Abusive Programs in Utah - taken from:
http:beyondbusiness.net/childtortureusa.htm
Special Note: If you were abused in a Utah-based behavior modification program you have up to four years to file a lawsuit against them. The ACLU of UT lawyer referral page is at
http://www.acluutah.org/rights.htm. However, successful lawsuits have been filed by injured persons suing in their state of residence, meaning Texas in most of the winning cases. Since most of these programs do interstate and international commerce the case need not be filed in Utah. Find a local lawyer and tell them what happened to you or go to
http://www.aclu.org and find your current state of residence. Contact the local ACLU for your state and get help from them. These programs violate federal and national human rights and constitutional laws. You have the right to seek redress. Do it for yourself and for those who are still being abused in these programs. It?s your right and your responsibility!
Academy at Cedar Mountain located in Cedar City, UT is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. They use the same language as WWASPS/Resource Realizations and use a similar phase/level system to those used in WWASPS programs and at Provo Canyon School. Listed among previous diseases on the application form are: piercings, tattoos, and birthmarks. It is amazing to us that listed among diseases would be birthmarks, tattoos, or piercings. None of those three are medical or psychological diseases. They are identifying physical characteristics. Due to their odd definitions of disease and their use of the ?level/phase system? of behavior modification, we find that Academy at Cedar Mountain is suspect and advise you not to send your child to this program. If you were abused at Academy at Cedar Mountain, please contact us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to others.
Cinnamon Hills Youth Crisis Center is located in St. George, UT, the city which WWASPS and other teen torturers call home. Cinnamon Hills Youth Crisis Center is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. They claim to use the ?eyeball supervision? approach to therapy in which your child is scrutinized and monitored 24/7 for any movement, sound, or sigh that they can arbitrarily label as rebellious or not in line with the program at which point they can tackle your teen, drug them, and put them in an isolation chamber until they arbitrarily decide that the child has suffered enough and is ready to rejoin the group. They monitor all communications between parent and child and are in complete control of when parents and children are allowed to communicate with one another. This program is so suspect we almost feel safe to declare that it is definitely abusive. However, in order to do that we need firsthand testimony. So, if you were abused at Cinnamon Hills Youth Crisis Center, contact us and we will upgrade them from suspected to confirmed status and add your online testimonial here as a warning to others.
Discovery Academy is located in Provo, UT and is a confirmedly abusive behavior modification program. DO NOT send your child to Discovery Academy. If your child is CURRENTLY AT DISCOVERY ACADEMY, BRING THEM HOME NOW!!! According to survivor reports: Erik Bowen writes: ?I attended Discovery Academy from the summer of 1997 through January of 1998. It was among the most psychologically damaging experiences of my life. Please don?t send your children to Discovery Academy. DA is a very punitive place. For example, if a student does not make his bed to the satisfaction of the DA staff, the student may be made to stand up to five ?demerits,? one demerit being defined as standing for 25 minutes facing a wall. Demerits are liberally doled out for any offence, from slight infractions of the rules such as cursing or complaining, to large violations, such as attempting to escape from DA. An attempted escape typically prompted between 100 and 500 demerits, or more. That is between 2 and 9 days, approximately, standing facing a wall. Five minute breaks were allowed between each 25 minute standing session, as well as breaks for sleeping and eating. When most students arrive at DA, they are upset and they show it. As they become familiar with the way Discovery Academy works, they learn to conceal their anger and any other emotions that are indicative of problems. When the DA staff sees this, they take it as the student?s problems being solved. ?If the symptom disappears, the cause must have disappeared,? is the logic that Discovery Academy operates by. However, in reality the student?s problems remain, and are made worse by the habitual concealing of them that DA?s punitive/?therapeutic? system rewards. I picked up on this rather quickly, and was able to rise rapidly through the level system and complete a good deal of coursework in a fairly short time. In light of this, and my newfound ability to conceal my emotions, I was able to convince my parent to remove me from DA after about six months. During the time thereafter that I lived at home, I worked as hard as possible to conceal my true feelings from my parent. Those true feelings, if expressed, had the potential to land me back at DA, something which I was not about to let happen. So, parents, the moral of this story is: If you want your children to never tell you the truth again as long as you are their legal guardians, to disown you in the future, as well as to add to their unhappiness, send them to Discovery Academy. I am not exaggerating or dramatizing the consequences. Before you send your child anywhere, I strongly recommend that you read the book Smart Love by Pieper & Pieper. If you have any questions that you'd like to ask me about this, please feel free to email at:
http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/2 ... -4985r.htm. As of January 9th, 2004, California Representative George Miller demanded, and was denied by John Ashcroft, an investigation into WWASPS. According to Representative Miller of California, ?There is a laundry list of abuse of children at WWASPS schools: deprivation of food, deprivation of contact with their peers, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse, and parents are paying big money for services not rendered," Miller added in a Nov. 6 news release.?
Here is one parent?s review after rescuing their son from Cross Creek as could be found at
http://www.teenprogram.info/schools/view/1177 as of February 13, 2004:
?I recently picked my son up from this program after they wanted to send him to one of their affiliate programs out of the country. The tactics they use are dangerous, my son attempted suicide while there and no one even bother to let his parents know. The official diagnosis from this school was that my kid was a "spoiled brat". He is actually Bipolar and we were seeking a therapeutic school that would help him deal with his problems in a positive manner. I was shocked to learn that the parent reference list is made up of parents who will say anything to get a month of free tuition. Follow the money trail, they also give misleading information about your child's progress so that they will stay longer...more tuition $ for them I guess. My son is now in an amazing school, has not had a single incident of bad behavior, I speak to him weekly and things are looking up...no thanks to Cross Creek. If you have or are considering this school LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!!! If your child is already there insist on speaking to your child. I have already reported them to Utah child services. Oh by the way my husband and I are health care professionals...we hope anyone reading this will learn from our mistake.?
Diamond Ranch Academy is located in Hurricane, UT and is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. They use a level system of reward and punishment and hold mock-trials and provide mock-imprisonment for children with ?attitude, behavioral, or personality disorders.? They use irrational tactics such as fear and abuse of power to convince children to act ?appropriately? in any given social or family situation. It is a very dangerous game these people are playing. The drugs that are prescribed for ADHD cause violent psychotic behavior in 6% of the children taking them. Before submitting your child to torture, perhaps a healthy family environment, proper diet, and family therapy are in order. Diamond Ranch claims to treat Oppositional Defiance Disorder. ODD is a ?quack? term and is currently being given the same respect that ?hysteria? received once rational minds investigated the problem. ODD is currently being challenged by members of the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association as being a false diagnosis for any teen. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Diamond Ranch Academy, please contact us and we will share your story here as a warning to others.
High Peaks Wilderness Program is a confirmedly abusive behavior modification program that has been closed by authorities in the past. If they have re-opened for any reason, then, it is up to us to warn you not to use them. According to official accounts, ?High Peaks has been temporarily restrained from operating its outdoor youth program by the State of Utah and has lost it's license.? Utah takes actions against abusive behavior modification programs rarely. So, High Peaks must have gotten a lot of exposure and quick for Utah to take action. Don?t send your child to this program. If you were abused in High Peaks Wilderness Program, please contact us and we will add your online testimonial to this website as a warning to others.
High Top Ranch is owned and operated by the same people as Sorensen?s Ranch School, a highly suspect facility that employs at least one known felon who was convicted of sexual assault of a minor. Unless you think it is good to place your child in the care of known sex offenders, you should definitely just say no to High Top and any Sorensen/Sorenson outfit. If you were abused while in the care of High Top Ranch, please contact us and we will post your experience here as a warning to others. You have up to four years to file lawsuits of this nature in the state of Utah. Let us know if we can help you in any way!
Integrity House located in Cedar City, UT is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification facility. There are many red flags raised when reading their description of their program. They use a phase system as well as physical restraints. They limit communications between parents and children and isolate the children from family and friends. These are all huge red flags. Do not send your child to Integrity House. If you were abused at Integrity House, please contact us and we will add your online testimonial to this website as a warning to others.
Liahona Academy-in Southern Utah is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification facility. We have reason to believe it is an associate of WWASPS and is a program within the Cross Creek program. After filling out the online assessment, available by clicking on the Liahona underlined title above, and choosing what most people understand are normal teenage behaviors caused by hormonal fluctuations that occur during puberty/adolescence we received a ?Severe Danger? rating and were advised to call immediately to hear the sales pitch. Choose whatever on the list you think add up to normal teen behaviors and see what rating you get. I bet you?ll be shocked. Based on their inability and bizarre manner of assessment, no interview with the child is warranted nor any real evaluations before they advise a residential facility be the next step, we believe Liahona is suspect and best to be avoided. If you were abused at Liahona Academy or had your rights violated in anyway, please contact us and we will add your online testimonial to this website as a warning to others.
Majestic Ranch located in Utah is another World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools program. Representative George Miller of California demanded in investigation into all World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools after receiving hundreds of complaints from his constituents about the torture and abuse suffered by them and/or their children. There is an online article detailing the allegations of abuse at
http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/2 ... -4985r.htm. As of January 9th, 2004, California Representative George Miller demanded, and was denied by John Ashcroft, an investigation into WWASPS. According to Representative Miller of California, ?There is a laundry list of abuse of children at WWASPS schools: deprivation of food, deprivation of contact with their peers, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse, and parents are paying big money for services not rendered," Miller added in a Nov. 6 news release.?
New Haven Residential Treatment Center is located in Provo, UT and is highly suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. They use a level system (the rules of the program can be viewed by clicking on the underlined title as of 3/19/04) which is custom in abusive behavior modification programs. They also claim that Oppositional Defiance Disorder is something they treat at their facility. Oppositional Defiance Disorder is currently being removed from the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association terminology resources because qualified, respected doctors in the fields of medicine and psychiatry have decided it is a fallacious ?disease? founded on the same nonsense as hysteria (once defined as a woman?s disease caused by hormonal imbalance and no longer accepted or respected). Another red flag for this program is the description of the orientation/level 1/Safety level of their program. They claim on level one that the student is not trusted at all and that she is watched 24 hours a day, even while going to the bathroom and showering. Many of these young women have been raped or abused and watching them in vulnerable positions such as sleeping, bathing, and going to the bathroom can spark post-traumatic stress in them. Such treatment is counter-productive to true therapy and this program from the onset violates the rights of the students involved. We highly recommend you do not send your child to this institution. If you have been abused or had your rights violated by New Haven, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
North Peaks (High Peaks Program) is located in Roosevelt, UT and is a confirmedly abusive behavior modification program. They are operating under a different name, but they are the same as High Peaks mentioned above. Please click on the title of this section to read more on the High Peaks programs.
Provo Canyon School located in Orem and Provo, Utah is an abusive behavior modification program. They have lost lawsuits filed against them for child abuse and cruel and inhumane treatment of children. One of these lawsuits is Milonas and Rice vs. Provo Canyon School. This facility has been operational for 29 years and Robert H. Crist has been involved in running the program prior to, during, and following the successful lawsuits against him and Provo Canyon School. There is a laundry list of websites dedicated to and exposing the abuses at Provo Canyon School. Please visit and sign the petition to close Provo Canyon School at
http://www.beyondbusiness.net/closepcs.htm. Please also consider educating yourself on the abuses at Provo Canyon School by visiting
http://www.beyondbusiness.net/provotruth.htm,
http://students.washington.edu/heal/#teen and
http://www.beyondbusiness.net/index2.htmRed Rock Canyon School in St. George, UT is an abusive behavior modification program. ?A $6 million wrongful-death lawsuit, (was) filed in U.S. District Court by parents of the teenage girl, Katherine Lank, who fell into a deep crevice while hiking. It was filed against the Red Rock Canyon School, St. George, Utah, on May 28, 2002. The suit, accuses the school of negligence and breach of contract, asks for $5 million in compensatory damages, and $1 million in punitive damages and attorney fees. The Lanks have also demanded a jury trial.? Further information about this is in the article by Michael Vigh of the Salt Lake Tribune. If you were abused by Red Rock Canyon School, contact us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to others.
Second Nature Wilderness Program in Duchesne, UT is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. They consider Oppositional Defiance Disorder an actual disorder when in reality it is not. During puberty teenagers? hormones fluctuate creating moodiness and struggles. This is normal. Labeling normal teen behavior a disorder is damaging to teens and their families. Beyond this, we find certain passages in the program contract disturbing. You can read the full contract by clicking on the title link (as of 3/19/04). One thing they ask is a detailed description of all of the child?s fears. What possible purpose could they have for this? We suspect they ask this information so they can use your child?s fears against them in order to terrify them to the point of submitting to any order in order to avoid further terror. The signature line for parents is the most telling it reads: ?I release Second Nature Therapeutic Programs LLC, Second Nature Wilderness Programs, LLC, all employees, and contractors from any and all liability resulting from our son?s or daughter?s participation and assume all risks in connection there with, including known and unknown risks. ? Basically, you have signed over your rights to sue if your child is battered and abused by anyone while in the care of Second Nature. This is a dangerous request and one no parent should agree to. If you have been abused by Second Nature, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
Skyline Journey Program is a confirmedly abusive behavior modification program. Ian August, 14, of Austin, Texas, died in the field on Saturday, July 13, 2002 while participating in the Skyline Journey Wilderness Program in Nephi, Utah. If you were abused by the Skyline Journey Program, please contact us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to others.
Sorensen?s Ranch School in UT is highly suspect. We wish we could confirmedly state they are abusive. The UT government has revoked their license, but, Sorensen?s won in the appeal process. The reason their license was suspended was because Shaun Sorensen, son of the owner of the ranch, is a convicted sex offender and child predator. He is currently working at Sorensen?s Ranch as a maintenance man. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Sorensen?s Ranch, please contact us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to others.
Turning Point in Granita Park, UT is highly suspect. In the description of their program as found by clicking on the title of this passage as of 3/19/04 they describe using the child?s ?strengths? to ?crush? and ?cripple? unproductive thought patterns. These are very violent terms and suggest that they use destructive and abusive behavior modification in their program. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Turning Point, please contact us and we will post your online testimonial here as a warning to others.
Time is running out. The Indians' botanical knowledge is disappearing even faster than the plants themselves.
--Richard Schultes, Harvard University educator, authority on medicinal plants
