January 15, 2017
Salus Care Center
Vince Smith Campus
2450 Prince Street
Fort Myers, FL 33916
My daughter was admitted into Vince Smith on May 31, 2016. She has been suffering with severe anxiety and depression for years. When she was 12 years old she began cutting, smoking, using drugs and alcohol. Later progressed into lying, stealing, sneaking out all hours of the night and became sexually active. She did not care about herself at all, had a very low self esteem, very insecure with no self confidence. I have tried many things to help her, many different counseling sessions, the David Lawrence Center, the CAT team through Salus Care, PACE school for girls and finally after being interviewed at Vince Smith, we all agreed this was best for her, including my daughter. So she was admitted voluntarily.
It was tough for her in the beginning; she messed up often, ran once and did get many restrictions. But after about 3 months, I started noticing a change in her. As time went on, I could actually see the transformation. After 4 or 5 months she phased up to 2, and started coming home with home passes. I believed in the program and saw that this place was teaching her the importance of making the right choices, and how to stand up for herself, rebuilding her self esteem and confidence. Family Group sessions taught both of us many things, to listen to one another, always tell the truth and express what you’re thinking and feeling about each situation.
On December 21, 2016, she was doing so good, that the staff made a unanimous vote to phase her up to 3. On Sunday, December 25, she came home for her Christmas and normal Sunday home pass. On Friday, December 30, 2016 she came home for her New Year and Sunday home pass. On Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017, I received a call in the morning, from Dena Paniccia, needing to change our Family Group session from Friday 1/6 to Wednesday 1/4. I was told she was involved in something that happened on campus, and she needed to tell me about it herself. By Tuesday evening I was called to pick her up she was being kicked out, discharged.
When I arrived Wednesday morning, I was greeted by Dena, who told me she was getting her belongings gathered. No explanation, no discussion, just kicked to the road. She was given 2 extremely large plastic garbage bags, to hold all of her belongings, from books, binders, clothing, bedding, shoes and more. These bags were so heavy that we had to drag them to my car. They were also so flimsy, they completely ripped open which left her belongings scattered over the parking lot. Not one person offered to help. On Tuesday evening, Mr B told her in a loud angry voice…Get Off You’re A_ _ and Pack Up Your S_ _ _ Now! Nice way to talk to a juvenile.
I was so very happy with the whole program and the progress she made, I could actually see her finding herself again. But I was also so very disappointed in the way this ended. She wasn’t given the opportunity to complete the program. Isn’t this a place that’s supposed to help these kids work through their mistakes? Isn’t this the place that says “This is where Recovery Begins?” Obviously, It’s also where Recovery Ends, if and when the staff decides. Although she has made progress, she was not ready to come home, nor was I prepared to take her home. She made a mistake, she knows she did wrong, but if we lived in a perfect world with perfect kids, there would be No Need for the Vince Smith Campus. How does one phase up for doing so well, with a unanimous vote, and a week and ½ later get kicked out with a Discharge Summary stating her Overall Progress…Deteriorated?
Most kids are court ordered to attend VSC, and in the 7 months she was in there, not 1 girl completed this program. I have seen a few boys get successfully discharged, but No girls. Many of the girls have admitted to wanting out so bad, they didn’t care what happened, or how they ended up. But there are a few that did care, including my daughter, that wanted to be there, that wanted the help. What’s sad is the staff there couldn’t tell the difference, between those who wanted to succeed and those who could care less.
Although she was discharged too soon, too abruptly, and I truly feel the staff made a hasty decision, I can only hope my daughter stays focused, continues to build her self esteem, continues practicing everything she has learned, and becomes the person, I know, she is so capable of being.
Review from Guidestar