I could go on and on with the stories. Some of these rules include: If residents break a rule, they are given a punishment. Some of these rules include: If residents break a rule, they are given a punishment. She said sex abuse in group care settings is staggeringly high in both the United States and Canada. Moonridge Academy was not a healthy place for anyone, much less adolescents with mental health issues. Not every troubled-teen facility in Utah sees a high number of reports of sexual abuse, whether that is staff harming children or youths acting out sexually on one another. Kids are cut off from the outside world, he said. The doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. I want her to come home. That often doesnt happen, she said, if a center worries about its business or the reputation of the accused staff member. This organization Nateasa McGuire worked as a Therapist at Moonridge Academy. Moonridge Academy services younger teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment/adoption issues, emotional dysregulation, poor peer relationships, social withdrawal and school refusal. She was also restrained for saying she did not want to do a chore. There are two types of reports included in this database: Inspections and critical incident reports. Moonridge Academy is owned by CERTS Group. All five are for-profit facilities, though the new owners of Cedar Ridge turned it into a nonprofit. On the left, youll see an outline of the core rules. An inspectors job is to check whether the facility is in compliance. 0:53. Moonridge Academy services younger teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment/adoption issues, emotional 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. They would restrain us before accessing the situation and would use restraining as a punishment. 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. After 2 months I can visit her any time and eventually take her for the wknd. It has been reported that phone calls are closely monitored by staff. Group They are also automatically placed on suicide/harm watch. I was told I was fine when I said I was depressed. He began his career in the TTI as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive Island View RTC. Sequel Youth and Family Services owns Falcon Ridge Ranch, the Utah center with the highest rate of reported sex crimes. One of the girls got sick. Do yourself a favor. Lydia Kauppi, a parent of a student in the district, said its unsettling to know that her familys private information At that time, it was just a house on a hill surrounded by wilderness and dirt. She also works at Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy. But Ross said that punishment often meant days on end spent in an isolation room, a cold concrete room with no furniture. They would restrain us before accessing the situation and would use restraining as a punishment. 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. I threw up from eating too much. This level typically lasts 1-6 months. Lise Milne, a professor at the University of Regina in Canada, has researched child sexual abuse among youths in residential treatment. One girl tried to kill herself and they would not allow anyone to talk to her for a week. $150,000$350,000 $150K$350K loan to MOONRIDGE ACADEMY LLC She was passing out and throwing up. The Salt Lake Tribune is making public thousands of inspections and critical incidents reports in this free, searchable database. She was also restrained for saying she didnt want to do a chore. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Students past traumas were used against them until they cried; they were then physically restrained. Like other behavior-modification programs, Moonridge Academy uses a level system consisting of 6 levels. I witnessed emotional abuse. I was regularly threatened, sworn at, belittled, compared to the other girls, lied about, manipulated and made fun of by staff and students alike. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. A team of journalists at The Salt Lake Tribune, KUER and APM Reports worked to bring you this database. Jalane Christian-Stoker worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. The level system is from 1-7, its extremely punitive. One girl tried to kill herself and they wouldnt allow anyone to talk to her for a week. It was humiliating. At that time, it was just a house on a hill surrounded by wilderness and dirt. Thats grooming for lots of problems, he said. Learn more about Birdeye, How to respond to negative reviews - business owners guide. Moonridge Academy is closely affiliated with Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. I was forced to eat until I threw up. 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. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. Moonridge Monitored/restricted communication is one of the. WebYou need to be aware (1) That the wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and bootcamps that comprise the Troubled Teen Industry And when a problem does arise, Milne said its important for facilities to be transparent. I had (diagnosed) ADHD, which led to emotional and physical abuse from my parents growing up. Nothing happened. Jack Hinman is the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy and Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. The only good thing about this place is they dont have bars on the windows so you can smash them. It felt like a lie. 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. The program was traumatic for her as well." These are lies. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. 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. (3) That any program that refers to troubled teens must be considered suspect. Does anyone have any positive experience to share? 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. Moonridge Academy has been a NATSAP member since 2012. I could go on and on with the stories. He has also previously worked as the Clinical Director of the resportedly abusive programs Sunrise RTC and Discovery Ranch for Girls. I remember telling the staff and my therapist that I felt like a zombie, and they said I was being dramatic. 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. I threw up from eating too much. The amount of food we ate was larger than what I was used to and I was very small. The Office of Licensing then determines whether a critical incident occurred, and plans next steps to investigate. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. 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. Be mindful of your language and be sensitive to survivors. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. 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. At a place in Montana, another boy flashed his genitals at Robert. A few of the current staffers are holdovers, and the former owner still lives in a home on the sprawling property. I was once again demoted to level 1 and lost my privileges of privacy in the bathroom and social interaction for several weeks. Alex said he spent much of his childhood in institutionalized care and juvenile lockups, and described Provo Canyon School as not healthy., It wasnt a healthy environment, he said. Clearly sick students (fainting, puking, in severe pain) were denied access to doctors and hospitals until they nearly died. Many dont disclose when it occurs, and most delay until much later if they disclose at all.. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. Nateasa McGuire worked as a Therapist at Moonridge Academy. See Privacy Policy. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. Tawny Thomas worked as the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy. Support also came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. I was given medication that did not help and made me feel sick. On this level, the residents gain more leadership responsibilities and freedom. As someone who had been clean from self-harm for months, this felt like a slap in the face. I threw up from eating too much. I still cannot trust myself. " She only said she was worried I still felt that way. He was held down by other boys, he said, while they groped him and tried to penetrate him with a pencil. 