First phasers were also referred to as "newcomers" in KIDS of El Paso.
This initial phase of treatment started the moment a new admit was introduced to the group. The introduction to group usually occurred in the early to late afternoon upon completion of the admit's intake. During the introduction process the group was told "sit up straight, face forward, put your hands on your knees, and your feet flat on the floor." A senior staff member would then walk the new admit down the center aisle separating the guys from the girls side of group. The staff member would introduce the new admit to the group by name, age, and drugs used based upon the information gained during the intake process. The new admit was then seated on the first row of chairs in the very front of the room. The new admit was not permitted to participate in group for the first three days in the program.
Life was difficult as a first phase "newcomer" in KIDS of El Paso for many reasons including time away from society and the outside world. After a day of rap therapy at the building, the first phase "newcomer" went home with a higher phase "oldcomer" and his/her family.
Documentation given to new admits reflected the "minimum time" spent on first phase was 14 days. This often gave the new admit the mistaken impression that he/she could return home with his/her family on the second phase of treatment in only two weeks. The first phase of treatment actually averaged a year for most teens in the El Paso program.
Beltlooping was a method in which a teen more advanced in the program physically and securely held a first phaser when walking inside the KIDS building, and to/from the car in the parking lot that transported teens to/from the KIDS building and host home. Beltlooping was in effect a grip that a higher phaser used to secure a first phaser by the waistline of the pants to restrict and dictate movement when walking. Though it may have appeared silly when seen observed by outsiders, beltlooping was an effective means of prohibiting disgruntled teens from escaping the program. It was also a measure used to reinforce the idea that newcomers to the program were "powerless" and that walking around independently was a privilege to be earned
Just prior to making second phase, an admit was eligible to apply for a status that was referred to as "talk and responsibilities." Talk and responsibilities, known commonly as T & R, was an earned status that alleviated the need for the first phaser to be beltlooped while in the KIDS building. When an admit was on T & R they beltlooped other newcomers to and from the restroom and the lunch/dinner line. When on T & R, admits were also able to spend limited time out of group usually for cleaning activities or setting up chairs for open meetings twice weekly.
Second Phase/Host Homes
Earning second phase was a highly regarded privilege granted when a teen was doing what was expected of them consistently over a period of time. When a newcomer earned second phase they were able to return home to live with their own family. Second and higher phasers were referred to as 'oldcomers'. Oldcomers no longer required beltlooping and were trusted much more than when on first phase as a newcomer.
Before talking about higher phases any further, it is important to note the process of phase changes and how one transitioned from a newcomer to an oldcomer in KIDS. Twice weekly, on Monday and Friday evenings, there were open meetings that parents attended. Newcomers had the opportunity to request to talk with their family for five minutes while being supervised by an oldcomer. These five minute talks were limited to "making amends for the past" and no other discussion aside from apologies was permitted. Newcomers had the opportunity to make a request and state why they deserved to speak with their parents in what was called a "homes rap." Homes rap took place each Monday and Friday morning. During homes rap the group was split into gender specific smaller subgroups. When a person was called on by staff in homes rap they were required to stand up from their seat and "state their homes." A "homes" as recited by a newcomer, consisted of stating three realizations made that would be of benefit to a newcomer's sobriety. The newcomer then stated three respective changes that they made by applying these realizations to daily life. For instance:
"I realized this week that helping others also helps myself because to not help others is selfish and selfishness is a character defect that will lead me back to doing drugs.
One change that I made was helping out Joe when I saw that he was sharing a past incident that he had a lot of feelings about that was similar to my past. By relating myself to Joe when he was sharing in group, I was being unselfish unlike my past when I was too selfish to ask my mother why she was crying on the couch and I walked right by her to go smoke pot with my druggie girlfriend."
