Midwest Ctr for Youth and Families – Kouts

18 years ago and I’m still so traumatized from this place, I remember my meals being took from me If I did not listen, I remember being locked in a room overnight no food no drinks. I remember being molested and told… that it didn’t happen and pills were shoved down my throat to keep me quiet 18 years later. I’m still speaking about it. Do not take your kids here do not.

If your in search of me from Midwest, hi. Yes, poetry girl. Past patient Unicorn.

I literally just got out of this facility a week ago, I was on South Unit since I'm 17. It was truly the most terrible treatment center I've ever experienced. Midwest center is a walking health code violation. For… example, 2 of the bathrooms had a whole coral reef of fungus growing from the shower heads and we'd regularly get moldy fruit for snack. The group therapy situation (on the unit I was on at least) is completely unstructured. Honestly, I wouldn't even call it group therapy, majority of the time it was packets. Endless packets. On days the staff were in somewhat good moods it was coloring or reading. That being said the two therapists I worked with were so helpful during my time spent there. Dara and Val. I'm so grateful for both of them and all they did for me and my parents. Caitlynn, a unit staff, was so kind and she advocated for us all the time. She lit up the place and I'm grateful for her too. Overall, if you have options on where you're going for treatment, do NOT pick Midwest. But if it's your only option just do what you need to do to get out. I stopped fighting against treatment after a week or so and after 40 days my insurance said I was good to leave.

It was good the staff love to help kids and it's just a really good place to go to... to get the help you need.

Our experience was horrible. My son got worse not better, he was the pushed out because they felt he was not mentally making progress. He was allowed to be disruptive and distracting. He was allowed to be continuously… abusive to us and staff. The team was never available to talk, family sessions were missed regularly, so were individual sessions. My son was sent home with the team their stating he was unsafe to return home. They did not help us find alternative care for him and when we did find alternative care the sent him home 2 days before he could be transferred. We repeat asked them to get him readmitted to the hospital but the refused.

I couldn't be more thankful even if I tried to Midwest for everything they did for my child. Always informed of how things were going. Some of the issues we had there weren't caused by staff but by other residents. The… staff did what they could to keep everything at peace and help them use the skills they've been taught at the facility. I'm extremely thankful for the nurses and Meghan her therapist. Everyone we dealt with from front desk to the Doctor was amazing. Reading the reviews prior to admission I was absolutely terrified and hesitant, now I'm eternally grateful for Midwest.

As a parent currently navigating the incredibly difficult and emotional experience of having a child in inpatient behavioral treatment, I wanted to share a more balanced perspective regarding Midwest. Like many parents,… I read the reviews before my son arrived and was absolutely terrified. While no facility is perfect, and this type of environment is extremely intense and constantly evolving, our experience so far has included several staff members whose passion, compassion, and dedication deserve recognition. Jasmine has been absolutely incredible. Her ability to balance the emotional needs of the patients while also managing staff and unit dynamics is something I genuinely admire. She listens, communicates honestly, remains calm under pressure, and approaches these kids with both accountability and compassion. Angie has such a calming and compassionate presence. You can genuinely feel that she cares deeply about the kids and the work she is doing. Cece has years of experience and taps into her mothering nature to provide a stable environment, often at the cost of the patients giving her flack for her consistency. She is a kind soul who has clearly dedicated herself to this type of work. Mama D has shown so much affection, concern, and dedication toward these boys. In an environment where many of these kids are struggling emotionally and behaviorally, that warmth matters more than people realize. Jamar has also stood out to me because of the stability and consistency he brings to the unit. At the same time, he still seems to understand that these are teenagers who occasionally need moments of laughter, flexibility, and normalcy within appropriate boundaries. Communication has been open throughout this process, although not always perfectly consistent, which honestly should be expected in a setting where staff are constantly navigating changing emotional, behavioral, and safety situations involving multiple adolescents at once. As a parent, this has been one of the hardest experiences of my life. But I also recognize how emotionally demanding this work is for the people caring for these kids every day. I simply wanted to acknowledge the staff members who have made a meaningful difference for our family during an incredibly difficult time. I will update this review once we have completed treatment there, but going on week four, I am very thankful that we ended up choosing Midwest. My son is always clean, has not complained about the facilities or the food, and he is a very picky eater. Yes, some of these reviews probably have some basis, especially those written by former patients. These kids are navigating very difficult emotions and issues in a world that I often find difficult to navigate even as an adult. There is no doubt in my mind that each of these kids is going to have a different experience and perspective while there and post-treatment. It is very much a situation where outcomes depend partly on whether the child is emotionally able and willing to engage in the work of treatment. Many are navigating medication changes, new diagnoses, changing home environments, and hormones all at the same time. It is a lot. I also wanted to add that our son brought up an issue with a staff member to us, and at first we took it with a grain of salt. After additional conversations, we began to believe there was merit to some of his concerns regarding this staff member. Jasmine handled this situation maturely and appropriately while balancing all sides of it. While I could understand my son's perspective, I have also grown to have deep care and concern for our mental health workers. This staff member is likely in need of a break from the unit she has been on for a lengthy amount of time, and this was addressed immediately before it spiraled into something bigger. So, if you're where we were a month ago, I get it. Take some deep, deep breaths, and make a call to Midwest and talk through your concerns. I think you will find that they are a very transparent behavioral health center that is constantly striving to improve.

