Aspen Education's Systematic Child Abuse

[Whooter]

I agree with a lot of what you say, DJ.  But they concluded that there were only 9 substantiated cases of abuse.  There were many "findings" but the findings have not been substantiated as of yet except 9 of them.  I am sure the number will rise once they decipher which they can substantiate and which of the findings they cannot.
But at this point only 9 are substantiated which is about 10%, not 100%.

That is not quite how the Department of Human Services in the state of Oregon saw it.

From the Complaint and Order to Correct Conditions, color emphasis added:

In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegations of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.[/list]

From the above transcribed Order of Emergency License Suspension:

Ultimate Findings of Fact: DHS finds that due to MBA's abuse and neglect of students and violations of the licensing rules listed above, MBA poses a serious danger to public health or safety should MBA be permitted to continue operating as a therapeutic boarding school for children. DHS finds that a condition exists that immediately endangers the health or safety of the children at MBA should MBA be permitted to continue providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.[/list]

:deal:  :poison:

Like it says there is an indication there but they have not been substantiated.  Sounds like they never will if this is final like you say.  So far there are only 9 that were substantiated.



...



...

[DannyB II]

The state child abuse investigation is over, those are the final findings of fact (substantiated, documented charges by the state that abuse was systemic and all kids were abused) and the case has been referred for criminal prosecution.  Now we'll see where that goes.

Keep apologizing for child abusers, Danny.  I'm sure it's good for your karma.

Ouch!!!! that statement makes me want to change my mind. Ya, I thought you would go there.
 
I'm sorry I have not seen the paperwork where they have convicted anyone.
 
Nice to see you are part of the "guilty first"group. Also you sound like you were involved in the investigation...lol.

As far as "systemic" since this is the new word in vogue now, "Systemic".
Results:
a.) affecting the body generally  b.) supplying those parts of the body that receive blood through the aorta rather than through the pulmonary artery.

Slow down and lets see what happens, DJ.

[Anne Bonney]

I agree with a lot of what you say, DJ.  But they concluded that there were only 9 substantiated cases of abuse.  There were many "findings" but the findings have not been substantiated as of yet except 9 of them.  I am sure the number will rise once they decipher which they can substantiate and which of the findings they cannot.
But at this point only 9 are substantiated which is about 10%, not 100%.

That is not quite how the Department of Human Services in the state of Oregon saw it.

From the Complaint and Order to Correct Conditions, color emphasis added:

In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegations of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.[/list]

From the above transcribed Order of Emergency License Suspension:

Ultimate Findings of Fact: DHS finds that due to MBA's abuse and neglect of students and violations of the licensing rules listed above, MBA poses a serious danger to public health or safety should MBA be permitted to continue operating as a therapeutic boarding school for children. DHS finds that a condition exists that immediately endangers the health or safety of the children at MBA should MBA be permitted to continue providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.[/list]

Pretty much all that needs to be said is in this quote.  They found that the "exemplars" experience is "not unique and is substantially consistent" with what "ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM"  were/are exposed to.  Since the "exemplars" experience was found to be abusive, and that said experience is substantially consistent with what ALL the rest of the kids there go thru........all the kids there were abused by virtue of simply being exposed to the program's methodology.  Why is this so difficult to grasp?

[Whooter]

I agree with a lot of what you say, DJ.  But they concluded that there were only 9 substantiated cases of abuse.  There were many "findings" but the findings have not been substantiated as of yet except 9 of them.  I am sure the number will rise once they decipher which they can substantiate and which of the findings they cannot.
But at this point only 9 are substantiated which is about 10%, not 100%.

That is not quite how the Department of Human Services in the state of Oregon saw it.

