Complaint Review: Ness Counseling Center Inc.

Sam Brown of the Ness Counseling Center is verbally abusive to clients, uses harsh intimadation tactics and preys on the vulneralbilites of clients during challenging court ordered monitored visits. He extorts clients for cash by making up fees for late arrivals, charging $1 per minute late and refusing to provide receipts.  These additional fees are not part of the client agreement signed during the intake process.  Heaven forbid if you request to see their Form 990 which are to be open to the public.  I was met with a "it's none of your business" by Sam, in addition to reticence with regard to inquiries about federal money they receive from the $10 million dollar Access to Visitation Grant. 

I was threatened by Sam Brown, verbally attacked and screamed at for my refusal to vaccum a floor after a visit, in spite of a back injury.  As a women whose been a victim of abuse, I felt violated by Sam Brown, in addition to the outrageous angry behavior that he exhibited when demanding that I vaccum bubble residue or be terminated.  I chose the latter and was relocated to a much more professioanl and family friendly center, Family Care Monitoring Service in Van Nuys.   

The Saze Zone program failed to provide same sex monitors for many of my daughters visits, where she was subjected to be watched by Mr. Brown while on the toilet, and was forced to hide behind my legs requesting privacy.  I was on at least one ocassion left unattended during a visit with my daughter by a monitor Ray, due to over booking and limited staff, which compromised my daughters safety.

If a client requests something that the facility does not provide or raises a question, it is met by Sam Brown with a defensive and angry manner and attitude.  According to my attorney, Mr. Brown allegedily falsified some of my visitation logs to cover his tracks in a court appearance.  The most alarming part about the Ness Center is the staff, most of whom are relatives of the Director, Dennis Brown, turn a blind eye and deaf ear on Sam Browns constant tirades.  He's a bully who should have nothing to do with children, literally throwning his weight around, culturally insentive and yet serving a community of mostly of people of color.  There is nothing safe about The Safe Zone and Sam Brown needs to be fired and replaced.  Shame on The Ness Center, it would take a miracle to make Sam respectful while performing his job.