things arent as it seems the girls there have been through alot of problems throught their lives but some of these did create alot of chaos in this placement though some have made good friendships here and are upset to have even be involved in this riot some feel awful for what they've done some are not i hate it that i did what i did but now i wish i could go back in time and change my actions at that time i miss my friends an awful lot and wish i still had contact with them but things are never given to us freely we have to things correctly in order to get the prize i hated being there but the only thing i really cared about was my friends and the animals i wonder often where everybody has gone and are they doing well hopefully they are and wish them alot of luck and love and that they do well in the real world

Truthbtold123... I did finish my Associates Degree in September, but it wasn't in Nursing, thanks for asking. I was 2.5 hours away every 2 weeks from M-F doing clinicals. It gave the girls a feeling of responsibility to care for the animals. The bonds they share with the animals are an important part of their therapy. I worked by the hour and during my Clinical weeks only got 10 hrs in, so it definately wasn't for th money.

The girls are whats important, they are stepping into a new chapter in their lives. While we at DCC will miss them greatly, we are proud of their accomplishments and how much they have grown. Move FORWARD from here girls and MAKE GOOD CHOICES.

I was on this site to find information about another situation when I saw this article. I worked for DCC for 3 short months last year as a care professional. My heart breaks. Not for the facility, but for the girls. When I first came to the facility, I had big ideas and a big heart. For the most part, I loved every girl that was there. I could not comprehend their situations, but could understand the anger. The girls are looking for a stable environment that will allow them to grow and trust. They should be in loving homes that provide them with stability. These girls deserve that at the very least. They are beautiful girls that were given a bad hand in life. Without guidance, how can we expect them to be more?

I often think of "my girls." I miss them terribly, and can only hope that even if our paths never cross again that I made some small difference with a hug or a smile. Be strong, girls. Y'all will be fine. You deserve happiness!

Tsmith u are ridiculous! How are your nursing classes going? You left the animals and the girls to get fed by someone else and came up there about once every 2 wks. Ur head may have been in the right place too. Every 2 weeks.... Were glad you like animals and C........

FirstHand thanks for clearing that up very well put it sounds like you know a lot about what took place and you are wright you do seem a lot more grown up then the comments made on this page including me there will be no more degrading comments from my site about Downing Clark or the girls. I am sure you have seen and been threw enough and it will stop here for me ....

For most of the people writing these degrading comments, you really haven't experienced it first hand. I have. Yeah, the staff that came to work here did get to see a big part of what was really going on, but not like I did, and so many other girls. I really wish people would stop writing blogs and commenting on articles saying how "the girls of Downing Clark" must feel. I'm sure that some people have heard it from certain resident's mouth, but I am also sure that the resident you heard it from participated in the three hour "riot" and got taken away in handcuffs and put into police cars and escorted off the property. Sounds like a lot of resentment to me, does it to you?

What I'm really trying to say here is that you can't always count on "one angry resident" to inform you about the madness at Downing Clark Center. If you people are going to get online and demean someone's character, I think you need to have ALL the facts and ALL the opinions, from more than one or two girls at least.

For the year that I have been here, I have hard times, every girl here has, but it's not healthy to blame it all on DCC work ethics. Isn't that what Downing Clark is? A therapeutic placement for girls to learn how to deal with their past issues? Some of the girl's have went their whole lives blaming their problems on other people, wishing they hadn't made the mistakes that they made. What you guys are doing here online "as adults" is no example of the youth today. It sounds like to me that you adults might just have more problems that the girls have in Downing Clark. Scary huh? All the staff that have ever been here were always trying to teach us to respect eachother, listen, and encourage eachother. But obviously the adults that were supposed to be role models for us are responding hatred and negativity and bashing other adults, because what, because your mad you lost your job? That's pathetic..it really is. It's also very sad that a kid has to be the one to tell you this.

