SOVEREIGN

LEROU l?

Sovereign Health Group
1211 Puerta Del Sol
San Clemente, CA 92673

February 17, 2016

Mari Payton

Investigative Reporter/Anchor
NBC 7 San Diego

225 Broadway

San Diego, CA 92101

Ms. Payton:

In accordance with HIPAA guidelines (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and state and federal
statutes, Sovereign Health neither confirms nor denies anyone?s presence in treatment at any of our facilities at
any time. We believe that our ethical obligation to persons considering coming to treatment, during treatment
or following treatment is absolute. The only exception to this policy would be compliance with criminal
investigations.

Though we will not be providing you access to our facility or an interview with a member of our staff, we thought
the information provided here would be informative. Sovereign Health?s ADEONA Rancho San Diego facility is a
community?based treatment facility for adolescents (young men 81. women) 12 to 17 years of age. The facility is
licensed by the State of California Department of Social Services and has earned Joint Commission Gold Seal
Accreditation, the highest level of accreditation available for this type of facility. The Joint Commission is a
national organization that sets standards of performance which are often more rigorous than those of state
licensing agencies. The facility is licensed to provide Mental Health and Substance Use Dual Diagnosis
treatment programs and offers Residential, Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) levels of
care.

Residents admit to ADEONA voluntarily. It is a non-locked and non?restraint facility. State licensure guidelines
dictate that, should a resident decide to leave treatment against staff advice, the staff will not attempt to restrain
the resident or to block an exit in any manner. The resident?s therapist and facility staff will offer the resident
the opportunity to address the issues causing them to want to leave. This opportunity is not always possible
should the resident leave without prior warning or discussion. The resident?s guardian(s) will be notified
immediately upon the resident?s departure. If the resident cannot be located within thirty minutes, the County
Sheriff will be notified and a missing person?s report will be filed. A report will also be filed with the appropriate
Community Care Licensing Analyst.

Young people of this age group are experiencing a challenging time of transition in their lives. Mental Health
and Substance Use Dual Diagnosis issues make these times even more challenging and frightening for residents
and for their families. Very few facilities around the country offer the levels of care and the types of treatment
services offered at ADEONA. Our staff works diligently to comply with all required licensure guidelines and
policies and to provide the highest possible quality of care to the program?s residents and their families.

Regards,

?1

Jamie Deans
Senior Director of Strategic Development