Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > PURE Bullshit and CAICA
Gayle Palmer DeGraff
Anonymous:
Why is this person still working in the troubled teen industry, much less as an admissions represensative for such programs as the now closed Red Rock Ranch Academy, a former PURE recommended program?
Why is this program, Red Rock Ranch Academy (like Whitmore Academy, another now-defunct PURE recommended program) not on Isabelle Zehnder's facility watchlist?
It appears from what is published on her website, Isabelle Zehnder recommends (refers) parents to PURE, which is a referral/resource company that is partly funded by the programs it refers parents to.
In the WWASPS v. PURE transcripts, Sue Scheff discussed her association with Gayle Palmer DeGraff and other persons in the industry, including persons who she worked with during the period of time she referred to WWASPS programs.
Anonymous:
As Cartisano's financial and legal difficulties mounted, the Challenger admissions director, a woman named Gayle Palmer, quit to start her own wilderness-therapy company, Summit Quest Inc. Palmer knew little about the backcountry or therapy beyond what she'd gleaned from pitching Challenger courses. "But Palmer got tired of working for Steve," says Doug Nelson, "so she hung out her shingle."
Five students were enrolled in the inaugural Summit Quest course, which cost $13,900 for 63 days. Palmer sent the group to the arid Shivwits Plateau, near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, supervised by two young counselors who were paid minimum wage. During the first several days, Michelle Sutton--a pretty 15-year-old who had enrolled voluntarily to regain self-esteem after an alleged date rape--complained repeatedly of exhaustion, sunburn, and nausea. As the group hiked through the desert, she vomited up most of the water she tried to drink and pleaded that she could not go on. According to counselors' field reports gathered by state and federal investigators, the lead counselor had been ordered to ignore such talk as manipulative behavior. "You have been sloughing off," she told Sutton. "You are now being warned."
On May 9, 1990, during an ascent of 7,072-foot Mount Dellenbaugh, Sutton's speech became slurred, she cried out that she couldn't see, and then she lost consciousness and died. Palmer insisted to officials that Sutton had succumbed to a drug overdose, but the coroner found no drugs in her system and determined the cause of death to be dehydration.
Gayle Palmer, the founder of Summit Quest, was not charged with any crime after the death of Michelle Sutton. Although she was subsequently denied a license by the Utah Department of Human Services, Palmer brazenly resumed operations. Last year, near Zion National Park, a scruffy, frightened, 14-year-old girl wandered into a remote archaeology camp begging for help. It turned out that she was fleeing from a course Palmer had been running illegally out of St. George, Utah, the same town where she had based Summit Quest.
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"Remembering Michelle Sutton"
http://www.teenadvocatesusa.org/Remembe ... utton.html
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Michelle Sutton is not even listed on CAICA's progam death list.
Anonymous:
Where can I find a transcript of the WWASP v. PURE trial? I would like to know more about Palmer's history in the troubled teen industry in the years following the horrific death of Michelle Sutton. It's hard to believe this woman was not even charged with this girl's death. Had she been, perhaps the other deaths in Utah might have been prevented.
Thanks!
Anonymous:
Shame on you Isabelle Zehnder for not honoring Michelle Sutton and placing her on that list.
Michelle's mother, Cathy Sutton, has worked faithfully to change laws to protect other people's children in wilderness programs.
Isabelle Zehnder appears to be very selective about who and what she places on her "lists" on the CAICA website.
Not only is the defunct Whitmore Academy not on her "watch list" as are OTHER CLOSED ABUSIVE FACILITIES----
Zehnder has written a BLOG: "Whitmore Academy" and she praises the owners Mark and Cheryl Sudweeks, and includes mis-statements (some would call this LIES) regarding the criminal case against Cheryl Sudweeks in this BLOG.
Zehnder attacks an un-named parent in this Blog, in her attempts to defend/praise these owners---who have broken laws in 3 countries"
Mark Sudweeks was found guilty of felony animal cruelty in Canada; and he lost his appeal. He was fined over $100K and banned for life from owning animals in Canada.
The Sudweeks were evicted from Mexico for running a school/program without a license.
Cheryl Sudweeks accepted a plea bargain in connection with the criminal case against her for abuse/hazing of 4 former Whitmore students.
Sue Scheff/Pure reportedly referred all these children to Whitmore Academy. The same SUE SCHEFF who was honored as CAICA's "Advocate of the Month" by Isabelle Zehnder. The same SUE SCHEFF that Zehnder reportedly refers parents to.
Zehnder uses her so-called "child advocacy" website CAICA to promote her FOR PROFIT company--Positive Family Solution to solicit customers for "coaching."
Zehnder is promoting a FUNDRAISER on CAICA, but still has not honored requests to post proof that CAICA is a non-profit organization for contributors.
Does Isabelle Zehnder avoid placing Michelle Sutton and Whitmore Academy on her website "lists" because of their connections to "her friend Sue Scheff?" You'd have to ask her.
Anonymous:
Known Programs Gayle Palmer (DeGraff) has worked for since death of Michelle Sutton:
Top Flight Academy
Red Rock Canyon School
Red Rock Ranch Academy
Gayle DeGraff is Admissions Director of Top Flight Academy. She is the mother of five children, all of whom have participated in wilderness programs with the exception of her youngest daughter. She has first-hand experience in observing powerful results from the opportunity for teens to find themselves as a result of experiencing a therapeutic program.
She has been involved in the at-risk teen industry since 1988. She began as Admissions Director for Challenger Foundation, moved to Summit Quest, and was also involved in admissions at Red Rock Canyon School and Red Rock Ranch Academy before joining the staff at Top Flight Academy.
http://topflightacademy.com/inside.php?link=bios
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Perhaps Isabelle Zehnder can ask her friend and colleague, Sue Scheff whether she is still in contact with Gayle Palmer DeGraff, and if so, under what circumstances (e.g. Is Palmer working for another program in admissions or as an independent referral agent)?
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