Scientology-related Narconon rehab center may have violated law

[CommunicatorIC]

Tampa Bay Times: Scientology-related Narconon rehab center may have violated law
http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-related-rehab-may-have-violated-law/2194630

Excerpt:

When the Scientology-affiliated Narconon drug treatment center in Spring Hill was told by Hernando County it could not expand its residential facility, the center didn't try to make do with existing space.

Its officers rented three properties elsewhere in Spring Hill and expanded there. That allowed the center to admit more patients. Narconon charges up to $30,000 for a three-month stay.

One site was in a commercial center. Narconon shuttled patients there for what director Tammy Strickling described as "daily therapeutic classes.'' The other two sites were houses. One slept eight, the other six. Narconon staffers, trainees and overflow patients bunked there.

"I don't like turning anyone away,'' Strickling said in court last year.

But all three rented locations may have violated state law.

Substance abuse treatment centers in Florida are required to deliver services only at licensed facilities. Since Narconon opened in 2008, it had been licensed by the state Department of Children and Families to provide services at one place, 8213 Cessna Drive.

"My mouth is hanging open,'' said Department of Children and Families licensure specialist Troy McDermott, when told of the rented sites. In his 21 years at DCF, he never has encountered a center providing services at unlicensed facilities, he said.

Penalties can range from a moratorium on patient admissions to loss of license.

Strickling declined to be interviewed for this story. In an email Friday night, she said her facility, also known as Suncoast Rehabilitation Center, was licensed at the rented commercial space, which is on Hearth Road.

It was, but just by a matter of hours.

Earlier Friday, DCF had issued Narconon a temporary license to provide "intensive outpatient'' services at the site. Its application had arrived mid-week, as the Tampa Bay Times was asking Narconon's leadership team for comment.

 

[Leland]

Tampa Bay Times: Scientology-related Narconon rehab center may have violated law
http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-related-rehab-may-have-violated-law/2194630

Excerpt:

How typical of Scamology....!! They love to copy what already exists. They love to obfuscate....and hide themselves....trick people....and try to fool the public.

The Pinellas County Florida Mental Health provider....is called "Suncoast Center Inc."

According to the above article, Narconon has just registered a new Narconon facility and calls it "Suncoast Rehabilitaion Center."



Surprised the Tampa Bay Times is not all over this....Perhaps they will be.

 

[Type4_PTS]

Surprised the Tampa Bay Times is not all over this....Perhaps they will be.

The article linked to in the OP is from the Tampa Bay Times.

 

[Leland]

Type4PTS..and..Little David.....perhaps I am not getting my point across. It is important.

The Tampa Bay Times article link above....States that Narconon has registered a NEW facility....and are calling it "SUNCOAST REHABILITATION CENTER." This is in Hernado County FLa.

OK.

One county below Hernando County, in Fla....is Pinellas County.

The County of Pinellas contracts out their MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.....to a company called: "SUNCOAST CENTER INC."

Do you see what I'm getting at now?

Narconon is trying to HIDE....and TRICK the local residents with this....IMO.

Here is NARCONON'S Web Page:
http://www.suncoastrehabcenter.com/treatment-information/

Here is Suncoast Center Inc's Web Page:
http://www.suncoastcenter.org/

Suncoast Center can prescribe Psychiatric medication.......They have Psychiatrists on staff.

I hope this is gets my point across....Thanks

 

[AnonyMary]

These scams are going on with all the Narconon and related facilities.


Sunshine posted at Tipping Point Forum today
Re: Are halfway houses a new strategy for Narconons in trouble?
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2014, 20:42 »

In 2012 SSL was issued a Cease and Desist from, at that time California Drug and Alcohol Program (ADP)
for three unlicensed facilities, the Big House, the Barn and the Top House http://wwwtest.adp.ca.gov/Licensing/pdf/Suspended_and_Revoked_Programs.pdf
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,11980.20.html
http://narcononreviews.net/document...a-2013-02-23-DeptOfAlcoholAndDrugPrograms.pdf

The Top House is actually located on the SSL property and was/is inspected by the County Fire Marshall but due to the MUP that building (Top House) can only be used for staff housing.

