A point-by-point rebuttal of a report stating that KIDS of El Paso County Inc. abused clients will be delivered next week to the state agency that made the report. *** of Austin, the lawyer hired to represent KIDS, Friday denied allegations by an investigator from the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse that KIDS staff abused and neglected clients. *** denied that KIDS stands to lose its license. A recommendation by ***, executive director of the commission, that KIDS would lose its license by next week will be deferred until *** has read the rebuttal. The commission inspected the KIDS program March 22, and issued a scathing 50-page, report that accused the staff and other clients of beating, mocking and mistreating some clients, and accused the staff of preventing clients from withdrawing from the program. But at a press conference Friday, *** and ***, executive director of KIDS, said that more than 40 clients voluntarily have withdrawn since the program began a little more than two years ago. Citing privacy laws *** said he could not provide names of people who voluntarily have withdrawn. When asked why clients or former clients would lie about abuses, *** said she had no explanation. *** said the nature of the program is such that things sometimes happen that might be considered abusive. "They have a problem that is out of control, and we are trying to control it," he said. "There's an inherent friction in controlling it and sometimes things get out of control. We will have clients fighting and we have to try to stop it.” Some clients, he said, might see that as abusive. The Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse report noted that the March 22 inspection did not show much improvement over deficiencies cited in an inspection a month earlier. *** said Friday that she would not comment on specific allegations until the written rebuttal is prepared. "I don't want to answer the allegations piecemeal," she said. She said the rebuttal will include some proposed changes in the way KIDS rules are written. *** said the allegations of abuse primarily are centered on the use of physical restraints. She said the KIDS policy is that restraints are used only to keep a client from harming himself or others. KIDS treats adolescents who have drug, alcohol or other behavioral problems. *** said the program now has about 100 clients in El Paso. Twenty-five people have graduated from the program since it began in February 1986. Treatment averages about 18 months. Cost of the program is $600 a month, plus $95 a month for food.
