Peanuts,

Thank you for your reply. Yes, what went on their and other places like it was crimal. Horrible. Something it has taken me many years to come to terms with, or even even think about.

For years, and even still from time to time I wake up thinking I am confined somewhere. Luckily I can glance over at my hubby and know that I am safe with him. He is a great source of comort for me.

Apparently in my case, the insurance didn't cover it. My mom told me for years that she worked extra to pay for Straight. However, this past week, she confessed that she did not pay for Straight. Apparently there were grants/funds issued through the state of Virginia for people who could not afford to pay for such programs.

I was never tested for drug use prior to being placed in there. No urine, no blood, etc. My mother however states that they advised her that I had tested positive for drugs but said she never saw any documentation on it. My mother is an idiot.

The more and more I learn about this, the more and more I see her true self and what I am finding is disgusting.

I have done my own research, and digging into Straight, Tax records, law suits, etc. What I have found is that they billed various private insurance companies for "inpatient" facility charges when Straight was never legally classified as an "inpatient facility". All of us were staying in host homes of other patients with in the program. It was later on when the state prevented licensure because it was against the law for Straight to place anyone in any host home, only DHS could place children in approved homes, called "Foster homes". This is why I am so damn confused. The state placed Straight on back to back probation for years citing them for indeficiencies with in their system, not to mention the streaming number of alledged abuse. I could go on for hours.

I can not excuse my mother for what she did to me. As a mother she had a duty to me to protect me from harm. She failed at that. She has failed me as a mother.

After leaving Straight I took a school placement test because I had been taken out of school for so long they wanted to see how I placed. Schooling after that was very hard for me. I lost all interest in everything.

However, I am now 34. Married, three children. I work full time and as of tomorrow I start my very first college class in hope of obtaining my degree in Business Management.

I am a survivor. But my scars are still there.