NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA AND THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION

I have found Northeastern Pennsylvania (particularly Wyoming County) to be a beautiful place in regards to scenery but sadly a place of much filth and corruption politically. Few in power appear to learn their lessons. I was very pleased to see that the American Civil Liberties Union won its suit against Wyoming County, but this has not really cleaned up the Juvenile Probation Department there, how Child Protective Services operates, or anything else for that matter, it remains status quo. Below, is an article regarding the ACLU settlement as well as my past article on the Luzerne County judges and the Cash for Kids scandal. In this, I examine the larger problem, of how we are not truly meeting our children's needs and it appears that abuse of power and greed remain rampant in the minds of the public officials in this area. I hope that many will continue to speak out, but beyond this, it is necessary for young people to be empowered to challenge these abuses that directly impact them and their future.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.


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(Dr. Edmunds) is a man of high integrity. He is firm in his convictions and not easily swayed by political pressure or public opinion... Dan is also a very clear thinker and writer. And shows plenty of initiative. I especially admire his devotion to defending and supporting the spirited nature of our young people. I know he has a wealth of experience working with people, and I know he communicates his ideas well. He is not a closed system, but able to listen and open to new ideas.

-John Breeding, Ph.D., psychologist and author of the "Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses" and founder of Texans for Safe Education


I think (Dr. Edmunds') insights are RIGHT ON and deserve a place in canon psychological, growth, and child development texts. The patterns described and the reactions I experienced, and have witnessed others experiencing, could not have been more accurate and profound. I think a great goal would be entirely replacing the DSM with the patterns and reactions you observed because those present dilemmas that can actually be nurtured and solved.

-J.K.

"I have been very impressed with (Dr. Edmunds') work ethic and clinical skills...He has an innate ability to connect with many families and help them through multiple complicated issues."- F.A. Bresser, L.S.W.


(Dr. Edmunds) is bright, thoughtful, often wry, and utterly responsible."

Dennis E. Owen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Religion
University of Florida- Gainesville, FL


I wish you every success with your important work for those unfortunate enough to be labeled 'mentally ill'. So many of us have been guinea pigs because the medical profession have made diseases which do not exist out of human problems in the pursuit of profit.It is good too to hear you and your organization exist.

In support and solidarity,

Mary Maddock
MindFreedom Ireland

MIND FREEDOM IRELAND


Dear Dr. Edmunds:
I agree with you- many of the problems we see around us are either 'societal' or 'systems' problems. However I also believe, very strongly, that individuals have a huge responsibility in resisting some of the temptations on offer and behaving ethically. In countries like mine, where there are virtually no checks on physicians and corruption is the norm, this is a huge problem. I would be happy to collaborate with you in any way I can. Perhaps we can think about some ideas how to take this forward. You would be most welcome to make a presentation at our university- whenever the opportunity arises. In the meantime, let's keep the dialogue going. I am attaching another one of my articles that you may find relevant.

With best wishes

Dr. Murad M Khan, MRCPsych
Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Aga Khan University
PO Box 3500, Stadium Road
Karachi-74800

PAKISTAN



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Consultation

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

DR. EDMUNDS' ESSAY PUBLISHED IN THE AAINA JOURNAL OF THE CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY (BAPU TRUST FOR RESEARCH ON MIND AND DISCOURSE), PUNE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

BIO-PSYCHIATRY ILLUMINATED- THE ADHD REPORT (featuring the work of Dr. Dan L. Edmunds)

FEEDBACK FROM CLIENTS, PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHERS

# EUROPEAN-AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

DR. EDMUNDS' INTERVIEWS ON VARIOUS RADIO PROGRAMS AND IN THE NEWS



Dr. Edmunds presented on the work of the International Center for Humane Psychiatry and the impact of current mental health practice on children on August 20, 2008 on the program THE MENTAL HEALTH EDGE WTAN-AM RADIO in Clearwater, Florida.

LISTEN TO PROGRAM

Dr. Edmunds was a presenter on the TALK OF CONNECTICUT WRDC-AM RADIO in Hartford, Connecticut on July 21, 2008 at 2:30pm addressing issues of informed consent and human rights in the mental health system.

WRDC-AM HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT RADIO BROADCAST WITH DR. D.L. EDMUNDS

DR. EDMUNDS INTERVIEW ON NATIONALLY SYNDICATED RADIO PROGRAM 'TAKE AMERICA BACK'

DEFENSE FOR CHILDREN RADIO INTERVIEW WITH DR. D.L. EDMUNDS

LISTEN TO RADIO INTERVIEW - Melbourne, Florida radio interview with Dr. D.L. Edmunds regarding Psychiatry and Religion




Dr. Edmunds was a keynote speaker at the opening of an exhibit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on psychiatric abuse held July 13, 2008.

