Ridge Creek "School" - Serious Safety Issues/ORS Violation

[Dysfunction Junction]

I wonder why they were cited in this report if this punishment were not illegal.  If what Whooter says is true,  RCS/HLA prison camp would have blown a gasket over this citation and had it removed.  But it's still there, so I guess the ORS was right that using 8 days of wilderness as punishment is illegal.

I guess that claim of "7 to 1 staff to student ratio" was a lie.  It happens to be the opposite, according to the report.

Behavior management shall be limited to the least restrictive appropriate method, as described in the child's
service plan pursuant to Rule
This Requirement is not met as evidenced by:
Based on record review and staff interview, the agency failed to ensure that behavior
management is limited to the least restrictive appropriate method, as described in the child's
Room, Board, and Watchful Oversight Plan and in accordance with the prohibitions as specified
in the rules and regulations.
Findings Include
Interview with Resident #2 was conducted on 6/2820/2010 at 3:15 pm. Resident #2 said he/she
doesn't remember what happened during the incident, but he/she knows that he/she was in a
fight. When asked if he/she received a consequence for fighting, Resident #2 indicated that staff
sent him/her to the wilderness intervention program for 8 days.

Eight days of wilderness for a fight?  That doesn't seem like the punishment a "regular high school kid" would get for fighting.  Maybe a one or two day suspension.  This juvenile prison uses methods that are very harsh and outside the law according to the official reports.  

This is more like a prison camp than a school.  That's obvious.  And the adjudicated inmates running around assaulting staff, eachother and stealing cars and running from the police are kinda a giveaway, too.  Lols.

[Whooter]

This is more like a prison camp than a school.  That's obvious.

Actually this is a lie you are telling again, DJ.  Prisons do not utilize wilderness therapy for inmates who have engaged in a fight.  If you have a link to support this I think the readers would like to see it.

Lets take a look at the wilderness process again:

Link

Once solo was over the group slept in a group shelter called a Tabin (not a tavern). The beds were indeed metal frames with a wood slab on top...like a box spring. Students had sleeping pads, sleeping bags and their pillows. This may have been one of the most therapeutic things that happened on campus during my short time there. Students had to learn about self-reliance and independant thinking--not following peers who are doing negative behaviors.



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[Dysfunction Junction]

This is what the ORS says about the "wilderness program":

Behavior management shall be limited to the least restrictive appropriate method, as described in the child's
service plan pursuant to Rule
This Requirement is not met as evidenced by:
Based on record review and staff interview, the agency failed to ensure that behavior
management is limited to the least restrictive appropriate method, as described in the child's
Room, Board, and Watchful Oversight Plan and in accordance with the prohibitions as specified
in the rules and regulations.
Findings Include
Interview with Resident #2 was conducted on 6/2820/2010 at 3:15 pm. Resident #2 said he/she
doesn't remember what happened during the incident, but he/she knows that he/she was in a
fight. When asked if he/she received a consequence for fighting, Resident #2 indicated that staff
sent him/her to the wilderness intervention program for 8 days.

Looks like they have some problems with that program.  They got cited for it by the oversight agency.

[Whooter]

This is what the ORS says about the "wilderness program":

Behavior management shall be limited to the least restrictive appropriate method, as described in the child's
service plan pursuant to Rule
This Requirement is not met as evidenced by:
Based on record review and staff interview, the agency failed to ensure that behavior
management is limited to the least restrictive appropriate method, as described in the child's
Room, Board, and Watchful Oversight Plan and in accordance with the prohibitions as specified
in the rules and regulations.
Findings Include
Interview with Resident #2 was conducted on 6/2820/2010 at 3:15 pm. Resident #2 said he/she
doesn't remember what happened during the incident, but he/she knows that he/she was in a
fight. When asked if he/she received a consequence for fighting, Resident #2 indicated that staff
sent him/her to the wilderness intervention program for 8 days.

Looks like they have some problems with that program.  They got cited for it by the oversight agency.

Thank you for revising your statement, DJ.  I agree that they got cited for not using the least restrictive method when they sent the student to wilderness for 8 days because she/he was involved in a fight.  I think we can all agree here.



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[Dysfunction Junction]

Georgia Department of Human Resources,
Office of Regulatory Services State Form
Statement of Deficiencies
and Plan of Correction
Inspection begin date
Inspection end date:
9/1/2010
9/9/2010
Name of Provider or Supplier
RIDGE CREEK, INC
Street Address, City, State Zip Code
830 HIDDEN LAKE RD
DAHLONEGA, GA 30533
Inspection Results
As of: Saturday, October 30, 2010
R 0000 Opening Comments.
The purpose of this visit on September 1, 2010 was to investigate 86273. A subsequent visit was
conducted on September 9, 2010.
R 0801 290-2-5-.08(2) Administration and Organization.
SS=D
Program Description and Implementation. In accordance with these rules and regulations, a licensed child caring
institution shall develop, implement and comply with written policies and procedures that describe the range of
services including room, board
This Requirement is not met as evidenced by:
Based on record review and staff interview, the agency failed to develop and comply with policies
and procedures as to how services will be provided by the facility;

Wow.  Operating without policies or not following policies is probably what makes RCS/HLA prison camp so dangerous leading to all of the crimes committed there.

