Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth
Encyclopedia
The Community Alliance For the Ethical Treatment of Youth, or CAFETY, is an advocacy group for people enrolled in residential treatment programs for at-risk teenagers. The group's mission includes advocating for access to advocates, due process
, alternatives to aversive behavioral interventions
, and alternatives to restraints
and seclusion
for young people in treatment programs. They have also called for the routine reporting of abuse in residential treatment programs, as well as federal government oversight and regulation
of residential treatment programs.
. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and also maintains an Advisory Board.
CAFETY's current Executive Director is Kathryn Whitehead. As one of its key spokespeople, she has been featured in Mother Jones
, Time Magazine and The NewStandard
. Whitehead's and CAFETY's work on the issues of trauma and human rights abuses of youth in residential care, respectively, has also been published in the American Psychological Association
's Journal of Orthopsychiatry.
.
efforts, prominent medical and psychological organizations that included members of CAFETY, provided testimony and support that led to the creation of the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 by the United States Congress
Committee on Education and Labor.
In support of this effort, Jon Martin-Crawford, a member of the group's Board of Directors and Kathryn Whitehead, the group's Executive Director, appeared at a hearing before the United States Congress
Committee on Education and Labor on April 24, 2008., where they described abusive practices they had experienced at the Family Foundation School
and Mission Mountain School
, both therapeutic boarding schools.
On February 19, 2009, CAFETY co-sponsored a press briefing on Capitol Hill in an effort to raise awareness of youth maltreatment in residential care.
In October, 2009, the CAFETY sent an unsolicited mass-mailing to 4,000 residents of Delaware County, using a mailing list compiled by "going through the white pages of Delaware County phone books" alerting the residents of abuse allegations at a local Therapeutic Boarding School called The Family Foundation School
. The two page mailing included a page of excerpts from alumni testimony alleging abuse.
The allegations in the letter were dismissed by Jeff Brain, the Family Foundation School
's vice president for external relations and acting director of admissions by telling a newspaper that "all the allegations are categorically untrue or grossly exaggerated...and determined to be unfounded."
CAFETY and its members also held a teens' rights rally held in Gainsville, Florida. At the rally, Chris Noroski, vice president of CAFETY, stated that while he was at The Family Foundation School in Hancock, NY, he was mentally and physically abused, stating
"For seven months of the time, I carried buckets of rocks back and forth"
On April 5, 2011 CAFETY was quoted in an article for Time.com called "Increasingly, Internet Activism Helps Shutter Abusive 'Troubled Teen' Boot Camps."
CAFETY, along with the American Psychological Association
, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Therapy, and the American Bar Association
was a major supporter of the bill H.R 911, "Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act," which was introduced in the U.S. Congress in 2009 and passed in the House of Representatives
, but was not acted upon in the Senate
and did not become law.
Due process
Due process is the legal code that the state must venerate all of the legal rights that are owed to a person under the principle. Due process balances the power of the state law of the land and thus protects individual persons from it...
, alternatives to aversive behavioral interventions
Aversion therapy
Aversion therapy is a form of psychological treatment in which the patient is exposed to a stimulus while simultaneously being subjected to some form of discomfort...
, and alternatives to restraints
Physical restraint
Physical restraint refers to the practice of rendering people harmless, helpless or keeping them in captivity by means such as handcuffs, fetters, straitjackets, ropes, straps, or other forms of physical restraint...
and seclusion
Seclusion
The act of secluding, i.e. shutting out or keeping apart from society, or the state of being secluded, or a place that facilitates it . A person, a couple, or a larger group may go to a secluded place for privacy, or because the place is quiet...
for young people in treatment programs. They have also called for the routine reporting of abuse in residential treatment programs, as well as federal government oversight and regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
of residential treatment programs.
Structure
CAFETY is registered as a nonprofit corporation in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and also maintains an Advisory Board.
CAFETY's current Executive Director is Kathryn Whitehead. As one of its key spokespeople, she has been featured in Mother Jones
Mother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
, Time Magazine and The NewStandard
The NewStandard
The NewStandard was an independent, nonprofit, ad-free news service. After nearly 3.5 years on line, The NewStandard discontinued publication on April 27, 2007...
