Anasazi Foundation

News coverage

• 

  Arizona Mirror Jul 15, 2024 Lawsuit

  'It was a cult': Traumatizing troubled teens

  Spring Ridge Academy, a facility for troubled teens in Arizona, has been ordered to pay $2.5 million in a lawsuit claiming fraud. The facility, which closed in 2023, used outdated therapies and procedures born out of a cult from the 1950s. Survivors of the facility report experiencing physical and emotional abuse, including being forced to participate in humiliating group therapy sessions.

Staff

Administration

• Michael J. Merchant

  President/CEO (2008)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Anasazi NATSAP Board Member, 2006
  • Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council founder
  • NATSAP president

• Ezekiel Sanchez

  Executive Director and Founder (2012)source

• Lester W.B. Moore

  Board Chairman (2020, HEAL)source

• Nathan Mitchell

  Co-exec director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Oxbow Academy

• Shayne Gallagher

  Program director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Wingate Wilderness Therapy Program Director, Executive Director (2008-2010)
  • Second Nature Uintas field instructor
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions helped found

• Sulay Tovar

  Co-exec director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • West Ridge Academy

Notable staff

• Virginia Robinson

  Director of Admissions, Admission Director (2007-2012)source

• Larry Dean Olsen

  Staff (2008-2012)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Anasazi Wilderness Co-Founder, 2008

• CoyLou Steel

  Community Relations (2006)source

• Meredith Sullivan

  Regional Community Relations Director (2007)source

• Jenn Maygren

  Former staff member (2009)source

• Jared Dinehart

  Clinical Director (2008)source

• Sean Rourke

  Staff (2007)source

• Aimee Thorpe-Rangel

  Therapist (2020, HEAL)source

• Alfred C. Dodini

  Therapist (2003, HEAL)source

• Andrew Belcher

  Field Director, TrailWalker (2020, HEAL)source

• D. Paul Smith

  Board Secretary (2020, HEAL)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Catherine Freer Wilderness Program (1988-2012) [left 1988 Program Director
  • left 2010]
  • Arbinger Institute Managing director, 2013
  • Copper Hills Youth Center Therapist, 2022
  • Catherine Freer Wilderness Program Program Director (2010)

• Daniel Parke

  Therapist/Shadow (2020, HEAL)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • youth correction facilities (unnamed) Staff, before 2020

• David Holladay

  Education Director (2020, HEAL)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Boulder Outdoor Survival School Staff, before 2020

• David J. Jecmen

  Psychologist (2020, HEAL)source

• Elizabeth Mares

  Nurse (2020, HEAL)source

• Nathan Godfrey

  Logistics Director (2020, HEAL)source

• Ben Pearson

  Field guide

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Second Nature Wilderness Program Primary Therapist (2011-2013)
  • Second Nature Uintas assistant clinical director
  • Second Nature Assistant Clinical Director

• Candice Bahm

  Therapist

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • RedCliff Ascent field instructor

• Glenn Banks Jr.

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Arivaca Boys Ranch Therapist (2021-2025)

• Mary Thompson

  Therapist

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Devereux Foundation therapist

• Michael Sanders

  Field director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • WinGate Wilderness Therapy field director

• Xela Goodman

  Therapist

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Adirondack Leadership Expeditions Therapist, Field Supervisor (2010-2021)
  • Arivaca Boys Ranch Therapist (2010)
  • Deschutes Wilderness Therapy therapist
  • New Summit Academy clinical director

Research notes

• Accreditation: Joint Commission and COA
• Length of stay: minimum stay 42 days
• License: JCAHO accredited; licensed by AZ Dept of Economic Security and Dept of Human Services as a Behavioral Healthcare Provider
• Start year: 1988 (source)
• Ages 12-17 (source)

Materials and links

External links

A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.

• anasazi.org (archived copy) live site

Staff and owners

• ANASAZI FOUNDATION listing on OpenCorporates