1/ Today we’re going to take a look at how immigrant teens are being given psychotropic drugs—without the consent of a parent or guardian—while housed in immigrant shelters.
New story from @carolineylchen and @jessmram: propub.li/2JKxXPU
New story from @carolineylchen and @jessmram: propub.li/2JKxXPU
2/ A class action lawsuit—filed in June—alleges shelters are overmedicating traumatized immigrant teens. Here’s one teen’s story as chronicled in that lawsuit: propub.li/2JKxXPU 
3/ Gabriela is now 17. Eighteen months ago, she arrived unaccompanied at the US-Mexico border, traveling from El Salvador. She hoped to live with her grandfather Isaac in Oakland, CA. Gabriela seemed stable, shelter staff noted. propub.li/2JKxXPU
4/ She was taken to a shelter in Clint, TX. She became depressed. Staff diagnosed her with a host of mental disorders and gave her Prozac. propub.li/2JKxXPU
5/ Under most state laws, before a child is medicated, a parent, guardian, or authority acting in place of the parent must be consulted and give permission, or informed consent. But in shelters, children are alone. propub.li/2JKxXPU
6/ Gabriela was transferred to Shiloh Treatment Center, a shelter in Manvel, Texas, for youths with especially severe mental health issues. Staff insist the kids must take the drugs or lose privileges. propub.li/2JKxXPU
7/ DoJ asserted that operations at Shiloh where Gabriela was housed "are monitored closely by the State of Texas for compliance with its state child welfare laws.” TX does require informed consent, but Gabriela’s lawyers say nobody talked to her grandfather or a neutral 3rd party
8/ After 18 months, Gabriela is still in a shelter. Still receiving medication without informed consent. She’s been moved twice. She’s now at St. Michael’s Home for Children in Houston, TX. propub.li/2JKxXPU
9/ Read more stories like Gabriela’s: propub.li/2JKxXPU
10/ ...and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter: propub.li/2LzmJjb
