discovery ranch lawsuit

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. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. 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. 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. 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. Although the system failed us, my peers and I have created somewhat of a little support group to cope and its helped us tremendously. Learn about discovery -- the legal procedures used to gather evidence for a lawsuit. Your son will experience the value of hard work through daily chores and responsibilities. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. $1,000 in 1990 worth today . While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. I suggest seeking different options for your child. And it wasn't just because he was suddenly a millionaire . Isnt that tax evasion? You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include malnutrition/food deprivation, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and solitary confinement used as punishment. 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). I suggest seeking different options for your child. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. Terrible place dont send your child here. Now, other past guests on the show are coming forward with similar stories, including . 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 dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. ages 13-18. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. My personal experience here was horrible. The schooling they provide is a joke. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. 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. However, your teen is still troubled and your family is still in crisis. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. Brent Hall is reported by survivors to have run the facility. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. 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. 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). Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. Blind Frog Ranch Lawsuit. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. san andreas fault, palm springs. We have experience working with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. The Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch, which airs on Discovery Channel, is currently in its fifth season. 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. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. The website is misleading. discovery ranch lawsuitshaun thompson elmhurst Consultation Request a Free Consultation Now. 8 9 comments Best Add a Comment dsholliday 7 yr. ago They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. I am not the only victim. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? This investigative process is aptly named "discovery," because it often turns up facts and documents that were previously unknown -- to at . I literally couldnt make this shit up. 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). Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. Like other behavior-modification programs, Discovery Ranch utilizes a level system based around a merit/demerit structure. 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). He since has shut down and will not discuss it so no idea if it was accurate or something he said when first home to avoid being sent back. Dave Blackwell worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. 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. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. May their souls rest in peace. 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. This will provide him with the experience of a lifetime because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. They often cause way more harm than good. Get Confidential Help Today, Call Us Anytime, Internationally-recognized Residential Treatment Center for Teen Boys Ages 13-18 Located in Utah, Top Residential Treatment Center For Teens, Discovery Ranch combines the power of traditional and experiential therapies to create a clinically sophisticated, relationship-based. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. I attended Discovery Ranch in Mapleton Utah from November 18th 2015 to May 15th 2015. DR also advertises their calf program heavily, where each new resident is given a baby calf to care for and raise. At Discovery Ranch we understand that when your teen is in trouble, your whole family is in trouble. 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. We provide a safe, home-like environment for your son. I literally cant live with these memories. 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. June 7, 2022 . 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. 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. 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. But, the couple was later outspoken on social media about the extent to which they were helped by the Raney family. They often cause way more harm than good. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. He will receive consistent feedback. 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. Happened several times to my friends. 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. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. And the horrible part? I literally couldnt make this shit up. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. 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. It is NOT your fault and youre NOT a lesser being despite what DR drilled into you. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. Also they lie to the kids about the effects of marijuana, such as the claim that you can withdrawal from it, but I know that isnt true. 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. Discovery Ranch only wants to know and talk about their truth which is nothing close to reality. 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. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. He will take part in equine therapy and horsemanship programs and will have the responsibility of caring for a rescued baby calf. 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. He reportedly began working in the TTI because his brothers have worked at various other treatment centers. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. Davinci (Google Reviews), 2018: (SURVIVOR) Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! how to walk a human a dogs guide. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. Eaton County Circuit Court 1045 Independence Blvd. ! Jack (Yelp), 5/28/2020: (SIBLING) A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. 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. Case No. You can find much better treatment for a better price. They left me more broken than they found me. , Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. Id go on to say I have PTSD. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. 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. I suggest seeking different options for your child. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. 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 wish I could give negitive stars! Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. 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. I felt meaningless, worthless, like a pawn used to control my dads emotions, fishing out hundreds of thousands of dollars from him. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. 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. Your teen is struggling. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. Even when I started feeling feelings again I realized on Wednesday that I had been experiencing emotions with maybe 50-75% of the intensity that I normally should, which was put into perspective when I finally accepted that these things truly happened to me and felt for the first time in my life the appropriate pain and humiliation that corresponds to being treated in such a way for such an extended period of time. Basically non-existent education. They often cause way more harm than good. Also they lie to the kids about the effects of marijuana, such as the claim that you can withdrawal from it, but I know that isnt true. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. Grand Ledge Courts. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. This is not just a couple of resentful people. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. These programs are money makers. 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. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. I wish I could give negitive stars! Your Call is Confidential. Staff parents "were expected to replicate a. Are they just being a teenager? ), I witnessed a 15 year old boy be sodomized by a broom handle and have the living shit beat out of him because he tried to run away and watched a girl punch a window and slit her wrists in front of me because she couldnt take it anymore. Privileges to some might sound like being able to talk to friends, or having free time. I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. He began his career working in Admissions at, , which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the. 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. Once a lawsuit gets underway, parties to the lawsuit or their lawyers start gathering information related to the lawsuit. Any minor infraction is punished severely. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. 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. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. 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. 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. 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. We Have Helped Struggling Teens To Learn The Skills They Needed To Heal, Thrive, And Reunite With Their Families. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. I was 15 years old. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. There is overmedicating (including putting kids to sleep for doing nothing wrong. 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.. "Defendant White took the minor child on a hunting trip where he gave him alcohol . I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. They would restrain kids to the point the kids arm was almost broken. (Blood sprayed on me). Completing the assessment is free. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. ), I witnessed a 15 year old boy be sodomized by a broom handle and have the living shit beat out of him because he tried to run away and watched a girl punch a window and slit her wrists in front of me because she couldnt take it anymore. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. (only the higher rank kids would be allowed to do this). 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 Clinical, Academic, Residential, and Experiential departments all work together. 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. Youre parents will love that, Ha!). We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. I highly suggest people look it up, one of the most disgusting things Ive ever read in my life: Link. A court has maintained a number of claims the Granby Ranch Metropolitan District has made in a lawsuit against the owners of Granby Ranch. Also there were lawsuits against this place. You Have Questions, We Have Answers. It is run like a prison. This is not just a couple of resentful 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. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. They emotionally and mentally compromise kids for fun. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. 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. 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. (Blood sprayed on me). I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. 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. Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. 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. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. Chad Ollinger and his brother, Duane, are gold prospectors in the Uintah Mountains of Utah. These experiences will teach your son values like Responsibility, Grit, Honesty, Respect, Courage, Kindness, and Accountability. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. 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. Are they just being a teenager? 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. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. 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. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. 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. Basically non-existent education. 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 had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. Your son will have the opportunity to build the strength and resilience he needs to thrive at home. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. 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. 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! When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. My Mom says she wishes she had heard of that school at the time. the villa pacific palisades, ca. 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. 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. 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. The boat bought with funds by Discovery Ranch was not once used for the kids, the owners just use it for personal use. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. No one deserves what they really do to people. 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. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. If you want to send your kid to either wilderness or discovery ranch why dont you do us all a favor parents and send your child to Disney Land so theyll be happy rather then send them to whats pretty much a mental institution for parents that have no idea what the fuck there doing. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. Please save your child from this place. Jason (Google Reviews), 6/10/2016: (SURVIVOR) Terrible place dont send your child here. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. 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. Those goals are helping your son learn, grow, and heal so that your family can be a family again. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. 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. behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. 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. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. 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. 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. I suggest seeking different options for your child. Discovery Ranch has been a NATSAP member since 2005. Discovery is the legal term used to describe the different processes that require parties in a lawsuit to exchange information that each side possesses.

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