Facility profile Idaho

Cherry Gulch

Formerly Cherry Gulch Boys Ranch

Open Emmett, Idaho

Cherry Gulch is a therapeutic boarding school in Emmett, Idaho. It has operated since 2005.

About Cherry Gulch

One account dates its opening to 2006; other records give 2005.source It was affiliated with BlueFire Wilderness (owned by Family Help & Wellness).source

The minimum length of stay is 6 months.source Cherry Gulch Chess Club won first place at the Idaho State Chess Championships in 2008 and 2009 (two divisions).source Sage Star Center launched a new student-centered development course at Cherry Gulch.source Student Council raised nearly 900 tokens from students/peers to help fund the new multipurpose court; also started a "Green" recycling/conservation program.source

It adopted the RULER Approach, an emotional literacy program.source It was hosting Dr. Pam Crooke from the Social Thinking group for a workshop.source It received the Psychologically Healthy Workplace award for Idaho (sponsored by the state psychological association with APA support).source Seven-level system modeled on the Hero's Journey.source

It therapists are all PhD or Masters level with an average caseload of 8 students; licensed psychiatrist on staff.source It joined NATSAP in 2006.source

Incidents on record

  1. Abuse

    Survivors report a punishment called Leg Up: at least 72 hours of hard labor with a one-on-one staff, which could stretch to weeks or months; recent survivors say it is now rarely used.source

  2. Abuse

    Survivors report severe medical neglect, forced manual labor, punitive punishments, extreme physical abuse, chronic re-traumatization and psychological abuse.source

Staff

Administration

Notable staff

  • Andy Gold

    Clinical Director (2008)source

  • Bernie Zimmerman

    Program Therapist (2008)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Jim Schreck

    Head Teacher (2007)source

  • Sonja Rhodes

    Equine Therapy Specialist (2009)source

  • Spencer Young

    Program Coordinator (2008)source

  • Daniel J. Vellotti

    Chess Coach (2009)source

  • Krista Zimmerman

    source

  • Katie Rienstra

    Executive Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Juanita Bair

    Clinical Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • an unnamed "residential youth ranch" prior to joining Cherry Gulch

  • Kahn Borge

    COO and Therapistsource

Licensing and inspections

Program
CRL-2111
License category
Children's Residential Care Facility
Relicensing visit
2025-02-20
Licensing action
Not on the state's current provider list (last: 1-Year license)
Licensed address
5001 Cherry Gulch Ln, Emmett, ID 83617-5123

4 inspection reports on file. Search all Idaho reports

Every report, by date: 5 findings in 2 reports
  1. Feb 20, 2025 2 deficiencies: 16.04.18.009.01, 16.04.18.221.04 Open report
    2 findings

    • Deficiency cited : 16.04.18.009.01 BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENTS. 01. Compliance. Background checks are required for individuals licensed under these rules and must comply with ...

      The facility did not obtain Idaho State Police Checks for five background clearances that were transfered.

    • Deficiency cited : 16.04.18.221.04 TRAINING. 04.CPR and First Aid. Employees, volunteers, and contractors who work independently with children need certification in ...

      One staff record showed there was a gap in their CPR/First Aid training.

  2. Feb 7, 2024 No deficiencies Open report
  3. Feb 1, 2023 3 deficiencies: 16.06.02.546.02.k, 16.06.02.552, 16.06.02.712 Open report
    3 findings

    • Deficiency cited : 16.06.02.546.02.k STAFF RECRUITMENT, HIRING, SUPERVISION, TRAINING, EVALUATION, PROMOTION AND DISCIPLINE.02.Personnel Records. An organization must have a ...

      Staff record #2 did not contain a probationary performance evaluation.It was due on 9/16/22.

    • Deficiency cited : 16.06.02.552 EMPLOYEE AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING.552.Except for a licensed professional under contract with the organization, an organization must document that ...

      Staff record #2 did not contain verification of 25 hours of initial training.

    • Deficiency cited : 16.06.02.712 STAFF TRAINING.712.Unless otherwise specified in these rules, an employee or volunteer whose primary job function requires interaction with ...

      Staff record #2 did not contain verification the staff received CPR/First aid training within 90 days of employment. There was verification the CPR/First aid was obtained within 6 months of employment.

  4. Mar 2, 2022 No deficiencies Open report

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Documents

Documents on file (38)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (23)

From the Unsilenced archive

10 documents about Cherry Gulch that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their folders: Cherry Gulch, Cherry Gulch Boys Ranch.

Wiki entries

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.

News coverage

Survivor posts and discussion

Staff listing or directory

Reference and research

Other links

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction