Facility profile Utah

Falcon Ridge Ranch

Open Virgin, Utah

Falcon Ridge Ranch is a residential treatment center in Virgin, Utah, operated by Rite of Passage, Inc. It has operated since 2003.

About Falcon Ridge Ranch

It was run by Centers for Adolescent Recovery and Education (CARE).source Sequel Youth & Family Services owned Falcon Ridge Ranch from August 2016 until October 2021, when Rite of Passage took it over; Utah licensed it to Care Youth Corporation, doing business as Rite of Passage, from January 31, 2022.source 1, source 2, source 3

Staff trained in Positive Peer Culture (PPC) by Larry Brendtro, an early pioneer of the approach.source Positive Peer Culture (PPC) conflict-resolution approach combined with Equine Therapy.source It was described as an equine program; 47 horses on 12 acres.source Its address was 633 UT-9, Virgin, UT 84779.source It was described as a confrontation "therapy" (positive peer culture).source It was a sister facility: Red Rock Canyon School.source

It was accredited by Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.source It was licensed by the state.source It was a member of NATSAP member from 2008, apparently no longer.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.

20032016201720192020202120032021

  1. 2003

    1. Opened

      Opened in Virgin, Utah

  2. 2016

    1. Ownership

      Sequel Youth and Family Services began running it

      It ran the program until 2021.

  3. 2017

    1. OwnershipSeptember 1, 2017

      Sequel TSI: Sold a majority stake to Altamont Capital Partners

      Sequel Youth and Family Services ran Falcon Ridge Ranch at the time.

      Sequel TSI: Sold a majority stake to Altamont Capital Partners September 1, 2017

      Altamont Capital Partners announced a majority equity investment in Sequel through a holding company, SYFS Parent; terms were not disclosed. At the time Sequel ran 44 programs in 19 states, and APM Reports counted 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. CEO John Stupak stayed on and co-founder Jay Ripley remained board chairman. Altamont's portfolio page lists the investment as active and says SYFS Parent later acquired Rebecca & Aaron Schools (2017) and Pine Cone Therapies (2020).

      source 1, source 2, source 3

  4. 2019

    1. IncidentApril 3, 2019

      Restraint

      A survivor told HEAL by e-mail on April 3, 2019 that the then residential director twisted the survivor's arm behind the back to inflict pain as a restraint.

      Restraint April 3, 2019

      source

  5. 2020

    1. OwnershipJuly 2020

      Rite of Passage, Inc.: Took over all four of Arkansas's youth lockups under a $70 million contract

      Rite of Passage, Inc ran Falcon Ridge Ranch at the time.

      Rite of Passage, Inc.: Took over all four of Arkansas's youth lockups under a $70 million contract July 2020

      Rite of Passage took control of the state youth facilities at Dermott, Harrisburg and Mansfield from Youth Opportunity Investments LLC, adding them to the Arkansas Juvenile Assessment and Treatment Center near Alexander that it already ran. Its contract was worth more than $70 million, ran to 2023 and guaranteed pay for 194 beds.

      source 1, source 2

    2. Incident

      Sexual abuse

      In 2020 Utah regulators were contacted about reports that a female staff member slapped the buttocks of multiple residents and showed them a photo of her...

      Sexual abuse

      In 2020 Utah regulators were contacted about reports that a female staff member slapped the buttocks of multiple residents and showed them a photo of her husband's genitals; she was fired and the program received no regulatory action.

      source

  6. 2021

    1. Ownership

      Vivant Behavioral Health: Founded by Sequel co-founder Jay Ripley and bought most of Sequel's remaining centers

      Sequel Youth and Family Services ran Falcon Ridge Ranch at the time.

      Vivant Behavioral Health: Founded by Sequel co-founder Jay Ripley and bought most of Sequel's remaining centers

      Jay Ripley, one of Sequel's three founders, founded Vivant Behavioral Healthcare in 2021. Sequel sold most of its centers that had not closed to Vivant, which now controls most former Sequel treatment centers still open.

      source 1, source 2

    2. Ownership

      Rite of Passage, Inc took it over from Sequel Youth and Family Services (see the deal above)

    3. In the newsMarch 11, 2021

      Charges: Staff member at Utah behavioral center showed pictures of naked husband to minors

      Covered by 3 outlets: KUTV, St. George Spectrum & Daily News and The Salt Lake Tribune.

