Parent company profile

Straight Inc.

Defunct 12 programs

Straight Inc. is a parent company (defunct) based in Pinellas Park, FL. Kids Over Profits has records of 12 programs it has run in 9 states.

History

Year by year

From the records: deals and takeovers, the programs it ran, and the deaths, lawsuits, inspection findings and news stories from the years it ran them. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

19831984198619871989199019911992199319831993

  1. 1983

    1. Closed

      Closed Straight – Sarasota

  2. 1984

    1. Founded

      KIDS Centers of America: Opened KIDS of Bergen County in New Jersey

      KIDS Centers of America: Opened KIDS of Bergen County in New Jersey

      Miller Newton, formerly Straight's national clinical director, opened KIDS of Bergen County in New Jersey in 1984 as the first KIDS program and the chain's headquarters; it later spread to El Paso, Southern California, Salt Lake City and Calgary.

      source

  3. 1986

    1. Opened

      Opened 3 programs

  4. 1987

    1. Closed

      Closed Straight – Cincinnati

  5. 1989

    1. Opened

      Opened Straight – Hampton Roads

  6. 1990

    1. Closed

      Closed Straight – Yorba Linda

  7. 1991

    1. Opened

      Opened Straight – Columbia

    2. Investigation

      Virginia moved not to renew its license

      • Straight Inc. (Springfield, Virginia)

      Virginia moved not to renew its license

      Virginia officials announced in 1991 that they would not renew the license of Straight's center there, alleging it failed to educate youths properly, improperly restrained clients and misjudged clients' problems. Straight closed its Washington-area center the next year, blaming the recession.

      source

    3. Closed

      Closed 4 programs

  8. 1992

    1. Closed

      Closed Straight – Columbia

  9. 1993

    1. InvestigationJuly 8, 1993

      State audit found its Florida license was renewed under political pressure

      State audit found its Florida license was renewed under political pressure July 8, 1993

      A Florida state audit concluded that regulators renewed Straight's license because of pressure from state senators and co-founder Mel Sembler, and found cases where clients were held in restraints that kept them from moving their limbs.

      source

    2. Closed

      Closed 3 programs

    3. ClosedApril 24, 1993

      Closed its St. Petersburg flagship center

      • Straight Inc. (St. Petersburg)

      Closed its St. Petersburg flagship center April 24, 1993

      Straight closed its Tampa Bay area center over the weekend before April 26, 1993, after enrollment fell to 19 in a center built for about 100; the clients moved to Atlanta, leaving Atlanta and Detroit as the only centers. The Times called it the end of a stormy 17-year era. The state health department was already investigating Straight.

      source 1, source 2

Programs it has run

12 on record.

People

The people the network map ties to the company, with their other jobs in the industry.

2 other people connected to the company
  • George Ross, executive staff
  • Helen Gowanny, reopened

News coverage

  • An Examination of Allegations and Practices Within the Troubled Teen Industry Refinery29 | Jun 29, 2021 | expose

    Multiple survivors have come forward with allegations of emotional, physical, and psychological abuse within various residential treatment facilities and behavioral modification programs. Former residents report practices including involuntary transport, isolation, forced labor, and peer-to-peer shaming sessions, prompting increased public scrutiny of the troubled teen industry.

  • ‘It’s What I’ve Been Waiting 30 Years For:’ Survivors Of Abuse In Troubled Teen Facilities March On Provo Canyon School KUER | Oct 11, 2020 | event

    More than 100 survivors gathered in Provo, Utah, to march and call for the closure of Provo Canyon School and broader reform of troubled‑teen programs. Participants shared allegations of physical and chemical restraint, forced medical procedures, and suicides linked to their experiences, while urging increased oversight and regulation.

  • An Examination of Systemic Issues Within the Troubled Teen Industry Cracked.com | Mar 3, 2016 | expose

    An article detailing allegations of systemic psychological harm, inadequate staffing qualifications, and behavioral control tactics within unaccredited residential facilities for adolescents. The piece highlights survivor accounts regarding arbitrary punitive systems, peer-to-peer confrontation therapy, and instances of staff misconduct.

