Thats how I got out after a year mistreatment from this place, I dont regret it. I was demoted from level 4 to level 1 for kissing another girl. In the past decade, there have been 37 lawsuits filed in Utah against troubled-teen facilities and 40% have involved allegations of sexual misconduct. The levels are reported to be: It has been reported that the girls contact with their parents is extremely limited. WebTeen vomited on multiple days before dying of infection at Utah boarding school, state finds. To make matters worse, their psychiatrist over medicates and will never call you on a weekend or if you have any important problem. 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. The only good thing about this place is they dont have bars on the windows so you can smash them. The only good that came from it is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. - Grace (BreakingCodeSilence), 6/20/2020: (SURVIVOR) "I went to Moonridge Academy and it was traumatizing. At that time, it was just a house on a hill surrounded by wilderness and dirt. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. Join us in our fight to combat abuse and neglect in 'troubled teen' programs! 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 was overfed to the point that I puked. Sequel Youth and Family Services owns Falcon Ridge Ranch, the Utah center with the highest rate of reported sex crimes. I could go on and on with the stories. I nearly tried to kill myself dozens of times. 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. This team is continuing to collaborate on a reporting project on youth residential treatment centers. This level typically lasts 1-6 months. Indiana lawmakers are withdrawing a plan that would have given certain state contractors immunity from most lawsuits filed by abuse victims and their families. Jan. 26, 202301:26. Cedar Ridge had a history of reports of sexual abuse. This database includes only critical incidents where the facility is found to have violated a rule. I was sent to Moonridge in 2003 when I was 13 years old. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. This team is continuing to collaborate on a reporting project on youth residential treatment centers. I witnessed physical abuse. Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. Its about whats going on today. She also works at Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy. 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. The proximity to a stranger made me feel unsafe. The doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. Thousands of children are sent away to Utah for treatment at troubled-teen centers and wilderness programs. How is this not a red flag? Nateasa McGuire worked as a Therapist at Moonridge Academy. 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. 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. 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. 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 I still have nightmares almost every night of Moonridge Academy. They will tell you all students pretend the program is abusive, they will tell you your kid will kill herself without Moonridge. I only actually rode a horse there maybe 4 times. Family therapy usually meant I got blamed for everything that went wrong and my therapist nodded a bunch. 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. Because the kids have no voice. Staffs response to me not getting out of bed was to restrain me on the ground for hours. Communication with family is considered a privilege which must be earned by the teenager. I still have nightmares about this place." This practice can be extremely harmful and traumatic to children, especially those with histories of sexual abuse. But some do. It was abusive, one 15-year-old girl told The Tribune. Well continue to report on this industry, including our own findings from this trove of records. Join us in our fight to combat abuse and neglect in 'troubled teen' programs! TeenLife provides a directory of enrichment programs for students in grade 7-12, along with regular content to support strong teen growth & decision making. 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. One of them did not think I showered for long enough in my 12-minute time frame. The level system is from 1-7, its extremely punitive. I still have nightmares almost every night of Moonridge Academy. WebDate. That place acts entirely different when parents arrive. And state records show regulators were investigating as recently as last July that yet another staff member had an inappropriate relationship with a student. FBI cracks down on major ransomware gang. I want her to come home. Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation - St George. She said sex abuse in group care settings is staggeringly high in both the United States and Canada. These behaviors might include school refusal, self-harm, eating disorders, Another for not vacuuming the floor as he was told. He twice reported the crimes to Utah police. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. Level systems have been used in many confirmedly abusive programs, including the notoriously abusive. - 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. Scars, moles, scrapes. This is possible because of the donations from more than 100 people. My friend peed her pants because of that, so they forced her to wear a diaper. I still cannot trust myself. I still have nightmares almost each night of Moonridge Academy. I remember telling the staff and my therapist that I felt like a zombie, and they said I was being dramatic. (2) That the Troubled Teen Industry is riddled with abuse, fraud, deceptive marketing, and violations of medical ethics and human rights. She did schoolwork in a different room, but she still ate meals with us. Donate to The Salt Lake Tribune today. This means, in total, the cost of receiving these records was just under $2,000. Teen vomited on multiple days before dying of infection at Utah boarding school, state finds. The program is located at 9450 West 2400 South, Cedar City, UT 84721. I fought for myself until I was so broken that I had nothing left to fight for. No posts praising a Troubled Teen Program. These facilities have rules they are supposed to follow, such as having a staff ratio of one employee to every four kids. It focuses on the troubled rehabilitation industry in Utah, where youth residential treatment centers are abundant but lack adequate oversight. When I explained this and asked for the journal ban to be reduced to one week instead of two, she laughed at me. Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. Together we can make a difference! The head of Moonridge Academy is unprofessional and rude to parents who question anything or their daughters progress. They used our coping skills as punishments. WebAn investigation is underway after a possible incident between a worker and student at a school in Springfield Township. Dominate search results. The academy has been accused of allowing employees to abuse teenage boys, then covering it up. 9450 W 2400 S, Cedar City, UT 84720 United States, Specialties 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. Thats what comes to mind when I think of Moonridge Academy. 