Ladoga Academy wants to meet neighbors

“Based on what I've heard, I think people's perception of us would be that we are a correctional facility”

It was a lesson emphasized in "To Kill A Mockingbird." Don't fear neighbors if you haven't met them. via The Journal Review

[Concern parent]

I have a daughter at ladoga academy who has bruising from the staff and who I have personally heard cussing from the staff to the young ladies. I have contacted the CPS to look into the problems my daughter has had.All I know is if my daughter was in my care and I treated her like they are being treated I would be in jail!!!! All they are teaching these kids is that you can cuss and put your hands on whom every is causing problems isn't that why some of these ladies are there?????

[vicky]

the staff at lodoga academy is undertrained and half of the girls there are abused

[Beckie Sparks]

I Am A Youmg Lady Who Survived Ladoga Barely With Much That I Now Deal With On A Daily Basis.. What I Endured Has Left Me Permantly Disabled. I Happened To Type In This Towns Name Trying To Find Others That Where In With Me... The Staff Are Horrible And CPS Stays So Busy Placing That They Cant Before To Lose All Those Beds.. It Is A Crying Shame The Way Kids Are Raised By The State. I By All Rights Would Have Gone Through 5000 Lifetimes That They "Rescued" Me From Than To Had To Have Endured The 18 Months That I Did There'....I Hope That Place Gets Termite Rot Or Something. Also To The Residents Of The Town I Apologize For All The Times That I Ran From That Place Into Your Community I Really Was Not A Bad Girl... Just In A Horrible Place...

[Joi Smith]

I was at Ladoga, I know what it's like. It is awful!!!!

[none]

I would be interested in why you felt as though you were undertrained. What could they have done better with training/support? Also, where is your proof that the girls are abused? If you felt as though things were going on that were wrong, what did you do about it? Did you stay employed in order to help change things? Was it worth it to stay and help the girls, or did you give up?

[Kayla Farrar]

I as well spent some time at lodoga. A little over a year. I have to say that they definately could have done things better. It felt like a prison. And there were too many things that could bring you down ( 21 rules, when I was there, from the bed being perfect to hygeine, to manipulation to fleeing(which you could get in trouble for for just walking across the gym). It was way too harsh. Enough to drive you crazy while sitting in the dorm watching paint peel. Obviously I still have some feelings towards it because I am sitting at home over four years later still thinking about it. But not all the staff were bad. Some really cared and did what they could for all the girls. And even though I hate the place I have to give it praise. Because of Ladoga I never got in trouble with the law again. I have a nice home a beautiful family of four a great job and I am finishing my last semester of college. I'll never know for sure but I'm going to go ahead and give ladoga credit for that. For scaring the shit out of me so I'll never do another stupid thing again!

[Kayla Farrar]

This is a poem that I wrote while in Ladoga. Its not deep but it gets to the point:
Summer
The sun is out and shining bright,
so go outside and fly a kite,
go outside and swim in the pool,
go ouside and act a fool.
Don't get in trouble or you will see,
what it's like at Ladoga Academy!
by Kayla Farrar
I hope you enjoyed

[ex employee]

If these parents were any parents at all, they wouldnt have to have their children put in placements. Some or most of these children need to be put behind bars next to their parents. We need to quit tossing our problems to society and learn to point the finger at ourselves! These children are out of line and produce a potential hazzard onto society! What these children need is stucture and the ones that are truley sick to mental hospitals. I seen this chaos first hand as a floor staff. Ladoga Acedemy is nothing more then a holding cell for these children. CMC needs to pay thier floor staff more then the lousy 9 dollars an hour they come off on! Come on it's only 2.45 cents more then minimam wage to deal with the explosive element Ladoga acedemy has to offer.

[ex employee]

Working as a floor staff at Ladoga acedemy is not worth the stess that comes with the job. No matter why it is a high turnover rate. If you liked being kicked and spit in your face for low pay this job is for you!!!

[Irrelevant]

I can't believe I'm seeing ex employees who are adults on here saying such things. Thankfully, the key term there is EX. These children need positive structure and love; regardless of your low hourly wage (which you agreed to before accepting employment). Most of them have committed crimes as a cry-out for attention, or because they are stuck in a vicious cycle of some sort.

I'm reading very heart-felt comments here from girls who have served time there...one is even apologizing to the neighbors. I have seen this facility and it's depressing. I would probably act-out, too, if I were in there!

Your lack of compassion is probably what got u kicked and spat at.

[ex employee]

Most of these children are to far gone. I'm willing to put money down that a majority of these children will wind up in prison or living off the taxpayers dollars welfare, foodstamps or etc and that is a fact! I don't disagree that these children need help but Ladoga is doing the minimum to help out these children. The food that they feed them is garbage. The acedemy is under staffed which makes the floor dangerous for staff and students! If they paid more they would have more staff to take care of security issues that exist on the floor. Problems wouldnt esculate out of control to where the police need to come in and protect the citizens of Ladoga. You are so blinded on what is really going in the acedemy. When it comes down to it CMC is concerned about the money not the problem!!!

