Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Troubled Teen Industry => Topic started by: search4truth on November 18, 2007, 06:57:17 PM
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Owners of Boys' School Plan Delphos, Kan., Girls' School
By Tim Unruh, The Salina Journal, Kan.
Mar. 8--DELPHOS -- The owners of Tipton Academy, a boys' school that opened last August in a former Tipton school, intend to expand operations to Delphos by June 1.
The former Delphos Middle School, vacant since 2003, is to be the home of Meadowlark Academy, a private girls' school owned by Kevin and Kaye Richey.
"Any jobs in a small community like this is a big help," said Arnie Alderson, mayor of Delphos, population 400.
Similar schools are planned in a number of other small towns, by other groups, said Dave Rose, a Salina real estate agent who is leasing the Delphos school to the Richeys. They have an option to buy.
"It's mainly because we offer a number of properties that are very inviting to people who are in these types of business," he said.
"They can get a lot of square footage for a very reasonable price, and they can locate dedicated and willing workers at a very reasonable wage."
Tipton Academy is home to 23 boys age 12 to 17, and the Richeys, who are from St. George, Utah, expect enrollment to swell to 50. The academy provides 31 jobs, with the possibility of growing to 40 or more employees.
The Delphos school building is larger.
"We have room for at least 100 there," Kevin Richey said.
Typically, such schools cater to parents and guardians of troubled teens. Tuition is $3,000 a month, and students generally stay about a year.
Meadowlark Academy will employ from 70 to 80 people.
Other deals are in the works at Esbon, where Ted and Tom Madsen, Cedar City, Utah, intend to transform White Rock Middle School into White Rock Academy, a private school for boys. White Rock Middle School will close in May when the White Rock and Mankato school districts are consolidated into the Rock Hills School District, said Bill Walker, superintendent of both districts.
He said the Madsens are under contract to purchase the Esbon school building for $120,000, with $20,000 going to the Esbon community and rest to the school district.
The White Rock Academy, which is awaiting state licensing, initially will employ 20 people and have 20 male students, Walker said.
"I think it's a great opportunity for Esbon," Walker said.
More deals are in the works. The Roses helped facilitate the sale of a former school building -- currently a community center -- in Beattie, north of Manhattan, to another Utah group. It will be operated as a youth academy, Dave Rose said.
Rose, a real estate agent, and his wife, Susan, market school buildings and other property through e-Bay and other methods. He said they've been contacted by an organization looking for five more school buildings in Kansas.
"These groups prefer small communities where students are safer and can be more involved in community-service projects, and a better quality of life," Dave Rose said.
To continue with plans in Delphos, the Richeys have backing from local investors, in the form of a guaranteed loan.
So far, Delphos Mayor Arnoldson likes what has occurred.
"Several of us have been over to their academy (at Tipton) two or three times, and we're really impressed with the program," he said.
"We visited with some of the boys and they speak pretty highly of it."
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To see more of The Salina Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.saljournal.com (http://www.saljournal.com).
Copyright (c) 2006, The Salina Journal, Kan.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail http://www.redorbit.com/news/display/?id=420839 (http://www.redorbit.com/news/display/?id=420839)
Published: 2006/03/08 18:00:45 CST
© RedOrbit 2005
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That was from last fucking year!
Please get this info to us on time so we can inoculate the area against it and prevent the place from opening to begin with.
Yes, this has actually happened, although I can't recall names and I think there was already an existing group against the facility's being built. Deb, do you remember details?
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The "Utah group" referred to in The Salina Journal article is the Ahquin family; who own the Liohona Academy in Utah.
Beattie council OK's sale of school
by Vernita Peeks
Last Updated: December 07, 2005 03:01:03 PM
The former Beattie school will be sold to become a for-profit boarding school for special needs children ages 12-17, provided the school passes inspection by the purchaser, Beattie Academy.
The unanimous decision Tuesday evening by the Beattie City Council came after a report by Councilmen Joe Studer, Kevin O'Neil and Rob Olmsted and city maintenance man Leon Krous, who went to Virgin, Utah, over the weekend to visit a school there owned and operated by the same organization that will establish Beattie Academy.
The group from Beattie also talked with people in the school community, in law enforcement and city government in Virgin.
After the report, the more than 50 residents attending the meeting had a chance to ask questions. Then the council went into a 15-minute closed session to discuss sale of property.
Back in open session, the council voted to accept a resolution prepared by City Attorney Jason Brinegar. The resolution authorized the mayor to sell the east two-thirds of block 31, which is the school, for $75,000 under the conditions that the purchaser not apply for neighborhood revitalization or any state or federal tax exempt programs, that the organization meet all state requirements for boarding schools, that a fence be erected within 90 days of any city council resolution requiring it and that the city have the right of first refusal if the organization decides to sell in the future.
The purchaser is Joseph AhQuin of Virgin, Utah, who proposes to establish Beattie Academy.
Studer said at the Tuesday meeting that the facility in Virgin is a treatment facility, not a boarding school like Beattie Academy will be.
It is about five years old, on the edge of town, near a residential area, with a stone wall but no fence, Studer said.
The Utah facility has 46 students, Studer said. He said although Beattie Academy may have 225 students eventually, that is a long way from a beginning population of 30-40.
Studer said Beattie Academy will be a boarding school, not a treatment center like the Utah school, but he would have no problem with a facility like the one in Utah. The doors are locked there, he said, the staff works three eight-hour shifts and the students are always watched. The students look like everyone else in the community, he said.
Beattie Academy board would be brothers Joe and Clayton AhQuin and Steve Hall.
"Those guys are pretty impressive," Studer said. They knew how to interact with the kids and the kids all knew them, he said.
"I went out there open-minded and tried to find out something wrong but didn't find anything," Studer said.
O'Neil said he went looking for problems, too, but didn't find anything.
O'Neil said he talked with a 16-year old from Dallas who had been there 8-9 months and felt he had turned his life around.
Krous said he talked to a student who was not selected to talk with the visitors, and he got the same response.
"This program is incredible," O'Neil said. "It's ranked in the top five in the country, and other people are coming to consult with them."
The success rate at the Utah treatment center is 60 percent, he said.
