Casa by the Sea

Casa by the Sea was a private residential school located in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. It was operated by the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) and primarily enrolled teenagers from the United States who had behavioral issues. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E6D8173FF93AA35756C0A9659C8B63 Parents, Shopping for Discipline, Turn to Harsh Programs Abroad] by Tim Weiner, "New York Times", May 9, 2003]

The school was closed by Mexican government child-protective authorities on September 10, 2004. Reportedly the concerns that led to the school's closure included lack of evidence that school employees possessed necessary diplomas or professional licenses, presence at the facility of expired medications for students, and unauthorized use of a pharmacy. The school also engaged in controversial conversion therapy, and former students have alleged that the school committed serious mental and physical abuse in the process of this therapy. At the time of the closure there were 538 students enrolled.John Gehring, [http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2004/11/03/10tough.h24.html Oversight Sought for Behavior-Altering Schools] , "Education Week", November 3, 2004.] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/international/americas/13mexico.html 2 Foreign Units of Troubled U.S. Academy Are Closed] , by Tim Weiner, "New York Times", September 13, 2004] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/26/international/americas/26jamaica.html Mexico Shuts Tough-Love Center] by Tim Weiner, "New York Times", September 26, 2004] After the closure, U.S. Congressman George Miller said this was "the ninth closing of a facility owned or managed by the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs," and urged the U.S. State Department to take action regarding the abuse of American children at WWASPS facilities outside the country.

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