A look at one of the farms RFK Jr. has pointed to as a model for 'reparenting'

The U.S. health secretary says he wants to shift addiction care toward an approach that includes rural farms or camps for people in recovery. Many addiction experts say the idea is outdated. JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing new criticism for his plan to help people who use street drugs with a network of government-run farm and work camps. Kennedy has pointed to one drug treatment community in rural Italy as a model for the program. He's also said the camps could be a place where American children could be, quote, "reparented." NPR addiction correspondent Brian Mann reports. BRIAN MANN, BYLINE: When Kennedy campaigned for president in 2024, one of his signature policy ideas was building a network of wellness farms and addiction treatment camps in rural communities across the U.S. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) ROBERT F KENNEDY JR: I've seen this beautiful model that they have in Italy called San Patrignano, where there are 2,000 kids who work on a large farm. MANN: That's Kennedy speaking on the network NewsNation in 2024. As health secretary, Kennedy's vision of wellness farms, especially those he proposed for children, is under scrutiny with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat from Maryland, questioning him during a combative Senate hearing last week. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) ANGELA ALSOBROOKS: You said every Black kid can get reparented on a wellness farm. …