Stayed here for about 2 months in 2024. I seriously was in the worst and unhealthiest phase of my life to date, as 2024 felt like a fever dream looking back on it. I would say I loved to meet more people who had issues… like me and the staff was mostly awesome and there are a couple people I would love to give shout outs to. However, I would like to say that despite how much I loved the pros of this place, it doesn’t negate the negatives. There were a lot of traumatic instances where I had to watch people have meltdowns and SH. To be honest, though, I don’t remember a lot of it. I do still have my journal though. Taylor was my therapist. She was exceptional. I loved that I felt comfortable talking to her. She was so nice and I really hope she is doing well now. I hope all of the people I met there are, as well. Sydney was fantastic. I feel like I really did get on her nerves a lot but I definitely felt happy that she kept her patience with me. I hope she’s doing good too. I miss chef Jerry 🥲 Teacher Wendy was awesome. I honestly kind of miss her. As much as I hated feeling trapped there, I can definitely say I felt I had people in my corner when things would go awry. I am seriously so thankful for the experience I had there, regardless of the negatives, because I did learn a lot about the consequences of my actions and how to have a more positive perspective in life. As terrible as it sounds, it was a stark reality check. I got a real good look into the person I was becoming, and it changed me so much. Wherever the people are that i met there are now, i hope they have found a way to move past the things they have been dealt, including the staff. Nobody deserves to have to be in the dark place they are when they enter those doors. I feel like most people who take these job routes are people who have been in our shoes, and it’s inspired me to do more for other people and step back and think about the consequences my actions have on other people. So if you remember me, know I am grateful for each and every one of you I had the privilege of meeting and sharing experiences with at MCYF. Regardless of whether we had a strained relationship or if we were practically best friends, I will never stop wishing the best for you and your situations.

It’s been over a year from me staying here, this was my only trip to a ward that actually helped the staff or well at south shore I can’t talk for kouts big location. I’ve been almost always clean from Self harm since… then, I will say relapses have happened but I’ve learned to cope after them and stop myself after one. People think when in recovery you won’t ever relapse it does happen you just gotta learn how to take care of it. I hated it here not because it didn’t help it was just so different, I’m from Kentucky so going all the way to Indiana was so different. I was apart of a really good group of kids though, of course there was days it was chaotic and loud. But we all have problems and sometimes it’s overwhelming. We didn’t have a single hold while I was there! It was a very safe space, there was one nurse I can’t remember her name, but she was very abusive of her power. If she was the main nurse on shift / if Brendon wasn’t there if any of us cried we were childish / not using coping skills effectively. Yelled constantly even if you just asked to use the bathroom, she made me feel like crap. She really shouldn’t work in that line of work, I was talking to my mom on the phone about her yelling at me for asking to go talk to the nurse about taking my anxiety medication (PRN) and she hung the phone up and sent me to my room for the rest of the night. And I ended up crying for a while and when everyone went to sleep I had my head stuffed in a pillow and she still came in there and yelled at me saying I was keeping everyone down the hall up with my crying like a baby. I finally fell asleep in the morning I asked the others in the ward and they were all like “you were crying?” She had made it up. However on another point, Brendon !! / brendonavisa 👑 he helped so much I felt as though he really understood and listened. He was very strict on rules but he kinda had to be. He helped me though so much trauma flash backs. I’d have them at night a lot while trying to sleep and he’d sit in the hall with me and fill out I think it was called the flash back flower? It would let you write it down instead of talking about it and it would be given to your theapst

