KIDS Centers of America
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| Founded | 1984 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Virgil Miller Newton |
| Defunct | circa 1990 (in many locations) |
| Type | Private behaviour-modification/treatment organisation |
Area served | United States and Canada |
KIDS Centers of America (often abbreviated KIDS) was a chain of behaviour-modification and residential treatment programs for adolescents and young adults, founded by anthropologist Dr. Virgil Miller Newton. The organisation operated several regional programmes across the United States and Canada, including: KIDS of Bergen County (New Jersey), KIDS of North Jersey, KIDS of El Paso (Texas), KIDS of Southern California (California), KIDS of Greater Salt Lake (Utah) and KIDS of the Canadian West (Canada).
History
[edit]Dr. Newton had previously served as the National Clinical Director of Straight, Inc. and left that organisation in 1982 amid allegations of abuse and insurance fraud. He then founded KIDS as a “spin-off” network of treatment centres he intended to expand nationally.[1] The chain began operations in 1984 and by the late 1980s had multiple regional programme was aimed at adolescents (typically ages 12-24) with issues such as substance abuse, behavioural problems, school failure or family conflict.
Program structure and methods
[edit]The KIDS programmes adopted a level-system (often five levels) in which newly-admitted clients (often called “newcomers”) were subject to highly structured routines, peer-monitoring, long hours of group sessions, isolation from family and friends, and other controversial methods reportedly borrowed from Straight Inc’s model. For example, in the first phase of a programme, residents had no rights, lived in host homes, had severely restricted contact with the outside world, and were responsible for newcomers once they advanced.
Regional programmes
[edit]KIDS of Bergen County (New Jersey)
[edit]started operating in 1984 and treated people between the ages of 12 years old and 22 years old.[2]
KIDS of Southern California (California)
[edit]Also called KIDS of Yorba Linda; opened March 1988 in Yorba Linda, California, in the same building later used by Straight Inc’s Southern California expansion.[3] In May 1988, the programme was notified by the State of California Health & Welfare Agency that it was operating without a licence. It closed in 1989.
KIDS of Greater Salt Lake (Utah)
[edit]Opened January 1988 in Salt Lake City the program operated for two years on January 19 1990 two peer counselors they were arrested a 19 year old patient who failed out to sign out forcing him into car the two counselors were detained at Salt Lake County Jail.[4] they were charged with unlawful detention and assaulted. In June 1990 the program lost it's licence revoked and closed.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Fein, Esther B. (May 24, 1987). "TURNING KIDS OFF DRUGS". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
Dr. Miller Newton, a medical anthropologist, psychotherapist and the founder of KIDS,
- ^ "JERSEY PROGRAM HELPS TROUBLED TEEN-AGERS". The New York Times. September 1, 1985. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ Hurst, John (March 24, 1990). "3 Youth Treatment Centers Linked by Abuse Accusations". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. OCLC 362837. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ West, Brian T.; Eldard, Ray (January 21, 1990). "SUBSTANCE-ABUSE PROGRAM DEFENDED BY 50 PARENTS". Deseret News. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ "KIDS OF GREATER SALT LAKE LOSES ITS LICENSE, WILL LEAVE THE AREA, STATE OFFICIALS SAY". Deseret News. June 18, 1990. Retrieved November 6, 2025.