discovery ranch lawsuit

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 left me more broken than they found me. , Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. 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. I literally cant live with these memories. They often cause way more harm than good. 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). If any of you also went there shoot me a pm id like to hear about it. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. 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. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. 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. If youre a troubled teen thats reading this that just recently got out, or its been years and its still effecting you, please believe me when I say that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. This is not just a couple of resentful people. 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: Discovery ranch seems to actively try to remove as many negative reviews as they can, many were mine being removed over and over. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. 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. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. As per Discovery, intruders have appeared on the land at Blind Frog Ranch in many forms. Yes, we have an amazing ranch!! She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. 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. 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. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. 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. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. Your community does not have the resources to help. 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. ORDER AND MEMORANDUM DECISION. 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. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. 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 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. 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. 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. These programs are money makers. DR also advertises their calf program heavily, where each new resident is given a baby calf to care for and raise. Case No. The trauma Ive witnessed, and seen other kids witness was unbearable. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. 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. 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. 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. 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. The discovery process was contentious, especially with respect to the Aaron Ranch Lawsuit, and went on for years in state court. The Residential Treatment Program is located on a beautiful 60-acre ranch. I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. The civil lawsuit seeks a minimum of $350,000. 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. Both boys have turned out well however, my brother has trauma from the experience. They often cause way more harm than good. The program is located at 1308 South 1600 West, Mapleton, Utah 84664. If you are in an urgent situation and need help call 911. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. 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. Proof is attached as an image. survivors to be an extremely abusive program. 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 got heated on the ranch and Duane kept referring to this person as a "freeloader." The ranch hasn't been short of intruders, in many forms including surveillance cameras and spy drones. Dave Blackwell worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. 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. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. They dont want to discuss whats actually wrong. 0. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. The men have also come up against many dangerous physical hitches in getting to the treasure. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. 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. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. (only the higher rank kids would be allowed to do this). They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. He previously worked at Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. san andreas fault, palm springs. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. My personal experience here was horrible. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. 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. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). Listen to your child, what do they think they need? Id go on to say I have PTSD. , your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem. (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.

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