. Whitehead's and CAFETY's work on the issues of trauma and human rights abuses of youth in residential care, respectively, has also been published in the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
's Journal of Orthopsychiatry.
History
CAFETY was founded in 2006 by Charles King and Kathryn Whitehead, with the goal: "to create a forum for youth advocacy and support designed to develop and shape youth-guided policies and practices with a specific emphasis on the ethical treatment of youth with behavioral, emotional, and mental health problems in institutional settings". By July of that year, CAFETY had 118 members and 8 core group members from across the United States, including at least one medical professional.Campaigns
CAFETYs' 'Care, NOT Coercion' Campaign seeks to end institutionalized child abuse and human rights violations in institutional settings. The organization additionally advocates for the regulation of, and the efficacy in treatment in such settings. In pursuit of that objective, CAFETY has chiefly focused its efforts on actively mobilizing its members in public education efforts and supporting and providing testimony in support of legislation aimed at the regulation of residential treatment facilities in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Public activism and outreach
From late 2007 through 2008, a broad coalition of grass rootsGrass Roots
Grass Roots is an Australian television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation between 2000 and 2003.The series is set around the fictional Arcadia Waters Council near Sydney, and was primarily a satirical look at the machinations of local government...
efforts, prominent medical and psychological organizations that included members of CAFETY, provided testimony and support that led to the creation of the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
Committee on Education and Labor.
In support of this effort, Jon Martin-Crawford, a member of the group's Board of Directors and Kathryn Whitehead, the group's Executive Director, appeared at a hearing before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
Committee on Education and Labor on April 24, 2008., where they described abusive practices they had experienced at the Family Foundation School
Family Foundation School
The Family Foundation School is a private, co-educational, college preparatory, therapeutic boarding school located in Hancock, New York. It was founded in 1984.-History:...
and Mission Mountain School
Mission Mountain School
Mission Mountain School was a therapeutic boarding school for girls located in Condon, Missoula County, Montana. It operated from October 1, 1990 to August 16, 2008...
, both therapeutic boarding schools.
On February 19, 2009, CAFETY co-sponsored a press briefing on Capitol Hill in an effort to raise awareness of youth maltreatment in residential care.
In October, 2009, the CAFETY sent an unsolicited mass-mailing to 4,000 residents of Delaware County, using a mailing list compiled by "going through the white pages of Delaware County phone books" alerting the residents of abuse allegations at a local Therapeutic Boarding School called The Family Foundation School
Family Foundation School
The Family Foundation School is a private, co-educational, college preparatory, therapeutic boarding school located in Hancock, New York. It was founded in 1984.-History:...
. The two page mailing included a page of excerpts from alumni testimony alleging abuse.
The allegations in the letter were dismissed by Jeff Brain, the Family Foundation School
Family Foundation School
The Family Foundation School is a private, co-educational, college preparatory, therapeutic boarding school located in Hancock, New York. It was founded in 1984.-History:...
's vice president for external relations and acting director of admissions by telling a newspaper that "all the allegations are categorically untrue or grossly exaggerated...and determined to be unfounded."
CAFETY and its members also held a teens' rights rally held in Gainsville, Florida. At the rally, Chris Noroski, vice president of CAFETY, stated that while he was at The Family Foundation School in Hancock, NY, he was mentally and physically abused, stating
"For seven months of the time, I carried buckets of rocks back and forth"
On April 5, 2011 CAFETY was quoted in an article for Time.com called "Increasingly, Internet Activism Helps Shutter Abusive 'Troubled Teen' Boot Camps."
CAFETY, along with the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Therapy, and the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
was a major supporter of the bill H.R 911, "Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act," which was introduced in the U.S. Congress in 2009 and passed in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, but was not acted upon in the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and did not become law.
See also
- History of youth rights in the United StatesHistory of youth rights in the United StatesFirst emerging as a distinct movement in the 1930s, the history of youth rights in the United States has long been concerned with civil rights and intergenerational equity. Tracing its roots to youth activists during the Great Depression, youth rights has influenced the civil rights movement,...
- Timeline of children's rights in the United StatesTimeline of children's rights in the United StatesThe timeline of young peoples' rights in the United States, including children and youth rights, includes a variety of events ranging from youth activism to mass demonstrations...
External links
- CAFETY official website