      Charges: Staff member at Utah behavioral center showed pictures of naked husband to minors March 11, 2021

      A staff member at Falcon Ridge Ranch Academy in Utah was arrested and charged with felonies for dealing in materials harmful to minors and misdemeanors for sexual battery. Prosecutors allege she showed explicit photographs of her husband to minors under her care and touched their buttocks.

Lawsuits

  • Falcon Ridge Ranch, Inc., et al. v. Sequel Youth Services of Red Rock Canyon, LLC, et al. Filed | Fifth Judicial District Court in and for Washington County, State of Utah | 200500204

    Outcome: In the underlying AAA arbitration (No. 01-17-0005-9666), the arbitrator issued an Interim Award on March 2, 2020, and a Final Award on May 1, 2020, denying the Sequel buyers' claims, granting the sellers' counterclaim (a contingent payment of at least $3,118,445), and awarding the sellers $1,300,000 in fees and costs. The sellers filed this amended petition on May 11, 2020, asking the court to confirm the awards; the documents do not show the court's ruling.

    Frank Habibian and the companies that sold Falcon Ridge Ranch, Red Rock Canyon School, Lava Heights Academy and Mount Pleasant Academy (the CARE Schools) to Sequel Youth Services in August 2016 asked a Utah state court in Washington County to confirm an arbitration award against the Sequel buyers; the amended petition is dated May 11, 2020. In the arbitration, Sequel sought indemnity for a June 2017 settlement of about $2.58 million it paid the United States and Nevada after self-reporting that the schools had paid referral fees for students covered by Nevada Medicaid. The arbitrator dismissed that claim because Sequel settled without notifying the sellers, found the sellers had been ignorant of the law rather than fraudulent, and ruled that Sequel breached the purchase agreement in how it ran the schools after the sale. This is a business dispute between a program's sellers and buyers, not an abuse case, but it documents the referral-fee practice and the Medicaid settlement. The documents do not show whether the court confirmed the award.

Every case in the lawsuit directory

Federal funding

Federal money this program received, as government records, congressional reports and news coverage show it.

Medicaid

  • 2026: Listed by Montana's Medicaid program among the out-of-state psychiatric residential treatment facilities it pays for, in April 2026. source

Incidents on record

  1. April 3, 2019 Restraint

    A survivor told HEAL by e-mail on April 3, 2019 that the then residential director twisted the survivor's arm behind the back to inflict pain as a restraint.source

  2. 2020 Sexual abuse

    In 2020 Utah regulators were contacted about reports that a female staff member slapped the buttocks of multiple residents and showed them a photo of her husband's genitals; she was fired and the program received no regulatory action.source

  3. Abuse

    Survivors report physical abuse, sexual assault, forced manual labor and medical neglect.source

News coverage

Staff

Administration

Notable staff

Rules and practices

Practices

  • Restraint
  • Behavior contracts

Licensing and inspections

Licensed as
Care Youth Corporation - Falcon Ridge Ranch dba Rite Of Passage Inc/Falcon Ridge Ranch
License category
Residential Treatment
Licensed capacity
35
License expires
01/31/2027
Licensing action
Licensed
Phone on file
4356355260
Licensed address
750 East Sr 9, Virgin, UT, 84779

42 inspection reports on file. Search all Utah reports

The newest 25 reports, by date: 20 findings in 11 reports
  1. Sep 14, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  2. Sep 9, 2026 3rd Unannounced
  3. Aug 11, 2026 Non On-Site Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, non on-site inspection : R380-600-7(16)(a)-(e) Critical incidents reporting requirements

      The Provider was out of compliance with R380-600-7(16)(a) by not reporting a critical incident to the Office within one business day. During review of critical incidents it was identified that the incident occurred on 7/29/2026 and was not reported until 8/3/2026. This is a repeat noncompliance.

  4. Jul 16, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  5. May 27, 2026 2nd Unannounced
  6. Mar 11, 2026 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  7. Dec 10, 2025 Complaint, Investigation Inspection (3 findings)
    3 findings

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R380-80-5(10) Services and supervision to meet each clients needs

      The provider was out of compliance with R380-80-5(10) by not providing supervision based off a client's behavior and history. During the inspection several clients with a history of unsafe behaviors were able to punch a peers and run away from the program. This is a repeat rule noncompliance as noted on 12/3/2024.

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R380-600-7(16)(a)-(e) Critical incidents reporting requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with R380-600-7(16)(a) by not reporting a critical incident within a business day. During the inspection a client was in an unauthorized use of restrictive intervention and this was not reported to Licensing within one business day. This is a repeat noncompliance as noted on 03/22/2024, 12/03/2024, and 05/27/2025, and 9/16/2025

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R501-1-4(5)(a)-(l) Congregate care behavior management policy

      The provider was out of compliance with R501-1-4(5)(a) by having a staff member not use the least restrictive method of behavior management to control a situation by restraining a client who did not pose an immediate threat to self, others, or property. During the inspection a client was laying on the ground and did not pose an immediate threat. Staff placed the client in a restraint and took her to her room.

  8. Nov 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection (2 findings)
    2 findings

    • Out of compliance, announced, annual inspection : R501-14-5(2)(a)-(b) Application submitted within 2 weeks and applicant directly supervised

      The licensee was out of compliance for R501-1-14-5(2)(ii) for not having documentation of how staff having a supervision required determination in the DACS system remain supervised for the entirety of the applicant's supervised employment term before receiving a clearance determination.

    • Out of compliance, announced, annual inspection : R501-1-8(3) Medication and hazardous items maintenance and storage

      The licensee was out of compliance with R501-1-8(3) by not storing potentially hazardous items on-site with consideration of the safety and risk level of the population served to include locked storage for potentially hazardous chemicals not in active use.

  9. Sep 24, 2025 3rd Unannounced
  10. Sep 16, 2025 Investigation Inspection (2 findings)
    2 findings

    • Out of compliance, investigation inspection : R380-600-7(16)(a)-(e) Critical incidents reporting requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with R380-600-7(16)(b) by not ensuring any allegation of an incident of abuse of a client was reported to the Division of Child and Family Services and law enforcement. During the investigation inspection, the evidence substantiated that a client submitted a written statement to the provider on August 22, 2025 alleging they were sexually abused by another client. The provider did not report this allegation to Child Protective Services and law enforcement as required by law.

    • Out of compliance, investigation inspection : R380-600-7(16)(a)-(e) Critical incidents reporting requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with R380-600-7(16)(a) by not submitting a critical incident report to the Office of Licensing within one business day. During the investigation inspection, a client made an allegation of client on client sexual abuse. The provider was made aware of the allegation on August 22, 2025 and did not report this critical incident to the Office of Licensing until prompted by an OL representative. This is a repeat noncompliance previously cited on 03/22/2024, 12/03/2024, and 05/27/2025.

  11. Aug 12, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  12. Jun 4, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  13. May 27, 2025 Complaint, Focus Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, complaint, focus inspection : R380-600-7(16)(a)-(e) Critical incidents reporting requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with R380-600-7(16)(a) by not reporting a critical incident to Licensing within one business day. During the inspection an unjustified restraint was conducted and not reported to licensing. This is a repeat noncompliance as noted on 12/3/2024 and 3/22/2024.

  14. Mar 26, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  15. Mar 25, 2025 Follow-Up Inspection, Non On-Site Inspection
  16. Mar 9, 2025 Follow-Up Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, follow-up inspection : R501-1-8(3) Medication and hazardous items maintenance and storage

      The licensee was out of compliance with R501-1-8(3) by not maintaining potentially hazardous items on-site safety when not in use. During a follow-up inspection, the investigator observed that a closet used to store cleaning chemicals was left unlocked when chemicals were not in active use.

  17. Feb 25, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, unannounced, annual inspection : R501-1-8(1)(a)-(i) Facility and safety requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with R501-1-8(1) by not having working bathroom vents in two of the client bathrooms and having an unorganized client bedroom that had a missing mattress from the bedframe. During the inspection the licensor saw two client bathroom vents that were not working and an unorganized bedroom that had a missing mattress from the bedframe. This is a repeat noncompliance.

