow Mountain Academy might be at risk.

Would be happy to hear a response from Holub or Shadow Mountain.

Shadow Mountain Academy Deposites Go To "Art of the Stars" Bank Account

As we have previously pointed out Robb Golub, owner of Shadow Mountain Academy, also owns an odd sport art business called Art of the Stars.

The e-mail addresses for both businesses are: rjholub2@mac.com <rjholub2@mac.com>

When I sent my son's expense deposit to Shadow Mountain Academy, it ended up as a charge at Art of the Stars

Here is a copy of the receipt:


Transaction Date: 02/25/2008
Transaction Description: ART OF THE STARS VRUALAMO CA 94900002 9258386260
Charge: $3,090.00
Merchant Address: ART OF THE STARS
270 BOLLA AVE
ALAMO CA 94507-1619
USA
Merchant Type: CARD/SOUVENIR STORE
Doing Business As:ART OF THE STARS

I am curious how a charge for one business ends up in another. One would have to think that Shadow Mountain Academy would have its own deposit account.

That troubles me.

Does Robb Holub Own "Art Of The Stars"?

Does Robb Holub, the owner of Shadow Mountain Academy also own a business called "Art of the Stars"?

Here is Robb's e-mail address from the Shadow Mountain Academy website: rjholub2@mac.com

And, the address of the owner of Art of the Stars: rjholub2@mac.com <rjholub2@mac.com>

Robb, is that you?

How Often Do Owners Come To Shadow Mountain Academy?

How often do the owners of Shadow Mountain Academy, Robb and DebB Holub, actually show up at the facility? My son says once every two weeks or so. It would be good to hear from Rob if that estimate is wrong.

It sounds like Dana Taylor, the so-called "Executive Director" does not make it over more than a couple of times a week. Word is that she is pregnant. True? Dana can tell us.

Treating Abuse A "Money Making Racket"?

"Or is substance abuse treatment (SAT) a racket designed primarily to make money or to promote some other selfish goal, with little regard for the health or ..."

More on the article from The Skeptic's Dictionary.

Note from Robb Holub, Owner, Shadow Mountain Academy

YOU KNOW DOUG YOUR APPROACH IS NOT ONE THAT LENDS ITSELF TO RESOLVING A DIFFICULT SITUATION
FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. A CONTRACT WAS SIGNED THAT I WOULD HOPE YOU READ AND UNDERSTOOD.
IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE A RESOLUTION TO I ENCOURAGE A DIRECT CONVERSATION WITH ME
TO SEE HOW WE PROFESSIONALLY HANDLE A DIFFICULT SITUATION OF THIS NATURE.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SET UP A TIME FOR A CALL CONVIENENT TO YOU.
ROBB HOLUB (OWNER)
SHADOW MOUNTAIN ACADEMY


Robb must have the Caps Lock key engaged on his PC

Rehab and drug treatment centers are in business to make money

Rehab and drug treatment centers are in business to make money; they are huge profit centers. Paying for rehab can be very expensive and families will bankrupt themselves trying to save their child’s life.

From Alcohol & Drug Treatment Referrals.

The Shadow Mountain Family Room

The Shadow Mountain Family Room is a place that parents can come and gather information about their child's progress

I never got my money's worth on this one. My kid had been here for three weeks before he was kicked out, and they never gave me a password.

Questions for Shadow Mountain Academy?

Are they accredited?

What is their success rate?

Be careful and especially scrutinizing as you determine the drug rehab program that is designed to most completely meet your needs and assist with long lasting success.

Sober Living In Taos?

The Shadow Mountain website says the operation has a sober living location in downtown Taos.

Hard to say whether that is a good place to have a facility.

According to The Taos News a criminal case is just closing in which a 21-year-old was "beaten and forcibly injected with a lethal dose of heroin by a group of people at a party." He was then put in a car in the parking lot of the local mormon church and set on fire.

Doesn't sound like much of an environment for kids trying to get straight.

Some Interesting Drug And Alcohol Activity In Taos

Toas may not be the best place for calls preparing for a life of sobriety.

Here are a few things happening around town, thanks to the local police reports. Keep in mind that Taos is not a very big town.

March 10 2:57 p.m., Alcohol offenses, 622 Paseo del Pueblo Sur — Caller reported that a man was drunk and had wet himself. Caller stated that she “wanted him out of here.”

March 6 8:47 a.m., Miscellaneous, 201 Mariposa — Caller reported that he had an eviction in one of the apartments and he found what appeared to be heroin.

March 6 5:14 p.m., Narcotics offenses, 615 Paseo del Pueblo Sur — Caller reported that there was a possible drug trafficking operation in the parking lot.

March 1 2:08 p.m., Alcohol offenses, 710 Paseo del Pueblo Sur — Caller reported that a man was passed out on the front bench.

March 1 3 p.m., Alcohol offenses, 121 North Taos Plaza — Caller reported that a man was eating out of a garbage can and panhandling.

The local newspaper has a number of reports on local fun.

Ret. Deputy Chief of Police, Ranchos de Taos Supports The Legalized Regulation Of Drugs.

Interesting note from the former Deputy Chief of Police, Ranchos de Taos.

From Mr. J. Michael Jones a few choice quotes. His entire letter is here.

"I do advocate personal responsibility and the legalized regulation of drugs."

"Will legalized regulation end the drug problem? No, but experience indicates it will improve the situation."

Nice way of thinking in an area of the country where people might send kids for treatment.

Shadow Mountain, Keep Your Kids Out

I had a kid at Shadow Mountain. After telling him that things were not working out, he was kicked out with a 48-hour notice to find a new place for him to go. Of course, the financial arrangements were not resolved until he was gone. I was told someone would call me. That did not happen.

My point is that my son was a high risk kid. They saw the paperwork. They saw the evaluation. They took him.

This blog is to make sure that no other family suffers financially and emotionally from this start-up program, Shadow Academy, which has neither professional staff nor good administrators. We are contacting the nationwide primary detox centers and all educational consultants by mail and phone to appraise them of these practices.

Look for daily posts about Shadow Mountain here. We are in the process of talking to other families who had children there.