A Google user
As a resident of Paul Anderson Youth Home, Lewisville, TX 1985-86, there was some joy found and a lot of misery. Jerry Campbell was a bully and the staff could be very abusive and his wife Melanie was a prima donna who looked down her nose at the kids.
Physical abuse, in the form of "jerked up" would mean being physically slammed into walls, on tables or floors and I remember one counselor, Scott, at the Roanoke home, slammed a boy so hard he went through the dry wall.
Religion was mandatory, and Baptist. I lost my faith in Catholicism through the guidance of all the staff and 13 months of being in church 3 times a week. I gained no faith in the Baptist religion and to this day I believe organized religion should be feared and loathed.
Luckily, the board lost control of the homes and they became Youth For Tomorrow, which seemed more progressive and less abusive. The staff was changed, the "Christian" counselors high tailed it out, and I actually wish I had stayed to see that.
Tou Brad and Theresa, hope you're doing well...same to Bill and his wife...