I'm not choosing sides, and I shouldn't have to. People like you get on here because your bored, and think that you have power when you write such disgraceful words, but when actually, you look younger that I do. Wowwww. I'm sorry that the people that have gotton fired are angry, (I'm angry for you, I really did like some of you) and for the people that had to quit because they were having oh so terrible nightmares about the juvinille delinquents in DCC, I'm sorry to. I'm sorry that people feel they have to get on sites like this and put theirselves and other people down at the same time by explaining their "important" opinions. I'm sorry that at this particular moment, I feel more grown up than anyone that has participaed in this. If Downing Clark was as bad to the staff as they say it was, then I'm sorry for your unfortunate experience. Although I know that I'm not going to be able to stop this "online mess" I'm gonna ask that you guys keep current Downing Clark Residents out if it. It's all to much, and this is getting way out of hand.

Welcome to Pleasantville! Where we want things Pleasant, by golly.

Thank you for keeping posts clean

Thanks for remembering not to post negative things.

Thank you for reminding folks to refrain from negativity

URL or IP or whatever. I am just offering a friendly reminder to all these people that they can be found if a defamation suit was initiated. They want to spew hate and hide behind a computer screen. Ya’ll keep having your fun.. just remember there may be consequences to your lies and defamation of these people.

Catlady,it's not an URl, it's actually called an IP Address. Also, let em go at it if they want. No sense in being subtle and trying to censor the blokes in an underhanded fashion. Just move on if you don't like it.

you people on the outside looking in are ridiculous! dont judge/assume what these folks did or went thru while they were there because you dont have the whole story. i am sure there is much, much more to their stories than the few sentences they've written here....they are guilty of NOTHING but being misled and deciding to not be part of something they THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD AND MEANINGFUL CAUSE!!!!!!! THAT MORE THAN MOST OF YOU CAN SAY!!!!!!!!! WHAT DID YALL DO TO HELP?

Ya’ll should keep in mind that this site is not really anonymous. Your URL from your computer can be traced if someone wanted to subpoena them. You could be sued for defamation and libel/slander for a lot of this crap ya’ll are posting. Just something to think about.

Truthbtold...you are correct. I was a new/young teacher and was thrust into that position COMPLETELY unaware. The classroom I was promised was a small room with NO paper, NO pencils, NO books, NO working PC, NOTHING....My first words were "Oh my God, how am I supposed to teach these kids with NOTHING?!!!!" My first time on the hall/seeing the girls was my first day of class and never before that. 5 minutes into my first class two students beat the tar out of each other and due to all the blood we had to evacuate my room for 2 hours. I was in shock and bewildered. For the most part I find the girls did a "fine" job of abusing one another!

PS: I would have stayed anonymous too if I didn't have anything better to say than to sit there and judge people and ASSUME.....we all know what ASSUME does don't we? You weren't there, so back off!!!

Also...ITS not NOING, it KNOWING and its not THANK its THINK.

Some of you are so DAFT in making these comments....I was NOT fired, my girls loved me and I loved them...I did all I could to help. I did speak out on their behalves! I was a teacher there for a short 4 months and I showed these girls more love and care than anyone has in a long time obviously....they will tell you that. We had some of the best times dcc has ever seen when I was there....as for the criminal comment, you were NOT on the inside....I did have girls that were from Dept of Juv Justice and they were just waiting to age into the prison system..they had indeed committed CRIMES so don't judge me..YOU WEREN'T there!!! DON'T YOU DARE JUDGE ME when I was doing more for them than anyone else at the time.

Truthbtold123 & Cherrybutterfly, whats worse being the abuser or sitting by and watching the abuse? I can't believe you didn't at least report something bad enough to give you nightmares to the authorities. If both of you knew of things going on there that shouldn't be and didn't do anything about it, you let those girls down just as much as anyone else. Shame on you.

It is amazing how ya’ll are only concerned about the girls being mistreated after you are all fired. When you were getting your paycheck everything was all good. Joseph D shows his true colors as he was more than happy to come to work and get paid. After he is fired he is suddenly so worried about the girls needs being met!! Give me a break. Ya’ll really need to move on and do some good in your lives.

Couldnt say it any better JosephD. I also Can bear witness to the "animal shelter" being run there. Mrs. Clark should have definately listened to everyones concerns. Instead she chose to think everyone was exxagerating her sisters mental health and behavior. After working there for one day and meeting ms. Downing, i promptly began another job search. Her own family made her resign as CEO in a final attempt to save the company. Enough said....