Amarra Henderson

Review of Foundations Behavioral Health

This is my opinion and experience from a patients ...

This is my opinion and experience from a patients perspective.
I came there years ago when I was 14 and I was there for 11 months back in 2004. I started off in the residential program and I had several stays in the hospital units. I was even in the chalfont house. That goes to show you how much they moved me around. So basically my first week there I was bullied and attacked by an older female. I didn't feel safe. I was moved to the chalfont house within my first week. Keep in my mind that the house was for residents that were doing well an able to live off campus. Big mistake the staff made sending me there. I was in no way mature enough to be there. And neither were the other girls. Needless to say a fight broke out and I was moved again to another female unit on campus. Within my first week there I was involved in another fight. A girl tried to attack me again and staff broke it up but then a 2nd girl tries to attack me while my arms were being held. So I had to kick her to stop her from hitting me. It was an ongoing battle. Those girls were violent and out of control. I eventually ended up in the hospital unit where I was safe but totally out of my comfort zone. The kids in the hospital were extremely sick. Some had been there 2, 3, even 4 years. It was sad honestly. I finally transitioned back to the residential unit but I was attacked again. A girl even kicked me in my face when I was being restrained on the ground.
Because of all the moving around, I lost literally everything or my stuff was stolen. It got to the point where I literally had no clothes and my dyfs worker had to give me a check to purchase new clothing. Which staff did take me shopping. Thankfully.
As far as the food, I mean I was there over 10 years ago. It wasn't bad. And we used to grocery shop for our breakfast and lunch and snacks. I don't know if they still do that.
The doctors are idiots. They swore I was cheeking my meds when I really wasn't and was forcing me to drink my meds and crushing the others in yogurt. Yuck!
One unit had a door that didn't lock from the inside making it easy for patients to run out the door and off campus even.
And a lot of patients were sexually active with each other. Even girls on girls. And they were piercing their tongues, ears, belly buttons etc. thanks to lack of supervision. I can't tell you how many girls got infections.
They had a school on campus, different therapeutic groups and I don't know if they still do this but they used to throw a carnival at the end of the summer. It was fun and they took us to dorney park.
As far as the staff goes, some were just there for a check. Others really were kind and went out their way for patients if they bonded with you.
Eventually I had my mom sign me out against medical advice cause overall I was miserable.
From what I read from other reviews, not much has changed. They shouldn't be mixing violent people with those who are just depressed, have anxiety, etc. I personally had bi polar disorder, depression and behavioral problems as well. I fought to protect myself. And in some cases, to prove myself cause if those girls smelled fear, you were a target. It was like prison. You had to fend for yourself. Yea staff would break up fights but you never know if while you're being held back, someone else is trying to get to you. And the staff could only do but so much cause the patients outnumbered the staff.
As a parent now, if my child had issues, I wouldn't feel comfortable sending them here. It has potential to be a great program, it's just not there yet. There needs to be more supervision, separation between small children and adolescents. Violent people and non violent people. And those who are mentally deteriorating to those with basic mental health issues.