KIDS Centers of America

Dr. Newton had previously served as the National Clinical Director of Straight, Inc. and left that organisation in 1982 amid allegations of abuse and insurance fraud. He then founded KIDS as a “spin-off” network of treatment centres he intended to expand nationally. The chain began operations in 1984 and by the late 1980s had multiple regional programme was aimed at adolescents (typically ages 12-24) with issues such as substance abuse, behavioural problems, school failure or family conflict. == Program structure and methods ==

The KIDS programmes adopted a level-system (often five levels) in which newly-admitted clients (often called “newcomers”) were subject to highly structured routines, peer-monitoring, long hours of group sessions, isolation from family and friends, and other controversial methods reportedly borrowed from Straight Inc’s model. For example, in the first phase of a programme, residents had no rights, lived in host homes, had severely restricted contact with the outside world, and were responsible for newcomers once they advanced. == Programmes ==

KIDS of Bergen County (New Jersey) started operating in 1984 and treated people between the ages of 12 years old and 22 years old. In May 1988, the programme was notified by the State of California Health & Welfare Agency that it was operating without a licence. It closed in 1989. they were charged with unlawful detention and assaulted. In June 1990 the program lost it's licence revoked and closed. KIDS of the Canadian West In a Los Angeles Times article, it was reported that Newton authorized the Kids of the Canadian West, an organization based in Calgary. == References ==