O'Neil said the Beattie group talked with mayors of Virgin and Hurricane, Utah, and with a member of the Virgin City Council whom they met in a coffee shop. The feedback was positive overall, he said.
Olmsted said it will take at least eight months before the purchasers will be ready to open Beattie Academy.
When he was asked if there would be a Mormon religious bias in the school, Olmsted said he didn't detect any type of religious emphasis in the program in Utah. They focus on the kids and their needs, he said.
In response to information that the state of Utah has more than 300 special schools and treatment centers for youth, Olmsted said he thought there are so many because Mormons are very service-oriented and put a lot of quality and care in people.
O'Neil said these are not Mormon kids in the school, and there was no chapel in the school.
Studer said the residential part of the school had two plain bunkbeds for four students in each room. It was very quiet, there was no yelling, he said.
Residents at the meeting presented petitions showing a number of people in Beattie are undecided about whether they are for or against selling the school to become Beattie Academy.
Debbie Dwerlkotte, Beattie, spoke and asked the council to table the issue of selling the school so extensive research could be done on taxes the for-profit school would pay, licensing that would be needed, financial stability of the AhQuins, and determination of requirements for a use permit to be issued by the city of Beattie.
One of the council members indicated the AhQuins have already looked at schools in other small Kansas communities and will simply go there if they cannot buy the Beattie school.
Studer said if they come to Beattie and are not accepted by the community, they will leave because community acceptance is part of their plan.
Studer said if a manufacturer bought the school, there would be no guarantee that there would be no problems with personnel in the community or that they would stay.
"I think the Academy would help this town; I think this would put some pride in the community," he said.
December 8, 2005
Beattie Academy owners plan to move ahead soon
Last Updated: August 23, 2006 03:29:42 PM
The Beattie Academy, a residential school made from the old Beattie Public School, is definitely going to happen.
Joe AhQuin, Virgin, Utah, who purchased the Beattie school building in January, said Tuesday that he got slowed down with what was happening with another school he and his brother Clay own in Utah.
AhQuin said he is working now with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on standards and requirements for Beattie Academy to be a boarding school for children with special needs.
“We definitely will get it going; I’m just not sure of the time,â€
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Kevin Richey? Is that the dude that used to handle referrals for Wwasps along with the infamous Randall Hinton (Teen Help)?
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Programs in Kansas opened by owners/employees from Utah:
Kevin Richey - from St George, Utah
Tipton Academy
Meadowlark Academy
Ted and Todd Madsen - from Cedar City, Utah
White Rock Academy
Joseph AhQuin - Utah
Beattie Academy
Realtor Dave Rose states: "More deals are in the works....These groups prefer small communities where students are safer and can be more iinvolved in community service projects, and a better quaity of life."
Has anyone else heard of other programs that have opened in Kansas?
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Kevin Richey? Is that the dude that used to handle referrals for Wwasps along with the infamous Randall Hinton (Teen Help)?
Yes.
See topic:
"Sue Scheff's PURE Refers to Kevin Richey's Tipton Academy"
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so the new academy's population will be 1/4-1/3 of that of the town it's in. it'll be interesting to see what kind of effect this new school is going to have on the community. watch how the entire town converts to the aspen cultus, starts a church of aspen. that school is going to be the #1 employer in that town.
i once lived in a town where a fire extinguisher maker and the local high school employed around 90% of the locals. it had a profound effect - half the people were pyro and chemistry nuts, and the other half were nutty teachers. 10 years before that, texas instruments operated the same extinguisher factory, but put out calculator chips instead. although most of the people making chips later went on to make extinguishers, while they were making chips the whole town was crazy about electronics instead of chemistry and pyro stuff.
or look at the profound effect that wal-mart has on towns when they move in. i cant imagine Aspen is going to be much different.
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Does anyone know who this Dave Rose is? Does he have any other ties to the industry? This name sounds familiar. Can't place it though.
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Name of company
United Country Mid West eService, Inc,
http://www.ucmweservices.com/agents.htm (http://www.ucmweservices.com/agents.htm)
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News Release
Contacts
Tipton Mayor Adrian Arnoldy
785-373- 5685
Community Development Director- Murray McGee
785-738-2717
Kevin Richey Tipton Academy 435-628-7015
Tipton Sells Civic Center to Utah Company
The Tipton City Council is pleased to announce they have sold the Tipton Civic Center to Markay Specialty Schools of St. George, Utah. The owner of the company, Kevin Richey plans to convert the former elementary school building in Tipton, KS into a school for troubled teens and operate under the name Tipton Academy.
Richey has told the city he plans to employ up to 40 people when in full operation. The school will operate year round, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. The students will be boys 12 to 18 years old. The facility will be licensed by the state of Kansas. It will be a secure facility and the boys will be housed inside the school building.
The school was sold on e-Bay with the assistance of Midwest E-Services in Salina and with the help of Mitchell County Community Development. Murray McGee, director of Community Development fielded questions from over a dozen parties interested in the former school building. He also assisted the city council reviewing business plans and conducting background checks on prospective businesses interested in purchasing the building. McGee said, "We wanted to find something that was the best fit for the community and for the business."
Tipton Mayor Adrian Arnoldy said, "We think this will be a big boost for our community. It will employ a lot of people and they will need services from our neighboring communities as well."
Tipton is a community of approximately 243 people located in southwestern Mitchell County.
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Buying and selling real estate on E-BAY? Gotta love it.
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Wanna job working at Tipton?
http://www.nationjob.com/job/mkss2 (http://www.nationjob.com/job/mkss2)
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Markay Specialty Schooling, Inc.
Registered with Utah Department of Commerce
MARKAY SPECIALTY SCHOOLS, INC.
Entity Number: 5801841-0142
Registration Date: 12/23/2004
https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/index (https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/index)
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Why is Kansas an attraction to these program owners?
Licensing standards, maybe?
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Tipton Academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/Tipton_Academy) - content of enrollment will be integrated in the article.
