Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. There thieves taking advantage of parents dispositions and they should be shut down , After my daughter was here for here for 2 months her condition worsened and she started having suicidal thoughts which had never happened before.When I met with her Dr. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? We have experience working with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. Feel free to ask anything about my stay I'm an open book. I have maintained very close friendships with a handful of other patients that were there during my time (for a wide range of different reasons) and we even make it appoint to see each other each year. At one point during my stay, I saw my friend stab his arm repeatedly with a pencil, spraying blood all over me and the windowsill we were sitting on. 25 votes, 28 comments. Discovery Ranch only wants to know and talk about their truth which is nothing close to reality. Stages of a Personal Injury Case - FindLaw We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. When you try to induct real truths into the once a week, 1/2 hour, monitored phone call, the therapist redirects you to la la land. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. May their souls rest in peace. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. But I fucking wasnt. However, in 2013 DR moved their girls program to Cedar City, UT and began makerting theis program as Discovery Ranch For Girls. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. Its sick and I hope in the future these places will be illegal and I will NEVER send my kids to one of these places. When the program opened, it housed both boys and girls on the same campus, but kept them completely seperate in different parts of the campus. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. , This place is horrible. The parents believe discovery ranch and most kids have no hope of anyone listening to them because they think no one believes them and they wont talk and they lie about it. discovery ranch lawsuit - platinostereo.com Parents wont know or understand the gravity of impact this experience has had until after you get out and have openly talked about it, and although its very hard not to blame or take your anger out on them, you have to realize they made their decision out of love and ignorance. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. I wish I could give negitive stars! However, the abuse overshadowed it. You can find much better treatment for a better price. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. He will be expected to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes daily exercise and well-balanced meals. In January 2104, the boy was placed in a dorm at Discovery Ranch with three other boys, one who began grooming him and another resident for "sexual victimization" until he was "violently sodomized," the family says in the lawsuit. Isnt that tax evasion? Discovery Ranch is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), but it is important to note that neither the United States Department of Education nor the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes NAAS as an accrediting agency for institutions of higher education. In May 2018, the family that owns Blind Frog Ranch in Moab, Utah, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM . There was never any you can do it it was you better do it or youre going to be put on mc and never get out of here. These programs are money makers. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. And before you tell me that was a long time ago, I am a part of multiple survivor groups online for former students from DR and other abusive programs in Utah. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Residential Treatment is an Intensive Healing Experience, Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. These experiences will teach your son values like Responsibility, Grit, Honesty, Respect, Courage, Kindness, and Accountability. Discovery Ranch for Girls Reviews - Glassdoor They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. Listen to your child, and dont fall into the traps that programs make which lead parents to think their child is untrustworthy, a liar, manipulator, etc. My son, although he enjoyed his stay, refused to be brainwashed, and therefore got nothing therapeutical out of his stay; only resentment and anger, and he gained knowledge how to manipulate therapists to his benefit. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. If they mention these sorts of things to parents (over heavily monitored phone calls and letters in the mail), contact between student and parent would be cut off. My parents (his Mom and step-father) note sending him away added to his sense of rejection started by peer abuse even though they were desperate due to his issues at home and school. discovery ranch lawsuit These programs are money makers. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. The parents believe discovery ranch and most kids have no hope of anyone listening to them because they think no one believes them and they wont talk and they lie about it. They report that in January 2104, the boy was placed in a dorm at Discovery Ranch with three other boys, one who began grooming him and another resident for sexual victimization until he was violently sodomized. The attacker used threats of violence, coercion, guilt, and the merit system of Discovery Ranch to manipulate (the boy) to avoid reporting increasingly deviant sexual behaviors, including discussions about sex, pornography, masturbation, and sexual violence. According to the complaint, Discovery Ranchs merit system also prevented (him) from reporting the assaults because he believed that his inferior status and past interactions with Discovery Ranch staff and administrators would result in him being punished if he attempted to disclose the assaults. The family claims the sexual assaults went undiscovered and unchecked throughout the months of January and February and were only revealed when he [the assailant] was transferred from Discovery Ranch after being discovered engaging in bestiality with a horse. The family says that Discovery Ranch failed to adequately investigate the assailant for psychosexually deviant and violent tendencies before admitting him to Discovery Ranch and placing him in the dorm. Additional Information: Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School, 9/20/2020: (SURVIVOR) Discovery ranch seems to actively try to remove as many negative reviews as they can, many were mine being removed over and over. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. My cousin went to a place 2 years ago called Shortridge Academy and had a much better experience there. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. I am not the only victim. What Is Discovery in a Lawsuit? - FindLaw Formal Discovery: Gathering Evidence for Your Lawsuit | Nolo TENA CAMPBELL U.S. District Court Judge. Im happy to say that she is leading a normal life and leaving DR was the best thing that happened. Josephine (Yelp), 11/26/2013: (SURVIVOR) I try to think positively about it but honestly this shithole gave me PTSD. Discovery Ranch combines the power of traditional and experiential therapies to create a clinically sophisticated, relationship-based residential treatment center for boys ages 13-18. When the program opened, it housed both boys and girls on the same campus, but kept them completely seperate in different parts of the campus. Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! In addition to taking part in the equine therapy and horsemanship programs, he will have access to the fully-equipped music studio. They often cause way more harm than good. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. 2:14-CV-751-TC. However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. The Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which airs on Discovery Channel, is currently in its fifth season. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they. If you absolutely need mental support for your child, I suggest something that is close to home, and something that does not limit their ability to see and interact with the outside world. Happened several times to my friends. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. "Defendant White took the minor child on a hunting trip where he gave him alcohol . I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. If any of you also went there shoot me a pm id like to hear about it. This isnt how we should treat precious children The staff have no idea how much damage theyre doing as theyre just following orders This is a mess it needs to be shut down.. Top Teen Residential Treatment Center | Discovery Ranch for Boys Discovery Ranch for Girls is a well run industry leader in residential treatment for adolescent girls. When Jack Stuef found a chest of gold and jewels in a Wyoming forest last year, he felt giddy. The facility in Utah is run like a prison. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. Privilege to them is being able to sit on a couch, to be able to speak out loud, to be able to eat a single apple. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. 19K views, 49 likes, 17 loves, 159 comments, 10 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from FOX 13 News: UTAH RANCH LAWSUIT - A teen is filing a lawsuit against a Utah ranch where she says she was sexually. Isnt that tax evasion? She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. Your Call is Confidential. Their website lists the following conditions the program claims to treat: various mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, and oppositional defiance the last of which is no longer listed in the DSM substance abuse and other addictions, eating disorders [] learning disorders and nonverbal learning disability [] social struggles, low self-esteem, adoption/attachment issues, and grief and loss The unadvertised conditions that I witnessed among detainees included being LGBT, Internet addiction, and one girl in particular was sent there for having a black boyfriend. No one deserves what they really do to people. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. Once a lawsuit gets underway, parties to the lawsuit or their lawyers start gathering information related to the lawsuit. We were victims of abuse. This is not just a couple of resentful people. But, the couple was later outspoken on social media about the extent to which they were helped by the Raney family. The website is misleading. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. Im in therapy, on medication, have been to three AA meetings in the past three days, and just feel like I am out of options and suicide or getting constantly fucked up is my only option at this point. discovery ranch lawsuit - kestonrocks.com I am at a loss for what to do at this point. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. The website is misleading. As part of the therapeutic learning process, all boys participate in weekly ropes activities that build character and help develop lifelong skills. They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. He will have opportunities for growth through our experiential campus, by developing new skills and interests. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. Yeomans v Discovery Ranch | 2:17-CV-00768 | Court Records - UniCourt This website uses cookies and third party services. Are they just being a teenager? However, your teen is still troubled and your family is still in crisis. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. My brother noted some of the staff was wonderful and he used their tips to get through challenges after his father died (my Moms 1st husband). They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. There was never any you can do it it was you better do it or youre going to be put on mc and never get out of here. Now, other past guests on the show are coming forward with similar stories, including . I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. He also is the Executive Director of Discovery Academy. They strip you of everything, even contact with your own parents, and dangle it in front of you as motivation to do/act how they want. The program is located at 1308 South 1600 West, Mapleton, Utah 84664. Staff parents "were expected to replicate a. I had been raped when i was 12 and was unable to tell my male therapist or parents about this happening because my family is very Catholic. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. If you have a child with attention deficit disorder do not send your son here BECAUSE it is like water boarding to have a kid sit in a room for 7 hours straight and have them study all day even though they are trying. Discovery ranch uses a merit system to punish kids. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. I am not the only victim. We believe that teens are more than their diagnosis. I literally couldnt make this shit up. I felt like i somehow deserved to be treated like this and I think a part of me knew I could never stand living in the real world after all this happened. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. I didnt ask to see that.. , your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. In February of 2015, a former resident at DR and his family filed a lawsuit against the school reporting that the boy was violently and repeatedly sexually assaulted by another resident at the program. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. Also if you notice, a large majority of the 5 star ratings are from former staff as opposed to parents/students. William (Google Reviews), 6/1/2020: (SURVIVOR) Through my stay I personally witnessed: Two suicide attempts. Seek other avenues for your child. Keith (Yelp), 6/28/2013: (PARENT) This is the worst place to send your child. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. These issues include: At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. The night staff was apparently fucked up on heroin, meth, pcp, etc the whole time and had virtually no training or qualifications, which I learned when a male staff member sexually propositioned me over Facebook when I was 18, so three years later, and told me what happened behind closed doors. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. (Yelp), 11/10/2013: (SURVIVOR) Link to Anonymous Survivor Testimony, 10/13/2013: (SURVIVOR) I attended Discovery Ranch 5 years ago when I was 15 years old. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) I would estimate their rate of rehabilitation around 20%. ! Jack (Yelp), 5/28/2020: (SIBLING) A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. We all cope in our own ways, but if we can help by sharing our experiences and what we learned, theres not a single one of us that would turn down a younger DR peer that is currently battling our same battles. At Discovery Ranch we understand that when your teen is in trouble, your whole family is in trouble. After essentially being re-traumatized after remembering all this, I recently went on a five day bender started Wednesday where I got high and or drunk every waking moment, which culminated with me waking up on my bathroom floor on Monday morning covered in blood and vomit next to two empty bottles of wine and Xanax spilled across the floor with a five page suicide note on my computer that Id written in a blackout. Its funny, almost all of the kids that left as a level 5 or 4 ARE DOING DRUGS AND ARE DOING WORSE AT HOME, goes to show how little the program works. My son, although he enjoyed his stay, refused to be brainwashed, and therefore got nothing therapeutical out of his stay; only resentment and anger, and he gained knowledge how to manipulate therapists to his benefit. Also there were lawsuits against this place. Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. The entire facility is designed to create a rich therapeutic and healing environment. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: Link. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. Sanoy (Yelp), August 2020: (SURVIVOR) Kinda like a prison that just focuses on external behavior. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys aged 13-18 with emotional and behavioral issues. DR does not accept transgender males. My brother was at the Ranch over a decade ago. , There are plenty of articles that prove why Discovery Ranch is dangerous for the mental development of children. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. Are they just being a teenager? We have the record and independent verification to prove it. Your attorney should explain each step, but here you can learn basics on Complaints, Answers, and other motions involved at the beginning of a lawsuit. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. Its funny, almost all of the kids that left as a level 5 or 4 ARE DOING DRUGS AND ARE DOING WORSE AT HOME, goes to show how little the program works. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. I wish I could give negitive stars! He also worked for a time as the Director of, Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. I didnt ask to see that.. Leslie Glies worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. We will not share your information. There is not enough research of the negative effects places like DR have on a young person, people dont like to talk or hear about places like DR, the system is extremely flawed, its a corporation that works very hard to keep you there as long as possible for obvious financial reasons while hiring unqualified staff. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. discovery ranch lawsuit. Id go on to say I have PTSD. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. And the scariest part was that it was fantastic during the day; we would do ropes courses and go skiing and horseback riding and talk to a truly kind therapist every day who genuinely though I was insane or a pathological liar and convinced me I was hallucinating or having nightmares. Your family is struggling. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. If they mention these sorts of things to parents (over heavily monitored phone calls and letters in the mail), contact between student and parent would be cut off. Your community does not have the resources to help. We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. I understand that people need to help themselves and I cannot blame Discovery Ranch for my decisions but this environment definitely did not promote positive change in my life. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. It is run like a prison. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. This isnt how we should treat precious children The staff have no idea how much damage theyre doing as theyre just following orders This is a mess it needs to be shut down.. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. When we have the opportunity to get together, its a very special and meaningful time for all of us, we reminisce about the little funny stories that helped us get through the day during our time, we think about about all the suffering we endeared and how we survived, and we always take the time to honor our close friends that didnt and have passed. If you are at all struggling and/or would like to talk to someone who can relate, please do not hesitate to contact me through this post and Id be happy to exchange information so we can talk. He will receive consistent feedback. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including, The program is affiliated with several other, is the Executive Director of Discovery Ranch. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! 02-17-2016. Your child will be put in with kids that are older than their age group, that were in gangs, that are addicted to drugs, etc. My parents sent me there because I was depressed, doing poorly in school instead of getting straight As, got caught shoplifting a pack of gum from 7-11, spent too much time on the computer, and was too angry and defiant. (Blood sprayed on me). Lawsuit, warrant allege abuse at southern Utah ranch for troubled girls Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School You Have Questions, We Have Answers. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. If you have a child with attention deficit disorder do not send your son here BECAUSE it is like water boarding to have a kid sit in a room for 7 hours straight and have them study all day even though they are trying. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. It makes me fucking sick that this place, along with HUNDREDS of others, still exists, quietly protected under the umbrella of the state government of Utah, and that parents are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for their children to be tortured and driven insane or into obedient, soulless sociopaths. Anonymous (Tales from the Black School), 7/8/2013: (SURVIVOR) DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM! Not only were surveillance cameras found pointing at their worksite, but military helicopters have flown over the Utah land and spy drones have been seen, too. We were victims of abuse. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. , Kinda like a prison that just focuses on external behavior. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. ages 13-18. departments all work together. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. (and have it be removed weeks later). Although the system failed us, my peers and I have created somewhat of a little support group to cope and its helped us tremendously. 54A District Court 124 W. Michigan Ave., #54A Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 483-4433 Court Website. I still maintain close relationships with both girls and boys who are around my age (23-27) that have gone through exactly what you are going through now; so whether its easier to talk to a guy or girl or someone with a similar case to yours, I can put you in contact with them if youd like (Free of charge too! It is run like a prison. She currently works as the Residential Director at Redcliff Ascent, another Ascent Company program. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. Sanoy (Google Reviews).