ISAC Corporation Press Release

ISAC Corporation reports that a 14 year old boy has been detained against his will in an outpatient drug treatment program in Southfield MI since June 6, 2008. The name of the program is Pathway Family Center. Since that date, this boy has been residing away from his parents in unregulated, locked “host homes” run by the parents of clients in the program. Additionally, this program uses a level system, the first of which prevents clients from having privacy in the bathroom, attending school, reading, using the phone, watching TV, listening to the radio and a host of other restrictions that are consistent with the systematic thought reform methods utilized in its related program called STRAIGHT, Inc. That program was reported to have been closed in 1993, however, Pathway Family Center continued to treat clients from STRAIGHT, Inc. using the same methods and principles. There is at least one staff member from that program currently employed by the Southfield facility. Pathway also operates two other facilities located in Indiana. The facility they operated in Milford Ohio was closed earlier this month.

The mother of this boy has joint legal/physical custody of her son and his father orchestrated his placement against her wishes. They have been divorced for nearly a decade. Pathway Family Center has repeatedly refused the mother’s request to speak to her son in private. According to the policies of the program, the client must send complaints through what is known as a “COC” chain of command. If this complaint is deemed viable by the staff, it progresses through the chain to an appropriate level. At no point is the client able to call CPS or DCH to complain. Level one is the most physically and psychologically abusive portion of the program. To be kept on this level for over 6 months is nothing short of pure torture. This boy is being kept from his schooling and away from his mother who is trying to help him get out of this situation.

This boy must be immediately removed from this program. At the very least, he can stay with his grandparents until the parents come to some resolution regarding his future. The mother is willing to speak to someone, as is a psychologist who saw the boy earlier this month who has indicated a willingness to speak to the media regarding this issue.

ISAC Corporation is a 501c3 organization dedicated to exposing and reporting abuse and fraud perpetrated in privately owned drug rehabilitation programs, behavior modification and boarding schools. We retain a substantial amount of documentation that supports allegations of abuse and fraud regarding Pathway Family Center in each state in which it has operated its program. This is the first time a Pathway Family Center client parent, who retains joint physical/legal custody, has come forward to ask for our help. Her rights are being denied, her son is being tortured and Pathway Family Center is getting paid a substantial amount of money in the process.

In reply to this letter, the Sheriff of Porter County, David Lain says:

Mr. Earnshaw:

Thank you for your email regarding Pathway. I am sensitive to your concerns and have forwarded them to the local Pathway office. Please understand that addiction has affected far too many families and we as a society must explore a variety of methods to overcome this scourge. That said, I would never advocate harming someone in order to save them. I am not aware of such being the case at Pathway. Should your allegations be substantiated I of course would have to rethink my position.

Sincerely,

Sheriff David Lain