From the Complaint and Order to Correct Conditions, color emphasis added:

In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegations of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.[/list]

From the above transcribed Order of Emergency License Suspension:

Ultimate Findings of Fact: DHS finds that due to MBA's abuse and neglect of students and violations of the licensing rules listed above, MBA poses a serious danger to public health or safety should MBA be permitted to continue operating as a therapeutic boarding school for children. DHS finds that a condition exists that immediately endangers the health or safety of the children at MBA should MBA be permitted to continue providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.[/list]

Pretty much all that needs to be said is in this quote.  They found that the "exemplars" experience is "not unique and is substantially consistent" with what "ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM"  were/are exposed to.  Since the "exemplars" experience was found to be abusive, and that said experience is substantially consistent with what ALL the rest of the kids there go thru........all the kids there were abused by virtue of simply being exposed to the program's methodology.  Why is this so difficult to grasp?

Seems like we are all reading the same thing and are in agreement.  Now the next step is if they end up substantiating all the findings (above) then we can say 100% of the kids were abused instead of just the 9 that are substantiated so far.  This seems to be the point everyone wants to get to I think.



...

[DannyB II]

I agree with a lot of what you say, DJ.  But they concluded that there were only 9 substantiated cases of abuse.  There were many "findings" but the findings have not been substantiated as of yet except 9 of them.  I am sure the number will rise once they decipher which they can substantiate and which of the findings they cannot.
But at this point only 9 are substantiated which is about 10%, not 100%.

That is not quite how the Department of Human Services in the state of Oregon saw it.

From the Complaint and Order to Correct Conditions, color emphasis added:

In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegations of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.[/list]

From the above transcribed Order of Emergency License Suspension:

Ultimate Findings of Fact: DHS finds that due to MBA's abuse and neglect of students and violations of the licensing rules listed above, MBA poses a serious danger to public health or safety should MBA be permitted to continue operating as a therapeutic boarding school for children. DHS finds that a condition exists that immediately endangers the health or safety of the children at MBA should MBA be permitted to continue providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.[/list]

Pretty much all that needs to be said is in this quote.  They found that the "exemplars" experience is "not unique and is substantially consistent" with what "ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM"  were/are exposed to.  Since the "exemplars" experience was found to be abusive, and that said experience is substantially consistent with what ALL the rest of the kids there go thru........all the kids there were abused by virtue of simply being exposed to the program's methodology.  Why is this so difficult to grasp?

Sounds like a lot of broad terminology to me, we will just have to see.

[Joel]

Edited: Wednesday, October 06, 2010

[DannyB II]

7. MBA violated OAR 413-215-0076(3) regarding behavior management in that MBA required students to engage in an "emotional growth" curriculum included, but was not limited to, the Lifesteps program that was punitive, humiliating, degrading and traumatizing. The "emotional growth" curriculum included, but was not limited to, sexualized role play in front of staff and peers, requiring students to say derogatory phrases about themselves in front of staff and peers, requiring students to reenact past physical abuse in front of staff and peers, permitting staff to engage in the usage of derogatory names, phrases and ridicule of students, and deprivation of sleep.

http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Lifestep

Lifesteps are a trademark of the Aspen Education Group. They were developed by Linda Houghton in association with Alex Bitz and a group of former CEDU staff at the founding of Mount Bachelor Academy, a first generation CEDU clone. Lifesteps incorporate the propheet system of CEDU into a slightly modified model built around basically the same ideas. "Peer groups" of eight to fifteen children go through all of the Lifesteps together. Each Lifestep has both staff and student "facilitators," a term that is used because they refuse to call the process "therapy" because there are usually no licensed therapists or psychologists present. If a Lifestep participant fails to live up to the facilitator's expectations of them during the Lifestep, then it is likely that he or she will be "dropped" into a lower peer group. They are all numbered according to the "graduation date" of the children, or the day that they are allowed to go home. Thus, being "dropped" into a higher numbered peer group meant that a child would usually be forced to spend a longer amount of time at the facility. There are six life-steps used at Mount Bachelor Academy.

http://www.secretprisonsforteens.dk/for ... %28CEDU%29

I went throught the all the propheets incluing both workshops.

Well it sounds like you just could not get enough, has it helped in your experiences with life.

[Anne Bonney]

I agree with a lot of what you say, DJ.  But they concluded that there were only 9 substantiated cases of abuse.  There were many "findings" but the findings have not been substantiated as of yet except 9 of them.  I am sure the number will rise once they decipher which they can substantiate and which of the findings they cannot.
But at this point only 9 are substantiated which is about 10%, not 100%.

