Rebecca G.
1/5
I am going to try to say a few things nice before I share why I rated it 1 star. The food was good, it didn't make me sick. The building is lovely. They have beautiful large windows for you to watch out of. It gives mother's an alternative to jail time and let's them stay with their babies (a huge win for women in this area). The intake lady is so kind and seems to really care (although maybe it's just meeting a quota for her idk)
Now the reason that, despite the positives of the facility, it gets a one star for sure...
Staff members entered my room late shortly before bedtime, flipping on the lights and demanding I come with them and bring my "box" with me. I was confused but they did not provide any explanation as they marched me over to the admin building. Once there, they made me open my infants memory box in front of 6 to 7 staff members and pull out each of my child's items because they thought I smuggled contraband. No words of comfort was given during this process. They stood in silence as I cried and held my child's belongings. Afterwards, I was marched back to my room.
They could have just searched the memory box themselves away from me. It was unnecessary and traumatizing for me.
I sank into a deeper depression. The experience left me feeling empty. As if my and my child's life was meaningless, unimportant. They brought me a soda and fixed the TV in an attempt to brighten my mood and just the gesture made me feel better. Like someone actually cared.
Later that night after all other staff had left for the night, Candace (who is admin not clinical staff and in no way fit to make that sort of determination about my mental health) called the police to have me involuntarily admitted to a pschy ward despite telling them I was not suicidal.
When the police arrived, I was placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a patrol car because I refused to go. I even had my cam suicide prevention worksheet to prove I was not suicidal. As I was showing my report to the officer, Candace was telling him that I made threats to kill myself and hurt other people to staff and other clients (I never EVER said ANYTHING like that!). No one would listen to me.
I can only think that Candace did that to me because she probably got in trouble for the stillborn memory box. It felt like some sort of power trip.
When you come here, you are no longer treated as human. You are an "addict" with all the implied stigma.
I have still not received an apology despite my efforts of filing complaints.
They have some sort of contract for mother's who are pregnant or recently gave birth and are facing jail time. The mothers that are there all live in fear. If they say or do the wrong thing, freedom house can send them back to jail and take their kids from them. They don't speak up about mistreatment or concerns because they are scared.
I was here voluntarily, excited about recovery, but it was one of the worst mistakes I have made. I left emotionally damaged and stripped of my dignity.
I did eventually get the help I needed from Lumina in Van Buren and continue to receive outpatient services to help me heal from these traumatic experiences I have had in my pursuit to find help.
Don't come here if you have any other options, I know those mother's in there had no other options, so I understand. But if you are like me, voluntarily seeking treatment, find somewhere that cares about your recovery. Just because the facility looks nice does not mean you will have a good experience.
