A judge has ruled that Vermont teen Elissa Maple be returned home on her 18th birthday, which is July 1, but DCF is fighting the ruling, even allegedly attempting bribery of the teenager to get her to voluntarily sign over her rights on her birthday. If she does so, they can keep her in the system for an additional 3 years. Elissa has spent the last year and a half being held against her will in a Massachusetts mental health facility, and has been forced to consume a cocktail of unwanted drugs. With her release date just one month away, Elissa has reported to her mother, Karen, that the people at the hospital have promised her photography classes, money, and a number of free services if she will voluntarily sign herself in to their system, programs that Karen says she would be able to get anyway, even out from under their care. Karen reports that the hospital staff has begun taking Elissa out to eat dinner on most nights, and has taken her to the zoo and the mall, all while on a cocktail of psychiatric drugs, in an apparent attempt to bribe her to sign away her rights. If she does so, Karen says that they will have complete control over her daughter.

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I recently found another good psychiatrist. His name is Dr. Scott Daniels of Utah County, Utah. If you need to get untapped from the system, he listens and has a brilliant voice. He has a linear, level way of thinking and believes in reuniting families.

On July 1st she turns 18, isn't this considered 'legal' age of adult in Ma.? I'd wake up on that day and walk out the door baby! Let them call the police...nothing they can or will do about it if judge already stated she's not a danger to herself or anyone else. DCF has lost their collective minds. The agency needs to be dismantled brick by brick. They routinely overstep their authority and no one has the $ to wage a real legal campaign against them.

Elisa don't sign anything don't fall for any kind of bribery say no I'm not going to sign any papers no I'm going home to my family ok

wow. just wow.

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/ This is the site with a few claims options. I encourage everyone who has gone through this or similar to file a claim. We must hold the institutions that encourage this accountable

There is an Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health

What happened that she ended up in a Vermont hospital? Sounds like abuse of power to me. I pray she gets home soon.

dcf from vermont took her and placed her in mass after the state of vermont deamed she didn,t need to be instutionalized because she wasn,t a harm to herself or others....

The original story states, "Elissa was forcibly transported to a mental health hospital, and subsequently transported to the Brookside Intensive Treatment Unit in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, a move which seems quite extreme to the family. It is more than a 6 hour drive from the Maples home." The link to the original story is in this story.

I'm a bit confused. How did a VT child end up in Massachusetts's?

What a very sad situation. Here we have a young adult being forced medications she does not want, yet we have millions of addicts in the world today. Doing this could potentially put her in harm of eventually liking these medications. I hope for her sake and her family that she makes it home to her mother very soon. This sounds awful and I feel for this young girl. It is a tough world these days and her best teacher is probably, her mother. Best of luck

had a meeting today elissa to come home maybe june 25th to get to heel my daughter is very brave

What a vile abuse of power, bless you both

Bravo!! I already see it Elissa!! I have been walking along side your Mom for months now awaiting your return home sweetheart. This story, your story gives me hope that my boys will come home too, I have just have to make it louder! God bless your return home and on the right road to healing and recovery from the horrible abusive and sadistic system. You did it, I am positive you will not go through anything harder than this ever. There just is no such thing.