Meadowlark Academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/Meadowlark_Academy)
White Rock Academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/White_Rock_Academy) works together with Key Point Academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/Key_Point_Academy) maybe serving as upper level station as it is known from the WWASP programs (Pillars of Hope formerly known as Dundee Ranch is now a upper level facility only)
Beattie Academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/Beattie_Academy) This facility will never open. The brother of the owner of Liahona Academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/Liahona_Academy) did choose to sell it early this year to a company outside the industry.
caused economists
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From the homepage of: White Rock academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/White_Rock_Academy):
Visitation is highly recommended. We encourage parents and guardians to transport the student to or from the facility. A lot of times this is not feasibly possible. But we enjoy visits from families to personally get to know them. Visitation during the stay is not always possible.
My english is not so good. What does it mean?
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thi is the strong model's page. Cover, you can't understand it, becasue it makes no sense. I have to assume this was written by a low level level koolaid drinker (a kid mabye) who spouts the jargon, while having no graps whatsoever of its meaning, or even what it's supposed to mean.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""The Strong Model of Interaction and Intervention
The following diagram provides a graphical look at the Strong Model. The diagram itself is quite simple. However, the dynamics surrounding its proper implementation are powerful and insightful. (See also Origins of the Strong Model)
To summarize what you are seeing, and to help you understand the power of the model, look simply at the matrix approach to interaction:
1. Implied in the process from left to right, the equation states that the desired outcome of all discipline levels (authority, group, and self), when combined with helpful intent, is value-based performance. This goes beyond mere obedience, which requires only adherence to the dictates of authority.
2. Following the flow from top to bottom, the equation implies that the individual (self) is closer to his/her problems than anyone else. If the self level of discipline can become motivated to seek solutions on his/her own, without continued intervention from other levels of discipline, long-term success is assured. Though the individual may seek help from other levels of discipline, the individual becomes vested in personal success, and therefore does not wait for intervention to overcome issues as they arise.
Note that the most important level of discipline is self discipline, when it comes to solving problems. However, it is the authority level who is responsible for maintaining a climate and culture of change, growth, and safety. The dynamics of this understood difference in roles is critical for individual, group, and leadership success.
Observe the model, and read on.
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Parents, and often staff members and intervention specialists regularly become caught in the trap of creating systems of interaction that actually reinforce the thinking errors of troubled young people, and in effect reinforce their negative power. For instance, consequences and punishments alone are not solutions to problems. Yet the overwhelming majority of authority figures have been taught their entire lives that rigid, well-defined consequences for inappropriate action provides adequate control over negative behavior. Therefore, when they issue a consequence, they incorrectly believe that they have done all they need to do to solve a child's problem.
Although this basic flow of thought is quite simple, consider these questions:
Who needs to solve the child's problems? The adult or the child?
Who is responsible for the child's problems? The adult or the child?
If the adult continually administers consequences and rewards, thinking this is sufficient, the child may (or may not) hop through the hoops of performance for the adult. But if the child's values remain inconsistent with the adult's, has the problem been solved? What will happen when the adult, the consequences, and the rewards are no longer around?
In his seminars to parents, and in his instruction to staff members and intervention specialists, Michael Behning stresses that inappropriate (and far too common) approaches to child and adolescent discipline actually reinforce weakness, and fail to demand strength. Why, ultimately, do adults fail to demand value-based performance of the children in their charge? The answers to that question vary. Often adults simply don't believe the children are capable of that kind of maturity or strength. Sometimes, however, the adults have been taught to deal with behavior problems through conflict and punishment, and they simply don't realize that there are far more powerful ways to handle adolescent problems. Sadly, sometimes adults don't care enough to attempt, then to stay loyal to other, stronger approaches to child management. This occurs in family, academic, and treatment settings far too often.
Ironically, young people are eager to display their strength. Yet their thinking errors often interpret strength as destructive or defiant behavior. This is compounded when a child's self-concept is low due to learning or psychological problems, drug use, abuse issues, etc. Moreover, when a troubled child "digs in his heels" against a parent or authority figure, his errors in thought keep him defiant. Why? Because he thinks he is strong. Sometimes an unpopular child in a classroom actually gains the reward of being the hero of the classroom's subculture simply by fighting against the teacher, rules, rewards, and consequences.
Subscribe to the Strong Model newsletter (Demanding Strength), and participate in Strong Model Seminars and Workshops for far more depth and insight into the dynamics of the Strong Model of Interaction and Intervention. But ask yourself these final questions, and honestly consider the answers.
If an adult administers a punishment, and the child chooses to behave as a result of the punishment (or to avoid the punishment), who is in control, the adult or the child? Has not the child chosen to be in control?
If an adult provides a reward, and a child does what is desired for the reward, who is in control of the childs's behaviors, the adult or the child?
If the child has been in control all along, what happens when the child chooses to no longer respond to the punishments and rewards of authority? Here's you're clue: the child keeps the same control he/she always had. From that point forward the adult's punishment and reward system becomes futile, and will completely fail without becoming increasingly oppressive and difficult to manage.
How often do you think adults suffer from the delusion that their systems of rewards and consequences keep them in control?
The failure of adults to understand the power of adolescents limits their ability to draw upon that power. Adults feel they need to control. Adolescents naturally fight against giving up their perceived power, and suddenly adults and adolescents find themselves in the middle of a power struggle. Sadly, with proper intervention, both the adults and the adolescents can get what they want."""""""""""""""""""""
Don't they mean to say the opposite? That happily with internevtion, kids and adults can get what they want?
Otherwise they mean that it sucks that both adults and kids reach their goals. None of these program bullshit papers truly make sense , except for the subtextual totalism you can extract. They cannot make sense becasuse if they did, they'd esplicitly admit that they are torturing kids into reaching a "brainwashed" state
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Holy shit, they have it literally backwards.
The really scary thing is that they have almost everything right- that rewards and punishments don't fundamentally work, etc- and then they use THAT logic to justify forcible brainwashing, disgusting mind games, and abuse!
Exactly how the FUCK did they get from Point A to Point B in their thinking? If they followed their own logic to its natural conclusion, their program, or any program, could not exist!
It's like they're TRYING to create hatred monsters.
