KIDS back in business for now

KIDS of El Paso County Inc. opened its doors Friday.  ***, chairman of the board of directors for KIDS, said the center was allowed to open at 4:40 p.m. because of a court order modifying a temporary restraining order issued earlier this week which had forced the closing of the facility.  "KIDS of El Paso County can open the facility and provide services for which it is licensed until the conclusion of a hearing on the temporary restraining order," *** said about the modification issued by a court in Travis County.  The meeting on the restraining order could be held late next week, he said, adding that the facility will remain open until then.  He said many of the patients forced to leave the center Thursday night returned Friday.  On Thursday, KIDS complied with a court order issued at the request of the state attorney general's office this week and closed down.  Late Thursday night, about 90 clients of the drug rehabilitation program went home with their parents.  District Court Judge *** of Travis County issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday to shut down KIDS after reviewing allegations about the program. The allegations stemmed from a nearly year-long investigation into the program by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.  The program's license was revoked earlier this month as a result of an investigation that revealed 56 deficiencies, mostly dealing with client abuse.  The program treats mainly teenagers who suffer from drug and alcohol abuse and behavioral problems.  It follows some of the same techniques used by Alcoholics Anonymous.  Some of the complaints against the center, at 6500 Boeing Drive, were that counselors were abusing children, kept patients against their wills, denied patients' privacy and denied mail or telephone privileges.  KIDS officials admit some of their methods are tough, but they said it's necessary in order to get the teens to stop using drugs and alcohol.