Facility profile Utah

Uinta Academy

Also known as Uinta Academy RTC, LLC

A program of 3 licensed homes

Open Wellsville, Utah

Uinta Academy is a residential treatment center in Wellsville, Utah, operated by Family Help & Wellness. It has operated since 2003.

About Uinta Academy

It partnered with Family Help & Wellness in 2018; independently owned before.source 1, source 2

It was located in main campus 3746 S 4800 W, Wellsville, UT 84339.source It was located in original campus 1981 S Main St, Lewiston, UT 84320.source Stays lasted 11 to 18 months, typically about 16.source Four-level point-card system.source It operates out of a number of houses near Wellsville.source

It was a member of NATSAP since 2004.source

Homes

The state licenses this program home by home: 3 on record, 3 open, with 39 inspection reports between them. Each has its own page with its licence and reports; their news, lawsuits and serious findings are gathered here too.

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.

200320222023202620032026

  1. 2003

    1. Opened

      Opened in Wellsville, Utah

  2. 2022

    1. IncidentOctober 11, 2022

      Arrest

      A 26-year-old staff member was arrested October 11, 2022 after trying to meet an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl for sex.

      Arrest October 11, 2022

      source

  3. 2023

    1. Incident

      Criminal charge

      The arrested staff member pled guilty to attempted sodomy on a child (first-degree felony) and enticing a minor by internet or text (second-degree felony)...

      Criminal charge

      The arrested staff member pled guilty to attempted sodomy on a child (first-degree felony) and enticing a minor by internet or text (second-degree felony); sentencing was set for May 1, 2023.

      source

    2. IncidentJanuary 2023

      Incident

      Survivors started an online petition calling on the Utah government to close Uinta Academy, citing group punishments, food restriction, discrimination against...

      Incident January 2023

      Survivors started an online petition calling on the Utah government to close Uinta Academy, citing group punishments, food restriction, discrimination against LGBTQ+ residents and excessive physical restraints; it had over 3,200 signatures by January 2023.

      source

  4. 2026

    1. Inspections

      State inspectors recorded a serious finding

      Hospitalisation.

      State inspectors recorded a serious finding

      Mar 5, 2026: During the elopement, the client walked to a convenience store and reported sustaining a leg injury from a fall. The client was eventually supervised by local police and convenience store staff until being transported to a hospital for evaluation, where the...

      Read the findings

    2. Essential reportingJanuary 17, 2026

      Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions

      The Associated Press: The Associated Press found adopted children sent to for-profit treatment programs, where many were restrained, abused or neglected.

      Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions January 17, 2026

      The article investigates the 'troubled teen industry', a network of for-profit residential treatment centers, wilderness programs, and boarding schools, and its impact on adopted children. Many adopted children are sent to these facilities, where they often experience physical restraint, abuse, and neglect.

      Read the article

Serious violations

What state inspectors found and confirmed here, in their own words. Each finding was picked out of the inspection reports and checked by our team before it was listed.

Hospitalisation Inspected Mar 5, 2026

During the elopement, the client walked to a convenience store and reported sustaining a leg injury from a fall. The client was eventually supervised by local police and convenience store staff until being transported to a hospital for evaluation, where the facility eventually resumed custody.

From the UT inspection report. Out of compliance, investigation inspection Also: Child missing or ran away, Police involvement

Incidents on record

  1. October 11, 2022 Arrest

    A 26-year-old staff member was arrested October 11, 2022 after trying to meet an undercover officer posing as a 12-year-old girl for sex.source

  2. 2023 Criminal charge

    The arrested staff member pled guilty to attempted sodomy on a child (first-degree felony) and enticing a minor by internet or text (second-degree felony); sentencing was set for May 1, 2023.source

  3. January 2023 Incident

    Survivors started an online petition calling on the Utah government to close Uinta Academy, citing group punishments, food restriction, discrimination against LGBTQ+ residents and excessive physical restraints; it had over 3,200 signatures by January 2023.source

  4. Abuse

    Many survivors report emotional abuse, isolation, forced manual labor and verbal and mental abuse at Uinta Academy.source

  5. Death

    A survivor reports that a former resident died of an overdose one month after leaving Uinta and that the program withheld the news from residents for over a month.source

  6. Sexual abuse

    A survivor reports that a resident was sexually assaulted by men at a skate park on an outing and the program director told staff not to let her call her parents or police.source

News coverage

  • The Associated Press Jan 17, 2026 Expose

    Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions

    Essential reporting

    The Associated Press found adopted children sent to for-profit treatment programs, where many were restrained, abused or neglected.

    The article investigates the 'troubled teen industry', a network of for-profit residential treatment centers, wilderness programs, and boarding schools, and its impact on adopted children. Many adopted children are sent to these facilities, where they often experience physical restraint, abuse, and neglect. The industry is largely unregulated, and facilities often prioritize profits over the well-being of the children in their care.

  • AP News Apr 28, 2026 Expose

    AP investigation: Adopted kids confined in private for-profit facilities

    This Associated Press investigation uncovers a "shadow orphanage system" where adopted children are disproportionately placed in for-profit residential treatment facilities. These institutions often market themselves to families by misusing the diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder to justify expensive and unregulated "tough-love" programs. Rather than finding support, many children experience systemic abuse, isolation, and neglect in environments focused on profit margins. The report emphasizes that these institutional settings often cause more harm than healing, failing the vulnerable children they were meant to protect.

Staff

Administration

  • Russ Pryor

    Associate Executive Director (2013)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Jeff Simpson

    Owner/Founder (2013)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Kristi Ragsdale

    Program Director (2004-2025, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

Notable staff

Rules and practices

Practices

  • Restraint
  • Level system
  • Forced medication
  • Behavior contracts
  • Confrontation groups
  • Limits on contact with family

Treatment methods

  • Work therapy

What people who were there remember

What people who were at Uinta Academy, or had a child there, told us on our questions page. Under each line are their own words.

Levels and phases

  • The levels were contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. The levels were contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Punishments

  • The punishments were called SODA, refocus, and reflection. The punishments were called SODA, refocus, and reflection. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Daily life

  • Most of time spent at Uinta was deep cleaning and a lot of labor. Most of time spent at Uinta was deep cleaning and a lot of labor. A former resident, answering on Kids Over Profits' questions page, October 2026

Licensing and inspections

Licensed as
Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Achievement; Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Adult; Uinta Academy RTC LLC - ADULT NORTH; Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East; Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West
License category
Residential Treatment
Licensed capacity
16
License expires
08/31/2027
Licensing action
Licensed
Phone on file
4352452600
Licensed addresses
3550 S Highway 23, Wellsville, UT, 84339; 3869 S Highway 23, Wellsville, UT, 84339; 3560 S Highway 23, Wellsville, UT, 84339; 3746 S 4800 W, Wellsville, UT, 84339; 3875 S Highway 23, Wellsville, UT, 84339

49 inspection reports on file; the serious findings in them are listed above. Search all Utah reports

The newest 25 reports, by date: 2 findings in 2 reports
  1. Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
  2. Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
  3. Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
  4. Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
  5. Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
  6. May 15, 2026 Investigation Inspection
  7. Apr 27, 2026 Focus, Non On-Site (1 finding)
    1 finding

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

      The Licensee 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 4/14/2026 and was not reported until 4/17/2026.

  8. Apr 14, 2026 3rd Unannounced
  9. Apr 14, 2026 3rd Unannounced
  10. Mar 5, 2026 Investigation Inspection (1 finding)
    1 finding

    • Out of compliance, investigation inspection : R501-19-4(4)(a)-(j) Supervision and ratio requirements

      The provider was out of compliance with R501-19-4(4)(f) for failing to conduct required 15 minute line of sight supervision checks on February 23, 2026. A review of the facility’s night logs revealed that mandatory 15-minute line-of-sight safety checks were neither performed nor documented for at least one client for a duration of 4.75 hours. During this lapse in supervision, a door alarm was left disengaged, allowing the client to escape from the facility. The client remained unaccounted for by facility staff for approximately 3.5 hours. During the elopement, the client walked to a convenience store and reported sustaining a leg injury from a fall. The client was eventually supervised by local police and convenience store staff until being transported to a hospital for evaluation, where the facility eventually resumed custody. This is a repeat noncompliance as noted on 10/08/2024.

  11. Jan 13, 2026 2nd Unannounced
  12. Jan 13, 2026 2nd Unannounced
  13. Oct 21, 2025 Investigation Inspection
  14. Oct 14, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  15. Oct 14, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
  16. Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
  17. Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
  18. Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
  19. Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
  20. Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
  21. Apr 11, 2025 Follow-Up Inspection, Non On-Site Inspection
  22. Apr 1, 2025 3rd Unannounced
  23. Apr 1, 2025 3rd Unannounced
  24. Jan 7, 2025 2nd Unannounced
  25. Jan 7, 2025 2nd Unannounced

Connections on the network map

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

Documents

Documents on file (4)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (1)

From the Unsilenced archive

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

Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Achievement (4)
Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Adult (4)
Uinta Academy RTC LLC - ADULT NORTH (4)
Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East (11)
Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West (11)

Wiki entries

Materials and links

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