New JerseyHarborfieldsAka Atlantic County Youth Detention Center
Levy Konigsberg filed lawsuits on behalf of six survivors who were sexually abused as children by adult employees at Atlantic County Youth Detention Center, also known as Harborfields. The lawsuits allege Atlantic County failed to protect children in its custody from widespread sexual abuse at the facility.
Facilities:Harborfields, aka Atlantic County Youth Detention Center
A youth care worker at Hillside Children’s Center – Snell Farms in Bath, New York, has been charged with sexual assault, kidnapping, and endangering the welfare of a child. Jolene Spaulding, 45, was found in a parked car with a missing teenage resident. The facility serves boys ages 12 to 21 involved in or exposed to sexually harmful behavior. Spaulding was placed on leave days before her arrest due to concerns of misconduct.
Facilities:Hillside Children's Center - Snell Farms
After the suicides of a 13-year-old and a 12-year-old student in May, Asheville Academy in Weaverville, NC, surrendered its license and closed. A state investigation found the program violated rules on staff supervision, client protection, and resident rights in 24-hour care. Three $15,000 penalties, totaling $45,000, were issued to its parent company, Wilderness Training & Consulting, LLC, for: inadequate supervision of paraprofessionals, failure to protect from harm or exploitation, and violating client rights statutes. The facility must submit a correction plan and remains under investigation.
State investigation finds licensing violations at Asheville Academy amid student suicides
A state investigation determined Asheville Academy violated two licensing rules, resulting in $45,000 in administrative penalties against the therapeutic school
Jose Mendiola •
Des Moines Register, USA Today •
Jun 16, 2025
spiritual abuse
IowaKingdom Ministry of Rehab and RecreationShekinah Glory Camp
Eighty-eight children attending the Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation and the Shekinah Glory Camp in Columbus Junction, Iowa, were taken into protective custody following reports of child abuse and endangerment. The Louisa County Sheriff's Office conducted a search of the religious camp with assistance from state and local agencies between June 12 and 13. The children were relocated to Wapello Methodist Church for assessment and temporary placement. The investigation is ongoing.
Facilities:Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation, Shekinah Glory Camp
A new report reveals over 1,100 serious incident reports at the William E. Hay Centre between 2019 and 2024. These include dozens of abuse allegations and more than 260 physical restraints. The report was led by University of Ottawa PhD student Elizabeth Venczel in collaboration with the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project. It describes a consistent pattern of violence and neglect within the facility.
Advocates say the system targets vulnerable youth, many from marginalized communities, and causes long-term harm. They are calling for community-based alternatives instead of incarceration.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services said it reviews reports and conducts inspections but did not directly address the findings. The William E. Hay Centre did not respond to media requests.
The Lawsuit: The plaintiffs, a group of women who had been placed at Trinity Teen Solutions as teenagers, accused the now-defunct ranch of forced labor. They alleged that girls were made to perform intense manual labor tasks. The lawsuit further claimed that injuries were disregarded and girls faced humiliating punishments for not performing work as ordered. The lawsuit was open to over 250 people who had been at the ranch from November 2010 until its closure in 2022 and performed "agricultural labor".
The Defendants: The lawsuit was brought against Trinity Teen Solutions and its owners.
The Outcome: The federal judge approved a $2.3 million settlement. As part of the settlement, Trinity Teen Solutions and its owners did not admit wrongdoing, having previously stated that "chores and physical exercise were part of its program". Each participant's share of the settlement will be based on their length of stay, typically one or two years. Those who join the class and receive a check must adhere to a nondisparagement agreement, though they are allowed to make "true statements about their experiences". While lead plaintiff Amanda Nash expressed relief at having a voice, another former client, Anna Gozun, found the settlement "disheartening beyond words" due to the lack of admitted wrongdoing and the nondisparagement agreement, choosing not to participate.
Facilities:Triangle Cross Ranch, Trinity Teen Solutions
The Arizona Department of Health Services suspended the license of Re-Creation Retreat Residential Treatment Center for Girls in Fredonia, citing findings of abuse, neglect, and rights violations. The suspension required all residents to be discharged by June 7, 2025. The facility faces potential license revocation pending appeal. Allegations include improper use of restraints, denial of toilet access, and restrictions on communication and association.
