moonridge academy abuse

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. 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. $150,000$350,000 $150K$350K loan to led to the attorney generals office charging him with two felonies. 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. We are continuing to ask for your help. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. Date. 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. Staff refuse to let students use the bathrooms until we peed our pants. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. FBI cracks down on major ransomware gang. I would rather soil myself than be watched. Instead of helping me learn the rules when I asked questions, a staff member took my diary when I asked a question during "no-talk", a silent time for students to study. Birdeye helps millions of local businesses to be found online with all their reviews and accurate business information. 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. In response to an appeal, the Office of Licensing lowered its estimate to $4,582. Or does all the power stay in the head therapist hands? Level systems have been used in many confirmedly abusive programs, including the notoriously abusive WWASP programs. The program was traumatic for her as well. , Looking for a therapeutic boarding school for your daughter? Their website looks and sounds amazing, but the truth is the girls are in a very secluded area with very little activity. 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. On the left, youll see an outline of the core rules. An inspectors job is to check whether the facility is in compliance. The academy has been accused of allowing employees to abuse teenage boys, then covering it up. WebWeve reported Moonridge for child abuse and medical neglect. This money paid for the state to fulfill records requests. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for girls aged 11-14. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. 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. 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. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. Well continue to report on this industry, including our own findings from this trove of records. The next year, the facility nearly lost its license after state officials say Cedar Ridge managers knew of sexual abuse involving two boys but didnt report it. My parents were told I would say it is a bad place. 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. 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. Group therapy included either talking about how you felt, or getting a consequence and having no free time. Moonridge Academy, a small Residential Treatment Center of 24 students, provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teens ages 11-15. Look somewhere else. Get more reviews from your customers with Birdeye. He has also previously worked as the Clinical Director of the resportedly abusive programs Sunrise RTC and Discovery Ranch for Girls. 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. 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. Jalane Christian-Stoker worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. When I expressed as much, I was told I would hurt myself if I was left alone. These behaviors might include school refusal, self-harm, eating disorders, withdrawing from others, angry outbursts, poor peer and family relationships, and low-level substance abuse. My time in treatment ranges from bad to traumatic. Ten have involved staffers sexually abusing children, while five allege students acting out sexually on one another. 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. Monitored/restricted communication is one of the. Thousands of children are sent away to Utah for treatment at troubled-teen centers and wilderness programs. Many of the girls there had severe mental illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar, etc) and the staff were completely untrained in dealing with them. Other times, he said, he was denied a meal. There was group therapy, family therapy and group therapy. The facilities must keep these records on file. 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. WebAn investigation is underway after a possible incident between a worker and student at a school in Springfield Township. With the money from the crowdfunding campaign, we were able to expand the database to include youth wilderness therapy programs. An investigation is underway after a possible incident between a worker and student at a school in Springfield Township. 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. 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 witnessed physical abuse. 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. I was sent to Moonridge in 2003 when I was 13 years old. Moonridge Academy provides a specialized unique learning and healing environment for younger teen gi Moonridge Academy | Cedar City UT I was demoted from level 4 to level 1 for kissing another girl. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I remember telling the staff and my therapist that I felt like a zombie, and they said I was being dramatic. I was told I was fine when I said I was depressed. She was also restrained for saying she did not want to do a chore. WebMoonridge Academy girls address issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, school refusal, family conflict, sexual boundaries, computer addiction, attention issues, and low All rights reserved. The only good that came from it is making one friend who I still talk to regularly. One of the therapies they promoted was horseback riding. Find a different boarding school for your daughter." This is not an exaggeration. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. Nateasa McGuire worked as a Therapist at Moonridge Academy. Family therapy usually meant I got blamed for everything that went wrong and my therapist nodded a bunch. He later said in a deposition that he wished Cedar Ridge had better policies and supervision in place. The truth is, during the 15 months that our daughter was there, only about 30% of the girls graduated. It backfired, majorly. She only said she was worried I still felt that way. Two of the staff members in particular had it out for me. She passed out on the drive and nearly died from anemia. Jalane Christian-Stoker worked as the Clinical Director of Moonridge Academy from 2005 until 2008. Just really weird. Unlicensed therapists, staff ignoring huge medical issues, forcing us not to use the bathroom until we pee our pants (then were forced to wear diapers or sit on doggy pee pads), verbal abuse, and psychological manipulation. WebTeen vomited on multiple days before dying of infection at Utah boarding school, state finds. He said they are working on setting up a phone so students can have immediate access to call authorities if they feel unsafe. Whether thats sexual or not, thats grooming for a ton of issues that are therapeutically completely inappropriate.. A couple years ago, I went to a treatment center because I was depressed and not doing school work. I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. Please research alternatives for RTCs. Blatant homophobia was obvious from staff. They also involved our family in the process through weekly therapy sessions and family seminar weekends. Well continue to report on this industry, including our own findings from this trove of records. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. Support investigative reporting like this. Are these all feeder programs to keep these poor kids in the system Are any legit? 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. 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. On this level, the residents can earn privilege to leave line-of-sight, wear makeup, and take on a leadership position. This place traumatized me. I still have nightmares about this place. . 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. This practice can be extremely harmful and traumatic to children, especially those with histories of sexual abuse. 