This website uses cookies and third party services. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. The Tribune created a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $11,000 from 136 donors. They would restrain us before accessing the situation and would use restraining as a punishment. This level typically lasts 1-3 months. 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. When I expressed as much, I was told I would hurt myself if I was left alone. But the New York man said what happened to him at Provo Canyon School has traumatized him. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for girls aged 11-14. This money paid for the state to fulfill records requests. Jewly Krause is a manipulative woman who just wants your money, this place will not help you or your child, it will simply cause your child to push their issues deep down. Paris Hilton, Utah lawmaker celebrate restrictions on troubled-teen centers. 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. Hopefully the police and social workers will shut down the school or at least revoke their license. WebMoonridge Academy girls address issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, school refusal, family conflict, sexual boundaries, computer addiction, attention issues, and low This level typically lasts 1-2 weeks. However that was just driving to Kolob Canyon (the equally bad sister school to Moonridge for older teen girls) and shoveling horse manure and moving hay bales for hours at a time. Please. She only said she was worried I still felt that way. That meant we couldnt have free time for a week. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. This organization 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. Sometimes his punishment would be sitting on the floor, legs crossed for hours. Lastly, the "level program" is cult-like. We recommend that no parent send their child to a facility that is run by CERTS.". You Can Watch Them Here! 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. 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. Cedar Ridge had a history of reports of sexual abuse. While in a facility in North Carolina, he said, the boys participated in group masturbation. Nothing happened. Parents who are considering sending their child to Moonridge Academy, please look at different residential or outpatient centers. Indiana lawmakers are withdrawing a plan that would have given certain state contractors immunity from most lawsuits filed by abuse victims and their families. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. Another for talking back. Reports can come from parents, former staff members and also directly from facilities, which are required to report any time a student is injured or seriously ill. 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. Restraints are only supposed to be used when someone is being unsafe. It is not considered a penalty. The school has denied in court papers that it is legally responsible. One of the therapies they promoted was horseback riding. There was group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy. He has also previously worked as the Clinical Director of the resportedly abusive programs Sunrise RTC and Discovery Ranch for Girls. The first thing I noticed is how dumb the bright red door looked. Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation - St George. They are abusing children. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. This type of abuse, experts say, happens more often when there isnt enough staff to keep an eye on the kids and one another. Ross recently sent lengthy emails, some including graphic and violent threats, to Utah legislators demanding they investigate, which. We are a community of survivors and advocates who oppose the abusive Troubled Teen Industry. And there appears to be a pattern. Nateasa McGuire worked as a Therapist at Moonridge Academy. Must ask permission to enter/exit any room including bathroom, Must eat at least 50% of large portions or receive consequence, Silence where they are not allowed to speak to anybody. All rights reserved. Provo Canyon School is fighting a lawsuit in which a mother alleges her 14-year-old son was sexually abused by another boy in 2017. Please do not send your child to Trails or Moonridge Academy." This is possible because of the donations from more than 100 people. 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. 9450 West 2400 South, Cedar City, UT 84721, . 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. (3) That any program that refers to troubled teens must be considered suspect. He believes this was done to protect the facility. Any comments about blueFire and/or Moonridge would be appreciated, Scan this QR code to download the app now. This is possible because of the donations from more than 100 people. At a place in Montana, another boy flashed his genitals at Robert. 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. This database includes only critical incidents where the facility is found to have violated a rule. It was in that room that Ross said a staff member sexually abused him. She was also restrained for saying she did not want to do a chore. She was also restrained for saying she did not want to do a chore. Be mindful of your language and be sensitive to survivors. Despite determining that Diamond Ranch Academy failed to take Taylor Goodridge to a 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. Few make false allegations, although some might misread a situation due to their histories. Utahs Office of Licensing oversees youth treatment centers but has faced criticism for its light enforcement. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. I still cannot trust myself. The document includes a log of how the Office of Licensing investigated and its conclusions. Facilities can apply for an exception. Jack Hinman is the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy and Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for girls aged 11-14. Its impossible for kids to articulate that theyre being sexually abused when they dont know what sex, abuse or sexual abuse is, he said. I was once again demoted to level 1 and lost my privileges of privacy in the bathroom and social interaction for several weeks. WebMoonridge Academy Private Schools in 84720, UT (2023) School Location Grades Students Moonridge Academy All-girls | Special Program Emphasis Add to Compare (5) 9400 W. 2400 S. Cedar City, UT 84720 (435) 586-9585 7-9 11 Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy Add to Compare (24) 1454 South Campus Drive Cedar City, UT Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. - 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. I worked my way back up to level 3, until one morning I had reached my emotional limit and found myself unable to get out of bed due to depression. Does anyone have any positive experience to share? State Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. 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. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. The academy has been accused of allowing employees to abuse teenage boys, then covering it up. There are two types of reports included in this database: Inspections and critical incident reports. But sometimes the abuse continues for another reason: The children who say they have been harmed arent believed. It happened again in 2015, when Russell Robb groped two girls, one of whom he was supposed to look after on watch level, an increased supervision because she threatened to run away or harm herself. But it hasnt been. Making sure that two staffers are always with the children, she said, is a safeguard that could prevent one employee from sexually abusing a child. The head of Moonridge Academy is unprofessional and rude to parents who question anything or their daughters progress. Moonridge Academy is closely affiliated with Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. 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. With the money from the crowdfunding campaign, we were able to expand the database to include youth wilderness therapy programs. I was told I was fine when I said I was depressed. Moonridge Support investigative reporting like this. One of the "therapies" they promoted was horseback riding. 05/01/23. At this point, its not about what happened to me 10 or 15 years ago. In 2005, the State of Maine began investigating Moonridge Academy and the quality of its program. 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. Web"I was sent to Moonridge Academy in 2016 at age 12, which focused a lot on school and therapy. If you are a parent thinking of sending your child here, I am begging you not to. 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. I had (diagnosed) ADHD, which led to emotional and physical abuse from my parents growing up. They would restrain us before accessing the situation and would use restraining as a punishment. I want her to come home. 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.) (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune). The amount of food we ate was larger than what I was used to and I was very small. There was group therapy, family therapy and group therapy. No posts praising a Troubled Teen Program. 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. One girl tried to kill herself and they would not allow anyone to talk to her for a week. Oakes wasnt the only Cedar Ridge staffer to sexually abuse a child. Moonridge Academy and the quality of its program. The only good that came from it is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. I was once again demoted to level 1 and lost my privileges of privacy in the bathroom and social interaction for several weeks. 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 still cannot trust myself. " Let us know if you find something noteworthy in these documents. Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges, Phillips Academy PSPA Summer & Gap Year Guide. Tim Marshall, an administrator at Provo Canyon School, said in an email that the facility is required to report these types of incidents, and noted that it is a licensed psychiatric treatment center, which means it often deals with kids with more severe mental health conditions. We were all given the same portion of food no matter if you were smaller or bigger, if you couldnt finish your plate they would give you a consequence (paper where you right how you were wrong)or drop your level. Email us at teentreatment@sltrib.com. It backfired, majorly. Safety is when you have to stand next to a staff member at all times and you are watched in the bathroom. We were all given the same portion of food no matter if you were smaller or bigger, if you couldnt finish your plate they would give you a consequence (paper where you right how you were wrong)or drop your level. She passed out on the drive and nearly died from anemia. (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. She previously worked as the Clinical Director of Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. - Grace (BreakingCodeSilence), 6/20/2020: (SURVIVOR) "I went to Moonridge Academy and it was traumatizing. Their website looks and sounds amazing, but the truth is the girls are in a very secluded area with very little activity. The Tribune generally does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse, but those named in this story agreed to the use or partial use of their names. Group therapy included either talking about how you felt or getting a Consequence and having no Free Time. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. WebResidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities MOONRIDGE ACADEMY LLC 9450 W 2400 S CEDAR CITY, UT 84720. 