BEWARE OF SUNFLOWER LANDING IN MISSISSIPPI If your child has a dual diagnosis, I would not recommendsending him to Sunflower Landing located in Dublin (Tutwiler), Mississippi. Thisfacility is located in the Delta area of Mississippi and was suggested by mychilds probation counselor whom had not previously referred anyone else priorto my child to my knowledge. So I decided to give it a try. Sunflower Landingis supposed to be a facility that treats adolescents with substance abuseissues. Prior to becoming admitted to Sunflower Landing (S.L.), my child wasdiagnosed with ADHD, Depression and used marijuana to mask these issues. So thestaff should be well aware of the issues of each child. However, some of thestaff members are either incompetent or unconcerned about doing their jobeffectively. For instance, all school work is done online and my child neededto work towards getting his high school diploma but there were some things mychild did not understand and needed help on. He stated that when he asked forsomething to be explained to him the staff, Ms. Etheridge, tried to belittlehim or talk down to him, so he rarely asked for help afterwards. My childcomplained to me about this issue, but I know that he still had marijuana inhis system and was prescribed medication for ADHD and depression prior toadmittance so I considered this was still part of the issue. He had only beenthere for a couple of weeks. The first week he was there he talked back to thestaff and did not want to listen to them. There were issues and after speakingto the Director, they usually try to deal with the expected combative behaviorof the residents who are new. After he had beenthere two weeks I was able to visit him and he told me during that first week, he told me he became upset when his counselor, Mr. Hamilton, said to him Hey boydont you hear me talking to you? In an angry voice because my son did notwant to listen or talk about his behavior at the time. (Mr. Hamilton is Europeanand my child is of the Original race.) I informed my son that there are severalways someone can interpret that phrase since you are a minor. However, my childhas also lived in the North (New York and New Jersey area) and is well aware whensomeone is talking down to him or using racial undertones. I have always taughthim not to turn a blind eye when confronted with racism and I told him I wouldspeak with the Director about that issue and encouraged him to focus on histreatment. On October 12, at this time, I can safely say that mychild was trying to comply with his treatment but was still having medicalissues that had not been addressed by the staff. I was given too much red tapefrom the staff of S.L. About getting my child evaluated for ongoing migraines. It took at least 1 month before he could see the psychiatrist in that area. Ispoke with Nurse Camy (whom she was introduced as during my childsadmittance) at S.L. And she told me that she was unable to give my child any OTCmedications and was advised to get his previous Dr. To call and giveauthorization. However, his previous Dr. (3 hours away) needed to see my childto change his meds. My child was crying and complaining to the staff about themigraines. He said they told him they would allow him to go to the sick roomand rest but they never did allow him to go. He sat in the hallway for 3-4hours and said they continued to walk past him. Obviously, they did not believehe had a migraine or did not care. From my perspective in light of otherincidents that occurred, I have no doubt that both matters are true. I wouldunderstand if he did not have a diagnosis for migraines prior to his admissionand the staff had doubts, but he was admitted with documented with diagnosisfor this condition. The staff is unorganized because when I spoke with theDirector, K. Steinriede, she stated, We do not have a nurse. WOW! Is all Icould say. October 27, during my visit to the facility, my childappeared upset and told me that during their morning exercises, he informed thehouse parent that his leg was injured. (He injured it about a week ago during asoccer game). He was ignored and told to continue to exercise on his leg. OnMonday, I addressed the issue with his counselor, Mr. Benny, and he stated, Thereis nothing wrong with him he just needs to do what he is supposed to do. Itold him, How is that possible if he medical issues that have not beenaddressed? Besides that, how can you safely say there is nothing wrong with hisleg since you are not a doctor? I was so tired of the staff saying that thechildren will try anything to get out of doing what they are supposed to do. Itis pure ignorance to disregard medical issues and try to put everyone in thatcategory. They (staff) need to address the issue first and stop using an excusenot to do their job. I have also began to realize that the teachers just boringand lack the enthusiasm to teach and simply want to sit back and let thecomputer solely educate each child. Some of the staff also project a negative bias toward non Europeans. My childtold me he was also angry because in class, the staff tried to teach them that allBlack people originated from Europeons. I had to say WOW again because I realized the racism is surfacing again. I knew they couldnt indoctrinate him with that ignorance no matter how many drugswere in his system.
Also, there are some dishonest staff at thefacility. I informed my sons counselor that I would be mailing him some hygieneproducts and books. I mailed the box and when I spoke with my child he said allhe received was a box of Stephen King horror novels. He said that he knew thathad not come from me. When I informed the staff, of course they denounced anyresponsibility for the theft and felt the mix up occurred at the post office. Theyclaim to have cameras on the facility but refused to show any monitoring of thestaff who received the package. What a joke. Once I contacted the post office, I am convincedthat there are just some dishonest staff at Sunflower Landing who are justthere collecting a paycheck. For this reason and many others not listed here, Iwould not recommend any parent to send their child to this facility. It issimply a waste of money
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