Edit: My daughter has been in a different facility since 2/6. When insurance decided to stop paying, they fought, and was able to re-establish coverage. The communication is 100% better than Midwest. The entire program… is 100% better than midwest. Kids are not made to feel like they are prisoners. They go outside every day. Whereas at Midwest, my daughter went outside twice in 24 days. (One day was with us on a pass) I 100% DO NOT recommend Midwest! If your child needs a residential facility, please check out Roger's Behavioral Health. They have facilities in a few different states. My daughter stayed at Midwest for 24 days in January of this year. The only reason she left after so little time, was because insurance stopped paying. While the clinical staff was wonderful, the business side of this operation needs a lot of help. I mean, a complete overhaul. Everyone from billing to education was non responsive and rude. It took several emails and phone calls from me to get answers. The "teacher" asked to be part of my daughter's IEP meeting at school. I was able to get them to invite her, and she didn't even show up. No email, no phone call to let me know something came up. No contact at all. When I emailed her informing her she missed the meeting, there was no response. We were told that during intake, we would get a parent welcome packet. Nope. My daughter was there two weeks before I learned how school worked. I needed a detailed invoice to submit to my flexible spending so I can prove the funds were used for health, and it took 2 emails, 4 phones calls and 2 weeks. I even called the business managers boss, the supposed CEO and didn't receive a call back. When I finally heard back from the business manager I was told "I am a department of one. Let me drop everything I am doing so I can do this for you." I told her that is what I expect as I had been waiting a long time, and had made more than enough requests for what I needed. When Midwest was informed by my insurance that they would no longer pay, I didn't receive a phone call, but an email, at 2:00 PM. When I called at 2:15 in reference to the email, the contact was gone for the day. I had until the following morning to pick up my daughter, or pay $400 a day for three days, then $700 a day after that. We live 3 hours away. It is so stressful to send your child away for treatment. The business staff needs to learn to be responsive, empathetic and sensitive. They are none of these things. I will never recommend this facility to anyone. My daughter is now in a PHP through Compass in Northbrook IL, and these people are amazing on every level, and know how families should be treated. I am editing my review since I cannot respond to your response. You reply to everyone's review asking them to reach out to you via your website. You can look me up in your system. Or better yet, ask Julie, your business manager. She knows who I am and has all of my contact information. I look forward to hearing from you soon. (But I am not banking on it)

Far removed from my experience at this facility I can confidently say there is nothing therapeutic or helpful about this program. I am currently studying Social Work and Psychology and went to this facility five years… ago. Through learning about effective evidence based treatments, I will tell you this is not it. Your child's "therapy" will be a DBT booklet forced upon them twice a day while they sit silently on the floor of a hallway. They will be monitored with a point system known to be used by abusive troubled teen programs. This point system in no way positively impacts the child, which is proven through research. Your child will learn to fear speaking up about their mental state, because they will not want to go back. Out of all the girls I spent time with in that facility (we all kept contact,) I am the only one in college or doing well. Mainly because I have spent more money than it cost to go to this facility healing my relationship with the mental health system and DBT as a whole. The staff here is horribly trained, they exhibit poor emotion regulation issues themselves and seem to mostly have some kind of power complex. They will routinely tell your child that they are sick in the head, that they are crazy or that something is wrong with them. Please for the love of your children DO NOT send them to this facility. It may be low cost but it WILL NOT save you any money or pain in the long run. This facility should be shut down, its practices are more traumatic than therapeutic, strip their clients of autonomy and dignity, and will begin a distrust of mental health professionals. To be 15 and have a grown woman force a strip search upon you with no evidence or care is disgusting. To not allow blankets as a punishment, to remove all semblance of self, to dehumanize, and to shame is all out of what is considered ethical by most legitimate and helpful treatment programs.