Fresh Start JLB Ranch (JLBR) was started a few years after SSL and does not require a MUP due to serving six or fewer clients but as mentioned in another thread it is licensed by the State therefore requires a Fire Permit.

There are two buildings on the property, the actual facility which is a single story house has been inspected and the another referred by the cease and desist as "The Barn".

The ONLY building that has been inspected by the county and a licensed issued by the state is the single story building that can house six clients and two staff.
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,6887.msg16645.html#msg16645

Please note that Narconon Fresh Start Sunshine Summit Lodge and Narconon Fresh Start JLB Ranch are two separate facilities and should not be sharing resources.

On a thread about these things, going back to Narconon of Georgia and it's Discovery House set up
http://forum.reachingforthetippingpoint.net/index.php/topic,12826.0.html

 

[Leland]

Thanks AnonyMary. Great Info.

PTS4 and Little David....didn't seem to get my post. I thought I'd expand it, and try to make it more clear.

 

[Leland]

I have written Emails to the writer of the Tampa Bay Times article....and Suncoast Center Inc....to alert them to the above.

 

[CommunicatorIC]

Tony Ortega now has the story.

More trouble for Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon — this time in Florida
http://tonyortega.org/2014/08/26/mo...ork-narconon-this-time-in-florida/#more-16530

Additional background information from Tony:

And about that license — Childs previously reported that the new location, in Clearwater, has filed for licensure not as a drug rehab facility but as a “halfway house.”

That makes two Narconon centers that have applied for certification as halfway houses that we know of — the network’s flagship facility in Oklahoma, Narconon Arrowhead, also recently applied for that status.

For a couple of years now, we’ve been watching as the Narconon network has found itself under siege after several patient deaths, followed by government investigations and dozens of lawsuits. We have to wonder if shifting their licenses to halfway houses is a strategy for Narconon to become less regulated now that so much negative attention has been focused on the system. We’d like to know if any other Narconon facilities have applied for halfway house status, and will the facilities begin charging less or changing their programs after dialing back on their licensure? We’d love to hear from the numerous researchers who watch Narconon nearly full time and read this website — let us know if you’ve heard anything about the “halfway house” maneuver spreading across the country.

 

[CommunicatorIC]

NOTE - Related thread re: settlement of separate and distinct litigation: Hernando County to pay $1.97 million to settle case by Narconon Spring Hill. Although the same Narconon entity, Spring Hill, is involved in both cases, the legal issues are separate, distinct, and should not be confused.

The Hernando County Board is now aware of the alleged violations.

Tampa Bay Times: Hernando commissioners approve mediated settlement over Narconon expansion plans
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localg...ed-settlement-over-narconon-expansion/2194752

Relevant excerpt:

But also on Tuesday, commissioners learned from a story in the Tampa Bay Times that, after being turned down by the county, Narconon expanded anyway, renting three properties elsewhere in Spring Hill.

At one leased site, Narconon provided daily therapeutic classes. Two houses became living quarters for staff, trainees and overflow patients. None were licensed, as state law requires, until the Times sought comment from operators late last week.

"I'm shocked about that,'' commission Chairman Wayne Dukes said after Tuesday's meeting. He said he planned to talk to the county attorney "and see where we stand.''

"I don't think that they should have been doing that,'' Commissioner Nick Nicholson said. "I think they should be getting county approval for whatever they've been doing.''

Commissioner Diane Rowden also said she had some "serious legal questions'' that would need further investigation. "If you want an adult congregate living facility in a home, that's a residential district. ... Our code enforcement should be all over this.

"What, do they think they have a ticket to do anything they want in any location?"

The Florida Department of Children and Families, which has licensed the center at 8231 Cessna Drive since it opened in 2008, had not decided Tuesday whether to conduct a formal investigation into Narconon's leasing of off-site properties.

Officials from Narconon, disclosed the rentals during court proceedings last year. Last week, as the Times asked whether the rentals had required licenses, center director Tammy Strickling applied for a license for one of the sites. DCF issued it Friday, on a probationary basis.