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. On the left, youll see an outline of the core rules. An inspectors job is to check whether the facility is in compliance. In response to an appeal, the Office of Licensing lowered its estimate to $4,582. The only good that came is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. Transitioning Home After Residential Treatment Expect It: Regression When your child moves from more structure to less structure, you are giving them the opportunity to make more choices. 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. 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. But Ross said that punishment often meant days on end spent in an isolation room, a cold concrete room with no furniture. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text, Niche requires Javascript to work correctly. They do not allow girls to explore their gender identity and if you happen to be trans they will either ignore it completely or try to convince you youre not. 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. I learned that the only way to survive is to comply. Staff refuse to let students use the bathrooms until we peed our pants. The remaining funds will be used to assist The Tribune in future public records disputes. One of them did not think I showered for long enough in my 12-minute time frame. The only staff members that treated us well were Gwen, Danny, Karolin (Caroline?). I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. And well be adding more records to this database in the days to come. It has been reported that phone calls are closely monitored by staff. This story was produced as part of a larger project by Jessica Miller, a participant in the 2019 Data Fellowship. She also worked as the Executive Director of, worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The punishments used by Moonridge Academy are reported by survivors to be: Several survivors report developing PTSD following their time at Moonridge Academy. They need deep treatment and staff and the counselors there, are not equipped to deliver what the girls need. For Robert, a 24-year-old who grew up in Utah, it didnt register when he was young that what was happening to him at youth facilities was abuse. 3/26/2021: (SURVIVOR) I wish I could give this place negative stars. If we didnt 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. But some do. The only good thing about this place is they dont have bars on the windows so you can smash them. Staffs response to me not getting out of bed was to restrain me on the ground for hours. OWNERSHIP. I learned that the only way to survive is to comply. 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. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. WebAn investigation is underway after a possible incident between a worker and student at a school in Springfield Township. She was passing out and throwing up. All five are for-profit facilities, though the new owners of Cedar Ridge turned it into a nonprofit. That makes it easy to compare the small and large facilities to one another. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. She previously worked as the Clinical Director of Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. He gave kids medications they werent prescribed so often, a lawsuit later alleged, they called him the candy man.. She currently works as a Lead Therapist at Evoke Therapy Intensives. that many struggling girls need without forcing parents to expose their daughters to "older girl" issues. Instances of abuse and neglect that have been reported by survivors include excessive restraints, staff abusing their power, punitive punishments, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. Family therapy usually meant I got blamed for everything that went wrong and my therapist nodded a bunch. The doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. We recommend that no parent send their child to a facility that is run by CERTS.. A very autistic girl was restrained for spinning around. My parents regret sending me to Moonridge Academy. The amount of food we ate was larger than what I was used to, and I was very small. 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. WebThere have also been reports made by survivors of sexual abuse occurring at the hands of RCA staff members. Executive Director Jacob Pope said that means making sure students are a good fit, that they want to be there, and their families are on board to participate in therapy. He has also previously worked as the Clinical Director of the resportedly abusive programs Sunrise RTC and Discovery Ranch for Girls. Teen vomited on multiple days before dying of infection at Utah boarding school, state finds. Aaron Ross was constantly in isolation during his three years at Provo Canyon School in the early 2000s. I was sworn at for not walking fast enough. Ross is 33 years old now. 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 was yelled at for the smallest things, even forgetting to line up my shoes or not asking to enter a room. Our daughter attended Moonridge Academy and graduated in 2022. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. Family therapy usually meant I got blamed for everything that went wrong and my therapist nodded a bunch. Do not ask us to recommend a Troubled Teen Program. Family therapy usually meant I got blamed for everything that went wrong and my therapist nodded a bunch. When The Tribune initially asked for these records, the Office of Licensing estimated it would cost more than $6,250. It has been reported that the girls contact with their parents is extremely limited. I was strip searched again, but this time they wrote down every mark on my body. I was there for a year and they constantly dropped me and others back to level one for simply stating our mind about the mistreatment/abuse. This practice can be extremely harmful and traumatic to children, especially those with histories of sexual abuse. 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.

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