The school falsely advertises. The proximity to a stranger made me feel unsafe. She currently works as a Lead Therapist at Evoke Therapy Intensives. Join us in our fight to combat abuse and neglect in 'troubled teen' programs! Even when I was crying. She also works at Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy. Moonridge Academy, a small Residential Treatment Center of 24 students, provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teens ages 11-15. Two of the staff members in particular had it out for me. WebAn investigation is underway after a possible incident between a worker and student at a school in Springfield Township. He has also previously worked as the Clinical Director of the resportedly abusive programs Sunrise RTC and Discovery Ranch for Girls. I was yelled at for the smallest things, like forgetting to line up my shoes or not asking to enter a room. I can communicate with her privately every wk. Ross recently sent lengthy emails, some including graphic and violent threats, to Utah legislators demanding they investigate, which. At that time, it was just a house on a hill surrounded by wilderness and dirt. The only good that came from it is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. Find a different boarding school for your daughter. Ava (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) I was a student here, the staff is extremely out of line. It is not considered a penalty. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. The remaining funds will be used to assist The Tribune in future public records disputes. Cedar Ridge had a history of reports of sexual abuse. I still have nightmares about this place. . The only good thing about this place is they dont have bars on the windows so you can smash them. I was hyperventilating, sobbing, rocking back and forth, and all I was asking for was a little distance. In 2005, the State of Maine began investigating Moonridge Academy and the quality of its program. Staff refuse to let students use the bathrooms until we peed our pants. I was yelled at for the smallest things, like forgetting to line up my shoes or not asking to enter a room. Two of the staff members in particular had it out for me. The Childrens Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) prepared a web page for the initiative. The man said he sent the emails because he felt ignored, and he worries about the 13-year-old boys like him who have been at Provo Canyon School and other troubled-teen facilities in the years since he left. My parents were told I would say it is a bad place. Just let her use the bathroom. When a violation is found, the state can take the following actions: Written notification: The office can give written notice that a violation took place with no formal follow-up. I remember telling the staff and my therapist that I felt like a zombie, and they said I was being dramatic. Moonridge Is any of this actually true? I still cannot trust myself. I wasnt allowed to speak for a few months, and I was being restrained every day for stupid stuff.. A girl with autism was regularly restrained for not leaving a room or for spinning around in one spot. Throughout the ten months I was there, I was constantly manipulated and borderline emotionally abused by multiple staff members. I remember telling the staff and my therapist that I felt like a zombie, and they said I was being dramatic. The head of Moonridge Academy is unprofessional and rude to parents who question anything or their daughters progress. This story was produced as part of a larger project by Jessica Miller, a participant in the 2019 Data Fellowship. I witnessed emotional abuse. The Salt Lake Tribune) Cedar Ridge Academy has a new owner as of February and a new name as the Makana Leadership Academy, Dec. 16, 2020. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. I was told I was fine when I said I was depressed. This level typically lasts 1-2 weeks. I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. He pleaded no contest in 2010 and was sent to prison. How is this not a red flag? Nateasa McGuire worked as a Therapist at Moonridge Academy. Cedar Ridges new owners said they didnt know the facility had problems with sexual abuse when they began leasing the property, but added that theyve overhauled the program and believe they have put in enough safeguards to make sure it wont happen again. One girl tried to kill herself and they wouldnt allow anyone to talk to her for a week. During NPW (May 7-13), there are SAMHSA This is not an exaggeration. It blatantly was. The only good thing about this place is they dont have bars on the windows so you can smash them. Restraints are only supposed to be used when someone is being unsafe. Andy Larsen: Heres where National Weather Service forecasts flooding, in the short term and the long term, Murray police officers were justified in their use of force against a 52-year-old man who died after arrest, Salt Lake County D.A. We are a community of survivors and advocates who oppose the abusive Troubled Teen Industry. Learn more about Birdeye, How to respond to negative reviews - business owners guide. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. According to the organization Safe Teen Schools, "CERTS is an abusive umbrella corporation for boarding schools for troubled youth. Anonymous, submitted directly to Wiki, 10/22/2020: (SURVIVOR) I was sent to Moonridge Academy in 2016 at age 12, which focused a lot on school and therapy. He began his career in the TTI as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive, . I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. Provo Canyon Schools boys campus had a rate of reported sex crimes that is 4.4 times higher than the average Utah facility, according to The Tribunes analysis. Hopefully the police and social workers will shut down the school or at least revoke their license. 