Facility profile Utah
Uinta Academy
Also known as Uinta Academy RTC, LLC
A program of 3 licensed homes
Uinta Academy is a program in Wellsville, Utah, operated by Family Help & Wellness. It has operated since 2003.
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.
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
News coverage
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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.
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Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions
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.
Staff
Administration
-
Russ Pryor
Associate Executive Director (2013)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Aspen Institute Admissions Director, 2010
- Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment Former Director of Admissions, Therapist, Director of Admissions (2011)
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Becky Simpson
Cofounder
Elsewhere in the industry
- Boys Town house parent
- Utah Youth Village trainer
-
Jeff Simpson
Founder
Elsewhere in the industry
- Boys Town house parent
- WayPoint Academy cofounder
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Kristi Ragsdale
Program director
Elsewhere in the industry
- Solstice RTC admissions director
- Utah Youth Village family first specialist
- Eva Carlston Academy cofounder/exec director
Notable staff
-
Adaleen Krambule
Clinical Director (2013)source
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Bryan Shores
Therapist
Elsewhere in the industry
- Outback Therapeutic Expeditions therapist
-
Hollie Archibald
Therapist
Elsewhere in the industry
-
Lanae Kimber
Admissions director
Elsewhere in the industry
- Solstice RTC therapist
-
Melissa Keller Adamson
Clinical director
Elsewhere in the industry
- Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment Former Staff (2025)
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
- Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 14, 2026 Announced, Annual Inspection
- May 15, 2026 Investigation Inspection
-
Apr 27, 2026
Focus, Non On-Site (1 finding)
1 finding
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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.
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- Apr 14, 2026 3rd Unannounced
- Apr 14, 2026 3rd Unannounced
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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.
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- Jan 13, 2026 2nd Unannounced
- Jan 13, 2026 2nd Unannounced
- Oct 21, 2025 Investigation Inspection
- Oct 14, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Oct 14, 2025 Unannounced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Jul 17, 2025 Announced, Annual Inspection
- Apr 11, 2025 Follow-Up Inspection, Non On-Site Inspection
- Apr 1, 2025 3rd Unannounced
- Apr 1, 2025 3rd Unannounced
- Jan 7, 2025 2nd Unannounced
- 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.
Ownership
- Family Help & Wellness
Documents
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
- 2023-07-11 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Achievement - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button.pdf
- 2024-07-01 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Achievement - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button.pdf
- 2025-07-17 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Achievement - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button.pdf
- Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Achievement - Facility Page.pdf
Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Adult
- 2023-07-11 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Adult - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sho.pdf
- 2024-07-01 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Adult - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sho.pdf
- 2025-07-17 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Adult - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sho.pdf
- Uinta Academy RTC LLC - Adult - Facility Page.pdf
Uinta Academy RTC LLC - ADULT NORTH
- 2023-07-11 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - ADULT NORTH - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button.pdf
- 2024-07-01 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - ADULT NORTH - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button.pdf
- 2025-07-17 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - ADULT NORTH - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button.pdf
- Uinta Academy RTC LLC - ADULT NORTH - Facility Page.pdf
Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East
- 2023-07-11 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is show.pdf
- 2024-01-04 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-2nd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the in.pdf
- 2024-04-11 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-3rd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the in.pdf
- 2024-07-01 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is show.pdf
- 2024-10-08 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Unannounced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sh.pdf
- 2025-01-07 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-2nd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the in.pdf
- 2025-04-01 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-3rd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the in.pdf
- 2025-07-17 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is show.pdf
- 2025-10-14 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Unannounced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sh.pdf
- 2026-01-13 Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-2nd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the in.pdf
- Uinta Academy RTC LLC - East - Facility Page.pdf
Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West
- 2023-07-11 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown.pdf
- 2024-01-04 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Unannounced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sho.pdf
- 2024-04-11 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-3rd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the ins.pdf
- 2024-07-01 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown.pdf
- 2024-10-08 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Unannounced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sho.pdf
- 2025-01-07 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-2nd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the ins.pdf
- 2025-04-01 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-3rd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the ins.pdf
- 2025-07-17 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Announced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown.pdf
- 2025-10-14 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-Unannounced, Annual Inspection Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is sho.pdf
- 2026-01-13 Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - INSPECTION DATE- INSPECTION TYPE(S)-2nd Unannounced Checklists on this day-(If no checklist button is shown then the ins.pdf
- Uinta Academy RTC LLC- West - Facility Page.pdf
Research notes
- Type: Therapeutic Boarding School (r/troubledteens wiki, page "The Program Watchlist" (as of 2025-12-18))
