WHO OWNS THIS PROGRAM?

[Anonymous]

http://wwww.teenhelponline.com

 ::

[Anonymous]

http://teenhelponline.com/aboutus.html

This appears to be a boot-camp style program. Goes by the name White River Adventure and is located in Puerto Rico.  

Don't know who owns it, the website is very vague.

[Anonymous]

Here's a hint for you ....

"All roads lead to St. George, Utah.

 :smile:

[Antigen]

Whois says

Registrant:
White River Adventure (MHITFAKOQD)
   PO Box 43001
   Rio Grande, PR 00745
   US

   Domain Name: TEENHELPONLINE.COM

   Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
      Tyler, Houston  (HT470)      Dead Man Talking]


--Ben Guillory

[Kiwi]

I see the guards are called chaperones, just like Casa by the Sea.  And does this sound familiar?

"When you refer someone to White River Adventure and if that family places their child with our services. White River Adventure will provide one month free tuition for your child."

Yes, this place has WWASP written all over it, right down to the bad grammar.  They probably use this short-stay program as a stop gap while they work on selling the parents a long-term placement at one of their other facilities.  They used to do the same with High Impact.

[Anonymous]

"In the years since Steve Cartisano was acquitted of criminal charges stemming from the death of Kristin Chase, he has directed wilderness programs in a succession of Caribbean locales, sometimes under the alias Scott Richards, generating allegations of abuse and fraud wherever he has landed. In 1993, police in San Juan, Puerto Rico, discovered five boys hog-tied in a car with nooses around their necks. Their keeper explained that the kids were enrolled in one of Cartisano's courses and had been bound to keep them from escaping."

Source: Teen Advocates USA (TAUSA)
"Loving Them To Death"
http://www.teenadvocatesusa.homestead.c ... herapy.com

Click on Kristen Chase

[Anonymous]

Try this link (html not com)

http://www.teenadvocatesusa.homestead.c ... erapy.html

Click on KRISTEN CHASE

[cmpsfty]

Contact the following ICPC Administrator with information in regard to White River Adventure

Cheryl S. Hydman
ICPC Administrator
Department of Human Services
Knud Hansen Complex Building A
1303 Hospital Ground
ST Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802

Phone Number:
1-340-7740-930 Ext. 4167

If you believe that people cannot be trusted to govern themselves,
then can they be trusted to govern others?
 
--Thomas Jefferson

[cmpsfty]

On 2004-05-12 14:40:00, cmpsfty wrote:

"Contact the following ICPC Administrator with information in regard to White River Adventure



Cheryl S. Hydman

ICPC Administrator

Department of Human Services

Knud Hansen Complex Building A

1303 Hospital Ground

ST Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802



Phone Number:

1-340-7740-930 Ext. 4167

If you believe that people cannot be trusted to govern themselves,
then can they be trusted to govern others?
 
--Thomas Jefferson

"

I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.

--Thomas Carlyle

[Anonymous]

Ok people here in is the first red flag.

It is a contract written to protect the program.  It is not a contract written to protect the child.

WHITE RIVER ADVENTURE
CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
Enrollment Contract made by, between, and among White River Adventure. A residential program
organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Common Wealth of Puerto Rico with its
principal place of business at or near Rio Grande, and the undersigned, whether one or more (?client?),
for benefit of the child or ward of client (?child?):
Recitals
1. White River Adventure operates a facility at or near Rio Grande for the purpose of providing
behavior modification, structure, 24-hour supervision, self esteem and emotional growth services
for children with special needs.
2. White River Adventure is properly licensed by A.R.P.E. and the Department of Salud.
3. Client desires to employ White River Adventure for purposes of providing services to the child, for
the consideration, and subject to the terms contained herein.
NOW THEREFORE THIS CONTRACT
1. GUARDIANSHIP ? The Sponsors affirm that they are the legal __________________________
with _____________________________ custody of _____________________________________
(Hereinafter ?the child?) whose birth date is ___________________________, and that they
expressly desire to contract from his admission to the program according to the terms of this
agreement. The Program shall be entitled to rely on the representation of either of the above-named
Sponsors with respect to the Child, regardless of whether the term ?Sponsor? appears in this
agreement in the singular or the plural.
2. ADMISSION OF CHILD ? Upon the completion of this agreement, the program agrees to review
for the admission the above named Child and promises to undertake and provide the following
services and facilities: room and board, 24-hour supervision, emotional growth program, group
sessions, all routine progress services, supervised use of recreational equipment and facilities,
supervised work projects, admission lab screening, clothing and personal amenities, haircuts, postal
costs, and incidental allowance expenditures.
3. CONTRACT PERIOD - This agreement will begin the ___________ day of __________________,
____________ and will be effective for a period of 90 days. This contract shall be renewed
automatically on a month-to-month basis at that time, unless either party terminates this agreement
by giving written notice to the other parties outlined in section 9.a. 9.b.
4. FINANCIAL PROVISION
a. ROOM AND BOARD and THERAPY AND TREATMENT CHARGES - The tuition rate for
services described under section 2 shall be: $7,470.00 for a period of 90 days and will include
services listed in section 2 of this contract.
b. ADDITIONAL COSTS AND EXPENSES - In addition to the above payment, the Sponsor(s)
agree to pay for the following expenses incurred by the Child, which will be billed to the
Sponsor(s) monthly as they arise: individual therapy, major medical and dental expenses,
prescribed medications, airline or other forms of transportation (including admission and
discharge travel expenses), special psychological testing beyond that which is normally covered
by the Program.
Page 1 of 3
c. PAYMENT SCHEDULE - A payment of nine thousand nine hundred and seventy dollars
($9,970.00) consisting of the placement fee of $2,000.00 plus the tuition at seven thousand four
hundred and seventy dollars ($7,470.00) and five hundred dollars ($500.00) are due upon
admission. All other costs described under 4.b. shall be billed to the Sponsor(s) on a monthly
basis.
d. ANNUAL RATE INCREASE - The tuition rate described under 4.a. shall be subject to annual
increase.
e. RESPONSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO PROPERTY BY THE CHILD - Sponsor(s) agree to be
financially responsible for the costs of repairing or replacing any program property or personals,
or for the replacement of any property belonging to others which may be located at the facility
which has been damaged, defaced or destroyed by the Child, or for any damage resulting from
injury to third person caused by the Child.
f. EXPENSES FOR THE ASSISTANCE IN THE RETURN OF A RUNAWAY CHILD ? In the
event that the Child becomes a run-away, either from program or elsewhere, the Program will use
reasonable efforts to assist the Sponsor(s) in finding the child and in obtaining the safe return of
the child to the program. An accounting of the expenses incurred by the program while assisting
the Sponsor(s) in finding and returning the Child to the program will be made to the Sponsor(s).
Sponsor(s) will be responsible for one half of such expenses.
g. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY - The Program is not liable financially or
otherwise, for the loss, damage, or theft of any of the Child?s property during their stay.
h. COSTS OF COLLECTION: ATTORNEY FEES - Sponsor(s) agree to pay for the cost of
collection of any amounts due under this agreement, including reasonable attorney?s fees at the
rate of 35% of the balance assigned plus the court costs. The Sponsor(s) also agree to pay 18%
annum on any unpaid balance that becomes over 60 days past due both during the program
process and if any default occurs.
5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURY OR ACCIDENT - The Program is not liable for any injuries,
illness or other damages occurring to the Child during the term of enrollment, including any
resulting from the Child?s participating (on or off campus) in programs or activities of the program.
6. RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOST, STOLEN OR DAMAGED PERSONAL PROPERTY - The
Program is not responsible or liable for any lost, stolen or damaged personal property of the Child
during the term of enrollment, including any resulting from the Child?s participating (on or off
campus) in programs or activities of the program, nor is the Program liable for any lost, stolen or
damaged personal property of the Child which is the result of actions on the part of another Child.
7. RELEASE OF RECORDS - The Program shall release the Child?s records to other facilities upon
the specific request and written authorization of the Sponsor(s). However, said records shall not be
released until all balances owing the program under this contract are paid in full.
8. CHOICE OF JURISDICTION, LAW, AND OTHER MATTERS - Sponsor(s) agree to be subject to
jurisdiction of Puerto Rico Courts in any dispute between the parties of this agreement. The parties
agree that Puerto Rico law shall govern this agreement. Failure of either party to enforce any term
or provision of this agreement shall not constitute or be constructed as a waiver of such term or
provision of the right to enforce it. If any provision of this agreement is construed as overbroad as
written, the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable according to applicable law.
Page 2 of 3
9. EARLY ENROLLMENT TERMINATION
a. TERMINATION BY PROGRAM - The Program reserves the right to terminate this agreement at
any time upon seven (7) days advance notice to Sponsor(s). In the event of such termination by
the Program, the Program shall refund any unused portion of tuition paid.
b. WITHDRAWEL BY SPONSOR(S) - Sponsor(s) retain the right to terminate the agreement at any
time. In the event that the Sponsor(s) withdraw the child prior to the completion of the treatment,
the Sponsor(s) shall forfeit all remaining tuition for the breach of this agreement. The equivalent
of said tuition is considered by the parties of this agreement as a reasonable pre-estimate of the
probable loses that would be sustained by the program in the event of a withdrawal of a child
prior to the completion of the treatment plan goals. This ?loss? amount is not considered by either
of the parties to this agreement as a penalty of early withdrawal of the Child. Instead, because the
cost of such items as contracted staff salaries, incurred debt reduction, staff schedules,
inventories, operation expenses, etc., are so difficult or impossible to accurately estimate the
tuition payment equivalent appears to each of the parties as a reasonable estimate of the Programs
losses associated with the early withdrawal of the child. In the event of such withdrawal,
Sponsor(s) will not be entitled to a refund of the initial placement fee.
10. THE UNDERSIGNED AGREE(S) - That in the event that other healthcare professional providers,
including, but not limited to other hospital(s), furnish services to the child while in the program, the
consent(s), assignment(s), guarantee(s), and release(s), herein above set out apply to other
providers and services.
11. SCOPE AND MEANING OF AGREEMENT - Sponsor(s) hereby acknowledge that they have
read the agreement and that they understand and assent to the provisions. This agreement
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties except as may be noted by attached addendum
when appropriate.
IN WITNESS WHERE OF, The parties have executed this agreement as of the last day set forth
below.
___________________________ signed this _______ day of __________________, ______
Signature of sponsor (Father/Guardian)
___________________________ signed this _______ day of __________________, ______
Signature of sponsor (Mother/Guardian)
___________________________ signed this _______ day of __________________, ______
Signature of financial sponsor other than guardian
___________________________ signed this _______ day of __________________, ______
Signature & Seal of Notary:

[Anonymous]

So what's the deal?  Who owns this program? My guess is that the owners are parents, who once had a child in some offshore program and decided they wanted to start their own program (like the parents in Oregon who started a program in Fiji).

Has anybody bothered to call the program and just ask them who the owners/investors are?

 :silly:

[cmpsfty]

I wrote a letter to the Administrative Contact for White River Adventure.  
We should all let Mr. Houston know how we feel about yet another out of state program selling their product online.

Tyler Houston
domains@olwm.com

The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism.


--William Osler

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain the $2k "placement" fee?

[cherish wisdom]

No explanation should be needed. This is a money making business that preys on families in crisis. When a parent is led to believe that their child will die most will pay whatever it takes to SAVE their child.  This is how parents are manipulated and defrauded by this industry. There are many other alternatives that aren't looked at.  In a way - this is an eacy way out of parenting a difficult child.  Many just don't have to time that it takes - so often these programs seem like a very good option. They are not - they are dangerous - BUT MOST people are not aware of the dangers associated.  

When the government's boot is on your throat, whether it is a left boot or a right boot is of no consequence.
-- Gary Lloyd

[Anonymous]

CW and Spots - you are kidding yourselves if you think ed cons and independent referral agents aren't benefiting from the negative publicity surrounding this industry.  In fact, they are laughing all the way to the bank.

Fear (like greed) is good.

Scaring parents is not going to shut down the industry any time soon, but it sure is helping to fatten the bank accounts of ed cons and independent referral agents who charge big bucks to give these "scared" parents a false sense of security about their program-of-choice.

 :evil: