discovery ranch lawsuit

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.. Blind Frog Ranch 2022 lawsuit update In season 2, we see someone come onto the ranch and serve the gang some sort of paper. This merit system was easy for some kids to abuse, in one circumstance during my stay, a child was repeatedly raped, and was threatened with the merit system to get him to keep quiet. It is reported by survivors that these calfs are later slaughtered, apparently in an attempt to teach the residents how to deal with loss. This practice is extremely cruel, and is reported to be very traumatic to many survivors. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. Aside from the obvious prejudice and discrimination, many of these conditions are not legitimate clinical impairments, and those that are require individualized care, which this facility does not provide., 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. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in 6th District Court on behalf of Brenda Woolsey, claims Clay Brewer, then 17, should have never been at Turn-About Ranch on Dec. 6, 2016, when he woke up "feeling. 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. Im happy to say that she is leading a normal life and leaving DR was the best thing that happened. , I try to think positively about it but honestly this shithole gave me PTSD. 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. 25 votes, 28 comments. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. 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. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive, organization. The schooling they provide is a joke. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. I had repressed memories of the physical, sexual, and psychological torture i endured for five years until I watched a documentary on the stanford prison experiment in my psychology class. 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. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. The Clinical, Academic, Residential, and Experiential departments all work together. My Mom says she wishes she had heard of that school at the time. Sure, we said all the things our parents wanted to hear once we got out, it was certainly drilled into us every single day, but that faded into a deep anger/depression that raised months, sometimes even years later, & you find yourself in worse condition than you were before entering DR; battling a demon 98% of people will never know. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. We have experience working with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. Renewed Hope Ranch seeks "to provide unsurpassed residential care to troubled teenage girls who significantly struggle to overcome their mental, emotional, behavioral and educational challenges," according to its website. Your son will have the opportunity to build the strength and resilience he needs to thrive at home. She currently works as the Residential Director at Redcliff Ascent, another Ascent Company program. But I fucking wasnt. 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. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. 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. 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. These programs are money makers. While enrolled at Discovery Ranch, your son will experience a safe and structured environment. He previously worked at, worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. Caring, experienced professionals are ready to help your son. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. 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. The website is misleading. 2023 Discovery Ranch Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys |. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. We were victims of abuse. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. Are they just being a teenager? She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. Teenagers can be punished for infractions as small as making an inappropriate facial expression, meaning they can be punished for crying or raising their eyebrows without permission. If you have any logic in your brain in the slightest then you should realize how goddamn stupid it would be to send your kid to this shit hole. Derek (Yelp), 8/21/2015: (SURVIVOR) Its been about 8-9 years since I left DR; Im now 25 and although I dont dwell on what happened so much anymore, this place has had such a negative impact on my life. I had repressed memories of the physical, sexual, and psychological torture i endured for five years until I watched a documentary on the stanford prison experiment in my psychology class. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. Happened several times to my friends. 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. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. discovery ranch lawsuit. Stay in touch with the other people you shared your time with during DR, reach out to them when things are tough, talk about your struggles. Plaintiff Diamond Ranch Academy, Inc. (DRA) operates a residential youth treatment facility in Hurricane, Utah. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including many WWASP programs. We had a close friend that took her life during our time there, we lost a friend to drug addiction that spiraled after leaving DR, and we had another friend who lost her life to cancer, which could have been detected in the earlier stages if DR didnt fail to seek proper medical attention (she was actually punished quite often for complaining about the pain and was either made to do hard manual labor or the staff would put her in isolation for days on end. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. We were victims of abuse. We respect your privacy. When she was given her home visit, her mom took her to the doctor and was diagnosed, although we have tried to find the outcome of the lawsuit, none of us have been able to track her family down to share our sympathy). I am not the only victim. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. , This place is sickening. We focus on healing the entire family. Seek other avenues for your child. Keith (Yelp), 6/28/2013: (PARENT) This is the worst place to send your child. 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. Please save your child from this place. . At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. 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. Case No. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly. In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! The program has a maxmimum enrollment of 60 boys, and the average length of stay is reported to be around 10 months, but this can be substantially longer if the boy is deemed resistant. I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. 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. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. It is reported that they are only allowed to communicate with their parents through heavily censored and monitored letters, as well as a once-monthly phone call, which is also monitored by staff. Its not just the kids too, sometimes there are good staff, but whenever there is that person never lasts long at all, they all literally quit because this place is so horrible. Are they just being a teenager? STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. When Jack Stuef found a chest of gold and jewels in a Wyoming forest last year, he felt giddy. 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. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. Davinci (Google Reviews), 2018: (SURVIVOR) Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. (only the higher rank kids would be allowed to do this). Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. 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. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. Also if you notice, a large majority of the 5 star ratings are from former staff as opposed to parents/students. , Through my stay I personally witnessed: Two suicide attempts. I had to raise a baby cow for the slaughter to learn to deal with loss, exercise until I threw up blood, pick up cow shit every day, I could go on and on. Lawsuit filed March 3rd against the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF). Discovery Ranch only wants to know and talk about their truth which is nothing close to reality. 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. My Mom says she wishes she had heard of that school at the time. They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. In addition to taking part in the equine therapy and horsemanship programs, he will have access to the fully-equipped music studio. However, the abuse overshadowed it. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. This will provide him with the. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. Craig Smith worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. Fact-Finding and Discovery Find out about "discovery" -- the process by which opponents in a lawsuit get information from each other to establish facts in the case. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. I suggest seeking different options for your child. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! 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. 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. I am not the only victim. 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. Aside from the obvious prejudice and discrimination, many of these conditions are not legitimate clinical impairments, and those that are require individualized care, which this facility does not provide.. I cannot even put into words the pain I feel even today when my experience gets brought up or when I read about other kids that are STILL suffering from having to go through this program. 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. 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. They often cause way more harm than good. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. , Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. I had an IEP at my old school because I cant learn that easily but the program directors convinced my parents I was too lazy to do work that I had trouble doing. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. The location is part of a dispute between the city and one tow truck company that filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 2, 2020. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. When she was given her home visit, her mom took her to the doctor and was diagnosed, although we have tried to find the outcome of the lawsuit, none of us have been able to track her family down to share our sympathy). It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. (Blood sprayed on me). Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. If anything, kids got worse from being here. I literally couldnt make this shit up. My brother was at the Ranch over a decade ago. John (Yelp), 10/28/2019: (SURVIVOR) There are plenty of articles that prove why Discovery Ranch is dangerous for the mental development of children. Isnt that tax evasion? 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 parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. When I came back to real life I had forgotten how to smile and had to train myself to make facial expressions that corresponded to the emotions I should have felt in various circumstances. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. I would estimate their rate of rehabilitation around 20%. "Defendant White took the minor child on a hunting trip where he gave him alcohol . It is run like a prison. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. This is not just a couple of resentful people. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: . You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. He previously worked at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. 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. He will take part in equine therapy and horsemanship programs and will have the responsibility of caring for a rescued baby calf. If you have any logic in your brain in the slightest then you should realize how goddamn stupid it would be to send your kid to this shit hole. , Its been about 8-9 years since I left DR; Im now 25 and although I dont dwell on what happened so much anymore, this place has had such a negative impact on my life. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) BE CAREFUL OF THEM. James (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) This place is sickening. And it wasn't just because he was suddenly a millionaire . I am at a loss for what to do at this point. May their souls rest in peace. I was told Control-freak parents often produce children who feel guilty and disloyal , fearing theyll disappoint their over-bearing parents. I couldnt believe he was blaming me for thisafter we could no longer afford to send her there she was abruptly released and told good luck. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. No one deserves what they really do to people. Blind Frog Ranch Lawsuit. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. I am not the only victim. I am not the only victim. 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! I cannot even put into words the pain I feel even today when my experience gets brought up or when I read about other kids that are STILL suffering from having to go through this program. He can participate in various sports teams, such as basketball, flag football, wrestling, and cross-country running. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. You have been warned and I still have ptsd and Ive been going to therapy for 2 and a half years and more to come. 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.

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