[ex employee]

Irrelevant wrote:

I can't believe I'm seeing ex employees who are adults on here saying such things. Thankfully, the key term there is EX. These children need positive structure and love; regardless of your low hourly wage (which you agreed to before accepting employment). Most of them have committed crimes as a cry-out for attention, or because they are stuck in a vicious cycle of some sort.
I'm reading very heart-felt comments here from girls who have served time there...one is even apologizing to the neighbors. I have seen this facility and it's depressing. I would probably act-out, too, if I were in there!
Your lack of compassion is probably what got u kicked and spat at.

" I hope you are not a parent!"

[Julie K Harmon]

Kayla, sorry you went through at a time we thought rules were a way to show you love and respect. I am so glad to hear you have made positive stride in your life. I am in Ohio now moving on with my life and pleased to hear you are moving on with yours. I truly cared about you. I wish you the best. Ms. Harmon

Kayla Farrar wrote:

I as well spent some time at lodoga. A little over a year. I have to say that they definately could have done things better. It felt like a prison. And there were too many things that could bring you down ( 21 rules, when I was there, from the bed being perfect to hygeine, to manipulation to fleeing(which you could get in trouble for for just walking across the gym). It was way too harsh. Enough to drive you crazy while sitting in the dorm watching paint peel. Obviously I still have some feelings towards it because I am sitting at home over four years later still thinking about it. But not all the staff were bad. Some really cared and did what they could for all the girls. And even though I hate the place I have to give it praise. Because of Ladoga I never got in trouble with the law again. I have a nice home a beautiful family of four a great job and I am finishing my last semester of college. I'll never know for sure but I'm going to go ahead and give ladoga credit for that. For scaring the shit out of me so I'll never do another stupid thing again!

[Julie K Harmon]

As today is the last day of operation for Ladoga Academy I want to say thanks and I am sorry. Thanks to all the staff who worked so hard in the vein of doing what they thoguht was right. I am sorry for any young lady who wasn't treated with the respect and dignity she deserves. I loved my time at Ladoga and truly loved the young women we served. I hope everyone can move forward and be the best they can be. Ms. Harmon, Director 2001-2008.

[Curious]

Were you dismissed, Ms Harmon?

[Reva Monique Kelly_RIP]

She and I spent time together at Ladoga and although we didnt get along at first we became good friends and she is one of the few girls I remember from there. Its so sad that her life ended shortly. I didnt even believe it when I first found out. R.I.P.
Kelley, Reva M.
August 15, 2008
Reva Monique Kelley 20, passed away on August 11, 2008. She was a mother and student at the University of Phoenix. She will be sorely missed and now will rest in peace. She is survived by her child, Danny Carl Mason-Bey; mother, Carla Halbert; adoptive mother, Midge Kelley; father, Roy Halbert; brother, Kalin Kelley; sisters, Ericka and Andrea Halbert; uncles, Chad Kelley and David Halbert; aunt, Barbara Halbert; grandparents, Rev. Carl Kelley Sr. and Mary Kelley; niece, Noriyah Kelley; nephews, Robert and Eric Halbert; a host of great aunts, cousins and other family. Funeral will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at Phillips Temple CME Church, 210 E. 34th St., Indianapolis. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The service will immediately follow at 1 p.m. Interment will be at New Crown Cemetery. Arrangements: Lavenia, Smith & Summers Home for Funerals.
http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/obituaries/i...

[Kayla Farrar]

Thank you Ms.Harmon. I can say for myself you were a role model and as director of Ladoga Academy you tried to get out on the floor and encourage the girls. Although some of the rules were petty I have to say the best thing I ever did was follow them. The time went by much faster, staff treated you better (because they were being respected), the girls who were following them got to go on outings to fun places, we got to go to church on sundays (outside of ladoga, thank you Ms. Darwin), we got to play softball, all kinds of fun stuff and it gave me a reason to do right and something to look forward to. Thank you.

Julie K Harmon wrote:

As today is the last day of operation for Ladoga Academy I want to say thanks and I am sorry. Thanks to all the staff who worked so hard in the vein of doing what they thoguht was right. I am sorry for any young lady who wasn't treated with the respect and dignity she deserves. I loved my time at Ladoga and truly loved the young women we served. I hope everyone can move forward and be the best they can be. Ms. Harmon, Director 2001-2008.

[To anyone who cares]

There has been a myspace added in Ladoga Academy's name where anyone can go and (whether you hated the place or not) become friends. Try to meet other friends from there and stay in touch. Leave comments, good or bad or do whatever you like

[Julie K Harmon]

Curious wrote:

Were you dismissed, Ms Harmon?

No, I left so I can spend more time with my family.

[RSchreiner]

I spent some time in Ladoga back in 2004 to 2005. The staff there help me so much and im so thankful for them and believe i didnt make it easy for them. And most of the students that hated it some much or say it was aweful its because you made it that way. The staff are people they dont want to be mean, there are they to help you but you have to want the help to be able to get it. The only thing i think they could have donr better is they should keep up with the students after they leave. And Ms. Harmon was the best the sweetest thing ever. You would know be by Mr. Carter