[Whooter]

Georgia Department of Human Resources,
Office of Regulatory Services State Form
Statement of Deficiencies
and Plan of Correction
Inspection begin date
Inspection end date:
9/1/2010
9/9/2010
Name of Provider or Supplier
RIDGE CREEK, INC
Street Address, City, State Zip Code
830 HIDDEN LAKE RD
DAHLONEGA, GA 30533
Inspection Results
As of: Saturday, October 30, 2010
R 0000 Opening Comments.
The purpose of this visit on September 1, 2010 was to investigate 86273. A subsequent visit was
conducted on September 9, 2010.
R 0801 290-2-5-.08(2) Administration and Organization.
SS=D
Program Description and Implementation. In accordance with these rules and regulations, a licensed child caring
institution shall develop, implement and comply with written policies and procedures that describe the range of
services including room, board
This Requirement is not met as evidenced by:
Based on record review and staff interview, the agency failed to develop and comply with policies
and procedures as to how services will be provided by the facility;

Wow.  Operating without policies or not following policies is probably what makes RCS/HLA prison camp so dangerous leading to all of the crimes committed there.

Oh No!!! they should go to jail, they failed to follow their own policies, someone call the poice!!!  Ha,Ha,Ha  this place must be a prison where crimes are committed.  We are all so scarred.  lol



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[Dysfunction Junction]

Inspection Results
As of: Saturday, October 30, 2010
Findings Include:
(1) Review of the record of eighteen year-old Resident #1 on September 9, 2010 revealed that the
agency failed to obtain a criminal background check.
(2) E-mail correspondence with Staff DD on 09/16/2010 at 8:32 am revealed that there were 23
other residents who lived or had lived at the facility since January 1, 2010. Staff DD
acknowledged that criminal background checks had not been obtained on any of these residents.

Wow, no policies or procedures, improper use of punishments, and no background checks on the inmates residing at the facility.  They could be pedophiles, rapists, murderers, arsonists or whatever.  I find it really hard to believe that RCS/HLA prison camp can provide "services" for inmates about whom they know pretty much nothing.

It's obvious dangerous criminals are roaming the facility with bascially no supervision, as evidenced by all of the assaults, sexual assaults, beatings, batteries, theft and other various ans sundry crimes.

This place is no "school."  It's a poorly run detention center.

[Whooter]

Inspection Results
As of: Saturday, October 30, 2010
Findings Include:
(1) Review of the record of eighteen year-old Resident #1 on September 9, 2010 revealed that the
agency failed to obtain a criminal background check.
(2) E-mail correspondence with Staff DD on 09/16/2010 at 8:32 am revealed that there were 23
other residents who lived or had lived at the facility since January 1, 2010. Staff DD
acknowledged that criminal background checks had not been obtained on any of these residents.

Wow, no policies or procedures, improper use of punishments, and no background checks on the inmates residing at the facility.  They could be pedophiles, rapists, murderers, arsonists or whatever.  I find it really hard to believe that RCS/HLA prison camp can provide "services" for inmates about whom they know pretty much nothing.

It's obvious dangerous criminals are roaming the facility with bascially no supervision, as evidenced by all of the assaults, sexual assaults, beatings, batteries, theft and other various ans sundry crimes.

This place is no "school."  It's a poorly run detention center.

Oh No!!  paperwork abuse!!  Ha,Ha,Ha,  The paperwork is abusing the children, what a terrible place to be, someone please call the police they are breaking the law.  lol



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[Dysfunction Junction]

I guess these dangerous inmates about whom the prison camp knows nothing, doesn't supervise and who roam the facilty freely have ample opportunity to commit serious and vicious crimes like this.  This place is scary.

Students charged with assault, robbery of teacher
By Matt Aiken
Published:
Wednesday, December 1, 2010 9:29 AM EST
A pair of Ridge Creek Academy students will face charges of aggravated assault and armed robbery after they allegedly attacked a counselor, stole her car and fled from deputies in an early morning escape attempt from the Camp Wahsega Road therapeutic boarding school last week.

Officials from the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office said Sydney Vaughn and Lucrezia Albegiani, both 17 years old, developed a detailed plan to overpower their night-time counselor Debra Page and then flee to Atlanta early Friday morning.

“They were conspiring to leave campus and steal one of the staff member's vehicles after assaulting her,” said Investigator Ellis Childress. “They did so.”

It was a few hours after midnight when the two girls reportedly rose from bed and began to strike up a conversation with their counselor. When Page turned her back, Vaughn reportedly grabbed a nearby lamp and struck her on the head with it, said officials.

Albegiani then allegedly put her counselor in a choke hold.

Page, who was still conscious, reportedly told the students to take what they wanted from her.

“They took her keys, her radio and her purse and left,” Childress said.

The pair then reportedly jumped into Page's Toyota 4-Runner and drove away with Vaughn at the wheel.

Page then alerted a nighttime counselor at the boys' dorm who called 911 and reported the incident as a runaway juvenile and stolen vehicle.

By the time the suspects had traveled the eight miles to the Highway 19 Bypass two LCSO patrol cars were turning onto Camp Wahsega Road.

When the deputies signaled from them to pull over Vaughn reportedly sped up to about 70 miles per hour, ran right through the intersection and drove the vehicle into the side of Dahlonega Automotive.

“They hit a propane tank damaging the tank and the well cap,” Childress said.

The volatile liquid leaked into the parking lot but did not ignite. The students were then taken to Chestatee Regional Hospital for precautionary purposes.

Since the incident was not reported as an attack it was only after talking to the suspects that investigators discovered what had taken place at the boarding school, said Childress.

“They said they weren't going to kill her. They were just going to hurt her real bad and they were going to take her car and go down to Atlanta,” he said.

Instead Vaughn and Albegiani were taken to Lumpkin County Detention Center.

Albegiani, of Lemont, Ill., has since been charged with aggravated assault, armed robbery, second degree criminal damage to property and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and armed robbery.

Vaughn, of State College, Pa., faces the same charges as well as a slew of traffic related offenses.

On Monday, Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said the LCSO is occasionally called to the boarding school, formerly known as Hidden Lake Academy, to assist with runaway juveniles but the incidents usually aren't of this level of violence.

“I don't know of anything since I've been sheriff that has been this bad,” he said. “ ... I'm just glad the the officers that were responding made contact with the victim's vehicle and got them stopped, not only for the welfare of the victim but also for the welfare of the two girls.”

Ridge Creek Academy founder Len Buccellato said he had no comment on the incident.

[Whooter]

I reviwed the ORS report. I was a staff at RCS during part of this time frame. Though I did not have a good experience at RCS as an employee, some of the citations are rediculous! Especially in regards to the Wilderness Intervention. First, the students were all provided with a sleeping pad and a down sleeping bag in addition to thermal layers in case it got cold. The students were required to assist in the preparation of food but staff helped with food prep and were provided 3 square meals and two snacks each day. Students were also provided two, one litre water bottles and a were given access to water coolers and were encouraged to fill up many times throughout the day. The Solo was a 24 hour period where students slept in individual tents, closely monitored by staff. Students could not talk to other students but could talk to staff any time they wanted...this was about self-control, learning to delay gratification and having time to reflect about what behaviors they did that got them sent to intervention. Once solo was over the group slept in a group shelter called a Tabin (not a tavern). The beds were indeed metal frames with a wood slab on top...like a box spring. Students had sleeping pads, sleeping bags and their pillows. This may have been one of the most therapeutic things that happened on campus during my short time there. Students had to learn about self-reliance and independant thinking--not following peers who are doing negative behaviors. Each day students engaged in therapeutic groups, community projects and worked on academics and therapeutic assignments and learned how to hold each other accountable. As you can tell i am a big believer in the power of outdoor therapeutic programs! Many students returning from those interventions made huge progress behaviorally even after only 7 days and many of them have continued on that path of sucess. Also know that the interventions occured during warm months.

Though many a shadey thing has happened on that campus the staff members who work directly with the students are good people who during my time there made the best effort they could to support students given their limited training and supports. The biggest limitations to the program are the decision makers and higher-ups in Administration.

 :soapbox:

ok...I will get off my soap box now!

[Dysfunction Junction]

I agree that they want to avoid regulation altogether.  Even when they are regulated they still abuse, neglect and kill kids regularly.  It's sad.  Without regulation it would be much, much worse.

I'm glad this thread is growing rapidly so that people who Google "RCS" will get this hit right at the top and be warned of the terrible track record of this facility and the dangerous inmates it houses without supervision.  People should know about it.

[Whooter]

I reviwed the ORS report. I was a staff at RCS during part of this time frame. Though I did not have a good experience at RCS as an employee, some of the citations are rediculous!

 I have to agree with you and can see why some of these schools want to avoid regulation altogether.



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[Dysfunction Junction]

Let's hope that never happens.  At the rate that HLA/RCS abuses its inmates already, I'd be scared to think of what could happen if they knew that nobody was checking.

[Whooter]

Let's hope that never happens.  At the rate that HLA/RCS abuses its inmates already, I'd be scared to think of what could happen if they knew that nobody was checking.

OMG!   They might misfile something and put all the kids in danger!!  lol



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[Dysfunction Junction]

I think the kids and staff are already in danger.

Based on record review, resident and staff interviews, the agency failed to provide for the needs,
care, protection, and supervision of the children in care;
Findings Include:
(1) During an interviews conducted on September 1, 2010 from 1:00 pm-3:30 pm with Residents
101, 102, 108, 109, 110, and 112 in which all residents acknowledged that they are aware of
residents engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior. It was reported that the residents would
sneak off in designated areas unbeknownst to staff.
(2) Record review on September 1, 2010 of Incident Report dated 06-06-10 for Resident #11
revealed Resident #11 along with 6 other females disclosed to staff an incident involving sexual
activity between Resident #11 and an older male resident. It was documented that Resident #11
appeared upset and stated that what occurred between herself (R11) and the male resident was
an unwelcome encounter.

This girl was raped by a male inmate due to lack of supervision.