That is not quite how the Department of Human Services in the state of Oregon saw it.

From the Complaint and Order to Correct Conditions, color emphasis added:

In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegations of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.[/list]

From the above transcribed Order of Emergency License Suspension:

Ultimate Findings of Fact: DHS finds that due to MBA's abuse and neglect of students and violations of the licensing rules listed above, MBA poses a serious danger to public health or safety should MBA be permitted to continue operating as a therapeutic boarding school for children. DHS finds that a condition exists that immediately endangers the health or safety of the children at MBA should MBA be permitted to continue providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.[/list]

Pretty much all that needs to be said is in this quote.  They found that the "exemplars" experience is "not unique and is substantially consistent" with what "ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM"  were/are exposed to.  Since the "exemplars" experience was found to be abusive, and that said experience is substantially consistent with what ALL the rest of the kids there go thru........all the kids there were abused by virtue of simply being exposed to the program's methodology.  Why is this so difficult to grasp?

Seems like we are all reading the same thing and are in agreement.  Now the next step is if they end up substantiating all the findings (above) then we can say 100% of the kids were abused instead of just the 9 that are substantiated so far.  This seems to be the point everyone wants to get to I think.



...

No, the point is that they found that the very methods used were abusive.  Therefore, since they also found that all kids were exposed to these methods, we can conclude (those of us with critical thinking skills) that all kids that were abused via those methods.  

 ::deadhorse::

[DannyB II]

I agree with a lot of what you say, DJ.  But they concluded that there were only 9 substantiated cases of abuse.  There were many "findings" but the findings have not been substantiated as of yet except 9 of them.  I am sure the number will rise once they decipher which they can substantiate and which of the findings they cannot.
But at this point only 9 are substantiated which is about 10%, not 100%.

That is not quite how the Department of Human Services in the state of Oregon saw it.

From the Complaint and Order to Correct Conditions, color emphasis added:

In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegations of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.[/list]

From the above transcribed Order of Emergency License Suspension:

Ultimate Findings of Fact: DHS finds that due to MBA's abuse and neglect of students and violations of the licensing rules listed above, MBA poses a serious danger to public health or safety should MBA be permitted to continue operating as a therapeutic boarding school for children. DHS finds that a condition exists that immediately endangers the health or safety of the children at MBA should MBA be permitted to continue providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.[/list]

Pretty much all that needs to be said is in this quote.  They found that the "exemplars" experience is "not unique and is substantially consistent" with what "ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM"  were/are exposed to.  Since the "exemplars" experience was found to be abusive, and that said experience is substantially consistent with what ALL the rest of the kids there go thru........all the kids there were abused by virtue of simply being exposed to the program's methodology.  Why is this so difficult to grasp?

Seems like we are all reading the same thing and are in agreement.  Now the next step is if they end up substantiating all the findings (above) then we can say 100% of the kids were abused instead of just the 9 that are substantiated so far.  This seems to be the point everyone wants to get to I think.



...

No, the point is that they found that the very methods used were abusive.  Therefore, since they also found that all kids were exposed to these methods, we can conclude (those of us with critical thinking skills) that all kids that were abused via those methods.  

 ::deadhorse::

Anne, stop it....those of us with "critical thinking skills"..... :roflmao: next you'll be telling us you litigated your first case today in court.
Put the joint down......now!!!!!!
Did you know that Glenn Beck is going "blind"? I told him to stop it but NOOOoooooooo.

[Troll Control]

Danny loves him some Anne Bonney!

[DannyB II]

Danny loves him some Anne Bonney!

I'll admit it but SSSSssssshhhhhhhhh, my significant other would kill me.

Now DJ, have you rested your case, please take a 2 week recess.

You two are killing us here, shud uppppp!!!!!!!!

(You and whooter that is.)

[Troll Control]

So true, Anne.  Here's some more about the investigation that showed Aspen Education systematically abuses children in their care:

November 2, 2009

Background Information: Mt. Bachelor Academy
Children, Adults and Families Division, Oregon Department of Human Services

Investigations conducted by the Oregon Department of Human Services at Mt. Bachelor Academy (MBA), a therapeutic boarding school located near Prineville, have resulted in nine substantiated findings of child abuse and neglect against the school's leadership and therapeutic program.

As a result of the abuse investigation and violations of Oregon’s licensing standards, the state has ordered Mt. Bachelor Academy to temporarily cease all therapeutic, educational and residential services to children until further notice.

The abuse and neglect findings centered on the program as a whole, as well as the school’s Executive Director, and involved five children who attended Mt. Bachelor Academy during 2007-2009. The results of the investigation are being provided to local law enforcement officials.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of Investigation and Training (OIT) at DHS. Investigators with OIT reported that all students at MBA were required to participate in “emotional growth” workshops, called Lifesteps, which included activities that were coercive, intimidating and humiliating -- including sexualized role play and reenactment of past traumatic events, such as prior physical or sexual abuse.

While the initial reports described concerns about Lifesteps, the investigation ultimately revealed serious safety concerns about MBA’s curriculum and program as a whole. The experience of the five students was consistent with that of other children enrolled at the school. The report concluded that the experiences of “these five youth are exemplars of the program's treatment of its students as a whole."

As a result of the OIT investigation, DHS Children, Adults and Families Residential Treatment Services and Licensing found violations of state licensing standards for therapeutic boarding schools, and state officials will require MBA to cease providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.

The licensing program determined in its investigation that there are conditions present that immediately endanger the health and safety of the children enrolled at MBA. The program found that MBA’s methods of educational instruction, emotional and behavioral intervention and daily interaction with students create an immediate threat which places all children at risk of harm.  

Further, the investigation revealed that MBA has subjected children to Lifestep workshops as a therapy technique that is harmful and damaging to their health or welfare. In addition, that MBA has not provided the therapeutic treatment necessary for children to overcome or improve with substance abuse issues, mental health issues, eating disorders and other issues, nor provided qualified staff to treat such conditions.  

The substantiated incidents of abuse or neglect are shown below:
•   Mt. Bachelor Academy Executive Director neglected the care of four children by failing to ensure individualized and therapeutic treatment plans were developed to address past abuse and significant emotional and behavioral issues.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused a child in 2007 by requiring the child to engage in sexualized role play in front of staff and peers.
•   The Mount Bachelor program abused a second child in 2009 by requiring the child to make obscene and self-degrading comments out loud, in front of staff and peers. In addition, the Mount Bachelor program neglected the same child during 2008-2009 by failing to provide adequate medical care and supervision.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program neglected a third child in 2009, by failing to provide adequate supervision during an international trip.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused a fourth child in 2008 by requiring the child to engage in degrading activities such as acting out sexualized role play and physical abuse, and by being subjected to obscene and degrading comments by staff in front of other staff and peers.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused a fifth child during 2009 by requiring and/or permitting staff to use derogatory names, phrases, ridicule and harassment.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program neglected five children between 2007 and 2009 by failing to provide individualized treatment to meet their diagnosed mental health needs.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused five children between 2007 and 2009 by requiring them to engage in activities that were coercive, intimidating, harassing, and/or humiliating.

The substantiated incidents meet Oregon's legal definition of child abuse because they were inconsistent with recommended and appropriate treatment or care, used derogatory names/phrases, profanity, ridicule, harassment, coercion, and/or intimidation that was likely to endanger the child's health or welfare. In addition, the activities subjected children to a substantial risk of harm to their health or welfare, and the adults failed to supervise or intervene when the child needed assistance or care, in an activity that was likely to endanger their health or welfare.

An expert in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry consulted by DHS as part of the investigation concluded: "In general, coercive, degrading and humiliating treatment is harmful to young people, especially those with psychological vulnerabilities. Young people (male and female) who have been victims of abuse often hold themselves responsible for the abuse, and develop sexualized behavior for reasons they often don't understand. To confront them and humiliate them about these behaviors in an effort to force them to see themselves more clearly and consequently change their behavior can be very destructive. It has the risk of reinforcing self-blame and self-loathing attitudes already present in traumatized individuals. It is essentially retraumatizing."
 
Today's report also includes a substantiated allegation of child abuse against the Executive Director of MBA as "the individual responsible for delivery of therapeutic care to MBA students.”  In that role, the Executive Director “administers through staff an ‘emotional growth’ curriculum in which all students must participate regardless of their emotional, behavioral or mental health needs, and regardless of their own trauma histories.  This curriculum is delivered by staff who are not trained to treat the broad range of issues the children bring, and who routinely degrade and humiliate them.” The report concludes that the Executive Director, “knew or should have known what happens to students in [the] program.”

Mt. Bachelor Academy is a licensed Therapeutic Boarding School, located in a rural area, 26 miles east of Prineville, Oregon, licensed originally in 1988. The school admits both male and female students who are from age 14 to 17.5 at the time of admission, although some children are admitted pursuant to an exception as young as age 13. The total capacity is 125 students and the average length of stay is 14-16 months. Tuition is $6,400 a month with an additional up front, one time $2,200 enrollment fee. Other service fees are not included. In 2008, Mt. Bachelor was reorganized and became a program of Aspen Education Group. Aspen was recently acquired by CRC Health Group, Inc. In March of 2009, MBA had approximately 77 staff and 88 boarding students.

Last March, the state received reports of child abuse against Mt. Bachelor Academy, initially concerning the Lifesteps program at MBA. OIT is a division of DHS that investigates allegations of abuse by paid staff in various therapeutic or treatment settings, and OIT handled the investigation of the reports of abuse at MBA. There were two investigators primarily assigned to go to Prineville and interview people on campus. In addition, the office used three other investigators to conduct witness interviews of people in- and out-of-state. The investigators conducted interviews involving 65 witnesses, including MBA students and staff, along with licensed therapists familiar with individual students. Investigators consulted with a medical expert certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and they reviewed documents and photographed materials used as part of the MBA therapy program.  

At the same time, the DHS Licensing program investigated standards for health and safety and looked at the school's compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules related to their license as a therapeutic boarding school. Licensing notified MBA that they were prohibited from conducting their own investigation into the allegations of abuse reported to have occurred; prohibited from destroying or otherwise concealing school or student records; prohibited from disciplining or threatening discipline to students interviewed during the investigation; prohibited from conducting Lifesteps activities until further notice. Parents of students were notified of the investigation.

A "Therapeutic boarding school" is a program that is primarily a school and not a residential care agency (as defined in OAR 413-215-0506).  Therapeutic boarding schools are licensed to provide both educational services and care to children for 24 hours a day and hold themselves out as serving children with emotional or behavioral problems by providing therapeutic services or assuring that children receive therapeutic services.

So, basically, in 2008 this program became part of Aspen Education and within one year was found to be systematically abusing all of the children in its care and getting shut down.  Aspen's programs are designed this way and implemented this way, causing massive trauma to its abused and neglected victims.

PARENTS BEWARE ASPEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS. :poison:  :suicide:

This program was included in the Behrens study.  She concluded that child abuse is effective in helping kids. :eek:

[Joel]

Edited: Wednesday, October 06, 2010

[Troll Control]

So true, Anne.  Here's some more about the investigation that showed Aspen Education systematically abuses children in their care:

November 2, 2009

Background Information: Mt. Bachelor Academy
Children, Adults and Families Division, Oregon Department of Human Services

Investigations conducted by the Oregon Department of Human Services at Mt. Bachelor Academy (MBA), a therapeutic boarding school located near Prineville, have resulted in nine substantiated findings of child abuse and neglect against the school's leadership and therapeutic program.

As a result of the abuse investigation and violations of Oregon’s licensing standards, the state has ordered Mt. Bachelor Academy to temporarily cease all therapeutic, educational and residential services to children until further notice.

The abuse and neglect findings centered on the program as a whole, as well as the school’s Executive Director, and involved five children who attended Mt. Bachelor Academy during 2007-2009. The results of the investigation are being provided to local law enforcement officials.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of Investigation and Training (OIT) at DHS. Investigators with OIT reported that all students at MBA were required to participate in “emotional growth” workshops, called Lifesteps, which included activities that were coercive, intimidating and humiliating -- including sexualized role play and reenactment of past traumatic events, such as prior physical or sexual abuse.

While the initial reports described concerns about Lifesteps, the investigation ultimately revealed serious safety concerns about MBA’s curriculum and program as a whole. The experience of the five students was consistent with that of other children enrolled at the school. The report concluded that the experiences of “these five youth are exemplars of the program's treatment of its students as a whole."

As a result of the OIT investigation, DHS Children, Adults and Families Residential Treatment Services and Licensing found violations of state licensing standards for therapeutic boarding schools, and state officials will require MBA to cease providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.

The licensing program determined in its investigation that there are conditions present that immediately endanger the health and safety of the children enrolled at MBA. The program found that MBA’s methods of educational instruction, emotional and behavioral intervention and daily interaction with students create an immediate threat which places all children at risk of harm.  

Further, the investigation revealed that MBA has subjected children to Lifestep workshops as a therapy technique that is harmful and damaging to their health or welfare. In addition, that MBA has not provided the therapeutic treatment necessary for children to overcome or improve with substance abuse issues, mental health issues, eating disorders and other issues, nor provided qualified staff to treat such conditions.  

The substantiated incidents of abuse or neglect are shown below:
•   Mt. Bachelor Academy Executive Director neglected the care of four children by failing to ensure individualized and therapeutic treatment plans were developed to address past abuse and significant emotional and behavioral issues.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused a child in 2007 by requiring the child to engage in sexualized role play in front of staff and peers.
•   The Mount Bachelor program abused a second child in 2009 by requiring the child to make obscene and self-degrading comments out loud, in front of staff and peers. In addition, the Mount Bachelor program neglected the same child during 2008-2009 by failing to provide adequate medical care and supervision.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program neglected a third child in 2009, by failing to provide adequate supervision during an international trip.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused a fourth child in 2008 by requiring the child to engage in degrading activities such as acting out sexualized role play and physical abuse, and by being subjected to obscene and degrading comments by staff in front of other staff and peers.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused a fifth child during 2009 by requiring and/or permitting staff to use derogatory names, phrases, ridicule and harassment.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program neglected five children between 2007 and 2009 by failing to provide individualized treatment to meet their diagnosed mental health needs.
•   The Mount Bachelor Academy program abused five children between 2007 and 2009 by requiring them to engage in activities that were coercive, intimidating, harassing, and/or humiliating.

The substantiated incidents meet Oregon's legal definition of child abuse because they were inconsistent with recommended and appropriate treatment or care, used derogatory names/phrases, profanity, ridicule, harassment, coercion, and/or intimidation that was likely to endanger the child's health or welfare. In addition, the activities subjected children to a substantial risk of harm to their health or welfare, and the adults failed to supervise or intervene when the child needed assistance or care, in an activity that was likely to endanger their health or welfare.

An expert in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry consulted by DHS as part of the investigation concluded: "In general, coercive, degrading and humiliating treatment is harmful to young people, especially those with psychological vulnerabilities. Young people (male and female) who have been victims of abuse often hold themselves responsible for the abuse, and develop sexualized behavior for reasons they often don't understand. To confront them and humiliate them about these behaviors in an effort to force them to see themselves more clearly and consequently change their behavior can be very destructive. It has the risk of reinforcing self-blame and self-loathing attitudes already present in traumatized individuals. It is essentially retraumatizing."
 
Today's report also includes a substantiated allegation of child abuse against the Executive Director of MBA as "the individual responsible for delivery of therapeutic care to MBA students.”  In that role, the Executive Director “administers through staff an ‘emotional growth’ curriculum in which all students must participate regardless of their emotional, behavioral or mental health needs, and regardless of their own trauma histories.  This curriculum is delivered by staff who are not trained to treat the broad range of issues the children bring, and who routinely degrade and humiliate them.” The report concludes that the Executive Director, “knew or should have known what happens to students in [the] program.”

