Midwest Center for Youth and Families - Kouts, Indiana

Natalie S.

From a parents perspective, they really don't deserve the low rating they have. Yes we have had issues with this facility, and they have some things to work on but 95% of the staff are absolute rock stars from administration, front desk, therapy, to on floor staff. It was hands down the most emotional 4 months of our families life yet my kids therapist and staff on unit told us to call or email anytime we wanted for an update. ANYTIME! if I wanted to call at 11pm to just ask how his day was they would fill me in with a smile.

I saw a review that stated they would lie during update calls and say everything was good when it wasn't. This was not our experience, we found the update calls to be very honest, when our son had a bad day or a sad day, they told us and also the skills he tried to use successfully or unsuccessfully while working through it (his call to us was reflective of the updates too so we knew they were accurate updates). When he first got there he was on a downward spiral, just truly struggling, the first month of update calls was so heartbreaking but important for us to know regardless of how hard it was to hear. It helped us track his growth (body, mind and soul) based on his changes in behaviors and thought process and it let us know if he was really "getting it" (the program). From where we dropped him off to where he is now is night and day because he was able to work through the program at the pace he needed and allowing them the grace to make mistakes while figuring it out.

This was the most communicative facility we have ever experienced, which if youve been unfortunate enough to experience multiple short term stays you know communication in these places is usually minimal and almost non existent. This is a full family program and include weekly family therapy in addition to the work they do individually during their stay. It truly has been a game changer for us as a family and for our kid as an individual. If you are torn, call them and ask all the questions you need to. I probably talked to her for 2 hours just asking questions and explaining our situation to see if this place would even be a good fit.

I would chose this facility again for sure.
Some people who absolutely stood out as rock stars to us, Jasmine (absolute STAR), Eir(spelling?), "pickle", Earl, Teacher Wendy. I can't say enough about them.

A few staff need retraining on empathy and being kind in general, and they need to figure out a better clothing system, IE actually giving kids their clothing, washing their clothing, not giving their clothing to other children, not "losing" warm winter jackets during the winter (when in reality it was in their bag of clothes the whole time).

vik V.

i’ve always said i was gonna write a big review when i got out, yet i never did. although this place didn’t make me perfect i’m still learning much more about myself and my mental health. i had a good experience although i wasn’t the best when i first came in. i was a total mess, i was struggling with family problems and finding myself and so much more. my parents sent me to an inpatient to send me to a residential since i’ve been to soooooo many inpatients before all this. one thing i learned about the difference is that inpatients are there for immediate care and keep u safe, but residentials help u fix yourself and help u learn skills to beat those mental blocks. i first came in and i was so sad i would cry a lot since i get easily homesick. but then i saw my friend from a city i often go to and i was all good. we did a lot of bad things and eventually we fought eachother. this made me realize how bad of a person i am. i started becoming better since then and i messed up a few times but then i finally got a pass since it was the holidays (christmas) and i finally got to see my family and i was so happy. i messed up still but its about progress not perfection! i then worked on my relationship with my mom and i finally forgave her and she changed. i was also leveling up at that time and it was crazy to say i was on red for a little over a month, but i was so focused on studying my dbt skills and it worked. dbt (dialectical behavioural therapy) is pretty effective if u ask me. if u can use your skills effectively, you my friend will be able to use those skills in an everyday basis. cool fact for dbt, if you have ever helped yourself positively to calm yourself down, positively stop an argument, etc then you have probably used dbt without even realizing it! i know many people have their experiences and stories but the help u need is all dependent on you and you guys cannot blame a facility for doing their jobs. i get they can be strict but this fixes you to be less stubborn and if you use your skills you can handle their strictness and learn from it. something i can’t understand is that when people come to facilities and say they don’t need the help. it doesn’t make sense, you aren’t sent there without a reason and if you were sent there with a reason and u still claim you don’t need help, you need to think and take accountability. that is like driving a 50 year old car that’s on the brink of breaking and someone asks to help and you say you don’t want it. as a gen z we have a word for it, delusional/delulu. for everybody who’s made a bad review and has negativity towards this place i just wish to understand why you guys can’t take accountability. i came in thinking i didn’t need help and ever since i got out as dbt advisor and level blue, i realized where i was wrong and wanted to fix it. please i wanna advocate for the people who struggle with mental issues if you guys ever wanna talk, email me. thank you to all the workers. Earl and Teacher Wendy get my special shout out since i love them so much therapeutically and everyone on North Unit when i was there. i am so grateful for all of you guys since you have built me as a better person!!

i wanna advocate to parents with teens who have struggles, teens with struggles, or even just people with struggles (if 18+ please don’t be weird). i have went through my struggles and i wanna advocate to get your struggles fixed too. we can talk on the phone to learn about dbt and i will do my best. parents if you have struggling teens, please consider this place. you guys can talk to me and i will advocate but will not force.

i pray for the best for everyone! ❤️

Charlie W.