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. WebMoonridge Academy girls address issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, school refusal, family conflict, sexual boundaries, computer addiction, attention issues, and low Restraints are only supposed to be used when someone is being unsafe. The document includes a log of how the Office of Licensing investigated and its conclusions. Two had been residents when it was still Cedar Ridge. Support also came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 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. I only actually rode a horse there maybe 4 times. Moonridge helped our daughter, and our family, get on a path towards healing and growth - it feels like we are a family again. Staff refuse to let students use the bathrooms until we peed our pants. 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. WebMoonridge Academy Only Elevate RTC responded, denying all claims made by the survivor Allan . No, she was not at risk of hitting someone, and no, she was not hurting herself. The state already makes these notices public, and they can be found here. And well be adding more records to this database in the days to come. Group therapy included either talking about how you felt or getting a Consequence and having no Free Time. If you are in an urgent situation and need help call 911. At that time, it was just a house on a hill surrounded by wilderness and dirt. Find a different boarding school for your daughter. , I was a student here, the staff is extremely out of line. 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. Moonridge Academy is a CERTS behavior-modification program founded in 2004. Thats how I got out after a year mistreatment from this place, I dont regret it. Alex, a 36-year-old from Alaska, said he experienced similar abuse at Provo Canyon School nearly two decades ago. Donate to The Salt Lake Tribune today. It has publicly threatened to pull a license if immediate action isnt taken, like when Cedar Ridge owners had not reported the sexual abuse between two boys in 2016. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. That meant we couldnt have free time for a week. This is not an exaggeration. He was held down by other boys, he said, while they groped him and tried to penetrate him with a pencil. So please for me and every other kid that was hurt by this place, never send your kids here . On the left, youll see an outline of the core rules. An inspectors job is to check whether the facility is in compliance. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. That information should be easy to get. It has also been reported that male staff will participate in strip-searching the female residents. My parents were told I would say it is a bad place. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. 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. Safety is when you always have to stand next to a staff member and you are watched in the bathroom. My parents regret sending me to Moonridge Academy. This is the most common response. Have hated that song since. After 2 months I can visit her any time and eventually take her for the wknd. 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. 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. He said they are working on setting up a phone so students can have immediate access to call authorities if they feel unsafe. We recommend that no parent send their child to a facility that is run by CERTS.". The Tribune created a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $11,000 from 136 donors. A staff member didnt think my hair was washed properly. 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. Jalane Christian-Stoker worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. At this point, its not about what happened to me 10 or 15 years ago. WebBut it has been hard to identify what places have a good track record and which ones dont. as it creates an environment in which children are unable to report abuse and neglect. Well continue to report on this industry, including our own findings from this trove of records. It was tedious and humiliating. My time as a student at Moonridge Academy left me deeply traumatized. The amount of food we ate was larger than what I was used to, and I was very small. 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. She also worked as the Executive Director of, worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. 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. 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. I was told I was fine when I said I was depressed. Tawny Thomas worked as the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy. The punishments used by Moonridge Academy are reported by survivors to be: Several survivors report developing PTSD following their time at Moonridge Academy. - Emily (Yelp), 2/10/2021: (SURVIVOR) "Rosie and I were brought to Moonridge Academy in Utah. Look somewhere else. As someone who had been clean from self-harm for months, this felt like a slap in the face. Web0:04. One of the "therapies" they promoted was horseback riding. I was hyperventilating, sobbing, rocking back and forth, and all I was asking for was a little distance. Blatant homophobia was obvious from staff. WebThere have also been reports made by survivors of sexual abuse occurring at the hands of RCA staff members. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. 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. She suggested lowering the number of kids in a facility, and increasing staff. My time in treatment ranges from bad to traumatic. Moonridge Academy is closely affiliated with, , CERTS is an abusive umbrella corporation for boarding schools for troubled youth. Not even a cough drop. But it hasnt been. WebMoonridge Academy is a private school located in Cedar City, UT. This database includes only critical incidents where the facility is found to have violated a rule. I would rather soil myself than be watched. There was group therapy, family therapy and group therapy. There are two types of reports included in this database: Inspections and critical incident reports. WebResidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities MOONRIDGE ACADEMY LLC 9450 W 2400 S CEDAR CITY, UT 84720. Be mindful of your language and be sensitive to survivors. It was in that room that Ross said a staff member sexually abused him. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for girls aged 11-14. Moonridge Academy has been a NATSAP member since 2012. Web"I was sent to Moonridge Academy in 2016 at age 12, which focused a lot on school and therapy. All he does is insist that you should never pull your daughter from the program before she graduates. Ross is 33 years old now. Staffs response to me not getting out of bed was to restrain me on the ground for hours. Do not ask us to recommend a Troubled Teen Program. This type of abuse, experts say, happens more often when there isnt enough staff to keep an eye on the kids and one another. The program has a maximum enrollment of 24 girls, and the average length of stay is reportedly between 9 and 12 months. I was strip searched again, but this time they wrote down every mark on my body. WebUtahs Office of Licensing inspects and regulates each facility, and sometimes finds neglect, child abuse or sexual misconduct. Moonridge Academy and the quality of its program. He began his career in the TTI as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive, . According to the organization Safe Teen Schools, "CERTS is an abusive umbrella corporation for boarding schools for troubled youth. 