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http://www.strongmodel.com/ (http://www.strongmodel.com/)
can someone screen save this? I don't know how, and its so crazy and disturbing, i'm afraid they'll take the madness down and deny it's existance
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http://www.strongmodel.com/
can someone screen save this? I don't know how, and its so crazy and disturbing, i'm afraid they'll take the madness down and deny it's existance
Alt + File > Save (Page) As > Save as type: Web Page, complete. > click Save
That'll do it, and it'll retain more than just what fits the screen....
That'll be $5, please.
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bump
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Why is Kansas an attraction to these program owners?
Licensing standards, maybe?
Kansas Licensing
http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/regs.html (http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/regs.html)
Regs for RTCs
http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/regs/reside ... arding.htm (http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/regs/residentialgroupboarding.htm)
Very lame regulations. Need to be updated.
I couldn't find a facilities look up or reports on inspections of licensed facilities. If anyone finds either, please post a link.
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From the homepage of: White Rock academy (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/White_Rock_Academy):
Visitation is highly recommended. We encourage parents and guardians to transport the student to or from the facility. A lot of times this is not feasibly possible. But we enjoy visits from families to personally get to know them. Visitation during the stay is not always possible.
My english is not so good. What does it mean?
Dont worry covergaard neither is theirs! They are saying that they encourage visits from parents but sometimes this is not possible. They don't say why sometimes it is not possible
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Tipton (http://http://www.fornits.com/wiki/index.php/Tipton_Academy) connection to WWASP ??
Look here: Link (http://http://www.bulletinboards.com/v1.cfm?comcode=Titsch#1337786)
my name iis dakota lane. i was sent to Tipton academy. it is very similer to TB. i was their for 6 months. they always threatend to send us their if we were bad. i new a kid who was in TB for 3 months as a13 year old. any way i have many opinoins and stories i would love to share. these places need to be shut down!!!
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This place was founded by two members of the Madsen family, based out of Cedar City, Utah. It is yet another example of Utah based program operators setting up shop in small, naive, and economically vulnerable communities located out-of-state. I guess Kansas wasn't such a pushover after all.
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Salina Journal
White Rock Academy shut down by state (http://http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/White-Rock-closed-by-KDHE-021909)
Treatment center for troubled youth accused of multiple violations
By DAVID CLOUSTON
2/20/2009
ESBON -- The White Rock Academy, a residential treatment center for troubled adolescents ages 11 to 18, was ordered shut down by state health officials Thursday and academy officials have until 3 p.m. Monday to find other arrangements for the 24 youth housed there.
The academy's license was suspended after inspectors on at least three occasions -- Jan. 16, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 -- found emergency exit doors locked in violation of the state fire and safety code.
The facility had been ordered twice this month by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office to remove the locks.
The KDHE order also alleges the facility was failing to provide intensive mental health, drug and alcohol treatment to meet the levels of care needed by the residents.
At least one youth was reportedly handcuffed throughout his month-long stay at the facility in August 2007, the order states.
KDHE also charges that out-of-state youths at the academy did not have state authorities' permission to be admitted to a Kansas facility.
Deputies accompanied a representative from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, at her request, to serve the emergency suspension order on the facility, Jewell County Sheriff David Fullerton said Thursday.
The order stated the suspension was necessary to protect youths at the facility from physical abuse or substantial threats to their health or safety.
No one representing the academy could be reached for comment Thursday.
Licensed in 2007
The academy was issued an operating license by the state in April 2007, and is housed in the former White Rock Middle School. The school in Esbon, which is located about 12 miles northwest of Mankato and has a population of about 130, closed in 2006 when the White Rock and Mankato school districts consolidated into the Rock Hills School District.
The empty school building was transformed into the White Rock Academy by Ted and Tom Madsen of Cedar City, Utah.
The academy's Web site states it helps youth overcome self-destructive behavior through its "unique setting in the rural heartland of America" providing "an excellent therapeutic atmosphere" that includes working with and caring for various animals. The site includes photos of youths feeding calves and interacting with horses, as well as doing service projects around the town.
Services not offered
However, the state alleges that the equine therapy, individual academic tutoring and other specialized services were not being provided by the academy, said Tracy Diel, director of the administrative hearing office for KDHE.
Diel's office in Topeka hears appeals concerning administrative orders issued by the agency.
He said Thursday that there is a separate matter involving a Sept. 12 intent-to-suspend notice issued by KDHE against the White Rock Academy.
In addition to not providing the specialized services that the academy advertised, the earlier notice alleged that the academy changed policies without first submitting them to KDHE for approval. It also alleged that the facility was understaffed, compared to its stated ratio of staff to residents.
Other regulations violated
Diel said the facility was accused of recording in files treatments that were not actually provided. The state also accused the facility of violating regulations concerning youths' contact with their parents.
Lastly, he said, the facility was accused of not requiring staff to sign documents indicating they had read and agreed to abide by the academy's discipline policies, and of failing to pay its operating license renewal fee.
Diel said there was a pre-hearing conference between the parties concerning the notice. There were negotiations, and time extensions were granted so facility officials could pursue a resolution of the charges without going to a formal hearing.
A hearing on the "intent to suspend" notice is set for June 22. A hearing on the emergency suspension order, if requested, would have to be scheduled separately. Such a hearing must be requested by academy representatives within 15 days, under state law.
Diel said Mankato attorney Kevin Phillips is representing the academy on the intent to suspend notice. Phillips said Thursday that the academy intends to vigorously contest the allegations in that notice; he said it's possible that a Topeka attorney would be retained to contest the emergency suspension.
Phillips said he could not comment about the details of any of the allegations facing the academy while litigation is pending.
• Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.
Copyright © 2008 Salina Journal and MediaSpan
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• Emergency Order of Suspension (http://http://www.saljournal.com/www/pdf/WhiteRockAcademyEOS021909.pdf) (pdf, 4pp)
BEFORE THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
KDHE Case No. 09-H-36
In the Matter of Licensure of
White Rock Academy Corporation,
a.k.a. White Rock Academy, Inc.
d/b/a White Rock Academy
203 Grand Avenue
Esbon, Kansas 66941
A Residential Center
License Number: 59805
EMERGENCY ORDER OF SUSPENSION
NOW on this 19th day of February, 2009, Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment [Secretary], reviews the file of White Rock Academy Corporation, a.k.a. White Rock Academy Inc, d/b/a White Rock Academy, 203 Grand Avenue, Esbon, Kansas 66941, a residential center [Licensee or White Rock Academy].
