Body brokering, in the context of addiction and rehab, refers to the practice of recruiting or steering people with substance use disorders into specific treatment centers in exchange for money, kickbacks, or other incentives. Instead of care decisions being based on clinical need, they’re driven by profit, treating vulnerable people as commodities rather than patients. That is precisely what JVA did. When the program was still operating under the name Welcome Home Recovery, it advertised extensively in Surrey, British Columbia (see archived materials here: https://ca.churchofjesuschrist.org/welcome-home-changing-lives

There are former staff members from more than a decade ago, as well as former clients, who now recognize how harmful and toxic the environment was. Many also acknowledge that the Therapeutic Community (TC) model is widely regarded as outdated and ineffective for treating addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions. Numerous licensed clinicians, including LCSWs, psychologists, and other mental health professionals, agree that interpersonal trauma must be addressed within a safe, clinically appropriate environment. “Work therapy” is not, and should not be, the core treatment for addiction or mental illness.

Older promotional materials in British Columbia, including Price Pro advertisements, described staff as “volunteers.” In reality, these were individuals struggling with addiction and mental illness who were not compensated for their labor, effectively unpaid work under the guise of treatment.

Nick R., who served as a director in British Columbia prior to the loss of CARF accreditation, was widely reported to be abusive. Many one-star Google reviews detailing negative experiences were later removed. However, individuals harmed by JVA retain documentation supporting their claims.

Participants were not informed that LDS ideology was a primary source of institutional support and a driving influence behind the instruction and psychological conditioning involved. The student manual itself is deeply concerning and has been retained by many former participants. It includes directives such as stating that individuals are “unworthy to sit with others at lunch” for rule violations and instructing participants that if someone leaves the program, they are never to be mentioned or spoken of again.

If you'd like a link to the student manual in its entirety, please see other petition updates. or this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QCgVl99LyGQCZfyp3qw3inWa36aT3zSL?usp=sharing

#JohnVolken

#Koonar

#WelcomeHome

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