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. But it hasnt been. Paris Hilton says she was abused while at Utah facility for troubled teens, Part 1: Inside Utahs troubled teen industry: How it started, why kids are sent here and what happens to them, Part 2:Provo Canyon Schools history of abuse accusations spans decades, far beyond Paris Hilton, Paris Hilton creates petition to shut down Provo Canyon School, Paris Hilton leads rally against Provo Canyon School, Why we raised money to get reports on Utahs troubled teen treatment centers, Part 3:Utah faces criticism for its light oversight of troubled teen treatment centers, Utah troubled-teen centers have used booty juice to sedate kids, a practice outlawed in other states, Utah inspectors find no problems in troubled-teen facilities 98% of the time, Increased oversight is coming to Utahs troubled-teen industry, Utah ranch for troubled teens could lose its license for subjecting kids to forced labor, repetitive walking, A girl, her hands zip tied, was forced to sit in a horse trough at a Utah troubled-teen center. A very autistic girl was regularly restrained for spinning around. I remember crying a little while telling someone about how I felt once, and the next day, I learned I did not have free time because my daily grade had been too low from crying. They will tell you all students pretend the program is abusive, they will tell you your kid will kill herself without Moonridge. I still have nightmares about this place." Or does all the power stay in the head therapist hands? Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. They used our coping skills as punishments. They are abusing children. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Teen treatment registry. Clearly sick students (fainting, puking, in severe pain) were denied access to doctors and hospitals until they nearly died. Many of the girls there had severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar, etc) and the staff were completely untrained in dealing with them. My time in treatment ranges from bad to traumatic. The company said in a statement that four of the crimes reported from the campus located in the southern Utah town of Virgin during the two-year period The Tribune reviewed were calls made by therapists or staff about abuse students disclosed that happened elsewhere. Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. No, she was not at risk of hitting someone, and no, she was not hurting herself. 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. It led to a lot of dysfunctional exposure to sexuality, he said. Look somewhere else. Practice that while your child is in treatment. She also worked as the Executive Director of Kolob Canyon RTC, and Director of Outreach at La Europa Academy and Kaizen Academy, which are all CERTS programs. Unlicensed therapists, verbal and emotional abuse, medical neglect, and psychological manipulation. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. Instead of letting a girl with a UTI use the bathroom, staff made her wear a diaper so they could have her continue working on cleaning or schoolwork. At the time, he tried to tell his therapist, he said, but she didnt believe him. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. The doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. Many of the girls there had severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar, etc) and the staff were completely untrained in dealing with them. A couple years ago, I went to a treatment center because I was depressed and not doing school work. Despite determining that Diamond Ranch Academy failed to take Taylor Goodridge to a She was also restrained for saying she did not want to do a chore. The level system is from 1-7, its extremely punitive. No, she was not at risk of hitting someone, and no, she was not hurting herself. WebMoonridge Academy services younger teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment/adoption issues, emotional dysregulation, poor peer relationships, WebFBI cracks down on major ransomware gang. Web0:04. 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. These behaviors might include school refusal, self-harm, eating disorders, Do yourself a favor. The levels are reported to be: It has been reported that the girls contact with their parents is extremely limited. The only staff members that treated us well were Gwen, Danny, Karolin (Caroline?). Be mindful of your language and be sensitive to survivors. And well be adding more records to this database in the days to come. It backfired, majorly. The truth is, during the 15 months that our daughter was there, only about 30% of the girls graduated. Lise Milne, a professor at the University of Regina in Canada, has researched child sexual abuse among youths in residential treatment. It has been reported that phone calls are closely monitored by staff. At a place in Montana, another boy flashed his genitals at Robert. And well be adding more records to this database in the days to come. behavior-modification program founded in 2004. This organization Tawny Thomas worked as the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy. 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. With the money from the crowdfunding campaign, we were able to expand the database to include youth wilderness therapy programs. Robert said that even if workers found out what was happening, no one told the authorities like they were required to do. We seek to raise awareness and to change the law to protect the teenagers in these programs from harm. He has also previously worked as the Clinical Director of the resportedly abusive programs Sunrise RTC and Discovery Ranch for Girls. At capacity, the treatment center can house nearly 50 students, but on a recent December day, 10 teenagers were staying there. WebMoonridge Academy is a private school located in Cedar City, UT. 04/27/23. Rather than attempting to help me process my trauma, staff at MRA brainwashed me into even further believing everything was my fault and I was the only problem. - u/CharredMarshmallows (Reddit), 3/18/2020: (PARENT) "Looking for a therapeutic boarding school for your daughter? All five are for-profit facilities, though the new owners of Cedar Ridge turned it into a nonprofit. Another for not vacuuming the floor as he was told. On this level, residents earn more trivial privileges like being able to wear eyeliner. Look somewhere else. While at Moonridge Academy, the residents are forced to adhere to a strict set of rules. All he does is insist that you should never pull your daughter from the program before she graduates. When I apologized and tried to politely explain that I was just trying to understand what was going on, this staff member said she wouldn't give me diary back for two weeks. Rather than attempting to help me process my trauma, staff at MRA brainwashed me into even further believing everything was my fault and I was the only problem. That place acts entirely different when parents arrive. On this level, the residents no longer have to stay within arms-distance of staff, but still cannot leave line-of-sight or earshot of staff. While in a facility in North Carolina, he said, the boys participated in group masturbation. Safety is when you always have to stand next to a staff member and you are watched in the bathroom. I only actually rode a horse there maybe 4 times. I was not allowed to go to the bathroom without being watched. The state already makes these notices public, and they can be found here. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. Instead of giving me space like I requested, an adult insisted on sitting next to me. Im completely stable now and happy, no thanks to moonridge. The student population of Moonridge Academy is 14. Well continue to report on this industry, including our own findings from this trove of records. Beat local competitors. Thousands of children are sent away to Utah for treatment at troubled-teen centers and wilderness programs. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. I threw up from eating too much. A very autistic girl was restrained for spinning around. The state already makes these notices public, and they can be found here. One of them did not think I showered for long enough in my 12-minute time frame. That meant we couldnt have free time for a week. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. WebCall 888-406-5968 Home CERTS Programs La Europa Academy Kolob Canyon Moonridge Academy Mountain Springs Prep Academy Mosaic House CERTS Therapy Art Therapy DBT Therapy Equine Therapy Experiential Therapy About Us Blog FAQs Parents Bill of Rights Contact Us Call 888-406-5968 Menu control Posted on January 23, 2019 by She said sex abuse in group care settings is staggeringly high in both the United States and Canada. He added that most incidents are investigated and deemed unsubstantiated. The remaining funds will be used to assist The Tribune in future public records disputes. If you are a parent thinking of sending your child here, I am begging you not to. They are also automatically placed on suicide/harm watch. 05/01/23. Utahs Office of Licensing oversees youth treatment centers but has faced criticism for its light enforcement. All he does is insist that you should never pull your Tawny Thomas worked as the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy. Do yourself a favor. Anonymous, I was sent to Moonridge Academy in 2016 at age 12, which focused a lot on school and therapy. We are continuing to ask for your help. It felt like a lie. WebStudents who come to Moonridge Academy are often beginning to experiment with high risk behaviors. She suggested lowering the number of kids in a facility, and increasing staff. 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. Please, don't send your child there." It was humiliating. My first night, I had a panic attack. Individual therapy was usually fine, but I could not actually talk about things because my therapist would ask if I needed to be put on safety. I was demoted from level 4 to level 1 for kissing another girl. But sometimes the abuse continues for another reason: The children who say they have been harmed arent believed. I had a panic attack on my first day but instead of helping me, they threatened to physically restrain me. Shingles are peeling off worn-down geodesic domes, one of which was once a barn and another a so-called therapy room. as it creates an environment in which children are unable to report abuse and neglect. Teen vomited on multiple days before dying of infection at Utah boarding school, state finds. Alex, a 36-year-old from Alaska, said he experienced similar abuse at Provo Canyon School nearly two decades ago. $150,000$350,000 $150K$350K loan to MOONRIDGE ACADEMY LLC Press J to jump to the feed. Join us in our fight to combat abuse and neglect in 'troubled teen' programs! My parents thought being around specialists and supportive staff would give me the coping skills I needed to be a functioning person. I was sent to Moonridge in 2003 when I was 13 years old. We had no voice., A project supported by The California Endowment, He raped me, Ross recalled in a recent interview. Two of the staff members in particular had it out for me. She only said she was worried I still felt that way. "Moonridge Academy is a Residential Treatment Center that provides clinical services and academic services to younger teenage girls aged 11-15 years old. 