WHEREUPON, the Secretary finds that:
1. KDHE issued a license to Licensee to operate a residential center effective April 6, 2007, for eighteen (18) female and nine (9) male residents, ages 11 years and older.
2. On or about January 16, 2009, KDHE made an on-site complaint/compliance visit and found the facility doors locked, preventing egress. The facility was informed by the State Fire Marshall on or about January 27, 2009, to not lock their emergency exit doors. On or about February 6, 2009, KDHE conducted an evening survey at approximately 8:40 p.m. and found two emergency exit doors locked. One of the doors was key locked and one was chained. KDHE cited the facility for non-compliance and instructed Administration and facility staff to not lock the doors. The investigation conducted on or about February 13, 2009, discovered that the facility continues to lock their doors in evening hours. On February 17, 2009, the Kansas State Fire Marshall issued an Order to Cease and Desist to White Rock Academy ordering White Rock Academy to remove the locks and to come into immediate compliance with the Kansas Life Safety Code. Operation in the facility is inadequate to implement the program and to provide for the welfare of the residents.
3. The facility continues to be in non-compliance with K.A.R. 28-4-274(b) by failing to provide intensive mental health, drug and alcohol therapeutic services to meet the identified high level needs of the residents accepted into care. KDHE allowed Licensee until February 18, 2009, by 5:00 p.m. to provide a copy of the contract with Dr. Howard, Howard Psychiatric Services and other documentation. Licensee failed to provide a copy with Dr. Howard.
4. Recent reports and interviews with a youth and former staff confirm that Licensee's Administration instructed staff to handcuff a youth to prevent self-harm throughout the youth's stay at the facility, for approximately 30 days, that began in August 2007. The facility later accepted this youth back on October 12, 2007 through November 4, 2007 at which time they transported the youth to Stormont Vail West in Topeka, Kansas.
5. The facility was not operating in accordance with K.A.R.28-4-273(e)(6). All twenty four residents currently placed in the facility did not have approval from The Kansas Interstate Compact for Placement (ICPC) at the facility.
6. K.S.A. 65-524 authorizes the Secretary to suspend a license to operate a residential center prior to a hearing when, in the opinion of the Secretary, said suspension is necessary to protect any child in the child care facility from physical or mental abuse, abandonment, or any other substantial threat to health or safety.
7. Due to the facts contained in the paragraphs above, the Secretary has determined that immediate suspension of the Licensee's license in order to protect youth in the Licensee's care from physical abuse or a substantial threat to their health or safety. Licensee has until Monday, February 23, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. to make arrangements with the youth's parents to move the youth.
8. Licensee is required, pursuant to K.S.A. 65-506, to notify the parents and guardians of the youth in care in writing that its license to operate a child care facility has been suspended.
WHEREUPON, the Secretary hereby suspends Licensee's license to operate a residential center, effective immediately, thereby prohibiting the Licensee from caring for youth. This Emergency Order of Suspension remains in effect until the issuance of an order rescinding this order.
RIGHT TO A HEARING
The Licensee has a right to request a hearing on the above issues and proposed order in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act. To obtain a hearing, a request for a hearing must be filed within 15 days of the date this notice is mailed, which date is indicated by the Certificate of Service below. Failure to file a timely request will result in a waiver of Licensee's right to a hearing, and this Emergency Order of Suspension will become a Final Order suspending the Licensee's license to operate a child care center.
If you want to request a hearing, a written request for a hearing must be filed with Tracy D. Diel, Director, Office of Administrative Hearings, 1020 South Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, 66612-1327, telephone number (785) 296-2433. (Please indicate a telephone number where you can be contacted during business hours if you request a hearing.)
This Order of Suspension is issued as an Emergency Adjudicative Proceeding under K.S.A. 77-536 of the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act. The mailing of this Order shall be notice of its issuance and is given to comply with K.S.A. 77-536(d) of the Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
(signature)
Roderick L. Bremby, Secretary
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
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so is this place still open and if so how close to the nebraska boarder is it. if it aint that far mabey i need to take a little road trip and my camera.
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The facility is closed, their homepage down and the parents webspace has an interesting message (http://http://whiterockacademyparents.com/Default.html).
But as always you can help your detained brothers. The facilities are losely related to Tipton (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Tipton_Academy) and Meadowlark Academy (http://http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Meadowlark_Academy). Here is 60-70 miles down to Delphos, Kansas from the Nebraska border but under 20 miles from Delphos to Tipton.
They are ghost towns as you can see from this photo essay (http://http://www.fitnesstrax.net/kansas/). Additional photos would be nice as Google Earth has not passed this town.
Upload the photos to Panoramio (http://http://www.panoramio.com/), so parents can see what they get before sending their kids to this place.
I have an article from a local newspapier about Tipton/Meadowlark here (http://http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/Youth-academy-operators-defend-programs). The article speaks of various violations.
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There is a Topix thread (http://http://www.topix.com/county/jewell-ks/2009/02/white-rock-academy-shut-down-by-state) with some comments for the above article, "White Rock Academy shut down by state." Here are the first twenty (at least one comment appears to have been removed):
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#1 Feb 23, 2009
word
Cawker City, KS
#2 Feb 23, 2009
Jicama
Allentown, NJ
I cannot believe they shut the school down. The White Rock Academy is the finest learning institutions in the state. The staff at the school are all real good folks and all the kids at the school are good kids who would never again cause trouble. The students will now go to private schools and on to Harvard at Kansas taxpayer expense. All the students at White Rock are good kids and will be valdictorians at Harvard, Stanford and Yale.
#4 Mar 9, 2009
Unhappy Parent
Greenville, SC
It is quite sad when you trust a school with the well being of your child and are told they can help you, then you get an email on Friday to come and pick your child up on Monday it was not easy especially for parents who don't live close. Todd and Ted Madsen should never be able to open another school any where again they gave false hope to parents, they woun't even answer emails, or phone call, they owe money to people money that we worked for to put our children in this "School" not money from the tax payers Jicama money we paid out of our pockets hoping for the best care for our children.
#5 Mar 10, 2009
alice
Kitchener, Canada
It sounds like a nightmare school
#6 Mar 18, 2009
Unhappy Camper -
Houston, TX
I have not received any refund of prepaid tuition to date. The Kansas State Attorney Generals Office has files a suit against WRA at this time. The contact is Meghan Barnds. The website for the Attorney General is:
http://www.ksag.org/home/ (http://www.ksag.org/home/)[/list]
#7 Mar 26, 2009
White Rock Student
Ames, IA
Yes, it really does suck that the place got shut down. I was starting to do really well with my treatment and everything. Sure, the head man doesn't help out at all, but the staff & the girls were pretty much the best people that I've ever met in my life. The boys even helped me out a little bit. The place was a great place, but it just started going down hill. It's horrible and I was not ready to come back home yet. There were a lot of people going to different places, and I feel sorry that they had to start all over. White Rock wasn't exactly hell, so don't make it sound like that. It helped me and I know that.:)
#8 Mar 28, 2009
worried parent
Ocala, FL
Where are the owners, the director, and the so called therapist? Everyone seems to have vanished. The owners were around when they were making money and have now gone into seclusion; when will we hear from them? As parents we trusted them to help our kids through whatever problems they were having. What a joke when the real problem came they all disappeared; did the owners think of the kids or only about lining their own pockets with our hard earned money
#9 Apr 3, 2009
Jewell County resident
Beloit, KS
To all the parents of kids who were sent to the White Rock Academy: Many of us folks with deep roots in Jewell County were just as shocked and dismayed by the happenings at White Rock Academy as you were. If you did your research before you sent your kid there, you could probably figure out this part of the great USA suffers economically and demographically. So many of us hoped that the Academy would be a good thing for kids who needed help, and it would be a boost to our area, also. We have a lot of big blue sky, clean air, and great folks here; we believe and know this is a great place to raise our own children, maybe the Academy would be a good thing to help other kids. I am so disappointed that the owners of the place did not do their homework better in researching all of the hows, whys, whens, wheres, laws, and all the ins and outs of how to run and manage the facility. I am a college graduate who chose to come back home to Jewell County, and as I said earlier, greatly disappointed in the performance of the owners and management of the place. From the beginning, the owners should have realized they were going to have to figure out how to get the right qualified people with the correct certifications and licenses for social work, therapy, etc., to move here so that they could staff the place properly. Unfortunately, for people used to living in higher populated areas with many housing choices, retail stores, lots of entertainment, etc., moving to Jewell County could be a real bummer for some folks. This just isn't the place a lot of people want to move to, which is very obvious with our problems. This is a suggestion to you: If you live in a metropolitan area, and if you are fortunate to have high paying jobs, which you must have if you could afford to send your kid to White Rock Academy, you could buy a house here for two months of fees, take your 2-3 week vacation each year with your troubled teen here and bond as a family. You would get to supervise your kid here under our great blue sky while breathing our clean air with no noise to overpower the sweet songs the birds share as the rabbits frolic in your yard where later that night you can catch lightning bugs and be amazed by the canopy of brightly shining stars in the heavens that are not hidden by a layer of smog. I close with wishing all of you, parents and children, alike, that things are going better for you, and that you be thankful for what you have everyday--housing, clothing, and food on the table; and a family where you can really work on communicating and belonging.
#10 May 11, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Staten Island, NY
I went here. and i was very unhappy, it did help me alot. from the time it was opened. i feel i have grown up and matured so much. ive ditched my bad friend. i hang out with the righ kids. im sober. im and doing so good. but i think it was because i got a wake up call. not all of the credit goes to them. the staff was wonderful and everyone was nice. they just didnt listen to te rules. the people who owned it runned the place and the staff had to do what they told them. but i do miss the staff. but not the owners. because alot of kids werent ready to go home so they had to start over in a new school all over again. and people who were so close.
#11 May 11, 2009
Jicama
Allentown, NJ
The White Rock Academy was one of the finest learning institutions in the state until a bunch of crybaby, bedwetting, diaper wearing pansies decided that it should be shuttered. All of the kids at White Rock are now working for dynamic corporations and are captains of industry. Many are members of international think-tanks and are highly placed in secret government positions. Too bad White Rock got the axe. All the kids at White Rock are good people who would never again cause any trouble.
#12 May 12, 2009
Uphold your rights
Smith Center, KS
the state health officials are so full of crap, now i could see if it was other reasons like abuse caught on camera or something, i think its a load of crap they shut this place down, boo, boycott the state health officials. has anyone demanded to see the report the heath nuts made?
i hope that the records are made public!
we demand to know!
post the link if you have the legal report, I'd love to see if there reason was a valid one or the state just abusing more of its grant money powers.
It also seams like a calculated move seeing how the states give out grant money, they most have lied about something, someone got rich off of this, I'm sure of it, something just stinks when they use lame excuses when it comes to heath department.
#13 May 13, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Asbury Park, NJ
You people have no idead what your talking about.
#14 May 13, 2009
confused
Tallahassee, FL
I can see that one of the things that was not taught at The Academy was grammar or spelling.
As for abuse it does not have to be physical if the children were not getting the proper mental health and state rules were not followed is also abuse. Have you not read the reports? The kids all felt stressed and were not allowed to discuss it with their parents because if they did the phone call was cut short or ended; or how the state told the school 3 times to take the locks off the doors, or the type of child they began to take in had severe problems that people knew should not be there.
Yes, towards the end someone began to make a lot of money and the care of the kids (mentally) was not be giving. I believe one of the owners began to see WRA as their personal piggy bank and all they cared ofr was the money.
By the way what are the owners up to now? Does anyone know?
#15 May 15, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Belmar, NJ
I didnt have to read the article, i was one of the student til the day it closed. i lived through it. so dont tell me about it. and who gives a rats ass what the owner are doing. probobly scamming more people in another school in utah.
