Facility profile Idaho

Project PATCH

Open Garden Valley, Idaho

Project PATCH is a christian residential treatment center in Garden Valley, Idaho. It has operated since 1984.

About Project PATCH

It was founded by Tom and Bonnie Sanford.source

Stays lasted 6 months for males, 12 months for females.source Began as a referral and foster placement program; nearly 1,800 referrals and just under 400 placements 1984-1993.source It was endorsed by Dr. Phil.source Reportedly affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church.source Residential program opened on 116 acres gifted in 1989.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.

19842009201019842010

  1. 1984

    1. Opened

      Opened in Garden Valley, Idaho

  2. 2009

    1. IncidentDecember 2009

      Arrest

      In December 2009 former supervisor Ryan VanHook, 33, was arrested on charges of lewd conduct with a 16-year-old resident and for helping her run away and stay at his home.

      Arrest December 2009

      source

  3. 2010

    1. IncidentApril 2010

      Criminal charge

      In April 2010 former Project Patch supervisor Ryan VanHook was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

      Criminal charge April 2010

      source

Incidents on record

  1. December 2009 Arrest

    In December 2009 former supervisor Ryan VanHook, 33, was arrested on charges of lewd conduct with a 16-year-old resident and for helping her run away and stay at his home.source

  2. April 2010 Criminal charge

    In April 2010 former Project Patch supervisor Ryan VanHook was sentenced to 20 years in prison.source

  3. Abuse

    Survivors report a punishment called Phase in which teens are kept in the wilderness for 7 to 40 days doing hiking or forced manual labor, forbidden to sleep in more than underwear and allowed no books but the Bible.source

  4. Abuse

    Survivors report excessive solitary confinement, forced manual labor, violent restraints, communication restrictions, food deprivation, sexual abuse, deceptive marketing and emotional abuse at Project Patch.source

  5. Abuse

    Work Crew punishment strips all privileges and requires all-day manual labor for a minimum of 7 days; residents deemed resistant may be placed in a Safety/Quiet Room.source

Videos

endorsed Watch on Vimeo
Link to 'Coming Out Gay at 'Project Patch' ~ with Coleman McNear' Watch on YouTube
1 of 2

Staff

Notable staff

  • Tom and Bonnie Sanford

    Staff (1984, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  • Chuck Hagele

    CEOsource

  • Winfred Scott

    Clinical Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Child Protection Department staff, before 2025

  • Stephanie Ross

    Executive Directorsource

  • Bonnie Sanford

    Staff (1984, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  • Ryan VanHook

    Supervisor (2009, r/troubledteens wiki)source

Licensing and inspections

Program
CRL-2131
License category
Children's Residential Care Facility
Licensed capacity
40
Relicensing visit
2025-09-24
Licensing action
1-Year license
Phone on file
208-462-0077
Licensed address
25 Miracle Ln, Garden Valley, ID 83622

4 inspection reports on file. Search all Idaho reports

Every report, by date: 4 findings in 2 reports
  1. Sep 24, 2025 1 deficiency: 16.04.18.009.01 Open report
    1 finding

    • 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 Idaho State Police Checks were not completed for two transferred background checks.

  2. Sep 24, 2024 No deficiencies Open report
  3. Sep 21, 2023 No deficiencies Open report
  4. Jul 14, 2022 3 deficiencies (1 repeat): 16.06.02.563.01, 16.06.02.563.02, 16.06.02.581.03 Open report
    3 findings

    • Deficiency cited : 16.06.02.563.01 SERVICE PLANS.01.Initial Service Plan. The initial service plan must be developed and recorded in the child's record within thirty (30) days ...

      In a review of child records, child #2 did not have an initial service plan completed.

    • Deficiency cited, repeat deficiency : 16.06.02.563.02 SERVICE PLANS.02.Updated Service Plan. A service plan must be updated every ninety (90) days and must:

      In a review of child records, updated service plans were not completed in a timely manner. Child #1 had an updated service plan that was late by 20 days. Child #2 had an updated service plan that was late by 30 days. This is a repeat deficiency.

    • Deficiency cited : 16.06.02.581.03 PERSONAL POSSESSIONS, ALLOWANCE, AND MONEY POLICY.03.Signature Required. The organization must obtain the signature of the parent, guardian or ...

      In a review of child records, child #2 did not have a signature on their initial inventory.

Documents

From the Unsilenced archive

9 documents about Project PATCH that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Project Patch.

Wiki entries

Materials and links

Survivor posts and discussion

Reference and research

1 of these from SCIAD NET.

Other links

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