  • An Examination of Systemic Abuse and Oversight Gaps in Residential Treatment Programs US Represented | Dec 1, 2014 | expose

    This article examines documented instances of systemic abuse, neglect, and human rights violations across various residential treatment programs and youth facilities in the United States and internationally. It highlights findings from government investigations and congressional testimony demonstrating a lack of federal oversight, inadequate state regulations, and the persistence of harmful practices within the troubled teen industry.

  • Surviving Straight Inc, a Controlling Approach To Addiction Treatment Brings Disastrous Consequences The Clean Slate Addiction Site | Jun 22, 2011 | expose

    This article examines the history and abusive practices of Straight Inc, a former adolescent behavioral program operating from 1976 to 1993, highlighting widespread physical restraint, peer-based coercion, and psychological harm. The author connects these historical methods to ongoing issues within the broader substance use treatment industry and features the experiences of program survivors, including a documented death by suicide.

  • Mitt Romney's Campaign Connections to Abusive Adolescent Treatment Programs Reason | Jun 27, 2007 | expose

    The article examines the connections between presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign fundraisers and residential treatment programs facing widespread allegations of abuse. Founders Robert Lichfield of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) and Mel Sembler of Straight Inc. faced numerous lawsuits and investigations regarding allegations of physical restraint, food and sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse.

  • Straight to Pathway archived copy Times of Northwest Indiana | Jan 14, 2007 | expose

    This article examines the proposed expansion of Pathway Family Center, a juvenile drug treatment program, into Valparaiso, Indiana, amid local community debates. Former participants and watchdog organizations raised concerns regarding the program's confrontational peer-therapy methods and operational lineage stemming from the defunct Straight Inc. network, while program leadership defended the facility's current practices and oversight.

  • Judge issues injunction against individual selling former ambassador's medical device St. Petersburg Times | Sep 4, 2003 | event

    Richard Bradbury, a survivor of the Straight drug treatment program, placed a former ambassador's medical device for sale after retrieving it from the Semblers' trash, prompting a judge to issue a temporary injunction ordering him to cease the conduct and return the item. Bradbury alleges he was a survivor of physical and sexual abuse at Straight and used the sale to draw attention to those experiences.

  • Audit says Straight Inc. got breaks Tampa Bay Times | Jul 8, 1993 | corporate

    An archival news report from the Tampa Bay Times indicates that an audit found Straight Inc. received preferential treatment or regulatory breaks. The brief excerpt mentions the audit findings regarding the organization.

  • State investigating Straight Inc. drug program Tampa Bay Times | Apr 27, 1993 | general

    State regulatory authorities initiated an investigation into the Straight Inc. drug program. The article notes ongoing state scrutiny of the facility's operations.

  • Drug program closes its doors Tampa Bay Times | Apr 26, 1993 | closure

    Straight Inc., a controversial adolescent drug treatment program, closed its Tampa Bay center due to declining enrollment and financial pressures from parents. The 17-year history of the program involved numerous complaints, investigations, and lawsuits regarding methods such as physical restraint and peer-led confrontations.

1 article about celebrities and viral stories
  • Analysis of Political and Financial Connections to the Troubled Teen Industry Troubled Programs News | Mar 15, 2012 | corporate

    An analysis examining political figures' financial and professional connections to private youth residential programs and venture capital firms. The article discusses allegations of maltreatment, regulatory exemptions, and legislative efforts concerning oversight in the troubled teen industry.

Documents

Documents on file (18)

Filed under its programs

15 documents across 1 program: inspection reports, court records, clippings and more, each on its program page.

Research that mentions this company

The whole research library

From the Unsilenced archive

194 documents about Straight Inc. that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Straight, Inc.

Documents (194)

From Surviving Straight Inc.

255 documents about Straight Inc. that Surviving Straight Inc. published and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Surviving Straight Inc.'s website.

Straight Articles and Information (7)
Straight Articles and Information: Court Cases (2)
Former ISAC Corp Docs - Straight, Inc.: Straight Internal Documents (8)
Former ISAC Corp Docs - Straight, Inc.: Straight Internal Memos (4)
Former ISAC Corp Docs - Straight, Inc.: Letters to Straight Officials (4)
Former ISAC Corp Docs - Straight, Inc.: ISAC Prepared Reports (1)
Corporate Documents (22)
St. Petersburg FL - Opened 1976 - 1993 (5)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Hartz Letters (1)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Investigations of Straight Inc. (9)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Straight Internal Documents (2)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Straight Promotional Materials, Brochures, Newsletters, etc (15)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Other reports, documents regarding Straight (2)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Bush Presidential Library Documents (12)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Carlton Turner (2)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Nancy Reagan (9)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Ronald Reagan (1)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: Other letters, Reports, Docs (4)
Federal & State Government Documents - Straight Inc.: FBI Investigation of Straight Inc - 1992-1994 (13)
Atlanta, GA Straight 1981 - 1993 (2)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: National Newsletter - Epidemic - (8)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Miscellaneous Straight Documents (2)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Straight Inc - Program Promotional/Sales Materials/Other Propaganda (3)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Straight Founders - where are they now? (1)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Cincinnati Straight Newsletters (15)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Parent Handouts (31)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Director Gerald Rushing Docs (2)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Parent Fundraising (1)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Miscellaneous (1)
Internal Program Documents - Straight Inc.: Brochures (4)
Miscellaneous Articles: Readers Digest (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: Christian Science Monitor (2)
Miscellaneous Articles: Gazette (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: Observer Reporter (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: Ladies Home Journal (2)
Miscellaneous Articles: National Geographic (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: Washington Post (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: USA TODAY (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: Robert L. DuPont (2)
Miscellaneous Articles: Mel Riddile - former Springfield, VA Executive Director & Regional Director (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: Bill Oliver, Former Straight Inc. National Executive Director (1)
Miscellaneous Articles: Ian McDonald, Straight Inc. Director of Clinical Research (3)
Miscellaneous Articles (7)
Miscellaneous Articles: Additional Straight Education and Counseling Offices (3)
Springfield, VA - Opened 1982 - 1991 (1)
Straight Inc Spin Off Programs (Straight Renamed): KIDS - 1984-1998 or 1999 (8)
Miller Newton: 1980-1983 - Newton Was National Clinical Director of Straight Inc., 1984-1998 Newton Was Founder/Director of KIDS (25)
Executive Staff Written Interviews: Written Interview With Former Executive Staff –name/identity withheld by request (1)

From thestraights.net

40 documents about Straight Inc. that thestraights.net published and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on thestraights.net's website.

Sembler's Straight program: Bradbury files appeal. (6)
Sembler's Straight program: Transcripts of the concession hearing 12-28-05 (1)
Sembler's Straight program (1)
THE PICKET PAGE: downloadable fliers (2)
PumpGate (2)
PumpGate: Ray Bradbury pickets SAFE, 2000 (2)
PumpGate: H (1)
theStraights Archieves page 1: Peace Reporter, a 4th Italian publication tells the story of Ambassador Melvin Sembler, Betty Sembler and Straight. (1)
theStraights Archieves page 1: Father Cassian wins exception for private chapel, but cupola must go. (1)
theStraights Archieves page 1: Newton's creditors go after his Christ at the Sea Foundation. (1)
theStraights Archieves page 1 (1)
Slapp Suits: Officer/RA Name Entity Name Document Number (3)
reports/WhySeniorStaffRelapse/relapse (4)
admissions letter (1)
Links to Mrs Sembler's First Deposition (12)
Sembler-influence-over-local-officials: A major item of concern: Sembler's track record for getting its way despite objections by government technical staffs (1)

From SCIAD NET

9 documents about Straight Inc. that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps them on Google Drive, where they open.

Court records (7)
News clippings (2)

Materials and links

Government records

From SCIAD NET.

Survivor posts and discussion

Reference and research

From SCIAD NET.

Other links

Record updated October 14, 2026. Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction