Author Topic: Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??  (Read 8629 times)

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Offline anto_gm@msn.com

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« on: February 16, 2005, 11:45:00 AM »
I have to make the difficult decision to send my 14 old daughter to either one of these residential school. Does anyone have any info about them? The Cooper Canyon Academy is in central AZ and it's part of the Aspern Education Group; the Academy at Sisters is in Bend, OR.

Thank you very much for any information you can have.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline tlcrescue

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2005, 12:24:00 PM »
well, a search on here and the internet does not reveal anything negative.  Just be sure to following the warning signs listed below when choosing ANY school:

Warning Signs of Potentially Abusive Facilities:

The facility is not licensed.

Verbal and/or written communication between the child and his parents, siblings, grandparents, etc. is prohibited, restricted, or monitored on any level.

The facility requires that the parents and/or child sign a form releasing the program of liability in the event of injury to the child.

The program requests/demands/recommends that they have legal custody of children.

The program requires that children live in foster or "host" homes instead of allowing them to reside with their parents.

The child or parent or forbidden from discussing the daily happenings at the facility. Often this policy is called "confidentiality."

The child is denied access to a telephone.

Phone calls between children and parents are monitored.

The program uses confrontational therapy.

Parents must fulfill requirements of the facility before being permitted to visit their own children.

The facility is located outside the jurisdiction of the United States.

Children are restrained or otherwise physically prevented from leaving the facility.

The staff includes former students/clients of the facility.

Staff members claim that self-injury or cutting/carving on ones body is normal behavior for a child in treatment.

Parents are not allowed to remain with their child during the entire intake/entry process.

The program inflicts physical punishments on children such as exercising for extended periods of time, bizarre cleaning rituals (ie scrubbing floors with a toothbrush) or food restrictions.

The program uses humiliation to "break them down."

The program forces children to remain in solitary confinement/isolation/time-out for an unspecified amount of time.

Reading materials are prohibited or severely limited.

The facility does not have a clearly visible sign outside the building or descriptions of their location are vague.

The facility claims to modify behavior, yet has no licensed therapists on staff.

A licensed doctor or registered nurse is not present at any time during normal operating hours.

Current clients/students participate in the intake/entry process.

Staff members offer to help parents obtain a court order forcing the child into, or keeping the child in, the facility.

Children are observed while bathing, dressing, or using the toilet on any level of the program.

The facility claims to treat drug abuse, but does not conduct a drug screen prior to entry.
The facility does not allow children to follow their religion of choice.

Staff members must "approve" family members, siblings, friends, or employment.

Children are not afforded an education in accordance with state requirements.

Medication is recommended, prescribed, approved, or dispensed by anyone other than a medical doctor (MD).

Children are denied medications that have been prescribed by an MD.

Staff members, admissions personnel, referrers, etc. make statements indicating that "your child will die without" the program.

Children escort/supervise other children.

Children have to "earn" the "right" to speak during group/therapy sessions.

Children are denied outside activities on any level/phase.
Staff members must approve the withdrawal of children from the facility.

The facility expects total and unquestioned support of parents.

Children on any level/phase are forbidden to speak to other children in the facility.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2005, 03:17:00 PM »
Both of these programs are on the watchlist of HEAL (http://www.heal-online.org/childtortureusa.htm).

Copied from the above URL:

"Copper Canyon Academy: located in Lake Montezuma, AZ is confirmedly an abusive behavior modification program.  They use a level-based system similar to Provo Canyon School and the WWASPS programs.  They limit contact between parent and child to censored/shared w/ staff written correspondence while on the initial orientation level.  This contact is increased to one monthly phone call with staff supervision watching and monitoring all the child says while on the phone.  These conditions make it virtually impossible for a child to report any abuse without suffering greater risk of unnecessary and cruel punishment.  Please do not send your child to any program that limits your contact with them.  If you were abused at Copper Canyon Academy or had your rights violated in anyway (it is against federal law for them to read your incoming or outgoing written correspondence and lawsuits have shown time and again that these institutions are guilty of breaking federal laws by doing this) please contact us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to others. To read an online testimonial regarding abuse and violations at this facility as reported by a former employee of Copper Canyon, please click here."

