ICDS Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies A Chance for Change They are a fraud school that markets their services to students who do not need them. Who otherwise would be exempt. Check with a real college like a DCCD college or another junior college. Fort Worth, Texas
In January of 2010 I and another student who became a friend of mine enrolled in ICDS (an alcohol and drug counseling school-career/college credit school). Me and my friend had degrees in psychology and other related studies. These degress exempted us from having to take these courses. The owner Teresa Sawyer along with her teacher Lydia Clemmons told us we needed these courses. They never stated we were exempt. After going to the school for around three months and spending thousands of dollars we found out this was a scam. They market their services to people who do not need them. When Teresa and Lydia were confronted with this information as we found out they lied and said they had informed us. Anyone with any amount of intelligence knows this was a lie. We would have never gone there. We filed a complaint with the State Department of Education and the Texas Workforce Commission. After speaking with one of the state officials they agreed this was unethical and dishonest. I hired an attorney who stated the dollar amount would need to be more for them to take our case. It cost us well over $10,000 not including time, gas, rent, travel. I just do not want someone to make the same mistake. As I began to dig many of these career schools lie and will say anything to get students in. They operate under the banner of being a Christian school and agency. This is just a cover up. Please stay away from this school. Check with a reputable junior college where they will be honest or the State Department of Education. We just don't want anyone else to have to go thru this losing a lot of money and wasted time. The school should be shut down, but apparently this goes on all across the state. Also the owners and teachers should be prosecuted. There is nothing we can do now, but warn you so somone else will not have to go thru this.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
ICDS1
HOUSTON,Texas,
United States
ICDS Under New Ownership
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, April 18, 2017
The Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies (IDCS) is one of the oldest and was one of the most respected LCDC Training programs in the state of Texas, having been in operation since 1993, as the LCDC Training School. In 2002, the name was changed to The Institute of Chemical Dependency Studies-Austin, with the same ownership and management until November 2013. Mr. Greg Lovelidge Sr., the founder of the LCDC Training School and honored professional in the field of chemical dependency counseling passed away in November 2013 after suffering a debilitating, incurable illness. ICDS continued in its work under the management of the Lovelidge children. Since 2013, ICDS and the Lovelidge children endured much anguish and upheaval in trying to keep their father's dream alive. Seeing that they could not, ICDS was sold in 2017 to SwinnComm Holdings, whose leaders possess 20+ years in the chemical dependency counseling, social work and behavioral therapy fields. For the past several years, ICDS has been engaged in a transition of ownership. Sometimes during such times of business transition, the quality of service delivered to customer’s falls short of expectation. While this is not an excuse for what students have experienced with ICDS, we hope that this clarifies matters.
As the new owners of the ICDS, we are expressing gratitude towards all students who have taken the time to notify us about their regrettable experiences with ICDS during those transition years. It’s very disappointing to receive reviews and comments like this; nevertheless, we will face each on head on. We have a firm pledge to those in the recovery and chemical dependency treatment community to return ICDS back to an institution of high ethical standards and academic performance. We are committed to working smarter and harder to offer students and prospective students excellence in service, curriculum and support. ICDS is open for business, under new management and more than ready to earn yours.
Thank you for your honest feedback. We really hope you give ICDS another chance and don't give up on us.
Sincerely,
SWINNCOMM HOLDINGS LLC