Facility profile Utah

Cross Creek Manor

Closed La Verkin, Utah

Cross Creek Manor was a residential treatment center in La Verkin, Utah, operated by World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS). It operated from 1986 to 2011.

About Cross Creek Manor

It was founded by Robert B. Lichfield and Brent Facer.source It moved to 180 N State St, La Verkin, UT 84745.source

Its address was 591 N State St, La Verkin, UT 84745.source It was located in Cross Creek Manor, a large house with white columns, in LaVerkin, Utah.source Survivor reported 18 months at Cross Creek Manor, released May 1999.source Facility was surrounded by locked 15 ft. white fences with locked 12 ft. isolation rooms (ISO), per a survivor.source The program's school was called "Browning Academy" by WWASP.source St. George was the high-phase facility of Cross Creek Manor.source

Survivor testimony

What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.

Reported on survivor forums

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

19861999200320062011201319862013

  1. 1986

    1. Opened

      Opened in La Verkin, Utah

  2. 1999

    1. Incident

      Abuse

      A survivor alleged a therapist told her during a group exercise that her grandfather had died, which was untrue, to traumatize her.

      Abuse

      source

    2. Incident

      Restraint

      A survivor reported seeing girls physically taken down by staff and put in locked 12 ft.

      Restraint

      A survivor reported seeing girls physically taken down by staff and put in locked 12 ft. isolation (ISO) rooms for days, weeks or months, and others with broken noses and dislocated shoulders, in 1998-1999.

      source

  3. 2003

    1. In the newsMay 25, 2003

      Provo Canyon School Closure

      3 articles in The Salt Lake Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Refinery29, 2003 to 2021.

      Provo Canyon School Closure May 25, 2003

      Following the arrest of director Narvin Lichfield and an exodus of students prompted by Costa Rican officials, the Academy at Dundee Ranch faced closure. The facility was part of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools network, which faced various allegations including false imprisonment...

  4. 2006

    1. IncidentAugust 25, 2006

      Lawsuit

      The Wood family filed an August 25, 2006 lawsuit against Cross Creek Manor and the World Wide Association of Specialty Schools Programs (WWASP), assisted by...

      Lawsuit August 25, 2006

      The Wood family filed an August 25, 2006 lawsuit against Cross Creek Manor and the World Wide Association of Specialty Schools Programs (WWASP), assisted by advocates Isabelle Zehnder of CAICA and Sue Scheff of PURE.

      source

  5. 2011

    1. Closed

      Closed

  6. 2013

    1. IncidentAugust 2013

      Lawsuit

      In August 2013 a 22-year-old former resident sued Cross Creek Manor alleging slavery, involuntary servitude, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy...

      Lawsuit August 2013

      In August 2013 a 22-year-old former resident sued Cross Creek Manor alleging slavery, involuntary servitude, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, fraud and breach of contract.

      source

Lawsuits

  • Wood, et al. v. World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, Inc., et al. Unknown | Fifth Judicial District Court, Washington County, Utah | 120500380 Names this facility

    William Chase Wood and several hundred other former students and their parents sued the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), founder Robert Lichfield, his business partners and dozens of affiliated programs, marketing and billing companies in Utah's Fifth Judicial District Court in Washington County. The document on file is the plaintiffs' 228-page first amended complaint, submitted July 24, 2013, which refers to claim sheets filed in the case on December 17, 2012 in opposition to a WWASPS motion to dismiss. It alleges that students placed at WWASPS programs in Utah, other states, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Samoa and the Czech Republic from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s were beaten, restrained, locked in isolation and small boxes or cages, denied food and medical care, sexually abused and forced to work without pay. It alleges the programs operated as a single enterprise that deceived parents and concealed the abuse, and brings negligence, fraud, contract, conspiracy and emotional distress claims. The document does not show how the case ended.

Every case in the lawsuit directory

Incidents on record

  1. 1999 Abuse

    A survivor alleged a therapist told her during a group exercise that her grandfather had died, which was untrue, to traumatize her.source

  2. 1999 Restraint

    A survivor reported seeing girls physically taken down by staff and put in locked 12 ft. isolation (ISO) rooms for days, weeks or months, and others with broken noses and dislocated shoulders, in 1998-1999.source

  3. August 25, 2006 Lawsuit

    The Wood family filed an August 25, 2006 lawsuit against Cross Creek Manor and the World Wide Association of Specialty Schools Programs (WWASP), assisted by advocates Isabelle Zehnder of CAICA and Sue Scheff of PURE.source

  4. August 2013 Lawsuit

    In August 2013 a 22-year-old former resident sued Cross Creek Manor alleging slavery, involuntary servitude, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, fraud and breach of contract.source

  5. Abuse

    According to WWASP Survivors, administrator Ron Garrett ordered restraints and food and sleep deprivation and kept students in isolation for more than 6 months at a time.source

News coverage

  • Refinery29 Jun 29, 2021 Expose

    An Examination of Allegations and Practices Within the Troubled Teen Industry

    Multiple survivors have come forward with allegations of emotional, physical, and psychological abuse within various residential treatment facilities and behavioral modification programs. Former residents report practices including involuntary transport, isolation, forced labor, and peer-to-peer shaming sessions, prompting increased public scrutiny of the troubled teen industry.

  • Los Angeles Times Jul 13, 2003 Corporate

    Key to His Schools’ Success? It’s God, Founder Says

    This 2003 article examines Robert Browning Lichfield and his involvement in the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) network. It details allegations of severe disciplinary practices, regulatory investigations, and lawsuits while highlighting Lichfield's financial and political influence.

  • The Salt Lake Tribune May 25, 2003 Corporate

    Overview of World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools Amid Costa Rica Facility Closure archived copy

    Following the arrest of director Narvin Lichfield and an exodus of students prompted by Costa Rican officials, the Academy at Dundee Ranch faced closure. The facility was part of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools network, which faced various allegations including false imprisonment, misrepresentation, and physical restraint.

  • Seen 'n Heard Jan 1, 2000 General

    Seen 'n Heard - Jan, 2000 Issue (page 3)

    The issue provides brief news items about several residential programs, noting a lawsuit by former employees of Cross Creek Manor, the announced closure of Royal Haven, and various program activities such as presentations, graduations, and service expansions. It reports on updates from multiple facilities without detailing individual incidents.

  • Woodbury Reports Apr 1, 1992 General

    Seen 'n Heard, 4/1992

    This newsletter issue provides brief industry updates regarding various residential schools and emotional growth programs, including staff appointments, insurance funding strategies, and upcoming program activities. Mentioned facilities include Elan School, Cascade School, Glenholme School, Cross Creek Manor, Amity School, and Mt. Bachelor Academy.

Staff

Administration

Notable staff

Connections on the network map

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Ownership

Documents

Documents on file (1)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (1)

Materials and links

Materials the project holds for this facility. Ask through the correction form to see any of them.

Manuals and handbooks

  • Parent manual

Other documentation

  • Archived website

Advertising and marketing listings

Other links

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