Trapped in the System
Teresa and David Rodriguez’s four children (right), from the family album, remain in the hands of the state of Utah. David and Teresa Rodriguez learned the consequences of bucking the system when, in 1998, the state of Utah seized all four of their children, ages 8 to 15, for a second and final time — ending a two-year battle to keep them off psychotropic drugs. The family has never been reunited.
Once in the system, virtually every family is chained to a mental health plan — in which children must undergo treatment and parents must admit guilt regardless of circumstances. David and Teresa Rodriguez learned the consequences of bucking the system when, in 1998, the state of Utah seized all four of their children, ages 8 to 15, for a second and final time — ending a two-year battle. The trouble began in 1996, when the parents took action to meet the educational needs of the children, starting with oldest son Erick, who was years behind grade average, and daughter Jetaime, who had severe learning problems. Jetaime also complained of molestation by a school official, which the parents reported to school authorities. David and Teresa obtained approval for homeschooling, to which they added younger siblings. Jessica, who showed signs of poor progress, and Christopher, who had been diagnosed autistic. The parents said they requested that the Salt Lake City School District provide special education services, but were refused. They sought a competent mental and academic assessment of each child so that their needs could be met. That brought them to the state mental health system at Valley Mental Health and affiliated University Neuropsychiatric Institute in Salt Lake City. From that point, there was no turning back. The assessments were completed and recommendations made. According to Teresa, psychiatric drugs were to be tried on Christopher until one “worked.” She was told she would have to monitor her son closely for manic attacks, heart trouble and other complications from the drugs. The boy was also to be placed in a special class although Teresa was told it was unequipped to deal with autistic children. Psychiatric plans involving drugs were also recommended for the other three children.
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