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. In 2005, the State of Maine began investigating Moonridge Academy and the quality of its program. Thats how I got out after a year mistreatment from this place, I dont regret it. My friend was slapped across the face for not finishing her dinner. WebMoonridge Academy states that it enrolls girls, including transgender girls, with a history of attachment issues, depression, anxiety, self-harm, school refusal, family conflict, sexual - Ava (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) "I was a student here, the staff is extremely out of line. When I expressed as much, I was told I would hurt myself if I was left alone. Communication with family is considered a privilege which must be earned by the teenager. This database includes only critical incidents where the facility is found to have violated a rule. If you have a child or a relative in a Troubled Teen Industry program, please ask us about the program immediately. Lastly, the "level program" is cult-like. Their website looks and sounds amazing, but the truth is the girls are in a very secluded area with very little activity. It has also been reported that male staff will participate in strip-searching the female residents. All rights reserved. This place traumatized me. I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. Group therapy included either talking about how you felt, or getting a consequence and having no free time. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. My time in treatment ranges from bad to traumatic. Do not ask us to recommend a Troubled Teen Program. 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. When it released the records, the office said it took less than half of the hours estimated to fulfill the request, and refunded more than $2,600. Moonridge Academy is a CERTS behavior-modification program founded in 2004. WebMoonridge Academy admits girls between the ages of 11 and 14--young teens. Level systems have been used in many confirmedly abusive programs, including the notoriously abusive. It has also been reported that male staff will participate in strip-searching the female residents. In response to an appeal, the Office of Licensing lowered its estimate to $4,582. On this level, the residents can earn privilege to leave line-of-sight, wear makeup, and take on a leadership position. I could go on and on with the stories. Nothing that blueFire told me was accurate. The facilities must keep these records on file. One of the "therapies" they promoted was horseback riding. We seek to raise awareness and to change the law to protect the teenagers in these programs from harm. I was not allowed to go to the bathroom without being watched. My time as a student at Moonridge Academy left me deeply traumatized. I still have nightmares almost every night of Moonridge Academy. A staff member didnt think my hair was washed properly. They would restrain us before accessing the situation and would use restraining as a punishment. Facilities can apply for an exception. As a result, Moonridge offers all of the clinical intensity of an outstanding residential treatment center (small clinical case loads, 2 individual therapy sessions weekly, weekly family therapy sessions via the telephone, deep family systems work, etc.) If you are a parent thinking of sending your child here, I am begging you not to. This level typically lasts 1-6 months. 27 were here. Monitored/restricted communication is one of the WWASP Program Red Flags as it creates an environment in which children are unable to report abuse and neglect. I'm surprised she didn't die. I was strip searched again, but this time they wrote down every mark on my body. Moonridge Academy has been a NATSAP member since 2012. The program was traumatic for her as well. Grace (BreakingCodeSilence), 3/18/2020: (PARENT) Looking for a therapeutic boarding school for your daughter? The doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. 05/01/23. I wish I could give this place negative stars. Im completely stable now and happy, no thanks to moonridge. Some of the children in these sorts of facilities have already experienced trauma, Milne said, and they sometimes try to cope through sexualized behaviors. He had bounced around a half-dozen centers, including a few in Utah. Support investigative reporting like this. The program has a maximum enrollment of 24 girls, and the average length of stay is reportedly between 9 and 12 months. WebUtahs Office of Licensing inspects and regulates each facility, and sometimes finds neglect, child abuse or sexual misconduct. I threw up from eating too much. Group By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. There 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. The lawsuit states the boy had a propensity to engage in nonconsensual sexual activity, but the school put him in the same room with other boys anyway. The Office of Licensing then determines whether a critical incident occurred, and plans next steps to investigate. I want her to come home. With those choices comes the option to make poor choices. This means, in total, the cost of receiving these records was just under $2,000. Date. Even years later, I still wake up drenched in sweat, afraid that I will be sent back despite my parents admitting it was the worst mistake they have ever made. Police were called 15 times to the Roosevelt campus to investigate sex crimes over a nearly six-year period. I was forced to eat until I threw up. Birdeye helps millions of local businesses to be found online with all their reviews and accurate business information. Cedar Ridge Academy has a new owner now and a new name as of February, Makana Leadership Academy but reminders of the schools past loom throughout the remote, 109-acre campus that stretches over a large swath of the Uinta Basin. If we didn't eat all of the food on our plates at every meal (which was mostly chunks of meat with large pieces of fat attached-- yes, we were forced to eat the fat too) we had to sign a "food refusal form" and lost privileges like free time and your weekly phone call. 9450 W 2400 S, Cedar City, UT 84720 United States, Specialties They wouldnt give me painkillers when I had a sore throat and a fever. We are a community of survivors and advocates who oppose the abusive Troubled Teen Industry. Jack Hinman is the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy and Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. 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.
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