This place needs to be investigated and shut down.

There are so many issues with this place, for 1 I have a severe nut allergy and during 2020 in covid the meals were delivered, I received a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, they told me to eat that I said no I am allergic. Then they told me they are writing me up for “refusing to eat” when I WOULD DIE if I ate that. They didn’t give me another dinner either.

The other kids there would be punching each other while we’re in the classroom almost everyday, their would be screams from the younger kids unit 24/7.

My friend was beat up in the office with the door locked and one staff outside to guard the door so nobody got inside.

Staff treat you like you’re a prisoner.

They barley let us go outside which is so depressing, keep in mind there is a fence so we’re not going anywhere and keeping us inside for that long was horrible.

The staff here are untrained and uneducated, this is a toxic environment for people coming there being suicidal or having other issues to begin with.

I was here for a month and a half, do not send ur kid here send them anywhere else.

Brooke G.

I was a resident here for 3 months back in 2014. It was probably one of the most horrible experiences of my life. There was so many secret "romantic" relationships between the girls.
There was a crazy amount of physical assaults. It was a toss up if a staff member would intervene or entertain it.
I was attacked by another resident during my stay. This girl was throwing a "tantrum" in the hallway because they would not let her use the bathroom. She was screaming and banging on things. She kept threatening to urinate on the floor. She threw paperwork all around the hallway. I have sensory issues and her screaming was bothering me incredibly. I asked the staff to let her use the bathroom so she would stop yelling. The girl then proceeded to run into my room and started punching me in my head. The staff took their sweet time to get to my room.

The bugs were ridiculous in this place. The food was absolutely horrible. Staff would threaten the children constantly.

I am 25, and I am a mother myself now. I would NEVER send my child to a place like this. Programs like this do more harm than good. If your child is coming home and seems "cured", it's only because they are petrified of being sent back.

Alysia L.

The billing department is a mess. Two years after my daughter's release, we received a $6,000 bill out of the blue. Our insurance retracted the payment 12 months later. I might have been able to address the issue with an appeal, but they sat on the bill for another 12 months. I called for 5 months ever time I got a bill until someone called me back. I'm still fighting the bill with no one listening. What a headache!

Jonathan S.

I was at Midwest center for about 95 days and every moment, though some weren't always enjoyable, was extremely worth it. I would like you to know that the north unit BRS' unit clerk and teacher were phenomenal! I will definitely be in touch with the staff. They took care of me and I was treated equally. As the DBT advisor ( head of resident council) I learned what it ment to be accountable, and to be a good leader. I would suggest Midwest-center for youth and families!

Hunter C.

Here is someone’s perspective from 2008, who ultimately turned out fine.

At the time, some of the activities we were required to do felt tedious, such as making our beds daily, practicing basic hygiene, and following a proper diet. We often complained about the food, particularly the portion sizes and quality, which is why I didn’t give a perfect score.

My teacher was wonderful and maintained great communication with everyone involved in my Individualized Education Plan (IEP). I also had a case manager named John, who ensured that my mother stayed informed about my treatment.

I can't stress enough how much learning these daily life skills through repetition helped me.

I hope things are similar but have adjusted and improved over time.

P.S. They even let us have Burger King during visits!

scott H.

If I could rate 0 stars I would. As a parent of a struggling child. You fight for your child's well-being. With that said. This facility has falsified their documents intentionally, leaving precautions off my sons records. Precautions or self-harming and aggression. They have lied to insurance stating he was stable to be released while he is actively self harming. They filed charges of child abandonment against myself and his mom because they were pushing him out the door, only because I obtained all his medical records and started questioning the validity.
They begun telling my son that I was getting arrested for neglecting him. My son is smart enough and definitely knows better. I currently have a lawsuit case building against them, my advice is save yourself and your child and please please look into other options. I hope this helps! Good luck