They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. This investigative process is aptly named "discovery," because it often turns up facts and documents that were previously unknown -- to at . Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. He previously worked at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. In other words, do not trust them. Youre not. A free inside look at company reviews and salaries posted anonymously by employees. These programs are money makers. He will have opportunities for growth through our experiential campus, by developing new skills and interests. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. please if you are thinking of sending anyone or know anyone who is considering to send someone here, keep the kid far away from them. No one deserves what they really do to people. 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. 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. 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. They often cause way more harm than good. 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. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. This is not just a couple of resentful people. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. Happened several times to my friends. If Im in the car with someone and they make a wrong turn or something I will flip out and start having a panic attack because all I can think about it oh my god where are they taking me theyre locking me up again. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. Lawsuit filed March 3rd against the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF). They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. They gave all the kids the same level of trust, none. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. We support & vent to each other about how difficult and lonely it was for us to get back to normal life after we left, how it shaped us into the adults we are today, and what steps we took to try and heal from this horrible experience. Your community does not have the resources to help. My cousin went to a place 2 years ago called Shortridge Academy and had a much better experience there. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. They left me more broken than they found me. Jackson (Yelp), September 2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. 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. But, the couple was later outspoken on social media about the extent to which they were helped by the Raney family. They made me feel disgusting and quite hideous. My personal experience here was horrible. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. He previously worked at, worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. ORDER AND MEMORANDUM DECISION. 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. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include: forcing a resident to lick cow feces off another residents boots, forcing teenagers to unclog a toilet with their bare hands, adult male staff masturbating while watching underaged residents showering, changing, and using the toilet, teens being fed undercooked food and deprived of food, verbal abuse, include staff shouting and swearing at teenagers, widespread allegations of brainwashing techniques in order to force conformity, use of solitary confinement as punishment, published in 2015 by Catherine Kushan, Discovery Ranch, a treatment center located in Mapleton, Utah, provides an empirical example of how this industry rhetorically manipulates legitimate psychiatric conditions to solicit clients. Id go on to say I have PTSD. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. discovery ranch lawsuit. You can find much better treatment for a better price. The reason for posting this is that this is cathartic for me and nice to have a group of people who have at least a basic While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. 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. I can still hear the screams of kids being restrained and having their arms pinned behind them and blood flow cut off because they didnt follow simple orders. They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. 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! We Have Helped Struggling Teens To Learn The Skills They Needed To Heal, Thrive, And Reunite With Their Families. The ranch has the best of both worlds: a small-town atmosphere with access to world-class skiing, outdoor activities, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and close to two major universities and hospitals. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. Staff parents "were expected to replicate a. Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. I am not the only victim. There is a culture of caring and respect, but also of excellence and high expectation both for staff and students. Until now I had remembered my experience there as a happy one- I literally only remembered what went on during the day. He will have the support of well-trained and experienced clinical, academic, residential, and experiential staff members. The men have also come up against many dangerous physical hitches in getting to the treasure. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. Completing the assessment is free. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. And it wasn't just because he was suddenly a millionaire . Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. 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. Seek other avenues for your child. Keith (Yelp), 6/28/2013: (PARENT) This is the worst place to send your child. Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. He will take part in equine therapy and horsemanship programs and will have the responsibility of caring for a rescued baby calf. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. 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. The entire facility is designed to create a rich therapeutic and healing environment. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. The last few years of my life have felt unreal, Ive had migraines with frustration wondering how places like this exist, and how theyve gotten away with so much deceit. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. 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. 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. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. The schooling they provide is a joke. 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. 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. Staff care about one another and take a genuine interest in the girls. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. Please save your child from this place. Jason (Google Reviews), 6/10/2016: (SURVIVOR) Terrible place dont send your child here. The schooling they provide is a joke. Education was packets and computer testing only poor. They dont give the children any hope of getting out whatsoever. 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. 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. DISCOVERY RANCH - 20 Photos & 27 Reviews - 1308 S 1600th W, Mapleton, UT - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services Discovery Ranch 27 reviews Unclaimed Counseling & Mental Health Edit Write a review Add photo Save Photos & videos See all 20 photos Add photo Location & Hours 1308 S 1600th W Mapleton, UT 84664 Get directions Edit business info I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. Although there are no support groups for people like us and since the program is so small & were from all over the country, it feels and looks very real that you may be alone, YOU ARE NOT. The facility in Utah is run like a prison. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. This website uses cookies and third party services. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. But I fucking wasnt. The parties fought over depositions and the production of documents, among other things, in various states where witnesses were located. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! Jeff (Google Reviews), HEAL Program Information Discovery Ranch, Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School, The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan (mentions Discovery Ranch), Strength in the Struggle A Marketing Video uploaded by the school to YouTube, Discovery Ranch Secret Prisons for Teens. 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. Isnt that tax evasion? BE CAREFUL OF THEM. James (Yelp), 2019: (SURVIVOR) This place is sickening. However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. To them, there is one way that every kid learns, and if you have learning disabilities thats too fucking bad and ask the doctor to raise your meds the next time he comes. 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. 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. The program is affiliated with several other Ascent Company programs, such as RedCliff Ascent, Discovery Academy, Discovery Connections, and Oxbow Academy. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? We also understand that every teen and every family is unique. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. 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. 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. I wish I could give negitive stars! I attended Discovery Ranch in Mapleton Utah from November 18th 2015 to May 15th 2015. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. 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. the villa pacific palisades, ca. I suggest seeking different options for your child. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. 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. This is not just a couple of resentful people. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. He also is the Executive Director of, . 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. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. 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. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. . My personal experience here was horrible. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. , This place is horrible. He will receive consistent feedback. As part of the therapeutic learning process, all boys participate in weekly ropes activities that build character and help develop lifelong skills. ), There is a significant lack of professional supervision/lack of training, There is a high turnover rate for employees, There is parent manipulation/lies on the programs part for $$, There is lack of necessary medical care to avoid the girls telling a doctor they are being abused, and they are never alone when with a doctor, Run like a bootcamp, zero free time for the kids, every day feels like a punishment, Mormons are running it and very religiously biased, Please. This will provide him with the. Are they just being a teenager? 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. For example, in an employment law case, a fired employee will want to see their personnel file, and through discovery, an employer would likely be required to provide those documents. If anything, kids got worse from being here. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. He also worked for a time as the Director of NATSAP. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. The main issue I have with this place is that it literally fucked up my education so bad that Im 17 and still in freshman English. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. Have been in contact with many former students that have not done well once leaving the ranch. The protocols here suck, and do absolutely nothing in the way of help. 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. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. 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.. 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. We were victims of abuse. The program is located at 1308 South 1600 West, Mapleton, Utah 84664. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. , Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! 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. 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. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. They lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. In fact, the administration at discovery ranch intentionally delayed my high school graduation by refuting me the right to do my classes in order to keep me there longer. Once a lawsuit gets underway, parties to the lawsuit or their lawyers start gathering information related to the lawsuit. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. , This place is sickening. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. Davinci (Google Reviews), 2018: (SURVIVOR) Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! 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. 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. Seek other avenues for your child. , This is the worst place to send your child. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . 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. 2:14-CV-751-TC. TENA CAMPBELL U.S. District Court Judge. 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. Dave Blackwell worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. We have experience working with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. They love tossing kids emotional and mental state around for worse, or they will lie about problems that a kid doesnt have just to keep kids there longer.They will try to keep kids from telling you from what is really going on, the use their security measures as a punishment Instead of safety and they can, have, and will threaten kids. 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. 0. However, your teen is still troubled and your family is still in crisis. I was 15 years old. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. They would arbitrarily lock me in a tiny pitch black closet devoid of food, water, a bathroom, or human contact for days, usually because I made an inappropriate facial expression like crying or raising my eyebrows when they screamed at me that I was worthless and no one could ever love me. 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. The level-system consists of five levels, which the boys progress through by earning points for good behavior while avoiding demerits for negative behaviors and rule infractions. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. 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. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. , your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. 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. Also MAY I NOTE THAT THEY ARE SO DESPERATE THAT THEY NEED THEIR OWN STAFF MEMEBERS TO WRITE REVIEWS. Let us help. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. Reading these reviews it is obviously a place that needs to make some changes if the accusations are correct. 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. It is degrading and disrespectful and I will forever hate this program as they manipulate people into spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to not help there kids. You have tried outpatient therapy. If anything, kids got worse from being here. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. 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. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. I literally couldnt make this shit up. 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. But I fucking wasnt. 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). 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. , DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM!
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