On 2006-05-01 16:52:00, Anonymous wrote:
"The mom--the letter writer: She had a big change of heart after she wrote that letter to the Woodbury site.
Her daughter ran away from Whitmore Academy during the Memorial Day "Graduation" 2005.
This mother DID NOT return her daughter to Whitmore Academy.
Don't know who is posting this "letter of support" but rather sure it is not this parent.
At the time, the mom probably did think Whitmore was a "kinder, safer place" than the WWASP program.
How was she "helping Sue Scheff?" You'd have to ask her.
"
These parent support letters were all written in early December 2004. KSL did a news report on Whitmore in November 2004:
Troubled Teen Home Investigated for Abuse
Nov. 30, 2004
Samantha Hayes Reporting
It's often a last resort for some parents. But a facility for troubled teens is under investigation tonight after strong allegations from one boy.
Carol Sisco, Child and Family Services: ?Our licensing office notified them that we intend to revoke their license.?
The state's decision to pull the license follows a teenage boy's claims he was verbally and physically abused. KSL talked with many of the same children interviewed by child and family services in their investigation, children who have come from all over the country to get help.
Mark and Cheryl Sudweeks own and operate the boarding school for 27 teenagers and a separate residential treatment facility for 12 boys.
Mark Sudweeks, Owner Whitmore Academy: ?It?s not working at home and we feel we have a solution that can help kids turn their lives around.?
A teenage boy who was in the therapy group accused Whitmore Academy of abuse.
Carol Sisco: ?Allegations are of verbal abuse, physical abuse, lack of supervision, bad sanitation, sub-standard food.?
Victoria Degarmo, Counselor: ?There is no verbal abuse. What goes on here is nothing that doesn?t go on in a family home.?
The state and local police interviewed the teenagers in both programs to find out if the accusations were true.
Carol Sisco: ?We are still looking at it and we have the health department looking at it too.?
But the treatment facility's license is already being revoked.
Chris Gentile, Enrolled at Whitmore Academy: ?One of the things I love about this place is that I used to have the worst relationship with my parents and now I feel like I can tell them anything.?
Hannah Ruisi, Enrolled at Whitmore Academy: ?They helped me believe in myself and discover who I was.?
The boarding school is not regulated by the state, and children in that program live in Whitmore Mansion. But Sudweeks says they interact with those in the treatment facility; that is another concern for state investigators. The teenage boy who made the allegations was pulled our of Whitmore Academy.
During the investigation, three others were removed by their parents.
Troubled Teen Home Investigated for Abuse
Nov. 30, 2004
Samantha Hayes Reporting
It's often a last resort for some parents. But a facility for troubled teens is under investigation tonight after strong allegations from one boy.
Carol Sisco, Child and Family Services: ?Our licensing office notified them that we intend to revoke their license.?
The state's decision to pull the license follows a teenage boy's claims he was verbally and physically abused. KSL talked with many of the same children interviewed by child and family services in their investigation, children who have come from all over the country to get help.
Mark and Cheryl Sudweeks own and operate the boarding school for 27 teenagers and a separate residential treatment facility for 12 boys.
Mark Sudweeks, Owner Whitmore Academy: ?It?s not working at home and we feel we have a solution that can help kids turn their lives around.?
A teenage boy who was in the therapy group accused Whitmore Academy of abuse.
Carol Sisco: ?Allegations are of verbal abuse, physical abuse, lack of supervision, bad sanitation, sub-standard food.?
Victoria Degarmo, Counselor: ?There is no verbal abuse. What goes on here is nothing that doesn?t go on in a family home.?
The state and local police interviewed the teenagers in both programs to find out if the accusations were true.
Carol Sisco: ?We are still looking at it and we have the health department looking at it too.?
But the treatment facility's license is already being revoked.
Chris Gentile, Enrolled at Whitmore Academy: ?One of the things I love about this place is that I used to have the worst relationship with my parents and now I feel like I can tell them anything.?
Hannah Ruisi, Enrolled at Whitmore Academy: ?They helped me believe in myself and discover who I was.?
The boarding school is not regulated by the state, and children in that program live in Whitmore Mansion. But Sudweeks says they interact with those in the treatment facility; that is another concern for state investigators. The teenage boy who made the allegations was pulled our of Whitmore Academy.
During the investigation, three others were removed by their parents.
Troubled Teen Home Investigated for Abuse
Nov. 30, 2004
Samantha Hayes Reporting
It's often a last resort for some parents. But a facility for troubled teens is under investigation tonight after strong allegations from one boy.
Carol Sisco, Child and Family Services: ?Our licensing office notified them that we intend to revoke their license.?
The state's decision to pull the license follows a teenage boy's claims he was verbally and physically abused. KSL talked with many of the same children interviewed by child and family services in their investigation, children who have come from all over the country to get help.
Mark and Cheryl Sudweeks own and operate the boarding school for 27 teenagers and a separate residential treatment facility for 12 boys.
Mark Sudweeks, Owner Whitmore Academy: ?It?s not working at home and we feel we have a solution that can help kids turn their lives around.?
A teenage boy who was in the therapy group accused Whitmore Academy of abuse.
Carol Sisco: ?Allegations are of verbal abuse, physical abuse, lack of supervision, bad sanitation, sub-standard food.?
Victoria Degarmo, Counselor: ?There is no verbal abuse. What goes on here is nothing that doesn?t go on in a family home.?
The state and local police interviewed the teenagers in both programs to find out if the accusations were true.
Carol Sisco: ?We are still looking at it and we have the health department looking at it too.?
But the treatment facility's license is already being revoked.
Chris Gentile, Enrolled at Whitmore Academy: ?One of the things I love about this place is that I used to have the worst relationship with my parents and now I feel like I can tell them anything.?
Hannah Ruisi, Enrolled at Whitmore Academy: ?They helped me believe in myself and discover who I was.?
The boarding school is not regulated by the state, and children in that program live in Whitmore Mansion. But Sudweeks says they interact with those in the treatment facility; that is another concern for state investigators. The teenage boy who made the allegations was pulled our of Whitmore Academy.
During the investigation, three others were removed by their parents.
http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?sid=136013&nid=5So there were two facilities? I didn't know that.
