Kids Helping Kids, A Pathway Family Center - Ohio

Kids Helping Kids is located in Milford, Ohio and was previously known as Straight Midwest.

ISAC has received recent and credible complaints from former clients and/or their parents alleging physical abuse, unwarranted and brutal physical restraint, intimidation, humiliation, brainwashing, and fraud.

The complaints specifically allege the following occurred in early 2004:

A male client suffered a broken leg during a particularly violent physical restraint performed by other clients.

A brand-new female client was dragged out of an Open Meeting by 2 staff members and 2 fellow clients.

The child was supposed to stand in front of a room full of strangers, say her name, list off the drugs she had used, and tell a humiliating story from her "past."

Instead, the child said: "Let me tell you what really happens here..."

According to witnesses, the child was then tackled, dragged out of the open meeting and screamed for 15 minutes while being restrained.

With no instruction from the staff of Kids Helping Kids, parents attending the Open Meeting stood up, turned their backs to the struggle, and began to loudly sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in an attempt to drown out the child's screams.

Witnesses describe the incident as "horrifying" and "traumatic."

Official police reports obtained by ISAC substantiate these complaints.

The records also reveal a disturbing number of calls for assistance with "suicide attempts."

ISAC has filed a welfare and whereabouts demand with Ohio officials and will follow-up on the condition of both of these children.

At a Kids Helping Kids "host" (foster) home, another child forgot to ask permission to pick up his fork. As punishment, the child was not allowed to use silverware during dinner and had to eat spaghetti with his hands.

When the facility finally returned the child's belongings, this "letter of encouragement" was found in his suitcase.

This child has since been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Another child who spent just 2 weeks at Kids Helping Kids has also been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of his experience in the program.

According to parents of former clients, staff members at Kids Helping Kids deny any connection to Straight, Inc. during pre-intake interviews.

ISAC has collected corporate documents and other information that show a series of name and location changes, that prove Kids Helping Kids is indeed Straight, Inc. renamed.

More importantly, ISAC has obtained internal documents that show Kids Helping Kids currently employs policies and treatment methods that are identical to Straight, Inc.

Straight, Inc. has been classified as a cult by leading experts including Rick Ross, Steve Hassan, and FACTNet.org.

In March 2006, Pathway Family Center acquired control of Kids Helping Kids.

Pathway Family Center was formerly known as Straight, Inc. Michigan.

Please visit our Pathway Family Center page for more information.

UPDATE: Kids Helping Kids stopped providing treatment in November, 2008. However, they still own the property and could continue operations at any time.