Jason Henry •
The Orange County Register •
Jun 11, 2025
substance abuselaw enforcementoverdosedeath
Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall
Michael Angelo Solis, a deputy probation officer in Los Angeles County, has been charged with bringing Xanax into Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall and working with a youth to sell it. Surveillance footage and recorded phone calls reportedly captured Solis handing off pills and receiving payments. One youth was found with over 100 Xanax pills.
The drug trafficking allegedly began just days after 18-year-old Bryan Diaz died of a fentanyl overdose at the same facility in May 2023. The incident followed a broader pattern of security failures at LA juvenile halls, including drugs being smuggled in via drones and fake food deliveries.
Despite early suspicions from two other probation officers who tried to raise concerns, Solis remained employed for months while the whistleblowers were placed on leave. He was only arrested in June 2025 after an internal affairs investigation.
The arrest comes amid growing scrutiny of LA’s juvenile detention system. Officials recently approved a $2.7 million settlement in a separate case where staff failed to intervene in a violent assault. County supervisors are now demanding stricter oversight of facility surveillance footage.
Solis faces up to three years in prison if convicted. The investigation remains ongoing.
Douglas County Youth CenterYRTC KearneyLancaster County Youth Services CenterYRTC LincolnNebraska Correctional Youth FacilityYRTC HastingsNortheast Nebraska Juvenile ServicesPatrick J. Thomas Juvenile Services
A new investigation reveals that the Douglas County Youth Center is routinely placing youth in solitary confinement for extended periods, often in violation of Nebraska state law. Youth described being locked in their rooms for 22 hours a day or more, sometimes for over a week at a time. These practices persist despite laws that prohibit confinement as punishment and require it to be used only as a last resort.
Youth interviewed reported psychological harm, lack of access to education, canceled family visits due to strip searches, and prolonged isolation without proper oversight. Staff at the facility argue confinement is necessary for safety, but admit it can feel punitive. Public records show Douglas County accounts for over half the total hours of juvenile confinement in the state.
Advocates and former public defenders are calling for stronger external oversight, noting that existing watchdog agencies lack enforcement power. Nebraska law mandates annual reports, but facilities self-report their data, and some youth say their confinement wasn’t even disclosed to their attorneys.
One teen summed it up: “Lockdown doesn’t do nothing but just drive you crazy.”
Facilities:Douglas County Youth Center, YRTC Kearney, Lancaster County Youth Services Center, YRTC Lincoln, Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility, YRTC Hastings, Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Services, Patrick J. Thomas Juvenile Services
Jacob Cuellar, former CEO of Laurel Ridge Treatment Center in San Antonio, was arrested in North Carolina on six child sexual abuse charges involving offenses alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2008. He also faces a pending charge in Bexar County, Texas, for continuous sexual abuse of a child. Cuellar bonded out in North Carolina and is allowed to return to Texas for trial. His prior criminal history includes a 1999 conviction for preparing an obscene photo.
A civil lawsuit has been filed against the now-closed Red Rock Canyon School and its parent company, Sequel Youth and Family Services, by a former student identified as P.R. The lawsuit alleges that P.R. was sexually abused and impregnated by a staff member, Atonio Kavea, while a minor, with the knowledge and alleged facilitation of other school personnel, including Kavea's sister, Asiah Kavea. It further claims that the school attempted to conceal the abuse and remove P.R. to limit liability, rather than protect her. The case highlights broader concerns regarding oversight and accountability within the "troubled teen" industry in Utah, referencing previous closures, investigations, and new legislation aimed at increasing protections for youth in these facilities. The lawsuit seeks over $10 million in damages for the physical and emotional trauma suffered by P.R., while also aiming to hold the organizations financially responsible to prevent future harm.
Asheville Academy, a therapeutic school in Weaverville, North Carolina, has closed after giving up its license on June 4, 2025. The decision came after two students died by suicide in May and state investigators found the program was breaking multiple licensing rules. The school was run by Wilderness Training & Consulting LLC, the same group that previously operated the now-closed Trails Carolina. Asheville Academy stopped operating on May 3. State officials said the conditions at the facility were unsafe for kids.
The author describes being sent to a rural ranch program in Shafter, California, as an alternative to jail for substance use. He was denied psychiatric medication, allowed only a Bible, and subjected to forced prayer instead of medical care. His experience raises concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s proposed “wellness farms” for troubled teens.