#16 May 15, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Belmar, NJ
I dont need to read the articles. i lived it, i was one of there students til the day it closed. your just a random person reading about it and judjing people. and they didnt teach grammer or spelling. or typing. there was a program called pluto. its helped but it wasnt hands on. and who care what the owners are doing. there proboly scamming parent for more money in utah with another school.
#17 May 15, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Belmar, NJ
I Went To WRA Too. Whats Your Name?
#18 May 15, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Belmar, NJ
White Rock Student wrote:
Yes, it really does suck that the place got shut down. I was starting to do really well with my treatment and everything. Sure, the head man doesn't help out at all, but the staff & the girls were pretty much the best people that I've ever met in my life. The boys even helped me out a little bit. The place was a great place, but it just started going down hill. It's horrible and I was not ready to come back home yet. There were a lot of people going to different places, and I feel sorry that they had to start all over. White Rock wasn't exactly hell, so don't make it sound like that. It helped me and I know that.:)[/list]
I Went To WRA Too. Whats Your Name?[/list]
#19 May 16, 2009
confused
Tallahassee, FL
I think you need to calm down a little I also know what was going on and what was not going on at WRA. I had a very important person in my life who also attended the Academy. I was not and am not someone who just happenened upon this blog. Your response shows that maybe you need to continue with some kind of therapy; I can understand your anger but don't you think some of it should have gone just a little bit by now.
Let me ask you several questions did you enjoy having the doors locked at all times? WRA was not supposed to be a locked down treatment center, did you get all the mental health you were supposed to be getting? did you enjoy the change of rules, where was the director when he was needed I have many more questions but right now is not the right time to ask them of you as you are ready to explode. All I ask of you is that you take this second chance you were given and change your life around. I wish you the best, and suggest you read the articles that can be gotten on salina.com
#20 May 18, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Staten Island, NY
Im not about you explode. i just got made because you were being rude. and i dont need thereophy. im doing find. and it says your from flordia, are you mollys parents?
#21 May 18, 2009
JDFarruggio123
Staten Island, NY
Im not about to explode. i just got mad because you were being rude. and i dont need therephy. im doing fine. and it says your from flordia. are you molly's parents?
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Comments (http://http://www.topix.com/county/jewell-ks/2009/02/white-rock-academy-shut-down-by-state/p2?threadid=PTL47CVB0C27LBRH) for David Clouston's article "White Rock Academy shut down by state" (Salina Journal), continued (#s 22 onwards):
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#22 May 21, 2009
confused
Tallahassee, FL
I am not Molly's mom; I do not have any idea who Molly is. I was not being rude. I think you need to go back and reread your postings as you are the one who was rude.If this is the way you react to someone that you do not know I can only imagine how you react and interact with others which is why you were probably wound up in WRA.
Before you go off on things you should have fully researched info. Are your aware te the State of Kansas gave WRA 3 chances to change the key locks back to regular locks (I believe that in itself is a fire hazard. The mental health of the children was not being met. The believe the on site therapist was not a licensed therapist and the rules of the school were changed by the new "therapist" nd that many of the students were not happy with the new "therapist" in addition the director of school was often not there and when the children wanted to speak with him he was often unavilable to both students and parents.
I really think you need to speak to someone and sort out some of your anger issues if this is the way you speak to a stranger I can only hope you soeak with someone you know with a little more respect.
Please take care of ourself and remenber that you are loved becasuse who ever sent you to WRA must have loved you a lot to do what they did. Best of luck to you and may you look back at all of this and sayy to yourself "I was one 1 lucky kid to have had someone to love me the way the did.
#23 Jun 5, 2009
confused
Tallahassee, FL
I thibk you need to reread your blogs. The are writtem with a great deal of anger and show dislike and disdain for just about anything. I
am not Molly;s mom and you can leave any state you want as your home state. I also now about PLATO and in everything you do you learn readimg and grammar
I think you should stop refering to people by their names as I am not so sure that the people who ayyytended the academy wanr their info shared
#24 Jul 17, 2009
Annonymous
Payson, UT
I can help you find the Madsens. I assure you they are still up to their old tricks and living high lives with borrowed/stolen funds....not hard-earned money. Some one needs to stop them!
worried parent wrote:
Where are the owners, the director, and the so called therapist? Everyone seems to have vanished. The owners were around when they were making money and have now gone into seclusion; when will we hear from them? As parents we trusted them to help our kids through whatever problems they were having. What a joke when the real problem came they all disappeared; did the owners think of the kids or only about lining their own pockets with our hard earned money[/list][/list]
#25 Jul 18, 2009
rebel with a cause
Randall, KS
confused wrote:
I am not Molly's mom; I do not have any idea who Molly is. I was not being rude. I think you need to go back and reread your postings as you are the one who was rude.If this is the way you react to someone that you do not know I can only imagine how you react and interact with others which is why you were probably wound up in WRA.
Before you go off on things you should have fully researched info. Are your aware te the State of Kansas gave WRA 3 chances to change the key locks back to regular locks (I believe that in itself is a fire hazard. The mental health of the children was not being met. The believe the on site therapist was not a licensed therapist and the rules of the school were changed by the new "therapist" nd that many of the students were not happy with the new "therapist" in addition the director of school was often not there and when the children wanted to speak with him he was often unavilable to both students and parents.
I really think you need to speak to someone and sort out some of your anger issues if this is the way you speak to a stranger I can only hope you soeak with someone you know with a little more respect.
Please take care of ourself and remenber that you are loved becasuse who ever sent you to WRA must have loved you a lot to do what they did. Best of luck to you and may you look back at all of this and sayy to yourself "I was one 1 lucky kid to have had someone to love me the way the did.[/list]
I almost considered white rock academy for my son,,,but i can see it was better to move my kids to a farm and change there lifestyle..WOW this has amazing parrelels to the way i have witnessed local government
behaving...the beloit juevenile facility is being shutdown too ...i hope and pray that all the changes are for the BETTER,,,i don't think most of us common people can take much more corruption before we all get rebelious[/list]
#26 Jul 19, 2009
Allen Allentownian
Allentown, NJ
#27 Jul 21, 2009
concerned
Beloit, KS
I'm pretty sure that is enough with all the weed posts in all the forums, no one thinks you're cool. Please move on with your life and grow up, it gets really old.
