As a parent of a young adult who has struggled to be successful with independent living due to behavioral health issues, I researched online and found the Pacia Life program. Though I was not able to validate or confirm through independent parent reviews, I was offered an introduction to the program and to some of the coaches that seemed at the time legitimate. After an incredibly frustrating 3 months which is the initial and mandatory commitment, I have the following to offer about this program. To date after a 35K investment, I no idea if or what assessments were conducted during my son's time at Pacia or what the results of those assessments were. I have no information or documentation of how the results of those assessments informed the progress he was making. I don't know how he was ever really measured against those benchmarks and if so how. The "Tatori" model is homegrown at Pacia, it is not evidence-based or scientifically backed up, there is no data anywhere quantitative, qualitative, or even anecdotal to suggest that this model produces outcomes of any kind. And yet, the ongoing narrative is that somehow this method is successful in helping young adults become self-sufficient. There is no defined organizational structure to raise or log concerns, complaints, questions about follow through- in fact no one had anything to say about my concerns at all once posed. After researching what I could find and asking a lot of questions with ostensibly no answers, from an organizational perspective there is no evidence that student progress is actually measured or that even the overall program success is being measured in any way. In fact, it appears that the organizational structure is designed to avoid answering to accountability, never mind the issue with lack of response to direct questions about program model or student progress. I agree with one earlier review, that the model centers around the hiring of well intentioned and in some cases skillful young mentors. They are not licensed or certified in any way or transparent around any specialized training related to their tasks at Pacia. I find it inherently irresponsible from the program perspective, that these likely very underpaid young adults are being saddled with basically doing all the work on behalf of young adults for the amount of reliance this program puts on these young mentors, never mind the risks they taking with young adults with highly complex mental health conditions that are discharging from highly structured environments with no visibly leadership support or training available to them. This program does not hire clinical professionals of any kind- so no licensure to challenge if warranted. What they do on a daily basis, how they document progress or issues, how the time is spent each day or even monthly progress, not available to parents even if asked. In 3 months I had 3 "update" calls and 1 zoom meeting, that's it. Past the 3 month commitment, after we made a family decision to discontinue for reasons clearly defined here, the founder/program director never reached out to extend a thank you, well wishes, nothing- as if we had never been there to begin with. If I can impart any advice to you, if you are a parent like me, struggling to find support for your struggling young adult, do your research, don't be wooed by sleek marketing, an admissions director that seems great but with no other way to validate or confirm program success. Find yourself a great family therapist or reputable family coaches like who understand these issues and the landscape of programs like these that avoid accountability and cannot back up their ability to be successful. It's an inherently broken system out there, but a solid program should be ready to support their approach and program with data and a clinically and evidence-based program. Such a program should have clearly defined pathways of communication with parents, benchmarks and documentation that is transparent and readily available at any point, and a leader/director/founder, whatever they call themselves, that is available and accountable to you as a young adult and family. This is not that program, this is in the best sense of the word, a scam. read more