3/26/2021: (SURVIVOR) I wish I could give this place negative stars. Hopefully the police and social workers will shut down the school or at least revoke their license. He later said in a deposition that he wished Cedar Ridge had better policies and supervision in place. 3/26/2021: (SURVIVOR) "I wish I could give this place negative stars. I was demoted from level 4 to level 1 for kissing another girl. I could go on and on with the stories. behavior-modification program founded in 2004. 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. The program has a maximum enrollment of 24 girls, and the average length of stay is reportedly between 9 and 12 months. It has also been reported that male staff will participate in strip-searching the female residents. 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. We are continuing to ask for your help. 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. The remaining funds will be used to assist The Tribune in future public records disputes. (3) That any program that refers to troubled teens must be considered suspect. Email us at teentreatment@sltrib.com. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. Have hated that song since. Tawny Thomas worked as the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy. My time in treatment ranges from bad to traumatic. 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. The only good that came from it is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. I threw up from eating too much. Utah officials want your help as they draft new rules for the troubled-teen industry. This practice can be extremely harmful and traumatic to children, especially those with histories of sexual abuse. Staff's response to me not getting out of bed was to restrain me on the ground for hours. If you are a parent thinking of sending your child here, I am begging you not to. The Tribune created a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $11,000 from 136 donors. The level system is from 1-7, its extremely punitive. Throughout the ten months I was there, I was constantly manipulated and borderline emotionally abused by multiple staff members. Robert said that even if workers found out what was happening, no one told the authorities like they were required to do. 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. Our daughter attended Moonridge Academy and graduated in 2022. Im surprised she didnt die. There was sexual, physical, and constant emotional abuse. He has also previously worked as the Clinical Director of the resportedly abusive programs, worked as the Executive Director of Moonridge Academy. She currently works as a Lead Therapist at Evoke Therapy Intensives. There are two types of reports included in this database: Inspections and critical incident reports. OWNERSHIP. 9450 West 2400 South, Cedar City, UT 84721, . 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 All rights reserved. Shingles are peeling off worn-down geodesic domes, one of which was once a barn and another a so-called therapy room. 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. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. Perhaps, he said, it could have prevented what he did. I was once again demoted to level 1 and lost my privileges of privacy in the bathroom and social interaction for several weeks. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. 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. The state already makes these notices public, and they can be found here. I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. On the left, youll see an outline of the core rules. An inspectors job is to check whether the facility is in compliance. Grow your business. 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. 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. Family therapy usually meant I got blamed for everything that went wrong and my therapist nodded a bunch. This troubling history has resulted in an untold number of children harmed. 05/01/23. Students who come to Moonridge Academy are often beginning to experiment with high risk behaviors. 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 of the girls got sick. Other states have made similar databases public, but Utah requires people who want to see these records to pay for the cost of redacting private information, such as the names of children receiving treatment. We seek to raise awareness and to change the law to protect the teenagers in these programs from harm. Ross recently sent lengthy emails, some including graphic and violent threats, to Utah legislators demanding they investigate, which. Corrective Action Plan (CAP): This requires facility administrators to submit a plan to correct the violations, and the Office of Licensing monitors. Group therapy included either talking about how you felt or getting a Consequence and having no Free Time. Every year during National Prevention Week (NPW), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) celebrates communities, In response to an appeal, the Office of Licensing lowered its estimate to $4,582. This is not an exaggeration. Please do not send your child to Trails or Moonridge Academy." 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. (4) That any program that rushes you into making a placement decision by urging you to act now, must be considered suspect. She made me shower in front of staff for three days. Many dont disclose when it occurs, and most delay until much later if they disclose at all.. Nothing that could help us if we felt stressed or sad. 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. It has been reported that phone calls are closely monitored by staff. WebYou need to be aware (1) That the wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and bootcamps that comprise the Troubled Teen Industry With the money from the crowdfunding campaign, we were able to expand the database to include youth wilderness therapy programs. - u/CharredMarshmallows (Reddit), 3/18/2020: (PARENT) "Looking for a therapeutic boarding school for your daughter? 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. The Childrens Bureau, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) prepared a web page for the initiative. (BCS Database), HEAL Program Information - Moonridge Academy, State of Maine Investigation into Moonridge Academy (2/12/2007), Moonridge Academy Critical Incident Reports. - 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. Moonridge Academy provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teen gi Moonridge Academy | Cedar City UT One of them didnt think I showered for long enough in my twelve minute time frame. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. 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. Let us know if you find something noteworthy in these documents. He added that most incidents are investigated and deemed unsubstantiated. 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. 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. I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. Thats how I got out after a year mistreatment from this place, I dont regret it. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune). This story was produced as part of a larger project by Jessica Miller, a participant in the 2019 Data Fellowship. Lastly, the level program is cult-like. Thats grooming for lots of problems, he said. I had a panic attack on my first day but instead of helping me, they threatened to physically restrain me.