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Salina Journal
Former staffer dishes dirt on academy (http://http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/Youth--former-staffer--talk-about-White-Rock-Academy-022609)
2/27/2009
Former staffer dishes dirt on academy
By DAVID CLOUSTON
Salina Journal
ESBON -- Lea Daniels had had all she could take the day she walked off the job at the White Rock Academy in Esbon.
The male staffers had taken the boys somewhere -- she wasn't sure where -- leaving her alone and in charge of a handful of adolescent girls who were growing increasingly agitated. One of the girls, Daniels knew, was taking lithium and had severe mental problems and violent tendencies. On one occasion the girl had elbow-punched Daniels in the stomach.
"I complained to Ted (Madsen, one of the facility owners) and reminded him that he had told me he would not accept 'patients,' just 'students,' and he told me the only reason they took her was because they needed the money," Daniels said.
Daniels says she was not given a policy handbook or any training after she took the job at the residential treatment center for troubled adolescents ages 11 to 18.
When the male staffers and their charges returned, she walked out the front door.
"They just totally misrepresented themselves," she said, of the operators.
The facility was closed down by Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials last week after multiple allegations of health and safety code violations dating back to September.
KDHE spokesman Mike Heideman said this week that the White Rock Academy has complied with orders to remove the remaining 24 students from the academy to either their parents' custody or another facility.
So far, the operators have not filed a request for an appeal hearing on the state's suspension order, he said.
Programs not provided
Among a long list of alleged violations by the facility, KDHE charged that youths from out of state did not have Kansas authorities' permission to be admitted to a Kansas facility, that staff locked emergency exit doors even after being told not to do so and that intensive mental health and drug treatment were not provided.
The White Rock Academy was housed in the former White Rock Middle School. The building's transformation to a treatment center promised to help the town recover from the closure of the school in 2006, when the White Rock and Mankato school districts consolidated.
Esbon, population about 130, is located about 12 miles northwest of Mankato in Jewell County, not far from the Nebraska border.
Catering to parents and guardians of troubled teens, the White Rock Academy charged $4,000 a month tuition, plus a fee of $9,000 for new students, said Kevin DeYoung. DeYoung, of Victor, N.Y., sent his 17-year-old daughter, Kristie, to the facility for five months, for behavior problems.
Unqualified workers
Daniels, 49, of Alpine, Texas, who worked previously as a certified public accountant, answered a newspaper ad placed by White Rock for a facility administrator.
She said that instead, she was hired to provide direct care to the youths housed there, with the promise that she would become administrator in the future. The Madsens told her they needed an administrator with a college degree.
Daniels worked for White Rock from January through April 2007. Todd Madsen, Ted's son, lived in Esbon and had most of the day-to-day supervision of the academy.
"He ran the place and made the rules," she said of the younger Madsen, who was in his 20s. "All the girls fell in love with him and all the boys idolized him."
There were five girls and four or five boys when the academy first opened its doors that spring, Daniels said. But the number dwindled, until only two or three youths were left.
"That's when they started accepting the more mentally challenged kids," Daniels said.
Various backgrounds
There was just one other staff member with college experience, Daniels said. The woman, who was working toward a degree, served as the facility's teacher. Daniels said the therapist did not have a college degree and the "kitchen lady" was not a trained dietitians.
The other adults working at White Rock, including those with direct responsibility for the residents' care, mostly had backgrounds in construction and odd jobs, Daniels said.
Efforts to reach a representative of the facility were unsuccessful. Attorney Kevin Phillips, of Mankato, who has been retained in the past to represent the facility on state allegations, offered to try to make contact with the owners, but no calls were received.
Daniels said she worked 40 hours from Friday through Sunday.
"You're tired, you're worn out and not much good to the kids," she said.
The doors to the gymnasium were chained and locked, and both residents and staff were restricted from certain parts of the building, Daniels said.
"Another girl (staff member) and I left at the same time," Daniels said. "She called the health department and we were hoping they would send a child in there, undercover, just to see how they were running the place."
Worked on their own
Residents' schooling consisted of an online curriculum they completed on their own, she said. Residents filled other hours playing cards and games and writing letters to their parents. The letters were read by staff before they were mailed.
"When the kids would talk to their parents, the owner and the therapist were on the line listening," Daniels said. "And if anything got said even remotely derogatory about the facility, the phone got hung up."
"I was told that our school work would transfer to my school in New York. But nothing really counted. I got behind," Kristie DeYoung said.
DeYoung said her parents were looking online for an option to get her help for behavior problems. They were impressed by White Rock's Web site, which showed smiling photographs of residents feeding calves, riding horses and doing outdoor projects.
What DeYoung said she experienced instead was no structure, almost no exercise or outdoor time and unhealthy food.
"There were 20 kids there and only two staff members to keep them all under control," she said.
Ten girls slept in one room with bunk beds. Space was cramped. The food, she said, was homemade but unhealthy.
"They served like pizzas, pastas. A lot was microwaveable stuff," DeYoung said. "There were no fresh fruits and vegetables. A lot of girls requested more healthier food options, but nothing was done."
Happy daughter is home
Her parents removed her from the facility after five months, over the objection of the school's director, Stuart Vance. Her situation with her parents has improved, she said.
"I had to realize and make the changes myself," DeYoung said. "None of the staff or the program helped."
Her father, Kevin, said the staff at White Rock demonstrated great concern for the residents.
"They really cared about the kids," he said. But Vance "didn't seem very available for the kids."
Kevin DeYoung also said his family was misled by White Rock's advertising -- "I thought there would be more therapy involved," he said.
"My experience? On the whole, I can't knock it because I got my daughter back and she's living at home," he said. "I had had enough, and she had had enough and I needed to get her back in my family and that's what I did."
• Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.
Copyright © 2008 Salina Journal and MediaSpan
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Thanks for all your detective work and posts, Ursus. Congratulations to the state officials in Kansas for taking this seriously instead of sweeping violations under the rug as authorities so commonly do in other states.
Auntie Em