Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)

Lawsuit due to a stay at Casa by the Sea and High Impact

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Oscar:
Utah-based program for troubled youths tortured teen boy, lawsuit alleges, By Dennis Romboy, Deseret News, June 1, 2011


--- Quote ---SALT LAKE CITY — A former student in a much-maligned Utah-based organization for troubled children filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, contending it left him traumatized for life.

Carl Brown Austin, 24, alleges World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools subjected him to constant physical and emotional abuse for two years. The Washington state man was enrolled in programs called Casa by the Sea and High Impact, both based in Mexico, from age 13 to 15.

Since his mother, Glenna Pierson, pulled him from the school in September 2002, he has "lived a life of indolence, drugs and misery to drown out the torture" he experienced, according to the 36-page suit filed in U.S. District Court. Pierson and her husband also are plaintiffs in the case.

"Casa and High Impact have literally wrecked the life of a very young adolescent that needed nurturing, patience and love, not the foolish 'behavior modification' at which the defendants excel."

Named as defendants are WWASPS principals Robert B. Litchfield and Brent M. Facer. The suit seeks at least $500,000 in general damages and unspecified amount for punitive damages. In addition to abuse, it alleges fraud, conspiracy and breach of contract.

An attorney for WWASPS did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

The program uses behavior modification tactics to curb rebellious behavior in kids and often establishes schools in rural, out-of-the-way places to deter running away. Monthly tuition is several thousand dollars, on top of admission fees.

Pierson says she spent more than $50,000 for her son to be in the program.

Allegations of abuse and questions about the facilities' credentials have sparked investigations in numerous states, prompted closures of some facilities and led politicians to call for greater oversight the past few years.

A massive lawsuit initiated by a Texas man pending in federal court in Salt Lake City has hundreds of plaintiffs who claim they were abused in the program.

Austin's attorney, Thomas Burton, said behavior modification or "beating kids into submission" never gets to the root of what often are deep-seated psychological problems.

In the lawsuit, Austin alleges he was a "virtual prisoner" while in the school. He claims school employees meted out "primitive punishment" for hours on end. They included "R&R," which meant lying face down with one's chin and toes on the floor and hands behind the back, and "Big Green," which entailed having one's face rubbed into the turf until it was bloody.

"I have real problems with kids being locked up. This is worse than juvenile hall," he said. "You are in as long as World Wide decides you need to be in. It will come as no surprise that you will be in as long as the funding continues."

Austin also alleges he was hog-tied, allowed limited access to bathrooms and showers and not permitted to eat during punishments.

"He once attempted to hang himself in a bathroom, but was caught and put on R&R," according to the suit.
--- End quote ---

Ursus:

--- Quote from: "Dennis Romboy, for the Deseret News," ---Austin's attorney, Thomas Burton, said behavior modification or "beating kids into submission" never gets to the root of what often are deep-seated psychological problems.
--- End quote ---
These programs often create more problems than there were in the first place. Moreover, with all their sanctimonious talk about "accountability," WWASPS programs rarely own up to the damage and abuse they inflict on the adolescents in their care.

Ursus:
Alternative link for the article in the OP, as the Deseret News opted to re-publish it yesterday:


Deseret News
Utah-based program for troubled youths tortured teen boy, lawsuit alleges

By Dennis Romboy, Deseret News
Published: Friday, June 3, 2011 9:37 p.m. MDT

< snip snip >

Email: romboy@desnews.com

deseretnews.com[/list]

--------------------------------

The republish elicited a coupla comments:


Rifleman | 10:57 a.m. June 5, 2011 · Salt Lake City, Utah
"A 14-year-old boy kicked and punched by guards at a juvenile boot camp died because the sheriff's officials suffocated him, a medical examiner said Friday, contradicting a colleague who blamed the death on a usually benign blood disorder". Martin Anderson is only one of many children who have been killed in boot camps and typically those responsible never pay the price.

If you're a juvenile in a boot camp the US Constitution does not apply to you.Rifleman | 6:22 p.m. June 5, 2011 · Salt Lake City, Utah
How many troubled youths have been tortured and killed in boot camps? I always thought these children had some minor protections given to them by our Constitution. Apparently that isn't the case.

deseretnews.com

Ursus:
This is actually an alternate version of the same article as the OP, perhaps giving an indication of the media interest in this case.

This version has a slightly different title and a different ordering of paragraphs. I'm posting it in its entirety as I'm not sure which article is the original one or the one closer to the writer's original intent...

--------------

"I have real problems with kids being locked up. This is worse than juvenile hall. You are in as long as World Wide decides you need to be in. It will come as no surprise that you will be in as long as the funding continues."
—Carl Brown Austin[/list][/list]

-------------- • -------------- • --------------

KSL.com
Lawsuit says Utah program for troubled youths tortured teen boy

June 1st, 2011 @ 6:53pm
By Dennis Romboy

SALT LAKE CITY — A former student in a much-maligned Utah-based organization for troubled children filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, contending it left him traumatized for life.

Carl Brown Austin, 24, alleges World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools subjected him to constant physical and emotional abuse for two years. The Washington state man was enrolled in programs called Casa by the Sea and High Impact, both based in Mexico, from age 13 to 15.

Since his mother, Glenna Pierson, pulled him from the school in September 2002, he has "lived a life of indolence, drugs and misery to drown out the torture" he experienced, according to the 36-page suit filed in U.S. District Court. Pierson and her husband also are plaintiffs in the case.

"Casa and High Impact have literally wrecked the life of a very young adolescent that needed nurturing, patience and love, not the foolish 'behavior modification' at which the defendants excel."

The program's modification tactics aim to curb rebellious behavior in kids and often establishes schools in rural, out-of-the-way places to deter running away. Monthly tuition is several thousand dollars, on top of admission fees.

Pierson says she spent more than $50,000 for her son to be in the program.

Austin's attorney, Thomas Burton, said behavior modification or "beating kids into submission" never gets to the root of what often are deep-seated psychological problems.

In the lawsuit, Austin alleges he was a "virtual prisoner" while in the school. He claims school employees meted out "primitive punishment" for hours on end. They included "R&R," which meant lying face down with one's chin and toes on the floor and hands behind the back, and "Big Green," which entailed having one's face rubbed into the turf until it was bloody.

"I have real problems with kids being locked up. This is worse than juvenile hall," he said. "You are in as long as World Wide decides you need to be in. It will come as no surprise that you will be in as long as the funding continues."

Austin also alleges he was hog-tied, allowed limited access to bathrooms and showers and not permitted to eat during punishments.

"He once attempted to hang himself in a bathroom, but was caught and put on R&R," according to the suit.

Named as defendants are WWASPS principals Robert B. Litchfield and Brent M. Facer. The suit seeks at least $500,000 in general damages and unspecified amount for punitive damages. In addition to abuse, it alleges fraud, conspiracy and breach of contract.

Allegations of abuse and questions about the facilities' credentials have sparked investigations in numerous states, prompted closures of some facilities and led politicians to call for greater oversight the past few years.

A massive lawsuit initiated by a Texas man pending in federal court in Salt Lake City has hundreds of plaintiffs who claim they were abused in the program.

An attorney for WWASPS did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

Email: dromboy@ksl.com


© 2010 ksl.com | KSL Broadcasting Salt Lake City UT

Ursus:
A coupla thoughtful comments left by ex-staff members, along with the usual ass-hattery, for the just above article, "Lawsuit says Utah program for troubled youths tortured teen boy" (by Dennis Romboy; June 1st, 2011; KSL.com):


EnvironMENTAL · posted 3 days ago
All I can say, is read the contract, they signed the release forms. And agreed to permit whatever the company is to do what the parents paid for. To break what's his faces, rebellious demeanor.

The kid was obviously psychologically troubled before being 'sent away' by his parents. So to suggest that the program caused his psychological issues is like saying flies cause garbage.Cankerpuss · posted 2 days ago
The mother said the kid needed to be loved and cared for in order to get past his psychological problems. Well, isn't that the job of the mother? And where is the father in all of this? Is there a father? Yet more evidence that Fathers are absolutely essential in the raising and development of young men. Women have the ability to love and nurture but they don't have a clue about teaching a young man how to be a responsible man. That takes an alpha male.

If this were my kid the first thing I would ask is what were you doing that caused the staff at the school to discipline you?runninfool · posted 2 days ago
@Cankerpuss. I must agree with you that the importance of a father in a child's life cannot be overstated. However, I do take issue with your statement that women "don't have a clue about teaching a young man how to be a responsible man". I raised two young men as a single mother and they are both college graduates and responsible, loving, and compassionate human beings. Rubbing someones' face in the turf until it bleeds is not discipline, by the way, it is assault.ApatheticEmpathy · posted 2 days ago
I question both the mother and the son's motives. The mother said he needed nurturing that she was willing to pay for, but not give??!! And since this period the son has "lived a life of indolence, drugs and misery to drown out the torture" That's probably what got him into the program in the first place. So now you want to win a court case for what? More money to support the vicious cycle? These people need help that will not be solved through a court case or settlement.InterestedObserver · posted 2 days ago
I am embarrassed to say that I worked for this organization around that time and nine years later, it still makes me sick. They always had and an answer for everything, and completely lied to and manipulated the parents. When the kids were telling the truth, we were told to tell the parents that they were the ones lying. We censored their letters and sat with them during their phone calls.

They told us that the kids "deserved" the treatment because they were "bad" and needed to "learn consequences".

As far this kid being psychologically troubled before he went in, you can't be so sure. There was one little kid who was there because his parents were going through a divorce and he was falling behind in school. They had this "progressive system" that allowed the kids to get through a couple of grade levels in a short amount of time. I won't go into details, but let me just say that the kids were not learning anything, just being given a certificate.

The people on the other side of the 800 number that the parents first call are paid $2000 per kid they enroll, and pretty much tell the parents anything to get the parents in. Your kid is hooked on heroin? This is the place. Your kid is in juvie? We'll fix him. Your kid is in a gang and will be sent to prison? This is it. Your 13 year old is flunking 7th grade? By gosh, we'll help him out. Maybe this guy really was a trouble maker. But maybe he was the one paying for his parents own messy divorce and their psychological problems. (And you can't blame the parents because in this case they really did want what was best for him, but had been lied to by the organization.) He left knowing more about drugs, violence, and sex than most kids graduating high school.

Anytime I questioned the rumors before I worked for them, they said they were stories made up by "disgruntled employees". I left for no other reason than because I finally saw the truth of what was going on and was disgusted by it.

Oh and anyone who wants to find out more about their character and regard for life can click here http://www.wyff4.com/news/24956710/detail.html or just google "carolina springs carcasses lichfield greenville news".[/list][/list]
CSP5 · posted 3 days ago
Many of these programs are not voluntary, though. It is very common for courts to order kids into these programs. My brother was a troubled kid and was court-ordered into one of these camps. They would hike for days at a time with inadequate food and water. When he returned home three months later, he would hoard food and was much more withdrawn and had a lot more trouble trusting adults. This program created far more problems than it solved. Any program that isolates children with little opportunities for supervision or intervention should be carefully scrutinized. No child deserves ill treatment or inhumane punishment, no matter what poor decisions they have made in the past.taggert · posted 3 days ago
something that you should remember, yes some programs are not voluntary. the ones which are court-ordered are there because they have commited a crime, which had they been adults they would have spent some serious jail time for commiting. Also, some of these programs teach some real life skills, which the contestants on "survivor" would gladly give real money for. I have NO sympathy for the kids in these programs because they are there because they are already "troubled".[/list]
Angie H. · posted 2 days ago
I like the part that said "nurturing, patience and love". I believe that is the parents job. It worked well for his parents if they sent him for behavior modification. If this kid would have been locked up in Juvenile detention, he wouldn't have received any of that. If he truly had his face rubbed in sod till it bled, then that would mean he had scars. What's wrong with lying face down on the floor and keep your chin and toes touching the floor? Isn't that just another way of a time out? The problem with today's society is that you can't spank your kids anymore. Anyone figure out that kids 50 years ago didn't cause the disruptions that kids today do? I wonder whyI'm4RIGHT · posted 2 days ago
I think all of these programs should be shut down and parents should seek guidance on how to deal with their own troubled teens. Most of these programs do inflict abuse to some degree. The results are, the kid turns 18 leaves the program and leads his life as he chooses anyway. I hope they win this case and new laws are inflicted and closer watch is placed on all these programs. I worked for one in the Uintah Basin and it wasn't good regardless of what the owners felt they were trying to accomplish.janabarlow · posted 2 days ago
I'm a little disturbed by most of the comments regarding this article. After reading it I assumed that most people would be bothered by the content as I was. Perhaps the Mother had done everything she knew how, some kids are just unreachable. If she really was uncaring or a horrible mom she wouldn't have gone to the trouble and spent the huge amount of money to "help" her son. We all know troubled youth, how many do we know of, that parents have actually gone to such efforts to help them. Children ARE more reckless these days, but it's not because we don't "spank" them or use other corporal punishment. It is because there are not enough Mothers in the home taking the time from day one. Not everyone has that luxury, maybe that's the case with this family, but no child will ever benefit from such treatment as claimed by this family. I have a good friend who went to one of these program out of the states and he came home a changed person for the better. This particular program mentioned is obviously not doing their job and should be held accountable. If all he needed was a good whooping, I'm sure they could have found someone to do it for free. I'm glad none of you are my parents.

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