Youth Advocacy Program a relief to parents- Scranton Times

Police break up 'fight club' in Tunkhannock, PA

NAMI ENHANCES STIGMA- DR. DAN L. EDMUNDS LETTER TO THE SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE 5/2/08

Scholarship program for youth

DR. EDMUNDS IN THE SCRANTON TIMES REGARDING 'COPS AS COUNSELORS'

DR. EDMUNDS QUOTED IN NEWSLETTER FOR WIDER HORIZONS SCHOOL

TRAGEDY SERVES AS A REMINDER- WYOMING COUNTY NEW AGE EXAMINER

Edmunds earns Doctoral degree- Scranton Times






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FROM THE SCRANTON TIMES-TRIBUNE:

Focus should be shifted to true rehabilitation

Published: Thursday, January 29, 2009 Updated: Thursday, January 29, 2009 6:08 AM EST Editor: It is a positive development that Luzerne County Judges Mark A. Ciavarella and Michael T. Conahan are being brought to justice for their actions in profiting from placing youth in detention facilities.

However, it is necessary for us to examine the problems inherent with residential and detention facilities themselves. In these settings, youth are placed often under conditions that lead them to further emotional distress. The decisions to place children is often not based on a genuine interest in the child�s best interests, but what will be profitable and the easiest way out of having to actually rehabilitate youth and meet their emotional needs.

It is no wonder that the socio-economically disadvantaged youth are the ones that are so frequently seen in this system. How does placing a child into a detention center or residential facility, which often is geared toward the concept of staff forcing conformity through rewards, punishments and often deprivation, teach a child who seeks to use power inappropriately that this is wrong?

How does a militaristic system teach anything but that children must submit to someone stronger than themselves? It only reinforces wrong ideas about power and domination.

These facilities are bound to create new emotional problems for these children. But the system profits here, as well, because then they are able to label and drug the children and make money in the process of billing for this injustice.

A youth is removed from the home, programmed, and when they conform to the expectations, released back to the setting that led to their distress and misbehavior to begin with. It becomes a vicious cycle.

These facilities are also very costly and their efficacy is questionable. The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law noted the ineffectiveness of these facilities in treatment of youth as well as the many documented abuses that occur in such places.

Community-based options have proven effective and need to be more readily available and implemented.

We need to shift our focus to true rehabilitation and to addressing actual social problems, not locking our children away, drugging them into submission, and ignoring their needs.

DAN L. EDMUNDS, Ed.D.
TUNKHANNOCK





Wyoming County settles with ACLU over legal fees in sexting case
Published: June 23, 2010

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TUNKHANNOCK - The Wyoming County commissioners agreed Tuesday to a $140,000 settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union over legal fees the organization incurred in a sexting case, county solicitor James Davis confirmed.

The dispute over legal fees began after the commissioners' decision in April not to appeal a March U.S. Circuit Court ruling that blocked felony charges against a teenage girl for possessing what then-District Attorney George Skumanick Jr. claimed was a sexually explicit photograph of herself on her cell phone.

"None of us are real happy over this," Mr. Davis said.

Because the ACLU was the prevailing party in a civil rights action, it is entitled to recoup its expenses, he explained. What the county took issue with, Mr. Davis said, was the amount.

Efforts to reach the ACLU on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

The final figure was reached after more than a month of negotiations. Mr. Davis said the agreement has already been signed by ACLU attorney Witold Walczak.

He was reluctant to settle for even that amount with the ACLU, but to pursue the matter any further might have been more costly, Mr. Davis said, adding that the ACLU could continue to tack on expenses it incurred during any additional legal challenge.

Under terms of the agreement, the county is to pay the ACLU $70,000 within 30 days, with the balance to be paid by Jan. 30. The commissioners said the money to pay the settlement will have to come from the county's general fund.

Mr. Davis said it's unlikely the county will be able to recoup any of the money. He noted that the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool, or PCoRP, agreed to pay the county's legal fees during the appeal. However, PCoRP took the position that the county is not eligible to recover attorney's fees through a claim.

PCoRP is a liability insurance program run by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. It serves 44 of the state's 67 counties.

Mr. Davis said because Mr. Skumanick was acting as an agent of the county, the county as a whole is responsible for costs incurred in the matter.

That's true, he noted, even though the commissioners have no control - and don't want control - over the district attorney's actions.

"We don't want control over the district attorney and who he prosecutes. But since he is a county official, we're responsible for the expenses," Mr. Davis said.

Mr. Davis noted that in theory, the county could have appealed the Circuit Court's ruling, but there was no guarantee it would prevail. He said after Mr. Skumanick was replaced in the November 2009 election by Jeff Mitchell, the new district attorney decided not to pursue the matter any further.