India Brown, a former juvenile corrections officer at Orange Youth Academy in Orlando, was arrested for unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Police say Brown groomed a 17-year-old boy under her supervision by providing alcohol and marijuana, then continued the sexual relationship after his release. Evidence includes explicit messages and hotel surveillance footage. The case is pending prosecution.
Esteban Candelaria •
Santa Fe New Mexican •
May 29, 2025
sexual abuse
Desert Hills of New Mexico
A new lawsuit alleges that a teenage boy was subjected to repeated misconduct by a staff member at Desert Hills of New Mexico, a now-closed youth residential treatment center. The teen had been transferred to the facility in 2018 from his home state of Delaware. According to the suit, the abuse began shortly after his arrival and continued during his time at the facility.
Desert Hills was operated by Youth and Family Centered Services of New Mexico, which was later acquired by Acadia Healthcare. The facility faced numerous allegations of mistreatment before its closure in 2019, and several previous lawsuits have been filed by former residents reporting harm during their stays.
The case also raises renewed concerns about the practice of placing children in out-of-state facilities, which remains ongoing in New Mexico despite previous efforts to reduce it. At the end of 2023, state officials reported that two dozen New Mexico youth in government custody were still placed in facilities outside the state.
The current lawsuit seeks damages from the facility’s former operator and related entities. The staff member named in the case was reportedly fired amid an earlier investigation but has not faced criminal charges.
A state employee in Indiana broke ethics rules by warning a youth facility about a surprise inspection. Rebecca Honn, who worked for the Department of Child Services, told Pierceton Woods Academy the exact date and time of an unannounced visit. The facility has faced dozens of abuse allegations, including staff misconduct with teens, but the state continued to send youth and funding there.
The allegations against Pierceton Woods Academy include multiple reports of sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior by staff toward youth. From 2017 to 2023, at least 27 reports were made, several of which were substantiated by the Indiana Department of Child Services. At least two staff members were arrested, and a third was fired following a confirmed abuse case.
Honn was later fired and fined after an investigation found she also violated rules by taking a job at another youth facility too soon after leaving DCS. She briefly filed a lawsuit claiming retaliation but later dropped it.
Pierceton Woods remains open and receives about $15 million a year in DCS referrals. Lawmakers have passed new reforms to improve oversight, but concerns remain about how long abuse went unchecked.
Milton Girls Juvenile Residential FacilityGulf Coast Treatment Center
Five women have filed a lawsuit against the now-closed Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility in Florida, alleging repeated abuse and retaliation by staff when they were minors. The suit names Gulf Coast Treatment Center and its parent company, Universal Health Services, as responsible for failing to protect the girls while operating the state-contracted facility.
According to the complaint, girls who resisted or tried to report the abuse were punished by being placed in a small isolation room called “the box.” Staff reportedly stripped them of clothing and denied basic necessities. One survivor says she was confined there for over two weeks.
The lawsuit describes multiple instances of abuse, including assaults during night shifts, retaliation for disclosing abuse during phone calls home, and staff physically harming girls who fought back. At least two former employees were criminally convicted, and others have been accused but not charged.
The facility was shut down in 2012 after years of reported misconduct. Plaintiffs say they were silenced, retraumatized, and left without recourse for years. Their legal team says the suit aims to expose systemic failures in Florida’s juvenile justice system and private operators paid to care for vulnerable youth.
Facilities:Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility, Gulf Coast Treatment Center
A former staff member at Sorenson’s Ranch School, a residential program for teens in Sevier County, has been charged with four felony counts involving inappropriate content shown to minors. According to court documents, Daniel Stoddard was accused of showing explicit videos to four students, ages 15 and 17, while on duty in March 2025.
During a police interview, Stoddard initially denied the allegations but later acknowledged showing video clips to some students. He is no longer listed on the school’s staff page.
Jessica Schreifels •
Salt Lake Tribune •
May 17, 2025
suicide
LawsuitsDiscovery Ranch
The parents of 17-year-old Biruk Silvers have filed a lawsuit against Discovery Ranch Academy in Utah, alleging that negligence by staff led to their son’s death in November 2024. Biruk had shared suicidal thoughts with his psychiatrist and disclosed to a therapist that he had engaged in a dangerous behavior involving oxygen deprivation. Despite these warnings, staff allowed him to be alone and failed to restrict access to potentially harmful items, including a belt.
