Comments on: My Time at Three Springs Paint Rock Valley Boys

By: WHITNEY

WHITNEY — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:55:45 +0000

I WAS A RESIDENT AT THE THREE SPRINGS PAINT ROCK CAMPUS FROM 03/22/05 TO 8/1/05 , MY TIME IN THE PROGRAM WAS A VERRY UNFORGETTIBLE EXPERIENCE. IT WAS PURE TORTURE. AT THE AGE OF 14 I WAS TOLD I OULD ONLY BE IN THE GIRLS PROGRAM FOR 90 DAYS IF MY BEHAVIOR WAS ACCEPTABLE , BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT NOBODY REALLY COMPLETES THE PROGRAM IN 90 DAYS. ON AUGUST 1, 2005 I WAS TRECKING ( WALKING IN BIG CIRCLES FOR NO REASON) WITH A GROUP OF OTHER GIRLS THAT WERE PUT ON CAMPSITE WITH ME , I WAS EXAUGHSTED , HUNGRY , AND VERRY BADLY SUNBURNED TO THE POINT WHERE MY EARS WERE BLEEDING…. I COULDNT TAKE IT ANY MORE SO I WALKED AWAY FROM THE GROUP TO GET SOME SHADE , WHEN I DID ONE OF THE MALE STAFF MEMBERS WHO WAS ABOUT 6’3 AND 280 LBS CHARGES AT ME , AND PUTS ME IN A CONTAINMENT AND FORCES ME TO THE GROUND BREAKING EVERY BONE IN MY ANKLE ….. I WAS IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND THE “NURSE” DECIDED TO STOP BY ARBYS ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. WHEN I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME ANYTHING FOR PAIN UNTIL MY MOM GOT THERE AND THEY DID NOT EVEN WANT TO CALL HER. WHEN THEY DID THE X- RAY OF MY ANKLE IT LOOKED LIKE BROKEN GLASS SO THEY COULD TELL THAT HE EXERTED WAY TO MUCH FORCE. THEY IMEDIATELY TOOK ME IN TO HAVE RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY . WHEN I LEFT THE HOSPITAL AFTER SURGERY THEY KEPT ME IN CUSTODY FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS UNTIL THEY COULD FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO CLEAN UP THIER MESS AND NOT GET IN TROUBLE.. THANKS TO THREE WONDERFUL LAWYERS AND A LOT OF TIME CONSUMING DEPOSITIONS LETS JUST SAY I AM LIVING VERRY COMFORTABLY NOW.. EVEN THO IF I COULD TAKE IT BACK I WOULD BECAUSE IT WAS HELL , IT WAS EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF , OR IN OUR CASE LITTLE GIRL . IT IS SAD THAT A GROWN MAN WHO ISNT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING WITH THE FEMALES CAN DO THAT TO A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL!!!!

By: The Guy George is Mad At

The Guy George is Mad At — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:02:35 +0000

And nor should you forget what happened to you George. Don’t pass up any opprotunity to seek some sort of legal redress for what was done to you. If I’m not mistaken there is no statue of limitations on child abuse. I encourage you to take 3 springs to court over what they did to you. As for me, I don’t think I’ve ever said I’ve felt a total and complete exorcism of guilt for my part of what happened. Yes, speaking up and reaching out to some of the kids in my group has been good, but far from complete. Rest assured I still have my late night tormented and can’t sleep moments.

By: gergely ortutay

gergely ortutay — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:23:50 +0000

My name is Gergely Ortutay. I am now 28 years old, and I spent 8 months in Paint Rock Walley Boys of Three Springs Inc. from 1996 to 1997. You say in your post that your guilt has been excorcised because your apologies have been accepted by former residents, hence your guilt has been excoricsed. Truthfully you are a criminal who took an active part of the systematic abuse and humiliation of defenseless children. I will never forget the "consequences" , and abuse myself and other kids there suffered at the facility I guess you were too cowardly to give an account of soem of the other thigs that happened here (not surprising because it takes a special kind of coward to abuse kids who are smaller and weaker than you) . You will never understand what that place had on me psychologically and probably most of the other kids you took part in the tormenting of, to this day. I’ve been in theraphy ever since. Shame on you.

By: Ex3springscounselor

Ex3springscounselor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:25:09 +0000

Dan from the post above mine can get ahold of me if needed.

By: Ex3springscounselor

Ex3springscounselor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:22:44 +0000

I, too, am an EX counselor for Three Springs. Their other programs are equally as abusive as the program in Alabama. The place is a hellhole and needs to be shut down completely in ALL states. My state came to their senses and shut down the Three Springs programs available in this state simply by not sending kids to them anymore. Three Springs hightailed it out of this state like a dog who got whipped.

By: thecounseloratprvb

thecounseloratprvb — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:46:07 +0000

To say I am a bit surprised to see this here is an understatement. I remember posting the original post on another forum. I didn’t know that it had gotten out to another blog till someone showed me the link today. Those events that occurred back in 2004 still linger with me to this day. I’m open to answering questions that Michelle might have for me. please email me at dan.the.chainsawman (at) gmail dot com. I live and teach English in China now so a phone call is a bit expensive.

By: Rin

Rin — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:26:43 +0000

I am really sad to see all that is written above. I don’t discount any of these experiences – everyone has the right to express what their own reality is or was. For the parent that feels their child was abused at the facility I am so very sorry. No matter where or when abuse happens it is tragic. I also know that in every field there are those who will be good at what they do and those who will not. When caring for youth it is imperative to reduce the number of individuals who are not. It is a stressful job. There are many jobs out there that are stressful. Some can handle the stress and some cannot. I was a counsellor on the girl’s side just over 8 years ago. I had a wonderful experience there. In fact, many of the girls I worked with have more recently contacted me and are doing wonderfully. I was trained in SAMA and it was very effective if used properly. Over the last 8 years I have continued to work with at-risk youth who struggle with behavioural challenges. I have now moved into training others to support these individuals. With this in mind, I feel that this job is not for everyone, no matter how much training is involved. Things may vary well have changed at Three Springs, I am not sure. I can only account for the time I was there. It was a wonderful place. It was a place many found peace, self-respect, accountability, responsibility and opportunity.

By: Aubree

Aubree — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:49:01 +0000

By the way, they only keep records for 7 years there…

By: Aubree

Aubree — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:46:38 +0000

I am a past graduate of Three Springs Paint Rock Valley Girls. I was sent there in 2006 and graduated in 2008 and still attend aftercare. In my opinion, Three Springs PRV has gone downhill. It is no longer a stable place; the training for the counselors is lacking, the girls have not enough structure, and due to lack of training the girls are no longer held accountable, and seem to be just a bunch of brats (I love the girls, but it’s the truth). If you want your child to be taught that child abuse is ok, then send them here. Restraints are ridiculously violent, and we were forced to do labor that I’m sure is against the child labor act. Also, due to lack of funding, they have put both the girls and the guys sides together, expecting that they won’t notice each other, and if they do notice (which always happens) they must suffer illogical consequences. Also, the consequences there have no logical explanation, they are very intense and irrelevant to the bad decisions made by the child, which from my point of view is another source of child abuse. It was in the beginning, a helpful program, but I think that now, due to lack of training of staff and funding, it is one of the worst places to send your kid.

By: Nancy Record

Nancy Record — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:26:29 +0000

Michelle: Pls. contact me directly – I am also a parent and I’m not sure if this website is accurate or not. My son was there for 18 months and was not able to complete the program due to bullying. The comments may be from former students or could be actually true.