Facility profile Montana

Monarch School

Closed Heron, Montana

Monarch School was a therapeutic boarding school in Heron, Montana. It operated from 2000 to 2017.

About Monarch School

It was run by Patrick McKenna, Michelle McKenna and Dawn Bristol.source

It was located in Heron, MT.source It issued a press release stating the Monarch School (Heron, MT) is not affiliated with the Monarch Family Healing Center or any other program, school or organization.source It launched Monarch Transitions, a support program for graduates transitioning to independent living.source Monarch Alumni Association Fund established under Friends of Families with Children in Crisis Foundation.source It celebrated 7th year of operation; grew from small in-house program to full campus with staff housing.source It had a new drama center nearing completion; Equestrian Program moving on campus with five horses (two more the following year) and an indoor arena.source

It had a new lodge nearly complete; moving day set for February 6, 2006.source Its address was 16 Aspen Ln, Heron, MT 59844.source It cost about $4,000 per month (2001).source It cost $30,800 per student per semester.source Cost: initial psychological service costs $875 to $1,250; family services $125/hr, minimum two hours per month, plus tuition and fees.source HEAL says it appears to accept court-ordered youth; applicants are asked to have been through a wilderness program.source

It was a member of NATSAP since 2012.source Not licensed as a medical facility; HEAL says it is not a school under the Montana Office of Public Instruction.source

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.

200020172018201920002019

  1. 2000

    1. Opened

      Opened in Heron, Montana

  2. 2017

    1. IncidentSeptember 2017

      Incident

      Court records alleged that after the closure Patrick McKenna shifted school-owned vehicles to his own assets.

      Incident September 2017

      source

    2. IncidentOctober 2017

      Lawsuit

      Parents sued Monarch School and its owners in October 2017 alleging malpractice, breach of contract and fraud, and that owners used the school as a personal piggy bank.

      Lawsuit October 2017

      source

    3. Closed

      Closed

  3. 2018

    1. IncidentJuly 2018

      Lawsuit

      In July 2018 Monarch and its operators agreed to a $925,000 settlement with parents who sued after the abrupt closure.

      Lawsuit July 2018

      source

    2. IncidentSeptember 19, 2018

      Lawsuit

      A September 19, 2018 Missoulian article reported the school would pay families nearly $1 million.

      Lawsuit September 19, 2018

      source

  4. 2019

    1. Essential reportingJanuary 23, 2019

      12 years, 58 complaints, no sanctions at Montana residential programs

      Missoulian: The Missoulian found 58 complaints in 12 years against Montana's private youth programs and no sanctions from a board made up mostly of industry representatives.

      12 years, 58 complaints, no sanctions at Montana residential programs January 23, 2019

      Over a 12-year period, private residential programs for youth in Montana accumulated 58 complaints without facing any significant sanctions from the state regulatory board.

      Read the article

Incidents on record

  1. September 2017 Incident

    Court records alleged that after the closure Patrick McKenna shifted school-owned vehicles to his own assets.source

  2. October 2017 Lawsuit

    Parents sued Monarch School and its owners in October 2017 alleging malpractice, breach of contract and fraud, and that owners used the school as a personal piggy bank.source

  3. Abuse

    HEAL received over 15 emails and calls alleging abuse and violations at the school.source

  4. Restraint

    The enrollment contract authorizes staff to use reasonable force to restrain, control and detain students; HEAL objects to this.source

  5. Runaway

    The enrollment contract has parents accept financial responsibility for runaway services at $100 per hour for up to five hours.source

  6. July 2018 Lawsuit

    In July 2018 Monarch and its operators agreed to a $925,000 settlement with parents who sued after the abrupt closure.source

  7. September 19, 2018 Lawsuit

    A September 19, 2018 Missoulian article reported the school would pay families nearly $1 million.source

News coverage

  • Missoulian Jan 23, 2019 Expose

    12 years, 58 complaints, no sanctions at Montana residential programs

    Essential reporting

    The Missoulian found 58 complaints in 12 years against Montana's private youth programs and no sanctions from a board made up mostly of industry representatives.

    Over a 12-year period, private residential programs for youth in Montana accumulated 58 complaints without facing any significant sanctions from the state regulatory board. The oversight body, primarily composed of industry representatives, maintained closed records and dismissed complaints regarding uncertified staff, facility safety violations, and operational noncompliance.

  • Missoulian Jan 25, 2019 Expose

    Former Montana Residential Program Students Report Isolation and Punitive Practices

    Former students of various private residential programs in Montana detailed institutional practices such as prolonged social isolation, physical exertion punishments, and behavioral restriction levels. Documentation and interviews also revealed instances of physical restraint, restrictive dietary measures, and allegations of forced peer physical contact overseen by facility staff.

Staff

Administration

  • Patrick McKenna

    Former Founder (2008-2009)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Monarch Transitions Founder, 2013

  • Ron Mendenhall

    Former President (2010)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Focus Point Program Staff, 2012

  • Dawn Bristol

    Former Owner/operatorsource

  • Jim Rogers

    Former Program Directorsource

  • Michelle McKenna

    Former Owner/operatorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Monarch Transitions Founder

  • Timothy Earle

    Former Program Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

Notable staff

  • Chris Laviola

    Former Clinical Director (2009)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Lori Armbruster

    Former Admissions, Marketing Chair (2006-2008)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Lynn Marshall

    Former Admissions Coordinator (2009)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Mark Cheslic

    Former Woodshop Teacher (2011)source

  • Marney Sullivan

    Former Admissions Director (2011)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Ranel Hanson

    Former Admissions (2006)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Focus Point Program Staff, 2012

  • Sarah Fausett

    Former Admissions Coordinator (2009)source

  • Tracey Sutton

    Former Admissions Director (2009)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital Clinical Director (acting), Acting Clinical Director, before 2009

  • Stacy Jenkins

    Former Counselor and life skills instructor (before 2008)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Tis A Good Life Staff, 2008
    • Sandpoint Waldorf School Class teacher, before 2008

  • Ben Edstrom

    Former Drumming Teacher (2011)source

  • Steven Rookey

    Former Peer group leader and senior life skills manager (before 2011)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Elissa Rookey

    Former Life skills instructor and college counselor (before 2011)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Ventures in Peace Owner, Owner and Director, Co-Director and Founder, 2009-2011

  • Chris Johnstoneaux

    Former Therapist (2014, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Curtis Foster

    Former Life Skills Manager, Peer Group Leadersource

  • Cyndi Gerstenberger

    Former Registered Nurse, Nurse (2011, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • David Barth

    Former Life Skills Manager and Primary Therapist, Life Skills Manager (2004-2018, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Pacific Crest Outward Bound School Staff
    • Echo Springs Transition Study Clinical Advisor
    • Clearview Horizon Staff

  • Erik Yost

    Former Peer Leadersource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Jeremiah Guidos

    Former Therapistsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Sarah Loseman

    Former Life Skills Manager, Peer Group Leadersource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Adam Stamper

    Former Farm Managersource

  • Alysoun Regier Johnston

    Former Teachersource

  • Amanda Obery

    Former Teachersource

  • Angie Roberts

    Former Instructorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Anna Boshka

    Former Planningsource

  • Brian Grosenbaugh

    Former Teachersource

  • Brian Hartman

    Former Night Staffsource

  • Bruce Bishop

    Former Teachersource

  • Chad Palmer

    Former Maintenancesource

  • Cheryl Johnson

    Former Cooksource

  • Chuck Kilpatrick

    Former Outdoor Managersource

  • Darlyne Syth

    Former Cooksource

  • Doug Dana

    Former Teachersource

  • Ella Caldwell

    Former Life Skills Instructorsource

  • Erica Nizzoli

    Former Teachersource

  • Erin Nugent

    Former Peer Leadersource

  • Evan Gray

    Former Outdoor Asst.source

  • Jamie Jones

    Former Academic Directorsource

  • Jason Jacobs

    Former Head Chefsource

  • Jason Newcomb

    Former Peer Leadersource

  • Josh Jones

    Former Carpentersource

  • Josie Platt

    Former Night Staffsource

  • Julie Pitre

    Former Peer Leadersource

  • Justin Carnecchia

    Former Chefsource

  • Kally Thurman

    Former Teachersource

  • Katherine Regier

    Former Teachersource

  • Katheryne Montgomery

    Former Mail Clerksource

  • Katsunori Hanaoka

    Former Teachersource

  • Keith Ozbun

    Former Night Staffsource

  • Keri Greer

    Former Receptionistsource

  • Leanne Smith

    Former Cooksource

  • Leila Carre-Smith

    Former Teachersource

  • Leslie Handell

    Former Teachersource

  • Lorie Hartman

    Former Academic Coordinatorsource

  • Mac Hollan

    Former Instructorsource

  • Marlene Fausett

    Former Night Staffsource

  • Mary Hanson

    Former Nursesource

  • Meredith Lueck

    Former Teachersource

  • Nancy Carre

    Former Teachersource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • unnamed program in Colorado Co-founder

  • Natty Role

    Former Teachersource

  • Richard (Rick) Reed

    Former Teachersource

  • Scott Richardson

    Former Peer Leadersource

  • Sherry Foster

    Former Clothingsource

  • Solan Wolf

    Former Peer Leadersource

  • Suzi Cochran

    Former Program Coordinatorsource

  • Tamini Allard

    Former Nursesource

  • Tom Gaumont

    Former Teachersource

  • Winston Cook

    Former Teachersource

Connections on the network map

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

Other staff

Ownership

Documents

Documents on file (24)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (18)

From the Unsilenced archive

78 documents about Monarch School that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Monarch School.

Documents (78)

From SCIAD NET

2 documents about Monarch School 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

Survivor posts and discussion

Advertising and marketing listings

Reference and research

3 of these from SCIAD NET.

Other links

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