| New
Perspectives
- Oct, 1992 Issue |
Transport Services
Using a transport service
to get an adolescent to a program is of concern to many people. Many
feel a school or program cannot work unless a child freely chooses to
go. Others fear psychological damage from intimidation or use of physical
restraints.
Supporters of transport services
say quality providers rarely need to use any kind of physical restraints.
They point out that the main purpose of using a transport service is
to defuse the situation by making the child react positively to the
professional, rather than react negatively against the family dynamics.
The transport services I list
in my Directory and refer my parent clients to are ones that seem to
meet this standard.
Al Cardoza of West Shield
Investigations, Adolescent Recovery and Transport Division, in Newport
Beach, California (714-898-9696) was kind enough to provide me with
copies of letters from satisfied professionals and parents. The following
excerpts give a hint at what the service really is and client reactions.
"If we had only realized how
professional, competent and caring you are, our decision would have
been much easier and made much sooner . . . He seems to be adapting,
albeit slowly, to his new surroundings."
A medical doctor in a Southern
California hospital wrote: “I would compare Mr. Cardoza’s abilities
to those of the most seasoned staff and I would have full confidence
in his ability to successfully communicate with the most disturbed of
teenaged patients.”
“Within three days of my first
call, my daughter was found. Not only was finding her successful, but
transporting her from Hawaii to Northern California without any use
of restraint. I found this to be most amazing, believing that she would
not go with them or would try to run away. To myself and my husband,
this was the true test of their professionalism.”
“With your grace, tactfulness,
and style, you turned what could have been a very difficult and unpleasant
situation into a successful resolution to the problem.”
Other transport professionals
I have found meet high standards are Richard Armstrong, Moyie Springs,
Idaho (208-267-7797); Steve Gage, Cottage Grove, Oregon (503-942-4805);
and Mike Healey, Sacramento, California (916-929-6260).
Copyright
© 1992, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without
prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author
attribution accompanies the copy.) |