Oldcomers composed reports on the progress of their newcomers and made a recommendation as to what the newcomer should earn. These progress reports were submitted to staff for their review. Earnings were based upon the oldcomer's recommendation, the newcomers performance, and a vote by all staff during a staff only meeting on Monday and Friday afternoons. Earnings were announced during a time called "books" just before the beginning of each open meeting. During open meeting, parents were never certain what their newcomer had earned. Parents were seated in rows opposite of the teens in group and a microphone was passed from person to person on the parents side. When the microphone made it's way to a parent that had a child that earned talk, the child yelled "Love you, mom/dad" across the room and remained seated. The mother/father would then say "Love you Joe" into the microphone and pass it to the next person. Rather than remaining seated and yelling "Love ya" across the room, teens that did not earn talk stood up to face their parent. The parent often proceeded to share disappointment and so forth before passing the microphone to the next parent. When a child earned second phase, the common routine was that the child stood up with a deceivingly long face to give the impression that they had not earned anything. When the parent started to share disappointment, disgust, and other dismay, the teen yelled "Coming Home" and quickly ran across the room to hug their parent as in the video above. This was always a welcome surprise and was often viewed as the first step towards completing the program that parents invested time, money, and energy into. Most admits did not earn second phase until being in the program well over a year.
Oldcomers went home with their parents the same night they earned second phase. There was a "honeymoon" period of three days when oldcomers could be alone with their parents after spending the day at the building. During this time the new "oldcomer" would adjust to being back at home by discussing incidents of drug use with their parents, apologizing for their actions, and talking about what they planned on doing differently in the future.
On day three, the oldcomer took home newcomers. There was usually between two and six newcomers assigned to each oldcomer that accompanied the oldcomer and his/her (commonly called) "host parents" to the "host home" from the third day forward. By this time all necessary adaptations were made to the home to secure it from any escape that may be attempted by the newcomers. Necessary adaptations included removing window cranks from the host home vehicles, making certain that baby locks were installed on car doors to prevent them from being opened from the inside, windows in the home were screwed shut or keyed locks were put in place, the oldcomer's bedroom was also made "newcomer proof" by removing all furniture, closet doors, and anything else that could possibly be utilized as a weapon to inflict injury. A door alarm was installed on the inside of the oldcomers bedroom door which the oldcomer also slept in front of for added security. Sometimes teens were dead bolted in the bedroom from the outside as an extra security measure. Newcomers slept with only a pillow and a sheet frequently. Bedmats were used in later years as required by the State governing agencies subsequent to investigation.
The composition of moral inventories often took up a lot of the time when at the host home. After the completion of the moral inventories, the teens often ate a snack before going to bed. Snacks varied but often included dry rice cakes or a single piece of fruit. An interesting aspect of being a newcomer in an hosthome was that the newcomer was required to ask the oldcomer's permission for everything before taking any action whatsoever. For instance even drinking milk consisted of the following questions:
"May I get a glass? May I pour the milk? May I put the milk carton down on the table? May I pick up the glass? May I take a drink? May I put the glass down on the table? May I put the milk carton away? May I rinse my empty glass in the sink? May I put the empty rinsed glass in the dishwasher?" Etc.
KIDS teens generally took showers at night. Even during showers and bowel movements there was no privacy. No matter what the size of the bathroom was, all teens in the household were required to be at arms length from the oldcomer at all times. Prior to turning in for the evening, the newcomers usually stood in the center of the room wearing only their underwear while the oldcomer conducted a search of the room. The sheets and pillows would all be inspected and the oldcomer would run his hand and fingers between the trim on the bottom of the walls and the floor to inspect for anything that could possibly be concealed. The door and window were also checked for security before the host home went to sleep for the evening. Sleep was always limited and was often the subject of investigation by State governing agencies.
Mornings in the host home were often full of anxiety and pressure to make it to the building on time. Newcomers awoke, got dressed, had a small breakfast often consisting of unsweet cereal or toast with butter before leaving to go to the building.
Third Phase
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
School Policy (p.1)
School Policy (p.2)
Medical Director KIDS to School Letter
Medical Director School Setback Notification Letter
Medical Director School Withdrawl Notification Letter
Fourth Phase
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Fifth Phase
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Graduation
Graduations from the program were announced with group and family members present during open meeting. Fifth phasers had no knowledge of their graduation prior to the announcement. Graduating the program didn't mean separation from the program. Many fifth phasers joined staff as trainees prior to graduation and continued to remain on staff after graduation. All graduates participated in 6 months of aftercare that included weekly aftercare meetings and a unique set of rules.
All new graduates were given a copy of the book "Living Sober" with a personalized message from the clinical director penned on the inside of the book jacket.
Graduates of the program were also given a lapel pin that reflected the number of years sobriety at graduation. These lapel pins were worn proudly at all times by graduates of KIDS of El Paso.
Even upon graduation from the program, KIDS enforced a set of rules for six months during the programs post-graduation aftercare program. A copy of the aftercare rules are located below.
