The Salt Lake Tribune is making public thousands of inspections and critical incidents reports in this free, searchable database. My time in treatment ranges from bad to traumatic. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune). Another girl would frequently act out and the staff got sick of it so they told us to gather around her in a circle and chant your parents are never coming to get you at her until she laid on the floor in the fetal position crying. Utahs Office of Licensing inspects and regulates each facility, and sometimes finds neglect, child abuse or sexual misconduct. A girl with autism was regularly restrained for not leaving a room or for spinning around in one spot. The program has a maximum enrollment of 24 girls, and the average length of stay is reportedly between 9 and 12 months. When a pencil was found in the middle of the room I shared with four other students, all five of us were forced to do school work with crayons. In the past five years, the licensing agency has revoked two licenses neither of which was a youth treatment facility. - Ava (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) "I was a student here, the staff is extremely out of line. Donate to The Salt Lake Tribune today. rules, Utes seeing transfer portals impact on college gymnastics, Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorders Program, Catalyst Residential Treatment (Grey House), Discovery Academy (Discovery Connections), Pine Ridge Behavioral Health (FV Canyon)*, Utah Youth Village (Alpine Academy/Lakeview Campus/Cedar Creek Home), Utah Youth Village (Beverly Taylor Sorenson Home), Waterfall Canyon Academy (Oakgrove - Girls Program), Waterfall Canyon Academy (Oakgrove - North Campus), Waterfall Canyon Academy (Oakgrove - South Campus), Young Women's Empowerment Center (House #1), Young Women's Empowerment Center (House #3), Youth Health Associates (Cedar Valley Ranch), Youth Health Associates (Lakeside Academy), Provo Canyon School Intermediate Secure Care. Kids are cut off from the outside world, he said. A detailed analysis by The Salt Lake Tribune shows that Cedar Ridge had sex crimes reported to police at a rate 4.5 times higher than the average Utah youth treatment center. Moonridge Academy is owned by CERTS Group. While the therapists are good at their job, the management is LACKLUSTER at best, and they are prone to taking the easy way out vs REALLY helping or caring for their girls. This is a checklist that a worker with the Office of Licensing takes with them when they walk through a youth residential treatment center or wilderness program. WebMoonridge Academy girls address issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, school refusal, family conflict, sexual boundaries, computer addiction, attention issues, and low One of the girls was anemic and by the time the staff took her to the hospital two weeks later, she was close to dying. The proximity to a stranger made me feel unsafe. Jan. 26, 202301:26. Communication with family is considered a privilege which must be earned by the teenager. Moonridge Academy, a small Residential Treatment Center of 24 students, provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teens ages 11-15. This level typically lasts 1-6 months. National Interstate Compact Laws (ICPC): This refers to laws adopted by each state that require case workers or parents to have certain documents filled out when a child is going from one state to another for treatment or adoption services. I was once again demoted to level 1 and lost my privileges of privacy in the bathroom and social interaction for several weeks. I still have nightmares about this place. . led to the attorney generals office charging him with two felonies. Thats how I got out after a year mistreatment from this place, I dont regret it. On this level, the residents can earn privilege to leave line-of-sight, wear makeup, and take on a leadership position. Level systems have been used in many confirmedly abusive programs, including the notoriously abusive WWASP programs. This means, in total, the cost of receiving these records was just under $2,000. At that time, it was just a house on a hill surrounded by wilderness and dirt. I remember crying a little while telling someone about how I felt once, and the next day, I learned I didnt have free time because my daily grade had been too low from crying. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. I nearly tried to kill myself dozens of times. Moonridge Academy believes that younger girls should be treated in a loving and nurturing setting that recognizes the unique age and maturity level of girls this age. Oakes wasnt the only Cedar Ridge staffer to sexually abuse a child. WebDate. WebMoonridge Academy admits girls between the ages of 11 and 14--young teens. If I hadnt eaten that much, I would have been put on safety and a female staff member would have watched me in the bathroom for the next three days. Jack Hinman is the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy and Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. The program has a maximum enrollment of 24 girls, and the average length of stay is reportedly between 9 and 12 months. Our daughter was at Moonridge and management failed her on every level with a fraudulent smile on their faces and the sing-song sound of their voices. This website uses cookies and third party services. I was brought into the isolation room, and I was kept there for days. Level systems have been used in many confirmedly abusive programs, including the notoriously abusive WWASP programs. - Anonymous (When Far from Home), 2021: (SURVIVOR) "I was taken from Second Nature Blue Ridge wilderness therapy in Clayton, Georgia to Moonridge Academy in Cedar City, Utah via transport service in March 2011. A very autistic girl was regularly restrained for spinning around. Safety is when you have to stand next to a staff member at all times and you are watched in the bathroom. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. The state already makes these notices public, and they can be found here. Is any of this actually true? After 2 months I can visit her any time and eventually take her for the wknd. WebMoonridge Academy is a private school located in Cedar City, UT. Aaron Ross was constantly in isolation during his three years at Provo Canyon School in the early 2000s. Just let her use the bathroom. WebThere was strong evidence that Geary Oakes had sexually abused four boys on the campus located at the end of a remote road in rural Utah. I was sent to Moonridge in 2003 when I was 13 years old. WebBut it has been hard to identify what places have a good track record and which ones dont. Does anyone have any positive experience to share? He added that most incidents are investigated and deemed unsubstantiated. She gave me a Consequence that said I had to have a female staff member watch me in the shower for the next three days to prove I was washing my hair. I remember telling the staff and my therapist that I felt like a zombie, and they said I was being dramatic. As soon as I arrived, I was put on a cocktail of multiple medications at high dosages and because of this, theres full periods of time that I dont even remember. This team is continuing to collaborate on a reporting project on youth residential treatment centers. Easy, done. Moonridge helped our daughter, and our family, get on a path towards healing and growth - it feels like we are a family again. I only actually rode a horse there maybe 4 times. But the New York man said what happened to him at Provo Canyon School has traumatized him. If a report is found to have merit, state licensing officials further determine if the facility violated a rule. Moonridge Academy provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teen gi Moonridge Academy | Cedar City UT Youth should be believed about child sexual abuse, she said. I witnessed physical abuse. My friend peed her pants because of that, so they forced her to wear a diaper. I would rather soil myself than be watched. One of the therapies they promoted was horseback riding. They wouldnt give me painkillers when I had a sore throat and a fever. At this time, all violations are weighed equally, so a ripped van seat counts the same as kids complaining they arent given enough to eat. Moonridge Academy is a CERTS behavior-modification program founded in 2004. I was demoted from level 4 to level 1 for kissing another girl. TeenLife provides a directory of enrichment programs for students in grade 7-12, along with regular content to support strong teen growth & decision making. If you are a parent thinking of sending your child here, I am begging you not to. I can communicate with her privately every wk. The investigation involves a female staff member at She was also restrained for saying she did not want to do a chore. One girl tried to kill herself and they would not allow anyone to talk to her for a week. My time in treatment ranges from bad to traumatic. This was a difficult chapter in our family history, but we are glad we "bit the bullet" and went through the program instead of waiting and hoping for things to get better on their own. While the therapists are good at their job, the management is LACKLUSTER at best, and they are prone to taking the easy way out vs REALLY helping or caring for their girls. No, she was not at risk of hitting someone, and no, she was not hurting herself. National Interstate Compact Laws (ICPC): This refers to laws adopted by each state that require case workers or parents to have certain documents filled out when a child is going from one state to another for treatment or adoption services. Staffs response to me not getting out of bed was to restrain me on the ground for hours. Look somewhere else. With those choices comes the option to make poor choices. Alex, a 36-year-old from Alaska, said he experienced similar abuse at Provo Canyon School nearly two decades ago. If you are a parent thinking of sending your child here, I am begging you not to. As soon as I arrived, I was put on a cocktail of multiple medications at high dosages and because of this, there's full periods of time that I don't even remember. Thats what comes to mind when I think of Moonridge Academy. But it has been hard to identify what places have a good track record and which ones dont. She made me shower in front of staff for three days. The only good thing about this place is they dont have bars on the windows so you can smash them. Utah officials want your help as they draft new rules for the troubled-teen industry. She only said she was worried I still felt that way. It was humiliating. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. Web0:04. We recommend that no parent send their child to a facility that is run by CERTS.". The program is located at 9450 West 2400 South, Cedar City, UT 84721. Lastly, the "level program" is cult-like. If I had not eaten that much, I would have been put on safety and a female staff member would have watched me in the bathroom for the next three days. Indiana lawmakers are withdrawing a plan that would have given certain state contractors immunity from most lawsuits filed by abuse victims and their families. She did school work in a different room, but she still ate meals with us. Staff refuse to let students use the bathrooms until we peed our pants. He began his career in the TTI as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive Island View RTC. Make sure your post is relevant to the Troubled Teen Industry. General counsel for Elevate RTC, Steven Brigance, said his clients took It took half an hour. Find a different boarding school for your daughter." We seek to raise awareness and to change the law to protect the teenagers in these programs from harm. On this level, residents earn more trivial privileges like being able to wear eyeliner. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune). Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. These notices are published on the states website, and facilities are required to inform their clients of the action and post it on their own website. I was sworn at daily, regularly forced to eat so much food that I threw up and I was only allowed to use the bathroom at certain times. One girl tried running away and one of the staff members (a very large Samoan guy) sat on her for over an hour in the dirt. Let us know if you find something noteworthy in these documents. Here are some definitions that might help as you read the records: Staff-to-client ratios: Utah rules say there must be one staff member for every four students. I threw up from eating too much. (5) That any program that tries to make you believe your child is manipulating you by raising complaints against the program is very likely to be an abusive program. Owners who claim this profile can update information, boost SEO, and more. A staffer, one who had worked with kids daily for 10 years at the troubled-teen facility, had made sexually charged comments to the boys. This means, in total, the cost of receiving these records was just under $2,000. Thats how I got out after a year mistreatment from this place, I dont regret it. Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. Our daughter attended Moonridge Academy and graduated in 2022. That makes it easy to compare the small and large facilities to one another. And well be adding more records to this database in the days to come. The only good that came from it is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. There was group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy. Ross recently sent lengthy emails, some including graphic and violent threats, to Utah legislators demanding they investigate, which. Jalane Christian-Stoker worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. He twice reported the crimes to Utah police. It was tedious and humiliating. The amount of food we ate was larger than what I was used to, and I was very small. I was once again demoted to level 1 and lost my privileges of privacy in the bathroom and social interaction for several weeks. We had no voice., A project supported by The California Endowment, He raped me, Ross recalled in a recent interview. A very autistic girl was regularly restrained for spinning around. I was demoted from level 4 to level 1 for kissing another girl. Moonridge Academy states that it enrolls girls, including transgender girls, with a history of attachment issues, depression, anxiety, self-harm, school refusal, family conflict, sexual boundaries, computer addiction, attention issues and low-level substance abuse. We recommend that no parent send their child to a facility that is run by CERTS.. And state records show regulators were investigating as recently as last July that yet another staff member had an inappropriate relationship with a student. These notices are published on the states website, and facilities are required to inform their clients of the action and post it on their own website. Many of the girls there had severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar, etc) and the staff were completely untrained in dealing with them. But some do. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. I would rather soil myself than be watched. It led to a lot of dysfunctional exposure to sexuality, he said. This is the most common response. The program was traumatic for her as well." He would go back there, all by himself, and he pulled his pants down and forced me to perform oral sex., Provo Canyon Schools history of abuse accusations spans decades, far beyond Paris Hilton, Utah faces criticism for its light oversight of troubled teen treatment centers, said that may be part of a bill hes drafting, expansive treatment industry that pulls students from every state, a detailed review of thousands of pages of inspection records. That information should be easy to get. Some of the children in these sorts of facilities have already experienced trauma, Milne said, and they sometimes try to cope through sexualized behaviors. She said sex abuse in group care settings is staggeringly high in both the United States and Canada. Ross is 33 years old now. I still have nightmares about this place." Our daughter was at Moonridge and management failed her on every level - with a fraudulent smile on their faces and the sing-song sound of their voices.
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