A state investigation found that Discovery Ranch violated its own suicide prevention policies, failed to create a care plan, and did not provide adequate supervision. The facility was fined but remains licensed.
The lawsuit also names the University of Utah, which employs Biruk’s psychiatrist, and Pilcrow Advisors, the educational consulting company that recommended the program. The family says they raised concerns about Biruk’s well-being in the days before his death but were told not to withdraw him from the program.
New JerseyHolley Child Care and Development ServiceYouth Consultation Service
Levy Konigsberg filed suit on May 15, 2025, for six people abused as kids at Youth Consultation Service residential centers in New Jersey. The lawsuit calls out both YCS and the state for letting staff harm vulnerable children instead of keeping them safe. Madeleine Skaller said these places were supposed to offer care but became sites of abuse. The firm says the fight for accountability is ongoing.
Facilities:Holley Child Care and Development Service, Youth Consultation Service
Disability RightsLegislationOversightSafety ViolationsD.C.Judge Rotenberg Educational CenterJudge Rotenberg Center
The federal government announced a ban on the use of electric shock devices for individuals with disabilities, citing longstanding concerns about safety and human rights. The decision follows decades of advocacy and documented incidents at facilities such as the Judge Rotenberg Center.
Facilities:Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Judge Rotenberg Center
LicensingOversightClosureSafety ViolationsNevadaAurora Center for Healing
Nevada health officials suspended the license of Aurora Center for Healing, a psychiatric residential treatment facility in Hawthorne, following multiple complaints and violations. The state ensured the safe transfer of all residents before the facility closed. The suspension is pending an appeal by the facility.
In an op-ed for Teen Vogue, psychiatrist and conversion therapy survivor Dr. Matt R. Salmon responds to a new 409-page report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which promotes a practice called “exploratory therapy” as a treatment for gender dysphoria in youth. Dr. Salmon argues that this is simply conversion therapy rebranded, warning that it pathologizes trans identities under the guise of caution. Drawing from his personal experience with so-called “reparative therapy,” he describes how these practices cause deep psychological harm by framing queer and trans identities as conditions to be fixed. He criticizes the report for relying on discredited sources and rejecting the medical consensus in favor of ideologically driven narratives. Dr. Salmon emphasizes that what trans youth need is affirmation and access to care—not coercive delay tactics that shame them into conformity.
SuicideDeathLicensingOversightNorth CarolinaAsheville Academy for GirlsAsheville Academy for Girls LLCTrails CarolinaWilderness Training & Consulting LLC
A 14‑year‑old student died by suicide at Asheville Academy for Girls, a therapeutic school in Weaverville, North Carolina. The incident has prompted an investigation by local authorities and raised concerns about the facility’s ties to the former Trails Carolina wilderness program, which was closed by state regulators after a prior child death. The school has issued a statement expressing condolences and noting the presence of crisis counselors on campus.
Facilities:Asheville Academy for Girls, Asheville Academy for Girls LLC, Trails Carolina, Wilderness Training & Consulting LLC
Catie Bussmann and Grace Runkel •
FOX Carolina •
May 6, 2025
sexual abuse
Whetstone Academy
A federal lawsuit alleges that Whetstone Academy in Oconee County, SC, failed to protect a 14-year-old resident from sexual assault by another student in 2024. The boy’s family claims he was subjected to prolonged outdoor confinement, inadequate supervision, and regressive trauma symptoms. The facility denies responsibility.
Jessica Orozco •
Springfield News-Sun •
May 2, 2025
Physical Restraint
ChokingStaff MisconductOhioOperation Rebirth
A staffer at Operation Rebirth boarding school has been charged with choking a 13-year-old student. The incident occurred on February 26, and the staffer, Emilio Valdez, was fired and faces felony charges.
Jennifer Kovaleski •
ABC 15 Arizona •
Apr 30, 2025
sexual abuserestraint
Mingus Mountain Academy
Survivor quoted: Melissa Catalano
Arizona State Senator T.J. Shope is calling for an investigation into Mingus Mountain Academy after ABC15 uncovered allegations of widespread abuse. A lawsuit filed by 13 former residents includes claims of sexual assault by staff between 2011 and 2022. The facility has also been cited 40 times since 2022 for policy violations, including improper restraint. Mingus and its management company, Vivant Behavioral Healthcare, were also named in a 2024 U.S. Senate investigation into systemic abuse at youth facilities.
sexual abusegroomingrestraintisolationphysical assault
UtahCinnamon Hills Youth Crisis Center
Trey Andrew Mickelson, a former youth mentor at Cinnamon Hills Youth Crisis Center in St. George, Utah, was arrested for allegedly providing THC and nicotine vapes to minors, distributing psilocybin mushrooms, sharing nude images of a minor, and filming student fights. He faces one felony and 13 misdemeanor charges. The facility has a history of violations, including abuse, unauthorized restraints, and isolation that led to injuries of residents. Mickelson remains in custody without bail.
Private SchoolsSurvivor StoriesLegislationStaff MisconductJudge Rotenberg Educational CenterJudge Rotenberg Center
A Massachusetts resident who attended a residential program that employed electric shock therapy announced a candidacy for public office, citing a desire to protect other youth from similar practices.
Facilities:Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Judge Rotenberg Center
Group HomeStaff MisconductSexual MisconductArrestCanadaGroup Health-Related Living Residence on Irvine Street, Centre WellingtonOntario Provincial Police (opp)
The Ontario Provincial Police charged a 24‑year‑old employee of a group residence with sexual interference, sexual exploitation and sexual assault involving a youth resident. The alleged conduct occurred on May 2, 2024, and the accused is scheduled to appear in court on May 13, 2025.
Facilities:group health‑related living residence on Irvine Street, Centre Wellington, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
New Hampshire's Office of the Child Advocate, created in response to child deaths and systemic failures, is at risk of being eliminated under the proposed state budget. Child Advocate Cassandra Sanchez has exposed serious abuse and neglect at out-of-state facilities like Bledsoe Youth Academy, where NH children were sent for care. Despite her office’s role in protecting vulnerable youth, lawmakers voted to cut it. Advocates warn that without oversight, children in state custody face heightened risks of trauma and mistreatment.
Facilities:Bledsoe Youth Academy, Sununu Youth Services Center, Hampstead Hospital
Youth DynamicsRiver's Edge Youth HomeYellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
Drew Alec Kinnin, a former staff member at River’s Edge Youth Home in Billings, Montana, pleaded guilty to charges related to sexually abusing a teenage girl in his care in 2023. The facility was operated by Youth Dynamics, which has since merged with Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. Other residents reported concerns, leading to an investigation and a criminal case. A related civil lawsuit was filed and later settled. Kinnin’s sentencing is pending. Another former employee at the merged facility is also facing charges in a separate case involving inappropriate contact with youth.
Facilities:Youth Dynamics, River's Edge Youth Home, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
sexual abuserestraintisolationself-harmhomophobiatransphobiaspiritual abusereligious traumaeating disordersforced labor
Re-Creation Retreat
Re-Creation Retreat (RCR), a residential program for teen girls in Arizona, is facing renewed scrutiny as survivors speak out about systemic abuse and coercive practices. Former residents, including Cassia Cilento and Ashley C., described a highly controlled environment where girls were stripped of autonomy and punished for expressing emotion, speaking without permission, or reporting mistreatment. Survivors reported being subjected to physical restraints for minor infractions, denied basic hygiene and medical care, and forced into degrading therapy exercises. LGBTQ+ youth were especially targeted: punished for same-gender affection and pressured to reject their identities.
Cassia and Ashley met while confined at RCR and eventually fell in love. After being forcibly separated, Ashley helped Cassia escape during a swim meet in 2012, sparking a cross-state effort to stay hidden while living on the road. Cassia was eventually recaptured and returned to RCR, where she was punished with extended silence, surveillance, and emotional manipulation. Despite marketing itself as a therapeutic program, survivors describe RCR as isolating, punitive, and traumatizing.
The facility is owned by Randy and Toni Soderquist, whose children also worked at RCR, sometimes with authority over residents. Multiple survivors reported sexually inappropriate behavior by staff and alleged exploitative labor, such as unpaid work in high heat and at a neighboring restaurant. Although RCR remains licensed and accredited, a growing number of former residents are demanding accountability. Survivors returned in November 2024 to protest outside the facility, calling for justice, reform, and an end to the troubled teen industry’s unchecked power.
Survivors or clients named or quoted:
Cassia Cilento (pseudonym used in article, publicly identified)
Diamond Ranch AcademyDiscovery Ranch AcademyProvo Canyon SchoolMaple Lake Academy
Parents of teens who died in Utah treatment facilities spoke to lawmakers in support of SB297, a bill to strengthen oversight of the troubled teen industry. Dean Goodridge described how his daughter Taylor died at Diamond Ranch Academy after staff failed to get her medical help for a treatable infection. Katy Silvers said her son Biruk died by suicide at Discovery Ranch after telling his therapist he had a detailed plan. The program never informed his family. Both parents said their children could have been saved if someone had acted.
SB297 would fund an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints and create an advisory board to review whether facilities are admitting youth they are equipped to serve. Primary Children’s Hospital reported treating 169 out-of-state children from Utah programs in 2024, leading to a shortage of beds for local kids. The average stay for those out-of-state youth was 30 percent longer. One child lived in the hospital for five months, blocking care for 22 Utah patients. Although some families defended the programs, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to move the bill forward.
Facilities:Diamond Ranch Academy, Discovery Ranch Academy, Provo Canyon School, Maple Lake Academy
Timothy Allen Westervelt, a former employee at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Billings, Montana, has been charged with sexually assaulting two girls at the facility. He was previously charged in a separate case involving a 13-year-old child. Prosecutors allege the incidents occurred while Westervelt was employed at the youth treatment center. He was arrested following an earlier standoff in Livingston and is currently being held in Yellowstone County jail.
Three Points CenterCross CreekLiahona AcademyYouth Division AcademyProvo Canyon School
Three Points Center, a residential treatment program in Hurricane, Utah, closed abruptly on February 14, giving families just ten days to respond. The facility, which served adopted teens, had a documented history of abuse, including 14 state violations for improper restraints, physical aggression, and verbal abuse. Reports included a staff member throwing furniture at a child and injuring another during an unnecessary intervention.
Founded by Dr. Norm Thibault, the center had direct ties to the discredited WWASP network, with leaders previously working at Cross Creek and Liahona Academy. Child rights attorney Dawn J. Post also linked the program to an abusive facility in the U.S. through her investigation of Youth Division Academy in Jamaica.
Post raised additional concerns about staff with criminal histories and a pattern of hiring unqualified workers. One reported employee had a 2013 charge for child abuse material and a 2024 felony obscenity conviction. Utah laws allowing parents to force teens into treatment until age 18—with no consent required from the child—make the state a hub for such facilities. Critics fear current residents will be quietly transferred to other institutions without review or accountability.
Facilities:Three Points Center, Cross Creek, Liahona Academy, Youth Division Academy, Provo Canyon School
Jessica Schreifels •
Salt Lake Tribune •
Feb 14, 2025
restraintphysical abusesexual abuse
Provo Canyon School
Utah officials placed Provo Canyon School’s Springville campus under heightened scrutiny after state inspectors found repeated harm to youth in its care. A recent video showed a staff member striking a child during a restraint, one of at least seven documented incidents over two years where young people were not kept safe. Survivors like Paris Hilton have spoken publicly about their experiences at the school, describing abuse and overmedication. Regulators now require more oversight, but the program continues to operate, housing over 100 teens with serious mental health needs.
Wilderness TherapyDeathLicensingOversightSurvivor StoriesNorth CarolinaTrails CarolinaMomentumTrails AcademyWilderness Training & Consulting
One year following the death of a 12-year-old resident at Trails Carolina wilderness camp, state regulators have revoked the facility's license and are investigating an unlicensed program operated by the same management company. Advocates and former clients are calling for increased regulatory oversight and legal accountability, citing ongoing concerns regarding safety violations and consumer protection issues.
Facilities:Trails Carolina, Momentum, Trails Academy, Wilderness Training & Consulting
Shaylee Navarro •
The Salt Lake Tribune •
Nov 28, 2024
SuicideChild DeathMedical NeglectSelf-harm
SuicideLicensingUtahDiscovery Ranch Academy
Utah regulators placed Discovery Ranch Academy under a conditional license after a 17‑year‑old resident, Biruk Silvers, died by suicide while in the facility. The notice requires the center to halt new admissions, increase staff training on suicide prevention, and submit compliance plans, while the Silvers family has filed a legal claim alleging medical malpractice and staff negligence.
Facilities:Discovery Ranch Academy
Key Figures:Clinton Dorny (executive director), Jonathan Birnkrant (staff psychiatrist)
Biruk Silvers, a 17‑year‑old resident of Discovery Ranch Academy in Mapleton, Utah, died by suicide on November 5, 2024. His parents have filed a legal claim alleging medical malpractice, staff negligence, and inadequate supervision, including the alleged use of a belt and failure to act on disclosed suicidal plans. The family seeks to hold the facility and several staff members accountable.
Facilities:Discovery Ranch Academy
Key Figures:Jonathan Birnkrant, Clinton Dorny, William Perry Garso
Includes a 9-minute video report, also available on
Features survivor stories from Andi Tuchten, Frankie Clock, and Shannon Saul
A recent lawsuit against Spring Ridge Academy resulted in Kimberly Sweidy (the mother of an SRA survivor) being awarded $2.5 million by a jury in June 2024
According to court documents, SRA tuition cost up to $9k per month and students were forced to work for free
SRA used humiliating "therapy" practices that included seminars and bizarre exercises
SRA students were forced to massage blindfolded adults, including their parents, as part of a seminar
SRA students were also forced to receive massages from adults while blindfolded
Jean Courtney, SRA's founder testified in court that she has no background in psychology
Jean Courtney cancelled a scheduled interview for this article and sent a statement through a spokesperson instead
FOX 10 reviewed documents from the local sheriff's office and state department of health and found incidents of suicide attempts
Foster CareGroup HomeLicensingOversightSafety ViolationsNevadaAurora Center for HealingNevada Homes for YouthShannon West Homeless Youth CenterAdvanced Foster Care Homes
A legislative audit found seven Nevada child care facilities failed to meet state standards, citing unsanitary conditions, lack of medical and safety protocols, and allegations of sexual misconduct. The facilities include Nevada Homes for Youth, Aurora Center for Healing, Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, and four Advanced Foster Care Homes. The audit prompted legislative concern and actions to address licensing and oversight deficiencies.
Facilities:Aurora Center for Healing, Nevada Homes for Youth, Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, Advanced Foster Care Homes
DeathLicensingOversightSafety ViolationsCelebritySober Home (st. George, Utah)
Presley Gerber, a teenager, died while residing at a sober living home in St. George, Utah. The facility was not required to hold a license as a rehabilitation center, raising questions about regulatory oversight and safety practices.
Federal civil rights lawsuits allege that former staff members of the Oregon Youth Authority sexually abused youths in custody at MacLaren and Oak Creek correctional facilities between 2019 and 2023. Six survivors have filed the suits, naming four former employees and alleging failures by supervisors to prevent or report the misconduct.
Facilities:Oregon Youth Authority, MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility
Jessica Schreifels •
The Salt Lake Tribune •
Sep 16, 2024
child deathmedical neglect
Maple Lake Academy
An attempt to renew the license for Maple Lake Academy’s girls program was denied by DHHS recently
4th District Court Judge Sean Peterson signed a temporary restraining order
The restraining order allows Maple Lake Academy’s girls program to stay open while MLA appeals DHHS’s decision
Sofia Soto died at MLA in 2022 after being medically neglected by staff
“Katie England, a spokesperson for DHHS, said licensers did a full investigation, and considered the facility’s 36-month history before making the decision to deny the license application.”
Maple Lake Academy’s boys program will remain open regardless of what happens to the girls program
This is the second attempt to close MLA’s girls program – the first came shortly after Sofia Soto’s death in 2022.
Elijah, a survivor of Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica, was scheduled to have a hearing in Grand Traverse County Family Court on September 11, 2024
Elijah was abandoned in Jamaica by his wealthy adoptive parents
Dawn Post, Elijah’s attorney, has been staying with Elijah since he returned to the United States
A circuit court referee went on the record to report that the hearing was waived and Elijah would be placed with Child Protective Services, followed by a foster care placement
Post, Paris Hilton, and other child advocates had reportedly spent months reaching out to officials in Michigan on Elijah’s behalf, but they received no response
“Sources UpNorthLive spoke to said the parents told them they were under the impression if they went to Jamaica they would be arrested.”
More than a dozen people attended Elijah’s hearing, including TTI survivor and advocate Jenn Marie Newton
Elijah’s parental abandonment has not been legally recognized by the court yet, but a pretrial will be scheduled
A federal report, released in June, detailed maltreatment, substandard care and poor oversight at programs operated by the country’s four largest for-profit behavioral health providers.
