HMB
As a parent currently navigating the incredibly difficult and emotional experience of having a child in inpatient behavioral treatment, I wanted to share a more balanced perspective regarding Midwest. Like many parents, I read the reviews before my son arrived and was absolutely terrified. While no facility is perfect, and this type of environment is extremely intense and constantly evolving, our experience so far has included several staff members whose passion, compassion, and dedication deserve recognition. Jasmine has been absolutely incredible. Her ability to balance the emotional needs of the patients while also managing staff and unit dynamics is something I genuinely admire. She listens, communicates honestly, remains calm under pressure, and approaches these kids with both accountability and compassion. Angie has such a calming and compassionate presence. You can genuinely feel that she cares deeply about the kids and the work she is doing. Cece has years of experience and taps into her mothering nature to provide a stable environment, often at the cost of the patients giving her flack for her consistency. She is a kind soul who has clearly dedicated herself to this type of work. Mama D has shown so much affection, concern, and dedication toward these boys. In an environment where many of these kids are struggling emotionally and behaviorally, that warmth matters more than people realize. Jamar has also stood out to me because of the stability and consistency he brings to the unit. At the same time, he still seems to understand that these are teenagers who occasionally need moments of laughter, flexibility, and normalcy within appropriate boundaries. Communication has been open throughout this process, although not always perfectly consistent, which honestly should be expected in a setting where staff are constantly navigating changing emotional, behavioral, and safety situations involving multiple adolescents at once. As a parent, this has been one of the hardest experiences of my life. But I also recognize how emotionally demanding this work is for the people caring for these kids every day. I simply wanted to acknowledge the staff members who have made a meaningful difference for our family during an incredibly difficult time. I will update this review once we have completed treatment there, but going on week four, I am very thankful that we ended up choosing Midwest. My son is always clean, has not complained about the facilities or the food, and he is a very picky eater. Yes, some of these reviews probably have some basis, especially those written by former patients. These kids are navigating very difficult emotions and issues in a world that I often find difficult to navigate even as an adult. There is no doubt in my mind that each of these kids is going to have a different experience and perspective while there and post-treatment. It is very much a situation where outcomes depend partly on whether the child is emotionally able and willing to engage in the work of treatment. Many are navigating medication changes, new diagnoses, changing home environments, and hormones all at the same time. It is a lot. I also wanted to add that our son brought up an issue with a staff member to us, and at first we took it with a grain of salt. After additional conversations, we began to believe there was merit to some of his concerns regarding this staff member. Jasmine handled this situation maturely and appropriately while balancing all sides of it. While I could understand my son's perspective, I have also grown to have deep care and concern for our mental health workers. This staff member is likely in need of a break from the unit she has been on for a lengthy amount of time, and this was addressed immediately before it spiraled into something bigger. So, if you're where we were a month ago, I get it. Take some deep, deep breaths, and make a call to Midwest and talk through your concerns. I think you will find that they are a very transparent behavioral health center that is constantly striving to improve.