Facility profile Oregon

NorthStar Center

Closed Bend, Oregon

NorthStar Center was a substance abuse treatment in Bend, Oregon. It operated from 1991 to 2011.

About NorthStar Center

It was run by Aspen Education Group / CRC Health.source

One of five Aspen Education Group centers in three states set for closure in 2011.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.

  1. 1991

    1. Opened

      Opened in Bend, Oregon

  2. 2011

    1. Closed

      Closed

    2. ClosedMarch 24, 2011

      Aspen Education Group: Closed five programs and consolidated three more

      Aspen Education Group: Closed five programs and consolidated three more March 24, 2011

      Aspen announced it would close Bromley Brook School (VT), New Leaf Academy of Oregon, NorthStar Center (Bend, OR), Aspen Ranch (Loa, UT) and SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center (St. George, UT). Aspen Achievement Academy was combined with Outback Therapeutic Expeditions, Youth Care moved to the Island View campus, and Passages to Recovery moved to Idaho. Aspen cited reduced demand in the economy.

      source

News coverage

  • Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) Mar 26, 2011 Closure

    Aspen Education Group Discontinues Operations at Five Facilities

    Aspen Education Group announced the consolidation and closure of five therapeutic programs, attributing the decision to declining economic demand. Commentary and historical context note that these closures followed congressional hearings regarding institutional abuse and prior program shutdowns linked to critical incidents, including a death by homicide at a related wilderness camp.

  • The Bulletin Nov 4, 2009 Closure

    School poses a threat to children, say investigators

    State investigators ordered the emergency suspension of Mount Bachelor Academy in Oregon after confirming multiple violations of state rules and allegations of child abuse and neglect, including sleep deprivation, forced manual labor, and inappropriate therapy workshops. The facility was cited for failing to maintain a safe environment and lacking adequate mental health professionals. Separately, an affiliated wilderness program faced scrutiny following a student's death.

  • The Bend Bulletin Mar 15, 2009 Closure

    The story behind Mount Bachelor Academy’s closure

    Mount Bachelor Academy closed permanently following an investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services that resulted in nine confirmed allegations of abuse and neglect. The private therapeutic boarding school, operated by Aspen Education Group and CRC Health, faced state licensing suspension over punitive and humiliating practices before parent companies announced the facility would not reopen.

  • Woodbury Reports Aug 1, 1993 General

    BEND, OREGON PROGRAMS VISIT

    A 1993 promotional report details visits to four adolescent and young adult residential programs in Bend, Oregon: Northstar Center, Mount Bachelor Academy, TREX, INC., and J-BAR-J Ranch. The overview describes program structures, including independent living preparation, wilderness assessment components, and behavioral level systems utilized across the facilities.

Staff

Administration

  • Dennis Crowell

    Former Founder (2006)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Sean Fievet

    Former Executive Director (2007-2008)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Cascade Crest Transitions Founder, 2011

  • Scott Fitzwater

    Former Program Director (2007)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • SageWalk, the Wilderness School Program Director, before 2007
    • Mansfield Hall Admissions Director
    • SageWalk Wilderness Former Therapist (2003)

  • Jane Stewart

    Former Program Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Steve Oliver

    Former Program Directorsource

Notable staff

  • Chesley Strowd

    Former Admissions Director (2008)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Tina Linden-Levy

    Former Academic Director (2007)source

  • Alice Huskey

    Former Academic Director (2007)source

  • Brian J. Bulemore

    Former Clinical Director (2006-2020, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Denise Dryden

    Former Admissionssource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Jeannie Crowell

    Former Staff (1991, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • College Excel Executive Director of Marketing, 2003-2009
    • Mount Bachelor Academy Dean of Academics, before 1991

  • Robbi O'Kelley

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Adam Becker

    Former Residentialsource

  • Anne Rumley

    Former Residentialsource

  • Ben Bergantz

    Former Residentialsource

  • Bob Myers

    Former Operations Directorsource

  • Brad Hunter

    Former Residentialsource

  • Charlie Hively

    Former Residentialsource

  • Crystal Coyle

    Former Residentialsource

  • David Rodriguez

    Former Facilities Mgr.source

  • Gemma Biancucci

    Former Therapistsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Gianna King

    Former Residentialsource

  • Gregg Andrick

    Former Case Mgr.source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Gretchen Hingley

    Former Case Mgr.source

  • James Simmons

    Former Case Mgr.source

  • Jane Samuel

    Former Founding staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Pathway of Madison County Independent Educational Consultant Liaison, 2006
    • Auldern Academy Head of School, Headmistress, Executive Director, 2006-2010
    • New Leaf Academy at Rock Mesa Head Mistress, before 2013
    • Lake House Academy Admission Director and Parent Coach, 2013
    • Mt. Bachelor Academy First Admissions Director, Admissions Director
    • New Leaf Academy Helped establish second campus
    • Three Springs Inc. IEC Liaison for Three Springs (2006)

  • Jason "Jake" Weld

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Jennifer Hall

    Former Residentialsource

  • Jensine Lirette

    Former Academic Advisorsource

  • Joe Balsamo

    Former Case Mgr.source

  • Kathi Denfeld

    Former Residentialsource

  • Kevin Collins

    Former Residentialsource

  • Laurie Wilmot

    Former Therapistsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Lindsey Hurvitz

    Former Residentialsource

  • Lisa Velasquez

    Former Admissionssource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Lonna Stutler

    Former Clinical Records Asst.source

  • Marcus Biancucci

    Former Therapistsource

  • Pam Price

    Former Case Mgr.source

  • Paul Kostka

    Former Bookkeepingsource

  • Ramona "Mona" Berman

    Former Counselorsource

  • Sandy Seeley

    Former Therapistsource

  • Scott Cunningham

    Former Residentialsource

  • Sharon Hunt

    Former Academic Asst.source

  • Steve Denfeld

    Former Residentialsource

  • Steve Lawson

    Former Residentialsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Susie Neubauer

    Former Academic Advisorsource

  • Taylor Bachman

    Former Residentialsource

  • Troy Prine

    Former Admin. Asst.source

  • Vic Heshler

    Former Residentialsource

Connections on the network map

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

Names

Documents

Documents on file (7)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (6)

From the Unsilenced archive

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

Wiki entries

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