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. I still cannot trust myself. Its about whats going on today. 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. The month of April is National Child Abuse Prevent Month. Corrective Action Plan (CAP): This requires facility administrators to submit a plan to correct the violations, and the Office of Licensing monitors. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Thousands of children are sent away to Utah for treatment at troubled-teen centers and wilderness programs. OWNERSHIP. My parents thought being around specialists and supportive staff would give me the coping skills I needed to be a functioning person. Together we can make a difference! It was known about, but completely ignored.. 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. Donate to The Salt Lake Tribune today. She currently works as a Lead Therapist at, Like other behavior-modification programs, Moonridge Academy uses a level system consisting of 6 levels. He began his career in the TTI as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive Island View RTC. 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. Please do not send your child to Trails or Moonridge Academy." ", This profile is powered by Birdeye. Nothing that could help us if we felt stressed or sad. Make sure your post is relevant to the Troubled Teen Industry. They made me believe that I deserved all of this. Group therapy included either talking about how you felt or getting a Consequence and having no Free Time. 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. Family therapy usually meant I got blamed for everything that went wrong and my therapist nodded a bunch. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Teen treatment registry. The It includes a summary of the incident that was reported, and what actions a facility has taken and plans to take in response. This level typically lasts 1-3 months. It has also been reported that male staff will participate in strip-searching the female residents. 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. Theyre also keeping a close watch on staff, Pope said, to ensure they dont have favorites or push boundaries. Look somewhere else. Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. This is not an exaggeration. 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. How is this not a red flag? The program was traumatic for her as well." Few make false allegations, although some might misread a situation due to their histories. I was sent to Moonridge in 2003 when I was 13 years old. At this point, its not about what happened to me 10 or 15 years ago. Privacy Policy. Nateasa McGuire worked as a Therapist at Moonridge Academy. Im completely stable now and happy, no thanks to moonridge. 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. 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 doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. Support also came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Not to mention the puppy that they got for us was left outside without food and eventually died of starvation. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. I was strip searched again, but this time they wrote down every mark on my body. I learned that the only way to survive is to comply. Moonridge Academy is closely affiliated with, , CERTS is an abusive umbrella corporation for boarding schools for troubled youth. Facilities can apply for an exception. They wouldnt give me painkillers when I had a sore throat and a fever. And when we finally come out and express what happened, no one believes us. Im completely stable now and happy, no thanks to moonridge. Over 90,000 businesses use Birdeye everyday to get more reviews and manage all customer feedback. Communication with family is considered a privilege which must be earned by the teenager. It has been reported that the girls contact with their parents is extremely limited. Male staff members participated in female students strip searches. The student population of Moonridge Academy is 14. She also works at Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy. She has been at blueFire for 90 days. When a pencil was found in the middle of the room I shared with four other students, all five of us were forced to do school work with crayons. Parents who are considering sending their child to Moonridge Academy, please look at different residential or outpatient centers. It also led to criminal charges, settled lawsuits, and, more recently, a change in ownership. Sometimes his punishment would be sitting on the floor, legs crossed for hours. He pleaded no contest in 2010 and was sent to prison. 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. When I expressed this, I was told, Lets up the dosage. I was regularly manipulated, lied to and told I was exaggerating. He began his career in the TTI as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive, . Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges, Phillips Academy PSPA Summer & Gap Year Guide. They did not have a solitary confinement room at Moonridge. The levels are reported to be: It has been reported that the girls contact with their parents is extremely limited. 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. No, she was not at risk of hitting someone, and no, she was not hurting herself. At the time, journaling and drawing were my only healthy coping skills. It has been reported that phone calls are closely monitored by staff. I had (diagnosed) ADHD, which led to emotional and physical abuse from my parents growing up. WebResidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities MOONRIDGE ACADEMY LLC 9450 W 2400 S CEDAR CITY, UT 84720. At that time, it was just a house on a hill surrounded by wilderness and dirt. If a report is found to have merit, state licensing officials further determine if the facility violated a rule. The doctor told her she would have died if she had come in even half a day later. Moonridge Academy services younger teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment/adoption issues, emotional I'm surprised she didn't die. On this level, residents get ready to go home and gain additional privileges and freedoms. The program was traumatic for her as well. Grace (BreakingCodeSilence), 3/18/2020: (PARENT) Looking for a therapeutic boarding school for your daughter? 3/26/2021: (SURVIVOR) I wish I could give this place negative stars. The amount of food we ate was larger than what I was used to and I was very small. They need deep treatment and staff and the counselors there, are not equipped to deliver what the girls need. I could go on and on with the stories. This level typically lasts 1-6 months. They are also treated like a staff member. Multiple staff members would swear and threaten me if I did anything wrong, even walking too slowly. This is not an exaggeration. 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. Utah has centers with only a dozen beds, and some that house several hundred children. I remember opening up to my therapist about how awful I felt, maybe five months into my time at Moonridge. Its impossible for kids to articulate that theyre being sexually abused when they dont know what sex, abuse or sexual abuse is, he said. 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. Based on their findings, the State of Maine decided that it would not pay for treatment at the facility. I feel like I should have been required to eat a smaller amount of food, but that was never considered. Nothing that blueFire told me was accurate. 27 were here. It was awful there. 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.) Moonridge Academy has been a NATSAP member since 2012. Just really weird. Press J to jump to the feed. 0:53. The program has a maximum enrollment of 24 girls, and the average length of stay is reportedly between 9 and 12 months. No, she was not at risk of hitting someone, and no, she was not hurting herself. Utahs Office of Licensing inspects and regulates each facility, and sometimes finds neglect, child abuse or sexual misconduct.
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