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. In the past five years, the licensing agency has revoked two licenses neither of which was a youth treatment facility. She currently works as a Lead Therapist at, Like other behavior-modification programs, Moonridge Academy uses a level system consisting of 6 levels. Two of the staff members in particular had it out for me. A very autistic girl was regularly restrained for spinning around. Well continue to report on this industry, including our own findings from this trove of records. Im completely stable now and happy, no thanks to moonridge. She also worked as the Executive Director of, worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. Some of the children in these sorts of facilities have already experienced trauma, Milne said, and they sometimes try to cope through sexualized behaviors. And state records show regulators were investigating as recently as last July that yet another staff member had an inappropriate relationship with a student. I had (diagnosed) ADHD, which led to emotional and physical abuse from my parents growing up. We recommend that no parent send their child to a facility that is run by CERTS., is the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy and, program. This website uses cookies and third party services. If you are LGBTQ and need support, call the Trevor Project Hotline 1-866-488-7386, If you are having suicidal thoughts, call toll free 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741, If you are a child being abused or know of a child being abused call toll free 1-800-422-4453. I nearly tried to kill myself dozens of times. The program was traumatic for her as well. Grace (BreakingCodeSilence), 3/18/2020: (PARENT) Looking for a therapeutic boarding school for your daughter? This is the most common response. 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. It focuses on the troubled rehabilitation industry in Utah, where youth residential treatment centers are abundant but lack adequate oversight. 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. Hopefully the police and social workers will shut down the school or at least revoke their license. WebWeve reported Moonridge for child abuse and medical neglect. A girl nearly died from neglect. The only staff members that treated us well were Gwen, Danny, Karolin (Caroline?). She did schoolwork in a different room, but she still ate meals with us. Instead of giving me space like I requested, an adult insisted on sitting next to me. One time, the art teacher had us draw the American sign language alphabet but then Rosie and I were given a category three consequence for practicing outside of class. 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. 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. I only actually rode a horse there maybe 4 times. 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. All he does is insist that you should never pull your She did schoolwork in a different room, but she still ate meals with us. The remaining funds will be used to assist The Tribune in future public records disputes. $150,000$350,000 $150K$350K loan to There are two types of reports included in this database: Inspections and critical incident reports. A staff member didnt think my hair was washed properly. One of the therapies they promoted was horseback riding. 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. Jan. 26, 202301:26. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. Individual therapy was usually fine, but I couldnt actually talk about things because my therapist would ask if I needed to be put on safety. 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. This team is continuing to collaborate on a reporting project on youth residential treatment centers. I dont eat chicken because I raise them as pets, but I was forced to eat it at Moonridge Academy. There was group therapy, family therapy and group therapy. If a report is found to have merit, state licensing officials further determine if the facility violated a rule. The levels are reported to be: It has been reported that the girls' contact with their parents is extremely limited. A couple years ago, I went to a treatment center because I was depressed and not doing school work. I still have nightmares almost each night of Moonridge Academy. This is the most common response. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. Few make false allegations, although some might misread a situation due to their histories. 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. One girl almost died because she had anemia and was told she was faking it when she told staff she was sick. Moonridge Academy provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teen gi Moonridge Academy | Cedar City UT To make matters worse, their psychiatrist over medicates and will never call you on a weekend or if you have any important problem. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Every year during National Prevention Week (NPW), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) celebrates communities, organizations, and individuals that are working to promote substance misuse prevention and positive mental health. This is possible because of the donations from more than 100 people. WebResidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities MOONRIDGE ACADEMY LLC 9450 W 2400 S CEDAR CITY, UT 84720. Like other behavior-modification programs, Moonridge Academy uses a level system consisting of 6 levels. Students who come to Moonridge Academy are often beginning to experiment with high risk behaviors. Our therapist and the Moonridge staff were committed to understanding her and working with her on her terms. It has been reported that phone calls are closely monitored by staff. The punishments used by Moonridge Academy are reported by survivors to be: Several survivors report developing PTSD following their time at Moonridge Academy. 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. I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. 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. This level typically lasts 1-3 months. She has been at blueFire for 90 days. 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. She previously worked as the Clinical Director of Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. Thousands of children are sent away to Utah for treatment at troubled-teen centers and wilderness programs. It is not considered a penalty. Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges, Phillips Academy PSPA Summer & Gap Year Guide. It was awful there. WebStudents who come to Moonridge Academy are often beginning to experiment with high risk behaviors. No journals, books, art supplies, stress balls, kinetic sand. The only good that came from it is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. 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. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune). Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. There was sexual, physical, and constant emotional abuse. Notice of Agency Action (NAA): The Office of Licensing issues a notice that outlines violations, and requires them to be fixed within a certain time frame or the facility would lose its license. 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. One of them didnt think I showered for long enough in my twelve minute time frame. Just really weird. Cedar Ridge Academy was one of five that had rates of reported sex abuse that were more than four times the average. 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. WebWe provide academics for grades 6-9. The food they serve is fattening and unhealthy, and they force the girls to eat it. The doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. When The Tribune initially asked for these records, the Office of Licensing estimated it would cost more than $6,250. Jack Hinman is the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy and Kolob Canyon RTC, another CERTS program. At capacity, the treatment center can house nearly 50 students, but on a recent December day, 10 teenagers were staying there. 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. All rights reserved. The head of Moonridge Academy is unprofessional and rude to parents who question anything or their daughters progress. It has been reported that phone calls are closely monitored by staff. I was not allowed to go to the bathroom without being watched. 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 is not an exaggeration. 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 Moonridge Academy, a small Residential Treatment Center of 24 students, provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teens ages 11-15.
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