I was a client here back in 2024 to 2025. The place was extremely dirty, and this facility had an ABUNDANCE of bugs such as bees, wasps, earwigs, ants, and spiders. For chores here at this facility, we would mop the… floors, make our beds, do hygiene, take meds, sweep, etc. At first when you get there you find it very strict but after like a month, you might get used to the discipline; however that was not the case for me. Also in my opinion, the cafeteria should work on their cleaning and hygienic food skills. I once go a hair that was not mine in my food. They will keep you here for longer than you need.

I can not physically describe the pain this place caused me. But I can try. I was admitted there early august-early October in 2023. I was 13 when I was admitted, but spent my 14th birthday in there. A patient In the… facility, who claimed to see me as a demon, would brutally beat me in front of staff members and no one stopped them. COVID was spreading in the facility, which resulted in me being locked in my room with my roommate, all day. They would refuse to let us shower for days, or interact with anyone, and we were given nothing. If it wasn’t for the girl I was roommates with, it would have been worse. On my birthday, my present was a deck of cards. Which most facilities provide basic entertainment, but we were stuck in white rooms with absolutely nothing to do. A staff, his name was Brendon, he was well known for being very kind to the patients. And I bonded with him quickly from his kindness. He gained trust with me, and the only way I could leave my room is when I asked to talk with him at night. I didn’t realize it was strange, until suddenly there were rumors going around that were saying I was being sexual to him. I was very confused, until I heard from my favorite staff, I can't remember her name but she had green and black hair, told me that Brendon started those rumors himself. I am 16 now, and PLEASE PARENTS, if you need to send your child to any facility for any reason,I highly suggest indiana center for recovery in Mishawaka indiana. That place, is so unbelievablely amazing to the patients and should be more well known. I know sometimes circumstances call for inpatient needing to be an option, but I cannot stress enough the difference on how I've grown since i was in Midwest for youth and families, to being in Indiana center for recovery in Mishawaka. I know I can't change anyone's mind, but please consider it.

Low-key had a lovely hate with this place. Staff treated me kindly most of the time, unless I was having one of my episodes. I would change personality immediately and start being rude to staff i admit that. But I also… had this happen many times and the staff should've been able to recognize the signs. The food was not my favorite, I disliked it a lot. The teacher I had wss very kind. (Thank You Teacher Wendy for subbing for west unit) and the USC for west unit were amazing. I would like to shout out Shelly for being one of my favorites by far. Kailey and Allison were also my favorites, they treated me so well. My favorite nurse left a week after I did, so unfortunately I am unable to shout her out. But this place helped me become stable and really shaped me better.

This place (Valpo location) saved our daughter’s life. She was able to get the safety, accountability, 24/7 therapy, skill set, and emotional support that were impossible for us to provide at home with multiple children.

My child stayed at this residential program and left about four months ago, and I’m still very happy with the experience. The staff ensured her safety at all times, held weekly family therapy meetings, and arranged… monthly sessions with the staff therapist and psychiatrist. They also made sure she called home every day. The food was excellent – even my picky, health-conscious child, who usually won’t eat school lunches or meals elsewhere, was thrilled. She especially loved having smoked salmon with vegetables once a week. Obviously, with so many teenage girls, there was a bit of drama, as you might expect, but it was always handled promptly and professionally. She also enjoyed seeing animals on one of their outings. I honestly don’t understand the negative comments I’ve read here – yes, it scared me at first, but my experience was completely positive. I highly recommend this program to any parent looking for a safe and caring environment.

IT'S MAD DAWG WOOF WOOF(say happy birthday to Choochie, Andrew😆) I was admitted to MCYF in October of 2024 and was discharged in February of 2025. A large majority of the on floor staff were rude and very passive… aggressive to me and other patients. My teacher(SHOUT OUT TEACHER MARK WHOOP WHOOP) was amazing along with my therapist who I actually felt helped me during my stay. Overall my stay was decent and I feel this type of treatment for some people, BUT after my discharge MCYF stayed with me. And not in the good way. After leaving I would have constant nightmares almost every night. It's been over a year since I was admitted and I still have nightmares multiple times a week. I think about the facility every. Single. Day. It's terrifying. It's like I'm being haunted by a place that was supposed to help me. It's like I'm constantly being reminded of feeling trapped inside my unit and the yellow-ish lighting is stuck in my brain. I've been in therapy since and have developed a small form of PTSD. I'm trying to let go but the faces of the staff, the smell of the hallways, the cold feeling you get when laying on the hard mattresses, the dirty carpet, the ceiling tiles, the food, the day room, everything. Everything is still carved into my brain. I've been home for around 9 months and it's still fresh in my mind. I honestly wish I still had my therapist because of how he helped me during my stay(best therapist I've had tbh) because the therapists at MCYF are AMAZING but I still cry every time I get into an argument because I'm terrified that I will have to go back. I haven't gone a single day since being home where I have not thought about being forced into an ambulance and dragged back, hours away from my home, to Indiana and spending another 110 days in what feels like a prison with flowers and rainbows. I'm writing this as a way to voice my thoughts an let them go. Hoping it works lol. 🎀

