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Oz Girl,
Kevin Richey owns Meadowlark Academy - the all girls facility.

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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€

According to Tipton Academy's Admissions Director Bonnie Brummer; Sue Scheff's PURE refers children to Tipton Academy in Tipton, Kansas, an all-boys facility owned by Ex-WWASP Teen Help employee, Kevin Richey.
She said that Kevin Richey lives across the street from the Academy.

Richey also receives referrals from TEEN OPTIONS, according to Brummer.  www.teenoptions.com
Brummer reports that Marie Peart recently made a trip to Tipton Academy on behalf of PURE; and Peart reportedly also visited the nearby all-girls facility, Meadowlark Academy; also owned by Kevin Richey.

Richey converted the Tipton school building; which he purchased from realtor, Dave Rose - who sells vacated school buildings on E-Bay.
http://www.mweservices.com/website/news/tiptonstory.htm

Sue Scheff and Kevin Richey's WWASP connection can be read in the WWASP vs PURE transcripts.

Page 164 of the Transcript:
Scheff testifies that the website Helpyourteens.com was started in February 2001.

Page 165 of the Transcript:
Scheff testifies that the name of her referral company was changed from Parents Universal Referral Agency to PURE:  Parents Universal Resource Experts.

Kevin Richey gives his testimony on pages 217-226
Richey testifies that he left WWASP Teen Help in December 2001.
He also testifies that Sue Scheff continued to refer children to WWASP facilities through August 2001 -- several months after she started her own referral company, PURE.

Richey also testified that he had no formal training in psychology, the juvenile justice system, or the medical field; to qualify him in making referrals to WWASP facilities.

Tipton Academy's website states that this facility is a NON-THERAPEUTIC program.  Any psychological therapy must be contracted by the parents, and paid separately from the monthly tuition charged.
www.tiptonacademy.com/

The fees quoted were:
$6,995.00 for the first month - which included start up fees, assessment, uniforms.
$3,995.00 Monthly tuition thereafter

The program offers Positive Peer Culture: and a 12 Step NA/AA Program
The program offers CANINE Therapy; but the boys must earn the "privilege" to be a part of this program.

Upon admission, the boys' heads are shaven.

Activities include: A weight room, 2 movies per week, on site, air hockey, ping pong.  Participation depends on behavior and level attainment.

Tipton Academy offers a "Transitiion Program" for students who do not do well when they return home; and who need to return to Tipton Academy for additional services.

Tipton Academy offers a Parent On-line Discussion Forum; CORE BB; CORE SOLUTIONS:  parents from both Tipton Academy and Meadowlark Academy can particpate.

Tipton Academy highly encourages parents to participate in their  SEMINIARS -- which are held quarterly at the Embassy Suites in Kansas City Kansas.

Both the Discussion Forum and Seminars are run by Randy Cook and his mother, Glenda.(Former WWASP)

The Tipton Academy Enrollment Agreement:
Phone calls, mail, and emails are monitored by Staff.
PROGRAM END Section:  If parents mention if/when the student will be coming home - the program can immediately send the boy home.
JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT PROCEEDINGS:  Will take place in Utah. (The facility is located in Kansas.  Why would legal jurisdiction be in Utah?)
Parents are asked to sign and agree to "Observation Status" and "Restraints" of students.

Tipton Academy recommended a Teen Escort Service - who called; and explained the "escorting process and quoted a fee."
One of the "transition students" has worked as an assistant with this escorter, Bill Whitaker.

The Admissions Director gave 6 References who sons had attended Tipton Academy; and two References, whose sons were currently enrolled.  The references had overall positive comments about the program.

 Three parents said their sons had been restrained - but felt assured the staff were properly trained to restrain students.  One parent complained about the "dog smell" throughout the facility. Two parents complained about the on-line academics - but said "academics were not their top priority for enrolling their sons."  One parent, who returned her son to the Transition Program --because her son relasped into drug use, said, "it was not Tipton Academy's fault, because there is no CURE for addicts."

Two other programs have opened in small Kansas towns by former program operators from Utah.  Kevin Richey is from St. George, Utah.
It is also of interest that these owners also purchased vacant schools off E-Bay from the samerealtor used by Kevin Richey, Dave Rose.
These other programs in Kansa will be discussed under the topic:
"Utah Program Owners Opening Programs in Kansas"

Flossie R. Ball, Director Madison County Dept of Social Services states:
Harbor Oaks lack of needed mental and behavioral health care by a NC licensensed counselor by the state.

Improper supervision of an at-risk student population.

Concerns pertinent to therapeutic residetial facility licensing have been referred to NC Division of Facility Services

In an email from owner, Patricia Jones dated August 24, 2007; Patricia Jones stated:
"House parents are trained in pastoral care and situational counseling.  Licensed or certified counselors conduct group sessions regularly.  Individual counseling is available on a weekly basis."

Patricia Jones goes on to state:
"The students live in a lodge with constant 24 hour constant supervision."

Patricia Jones stated:
"Although the facility is not licensed, since it is a Christian Boarding School, it answers to all guidelines and regulations of the state."

Patricia Jones signed the email,  Patricia Jones, PhD.

When asked for references who had removed their children from WWASP programs to enroll these children into Harbor Oaks Boarding School; the owner, Patricia Jones provided 4 references.
Each reference verified that they removed their child from a WWASP facility and were referred by Sue Scheff/PURE to Harbor Oaks Boarding School.
Three (3) parents removed their child from Carolina Springs Academy, and one (1) removed their child from Mid West Academy.

The question is: How does Sue Scheff/PURE possibly recruit; or come in contact with these parents who have their children enrolled in these WWASP programs?  
There is speculation that PURE and CAICA may be receiving referrals from a parental discussion forum that remains un-named.  This un-named discussion forum is made up of parents who have children currently enrolled in programs.  The rumor states that one parent, who is a plaintiff in the Turley lawsuit, is a member of this discussion forum and this parent recruits clients for CAICA and PURE for referrals to "safer programs."

HARBOR OAKS PLACEMENT CONTRACT

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ____________ day of ____________, 20___, by and between Harbor Oaks Boarding School, a Nonprofit Corporation, engaged in the care and rehabilitation of minor children on a Christian basis in a Christ-centered boarding school (hereinafter called the “FACILITYâ€