  18. Jan 30, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  19. Jan 6, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  20. Dec 23, 2024 Non On-Site Inspection
  21. Dec 3, 2024 Complaint, Investigation Inspection (6 findings)
    6 findings

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R501-19-3(3)(a)-(j) Supervision and ratio requirements

      The provider was out of compliance by not maintaining a staff-to-client ratio of one staff to every four clients. During an investigation, provider documentation verified that on Sunday, November 10, 2024 the provider was not compliant with the required staff to student ratio for multiple hours that day.

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R380-80-5(10) Services and supervision to meet each clients needs

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by not providing supervision commensurate with the behaviors of each client. During an inspection, multiple interviews disclosed and facility video coverage recorded a client with a history of impulsive behaviors was not adequately supervised while in possession of hazardous chemicals. This is a repeat citation.

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R380-600-7(16)(a)-(d) Critical incidents reporting requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by not reporting a critical incident to the Office of Licensing within one business day. During a complaint investigation inspection, the complaint being reviewed was identified as a critical incident that was not reported to the Office of Licensing by the provider. This is a repeat citation.

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R380-80-5(4) Provider shall protect clients from abuse, prevent abuse

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by compromising the health and safety of clients and failing to protect clients from harm. During the investigation inspection, a staff member provided a client with chemicals to clean a water bottle and two additional staff failed to supervise clients using cleaning chemicals. A client intentionally added chemicals to another client’s water bottle with the intent to harm them. A third client drank from the water bottle and reported their stomach hurt. This is a repeat citation.

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R380-80-4(2) Report abuse or neglect

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by not immediately reporting allegations of child abuse to Child Protective Services intake or law enforcement. During a complaint investigation inspection, the information gathered supported that an alleged child abuse incident occurred on 11/10/2024 and the provider reported the allegations to Child Protective Services on 11/15/2024.

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R501-14-5(2)(a)-(f) Submitting application for an initial background screening

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by allowing a staff member without a conditional or eligible background clearance to work without being directly supervised. During an investigation, facility video coverage recorded a staff member who required direct supervision and was not being directly supervised.

  22. Nov 12, 2024 Announced, Annual Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, announced, annual inspection : R501-1-16(1)(a)-(u) Pre-service training requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by not having current Provider Code of Conduct or documentation of training for staff response to client leaving program without permission in staff files within 30 days of hire. During staff file review the licensor observed that the Provider Code of Conduct was not the current form and there was no documentation of training for staff response to client leaving the program without permission.

  23. Nov 7, 2024 Complaint, Investigation Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, complaint, investigation inspection : R501-19-3(3)(a)-(j) Supervision and ratio requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by not maintaining the required staff-to-client one to four client ratio. During the inspection the information gathered from interviews and provider documentation substantiated that staff did not provide clients with required staff to client ratio mandated for client safety during an outing on 10/26/2024. This is a repeat citation.

  24. Sep 18, 2024 2nd Unannounced (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, 2nd unannounced : R501-1-13(5)(a)-(b) Private placement reporting

      The provider was out of compliance with this rule by not reporting private placements to the Office by the fifth business day of the month for August and September 2024. During the inspection the licensor verified through QuickSight reporting that the provider had not reported private placements to the office by the fifth business day of the month for August and September 2024. This is a repeat non compliance.

  25. Jul 31, 2024 Investigation Inspection

Connections on the network map

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

Acquisitions

  • Rite of Passage, Inc Acquired this program (acquired (2021))

Ownership

  • Sequel Youth and Family Services operated 2016-2021

Documents

Documents on file (17)
Falcon Ridge Ranch Academy (1)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (10)

From the Unsilenced archive

79 documents about Falcon Ridge Ranch that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their folders: Care Youth Corporation - Falcon Ridge Ranch dba Rite Of Passage Inc-Falcon Ridge Ranch, Falcon Ridge Ranch.

Documents (79)

From SCIAD NET

2 documents about Falcon Ridge Ranch that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps them on Google Drive, where they open.

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.

Licensing and inspection reports

News coverage

Survivor posts and discussion

Reference and research

1 of these from SCIAD NET.

Archived pages

Other links

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