I was there back in 2023 and i wanted to say one of the best staff there was nurse Sam, she was a very bright light in the facility and did so much to make sure we were safe and healthy! Thanks nurse Sam :)

Some staff were nice, some staff were mean. Some I liked/disliked. Most of them were amazing. Food was pretty good. But a lot of packets were involved. Props to Shannon the therapist, Teacher Peggy, Rachel, Cathy, and… Sarah :) 3 years later update (11/2/25): my mother and I were having a child casual conversation about Midwest one day and found out they released me only because I was “unable to be helped” from what my mom was told. DO NOT SEND YOUR KIDS HERE. The nice staff, who are actually nice, will make up for your crappy stay. And the food is pretty good (a lot better than juvie food, believe me) But overall this place is crap. As a former 16 y/o resident I’m wanted to —— myself even more for being there. Got put into a physical hold (by a man btw) he kept pushing up against my rear and gave me nerve damage in my right bicep, I lost feeling in it for 6-7 months. They try to mentally hurt your feelings (the staff who don’t care at least) We did paper packets all day long, sometimes they were as thick as dictionaries, it makes your hands hurt bad. They’ll still give them to you even if one person screws something up. If my son ever needs inpatient mental help, I’d pick every other option before this place. Changed to two stars because I’m done lying and sticking up for this place. (Though I still give props to Teacher Peggy, Rachel, Cathy, Sarah, AND Elizabeth. Y’ALL WERE MY ROCK AND I MISS Y’ALL😢)

One star isn’t low enough I’ve been twice and it was awful.

This was an awesome experience. I love being there to help me realize I can learn more coping skills, and I liked all the stuff.

I came here when I was 15 I’m 21. Can’t lie I wake up sometimes and think I’m still here. That’s all I’ll say :)

My daughter was here for about 40 days from out of state. She discharged 8/31. We did not have any huge issues while she was there. She definitely needed to stay longer and is already having issues since she has been… home. Due to my insurance changing to an out of network provider, she was unable to stay. I knew when I sent her this was the case, and was hopeful the amount of time she was in the program would be sufficient. PROS: Communication and admission with the admissions team was quick and seamless. They didn’t skip a beat! I was informed prior to admission that when my insurance changed she would have to discharge. I appreciated them being upfront. She did well in the small school setting and loved her teacher, Mrs. Moreno (who ended up quitting abruptly). My daughter’s 3rd therapist, Kenya, was very straight forward with my daughter. She did not sugar coat the real issues that needed to be addressed. I wish she could have been my kiddos therapist the entire time. I feel like a lot more progress would have been made. My daughter is very overweight for her age and it is has been very hard to get her to slow down her eating. She’s started having a lot of health issues due to her eating habits that she is resistant to change. I appreciated that Midwest had a policy in place that did not allow for her to keep going back for multiple plates of food. Once you eat your dinner, you can get fruit. Great idea! CONS: Communication is lacking after admit. In the 40 days she was there, my daughter had 3 different therapists. For that reason, the actually reason behind the behaviors that led her to residential we’re never addressed. This was extremely disappointing! Due to a system error on Midwest’s part, they were unable to provide discharge paperwork for me to sign prior to my daughter discharging. My dad met the employees of Midwest at the airport, where he had a POA to sign the discharge paperwork. Midwest was supposed to send the discharge paperwork to me via email. I have been calling and emailing EVERYONE we have had contact with while my kid was there trying to get a copy of her discharge paperwork since 8/31 and STILL (as of 9/9) have not recieved her discharge paperwork. I informed Midwest that I HAD to have this paperwork by yesterday for a very important appointment. Due to Midwest not sending the discharge paperwork, my daughter was denied services through another department (they required her last residential stay discharge paperwork). Even though I am VERY frustrated because of the lack of communication prior to discharge, overall my daughter’s experience was positive.

My daughter was there in 2022 and she came forward said she had been abused by Amanda E. While under Midwest "care" I use this term lightly... If you value your children, their safety and well-being please don't send… your children here... Poor quality staff, ran by a look the other way higher ups.

so i was a patient here i literally discharged yesterday. this place has a bad star rating but honestly this place is not bad my first 3 to 7 days were the worst days of my entire stay there because I just cried every… day and I really wanted to go home but staff was always there to comfort me and tell me that I can do my treatment and I was gonna be OK and I’m gonna get better and I’m gonna go home the facility the day room and our bedrooms are not the best but they’re also not the worst. we decorate the unit sometimes to brighten up the place and it does look good. The cafeteria is pretty big and the food is decent. I’m gonna say that we would get like cauliflower and it would have a little mold spots on it, but it wasn’t every time it was just a couple times If it had mold on it and we would switch it out for something else. The broccoli it was smell funky so I was scared to eat it, but I don’t know if it went bad we do only get 10 minute showers and 10 minute phone calls so that’s not the best and we also rarely go outside and the staff here was very nice. I was on East unit and I feel like I learned a lot my therapist. She helped me a lot family sessions. She helped. She taught me a lot of skills. The unit taught me lots of skills in the school programming there it is fairly good. there was a couple fights on the unit, but they never lasted. Staff always heard them arguing and always got into the middle of it. The only reason they got to fight is because they hit around staff and they did get punished for it fairly and if you there is like a lot of precautions, there’s like SP precautions SH precautions SI precautions, AP, EP and you can you put on those if you show that behavior SP precautions if you’re saying you have a plan to un alive yourself and it can be feasibly carried out in the hospital you’ll get put on SPS if you’re saying you want to you or are gonna do it you’re gonna get put on sp ap is being aggressive yeah just stuff like that. You’ll learn all about it and it’s honestly not bad. You just have to do your treatment and not fight it and you will you will have a good time. oh also they do make you eat 50% of all meals and I’m pretty sure if you eat less than that you get put on fall precautions and you have to wear a hard helmet to make sure that you don’t fall in hit your head so this place is also for like eating disorders and just anybody that doesn’t eat regularly. We have to eat 50% of breakfast 50% of lunch 50% of dinner so it does help. But I’d like to thank the facility for helping me and just just I don’t know like it was just a good facility and I would definitely recommend someone to go there

Staff members treated me like a moron, it was my first time doing tie dye and I got yelled at for taking the rubber bands off when I didn't know I wasn't supposed to. They also blocked letters going out to family, and… threw away a couple personal belongings. Everyone who witnessed me before and after going has said it did more harm than good. I was unfairly put on paper restriction. I got yelled at for having sensory meltdowns (I'm autistic). I have so much trauma from this that I have to go to therapy for it 6 years later. I was put in a solo room at the end of the hall away from everyone because I was the "only one they could trust", in reality they wanted me isolated and that was clear through many of their actions. I was separated from the only person I felt okay talking to because she was "making my eating disorder worse" I guarantee you, she was not. If you need to ask for something you most likely will have to fill out a "dear man" sheet. Out of all the sheets filled out, almost nobody is given what they asked for. You can't have your own comfort objects or wear long sleeves the first three days you're there. I still have nightmares from my time here. Do not send your child here.

Hello my name is Cali miles and if you truly care about your child do not semd them here. When you get there they tell you all these nice things amd make it sound like a really great place. Its not. While i was their… multiple fights broke out. There was this girl that got moved to out unit and she started touched me and multipal girls on the unit and when we told staff they “looked into it” when it was clear as day what she was doing and they told us we were lying when we weren’t the only thing this place did was traumatised me and now the only reason i am happy is because if i because if i tried anythinf again i would be sent back to a place like this. So if you love your kids or even care about them in the slightest dont send them here

Wendy was the absolute best she gave her all and really made a difference in mine and everyone’s treatment. North unit was anchored by her and she made every resident feel heard. My care would not have been the same… without her