Mt. Bachelor Academy is a licensed Therapeutic Boarding School, located in a rural area, 26 miles east of Prineville, Oregon, licensed originally in 1988. The school admits both male and female students who are from age 14 to 17.5 at the time of admission, although some children are admitted pursuant to an exception as young as age 13. The total capacity is 125 students and the average length of stay is 14-16 months. Tuition is $6,400 a month with an additional up front, one time $2,200 enrollment fee. Other service fees are not included. In 2008, Mt. Bachelor was reorganized and became a program of Aspen Education Group. Aspen was recently acquired by CRC Health Group, Inc. In March of 2009, MBA had approximately 77 staff and 88 boarding students.

Last March, the state received reports of child abuse against Mt. Bachelor Academy, initially concerning the Lifesteps program at MBA. OIT is a division of DHS that investigates allegations of abuse by paid staff in various therapeutic or treatment settings, and OIT handled the investigation of the reports of abuse at MBA. There were two investigators primarily assigned to go to Prineville and interview people on campus. In addition, the office used three other investigators to conduct witness interviews of people in- and out-of-state. The investigators conducted interviews involving 65 witnesses, including MBA students and staff, along with licensed therapists familiar with individual students. Investigators consulted with a medical expert certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and they reviewed documents and photographed materials used as part of the MBA therapy program.  

At the same time, the DHS Licensing program investigated standards for health and safety and looked at the school's compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules related to their license as a therapeutic boarding school. Licensing notified MBA that they were prohibited from conducting their own investigation into the allegations of abuse reported to have occurred; prohibited from destroying or otherwise concealing school or student records; prohibited from disciplining or threatening discipline to students interviewed during the investigation; prohibited from conducting Lifesteps activities until further notice. Parents of students were notified of the investigation.

A "Therapeutic boarding school" is a program that is primarily a school and not a residential care agency (as defined in OAR 413-215-0506).  Therapeutic boarding schools are licensed to provide both educational services and care to children for 24 hours a day and hold themselves out as serving children with emotional or behavioral problems by providing therapeutic services or assuring that children receive therapeutic services.

So, basically, in 2008 this program became part of Aspen Education and within one year was found to be systematically abusing all of the children in its care and getting shut down.  Aspen's programs are designed this way and implemented this way, causing massive trauma to its abused and neglected victims.

PARENTS BEWARE ASPEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS. :poison:  :suicide:

This program was included in the Behrens study.  She concluded that child abuse is effective in helping kids. :eek:

[Anne Bonney]

I agree with a lot of what you say, DJ.  But they concluded that there were only 9 substantiated cases of abuse.  There were many "findings" but the findings have not been substantiated as of yet except 9 of them.  I am sure the number will rise once they decipher which they can substantiate and which of the findings they cannot.
But at this point only 9 are substantiated which is about 10%, not 100%.

That is not quite how the Department of Human Services in the state of Oregon saw it.

From the Complaint and Order to Correct Conditions, color emphasis added:

In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegations of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.[/list]

From the above transcribed Order of Emergency License Suspension:

Ultimate Findings of Fact: DHS finds that due to MBA's abuse and neglect of students and violations of the licensing rules listed above, MBA poses a serious danger to public health or safety should MBA be permitted to continue operating as a therapeutic boarding school for children. DHS finds that a condition exists that immediately endangers the health or safety of the children at MBA should MBA be permitted to continue providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.[/list]

Pretty much all that needs to be said is in this quote.  They found that the "exemplars" experience is "not unique and is substantially consistent" with what "ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM" [/u][/color][/size] were/are exposed to.  Since the "exemplars" experience was found to be abusive, and that said experience is substantially consistent with what ALL the rest of the kids there go thru........all the kids there were abused by virtue of simply being exposed to the program's methodology.  Why is this so difficult to grasp?[/color]

Sorry to quote myself but, this is such an important point.  It's, say it with me now, S-Y-S-T-E-M-I-C!!!  It's not "isolated incidents" or just "poorly trained staff".....its systemic to how they actually "work".  THAT is what's abusive, among many other things.