Private SchoolsClosureStaff MisconductSurvivor StoriesOversightMaineElan School
The Elan School, a private boarding program in Poland, Maine, announced its closure on April 1, 2011, following a sustained negative online campaign that linked declining enrollment to alleged abuse. Investigations by state and New York officials found no evidence of abuse, yet former students reported experiences of humiliation and restrictive practices. The closure was met with mixed reactions from parents, staff, and survivors.
Facilities:Elan School
Key Figures:Sharon Terry, Ed MacColl, David Connerty-Marin
Judith Meyer •
Lewiston Sun Journal •
Mar 25, 2011
Physical RestraintHumiliating Punishments
Private SchoolsSurvivor StoriesStaff MisconductSafety ViolationsFoster CareMaineElan SchoolElan School (poland, Maine)Illinois State Penitentiary
Mark Babitz, a former student of the Elan School in Poland, Maine, recounts experiences of physical and mental abuse during his time there. He describes the program as punitive, citing frequent use of physical punishment and a lack of supportive care. Babitz later left the school, spent time in another youth facility, and eventually served time in the Illinois State Penitentiary.
Facilities:Elan School, Elan School (Poland, Maine), Illinois State Penitentiary
ClosureEscapePeer ViolenceSurvivor StoriesMaineElan School
Former Elan School student Matt Hoffman detailed experiences of institutional policies involving peer-led confrontations, physical restraints, and humiliating disciplinary practices during his enrollment in the 1970s. Hoffman expressed support for the facility's eventual closure, characterizing the environment as violent and lacking legitimate therapeutic value.
Mary O'Brien •
Portland Press Herald •
Mar 24, 2011
Survivor StoriesDocumentaryMaineElan SchoolÉlan School
An artwork created by Mary O'Brien illustrates her experiences as a student at the Élan School during the 1970s. The piece serves as a visual documentation of survivor accounts from the residential facility.
Amber Waterman •
Portland Press Herald •
Mar 24, 2011
Survivor StoriesPrivate SchoolsMaineElan SchoolÉlan School
An artwork created by survivor Mary O'Brien depicts her personal experiences as a student at the Élan School during the 1970s. The drawing serves as a visual documentation of life inside the residential facility.
Associated Press •
The Portland Press Herald •
Mar 24, 2011
Death
Private SchoolsClosureTrialMaineElan School
The Elan School, a private boarding school for troubled youth in Poland, Maine, announced its closure on April 1, 2011, citing financial difficulties stemming from declining enrollment. The school had previously attracted national attention during the 2002 murder trial of Michael Skakel, who had attended the school as a teenager.
The Elan School, a residential program in Poland, Maine, announced its closure citing low enrollment and a negative online campaign. The decision follows ongoing scrutiny of the facility's practices and regulatory oversight.
Facilities:Elan School
Key Figures:Sharon Terry, Dr. Gerald Davidson, Joseph Ricci
Meridian Behavioral Health, a behavioral health care company operating facilities in Minnesota, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a defensive measure due to a joint loan default notice involving its sister company, MK Network, LLC. Company representatives stated that the filing was intended to maintain ongoing operations and restructure financing separately from its sister company.
Disability RightsStaff MisconductOversightLegislationGroup HomeMassachusettsJudge Rotenberg Educational CenterJudge Rotenberg Centre
The Judge Rotenberg Centre, a residential school in Massachusetts founded by Matthew Israel, utilizes remote-controlled electronic shock devices on residents diagnosed with severe autism or emotional challenges as a behavioral intervention. Human rights organizations, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, and former residents have characterized these methods as torture, while the facility and some parents defend the practices as necessary for managing dangerous self-injurious behavior.
Facilities:Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Judge Rotenberg Centre
Corporate GovernanceGroup HomeOversightTexasYouth & Family Centered ServicesAcadia HealthcareTA AssociatesWaud Capital Partners
TA Associates announced plans to sell Youth & Family Centered Services, a provider of health, education, and support services for adolescents based in Austin, Texas. An FTC filing indicates that Chicago‑based private equity firm Waud Capital Partners may acquire YFCS, which operates 13 facilities in nine states and follows a cognitive behavioral therapy model. The article does not detail any specific allegations of misconduct.
Facilities:Youth & Family Centered Services, Acadia Healthcare, TA Associates, Waud Capital Partners