"The Academy at Sisters in Bend, OR is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification facility.  According to their website they use ?cognitive restructuring? and ?behavior modification? techniques on their captives.  Both of these terms are defined as types of brainwashing.  Based on this information and the lack of detail regarding the structure of their program in general makes Academy at Sisters highly suspect.  We recommend you do not send your child to this program.  If you were abused or had your rights violated by Academy at Sisters, please contact us with your experience so we may post it here as a warning to others."

Read the warning signs, ask the tough questions (such as, "do you censor, monitor, or limit communication between parents and children in any way?", "do you encourage a confrontational approach as part of the therapeutic process?", "are children in the upper levels or more advanced stages of the program made to supervise or instruct other children?", etc), and RESEARCH as much as you can. Good luck.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline tlcrescue

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2005, 03:56:00 PM »
thanks anon!  i was not aware of that website and it did not come up when i did a search for the two school names.
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Offline anto_gm@msn.com

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2005, 04:08:00 PM »
Thank you so much for your feedback.
Those schools were supposed to be the best in the nation.
Is there anything good out there???
My daughter really needs serious help...
Thanks.
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Offline tlcrescue

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2005, 04:23:00 PM »
That is a really hard question to answer.  I guess the main thing to always be aware of, are the things listed on the "watch list" from up above.

I sent my son to a school and after a week, my mother's intuition was telling me something wasn't right so I went to pick him up.  My intution turned out to be correct and he had been harmed in the one week he was there.  HOwever, had I followed the advice on the watch list above, I would have NEVER sent him there because each thing on the list applied to this school, as does many of them.

I too am in the struggle over finding a "good" school, but have yet to find one I am comfortable with, especially after my son's ordeal.

Just use the watch list above!  It is the most important think in your search for a school!
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Offline Nihilanthic

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2005, 06:03:00 PM »
Needs help?

WHATS THE PROBLEM?

Being vague and general is the WRONG thing to do. These camps claim to fix vague, generic problems, or basically they just say they want any kid that has gullable enough parents to send there.

Also, more than likely your kid wouldnt do well in a program, nor need one! Without specifics nobody can recommend anything.

You know, too many weirdos out there. At least with you people I know WHY you are weird!!!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Straight_Inc_Alumni/' target='_new'>Kady

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
DannyB on the internet:I CALLED A LAWYER TODAY TO SEE IF I COULD SUE YOUR ASSES FOR DOING THIS BUT THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

CCMGirl on program restraints: "DON\'T TAZ ME BRO!!!!!"

TheWho on program survivors: "From where I sit I see all the anit-program[sic] people doing all the complaining and crying."

Offline anto_gm@msn.com

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2005, 06:21:00 PM »
Asking help for my daughter:a 14yr old, now in a wildnerness program with drug abuse, defiant behavior, run-away, depressed, with anger problem who blames others for her mistakes.
Placement in TBS has been recommended and can't find a good one...
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Offline Nihilanthic

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2005, 06:37:00 PM »
They recommend because they want MONEY. It's been said over and over again. They get money for referrals!

Also, depression and anger probs will NOT be treated with a TBS. Wilderness programs dont necessarily have any real therapy anyway. MOST operate by making them basically brownnose and suck up and do as told for a few months go get out so they dont want to go back.

While in the short term it might scare them into obedience it wont treat the ACTUAL PROBLEM.

Get a psychologist to see your kid and make recommendations, and look for programs in town that arent 24/7 and cut you off from your kid.

PUNISHMENT isnt going to fix any problems! If they're using drugs more than likely its a SYMPTOM of another problem. Defiance? Being a teenager. Depression? Symptom of another problem. Anger problem?  That also needs actual psychotherapy.

"Blaming others for her mistakes"? Thats just typical program bullshit... our government does it all the time. Its not something you go to a program for.

Get a real therapist and be with your kid instead of shipping her off and thinkling she'll be magically fixed with methods you know nothing about. Ever wonder why you dont?

There arent any.

The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether priests and kings shall rule it by fictitious miracles.
--John Adams, U.S. President

« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
DannyB on the internet:I CALLED A LAWYER TODAY TO SEE IF I COULD SUE YOUR ASSES FOR DOING THIS BUT THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

CCMGirl on program restraints: "DON\'T TAZ ME BRO!!!!!"

TheWho on program survivors: "From where I sit I see all the anit-program[sic] people doing all the complaining and crying."

Offline Anonymous

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #9 on: February 17, 2005, 01:40:00 AM »
I suggest that you take your daughter to a real, licensed psychologist, so she could be properly evaluated. There could be many, many reasons for these behaviors, and the first step should be defining exactly what the problem is, and where is all that anger coming from, and why.

A real psychologist, not some program quack, could also refer you to treatment options which would be more helpful than those RTC's and TBS's.
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Offline plomly22

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2005, 03:41:00 AM »
I was not a student at Copper Canyon, but I do know the director of counseling Linda Cathcart and therapist Sequoia Smith. They were both former therapists at Spring Ridge Academy when I was there in 97' and 98'. The programs are almost exactly the same. I was never a patient of either of them, thankfully. The majority of the girls who had Sequoia did not like him. He didn't seem to know what he was doing. I had a big problem with the staff turn over, I had three different therapists while at SRA. I think its hard to start over with a new therapist every few months while you are trying to move up to higher phases. The rules about letters, phone calls, and visits are very strict and I do not recommend a place where they are restricted at all.

I do not believe the "seminars" as they are called are helpful in any way and would never want anyone to have to go through them.
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Spring Ridge Academy 97-99
SUWS 99
Dancing Moon Ranch 99-00

Offline anto_gm@msn.com

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #11 on: February 17, 2005, 11:05:00 AM »
Thank you everybody for your feedback.
My daughter has actually been in therapy for 2 years...The therapist herself recommended a more drastic intervention. Her use in drugs and alcohol has been escalating in the last months.Unfortunately TBS are considered the only options we have for her safety. Even the wildnerness program, and this is a very good one, apparently is not enough.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #12 on: February 17, 2005, 12:19:00 PM »
A good article that should be read by any parent who's looking into the TBS option is "Safe Choices for Troubled Teens" (http://www.nospank.net/choices.htm).

I don't know the specifics of your daughters condition, of course, but have you and your daughter looked into options such as moving in with a relative, or transferring to a (traditional) boarding school? sometimes, just taking some time and distance away from the situation can really help.
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Offline Anonymous

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« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2005, 01:09:00 PM »
auto_gm,
Do you have any idea why your daughter is unhappy? People don't seek to alter their consciousness in a reckless way unless they are sad, hopeless, confused, scared, been or being abused or molested, and/or suffering low self image.

What would you guess the underlying issue to be?
How can you help?
You, as her mother, have a better opportunity to help your daughter find peace with herself and the world. Strangers do not have a vested interest, you do.
Even though she may not show it, teens really like to know that their parents are on their side, appreciate when their parents really listen, and when their parents model how to address problems. It provides what most are missing. Hope.
In this case, you could proceed as if she were your best friend. What concerns would you have for a friend in a similar situation? How would you 'help' that friend?
Would you assume that she just woke up one day and decided to abuse? Or might you wonder what caused the change?
Be your daughter's ally. It's your best hope.
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Offline plomly22

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Copper Canyon Academy , AZ & The Academy at Sisters, OR??
« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2005, 05:08:00 PM »
I was put in therapy when I was 9. A good therapist that your daughter will connect with can be a long process and you have to keep trying. The first person I found who I could talk to was a psychiatrist in the first psych hospital I went to when I was 15. I still do not trust my parents because they sent me away.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
Spring Ridge Academy 97-99
SUWS 99
Dancing Moon Ranch 99-00