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Here you will find bits of information about teen treatment facilities in the US and abroad.

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WWASPS/Teen Help - Utah, Montana, New York, etc...

In one of the most communistic moves to date, the General Discussion Forum on the parent's BBS has been deleted.

Not just sanitized of any posts that might raise concerns among half-baked parents - it's completely GONE.

There had been LOTS of chatter on the forum about Academy at Ivy Ridge not being accredited, being fined by the state of New York and being declared "education fraud" and my guess is that whomever cleans off those posts every day couldn't keep up and decided to just get rid of the problem altogether.

I can understand that.

I'm sure the LAST thing WWASPS/Teen Helps wants is for all 2,500 or so families involved to find out that the accreditation is worthless, the diplomas are junk, and they are being financially exploited.

posted August 24, 2005.

Spring Creek Lodge Academy - Montana

Director Cameron Pullan might want to start practicin' what he's preachin'.

2 boys recently took a break from working outside, went into Cameron's UNLOCKED house there on the grounds at SCL, and helped themselves to some booze and smokes.

Apparently the boys got so drunk that Spring Creek Lodge Academy staff thought they needed medical attention but instead of taking them to the closest hospital, the boys were taken across state lines to a hospital in Idaho.

Spring Creek staff figured that would be the best way to keep the story from getting out.

Apparently, it didn't work...

You'd think that Pullan, who is supposed to be saving these kids from such evils as alcohol and tobacco, wouldn't be using them, especially on school property.

posted August 24, 2005.

Tipton Academy - Kansas

We have a new contender in the growing race to cash in on troubled teens.

Kevin Richey has struck out on his own and opened Tipton Academy in Tipton, Kansas.

According to the helpful folks at the Kansas Dept. of Children and Families, Tipton has been authorized to house kids since August 1.

I wonder where Richey is getting his students?

Let's see...

Richey is known for playing both sides.

He worked for WWASPS/Teen Help for many years.

And he testified on behalf of Sue Scheff/PURE when she was sued by WWASPS.

I'll bet he'll have no problems keeping the money, er kids, coming in.

Oh yeah, the Tipton Academy contract is interesting, too.

The school is in Kansas, but page 7 says it is a "business agreement" between the parents and Washington County, Utah.

Washington County, Utah is the home base of WWASPS/Teen Help.

posted August 24, 2005.

Academy at Ivy Ridge - New York

The problems just keep piling up for Academy at Ivy Ridge.

Officials in New York have wrapped up ONE of their investigations and have described Ivy Ridge as one of the biggest cases of education fraud in state history.

Last Friday, the Attorney General announced that on top of a previously announced $250,000 fine, the facility will have to refund part of the tuition paid by every student who has received a worthless diploma from the "school."

In total, Academy at Ivy Ridge will be paying out close to $2 million.

Director Jason Finlinson, forever trying to hide his connection to WWASPS/Teen Help, lamented that he didn't know how they would come up with all the money, but they would find a way.

Lemme think, lemme think...Jason Finlinson, brother-in-law of WWASPS/Teen Help money-man Robert Lichfield - who just happens to be part owner of Academy at Ivy Ridge - needs a couple mil...

Gee Jason, I'm coming up empty here. Bank of America, maybe?

posted August 23, 2005.

Darrington Academy - Georgia

Does anyone out there know a 23 year old that's qualified to run a detention center, I mean, "school" for troubled teens?

I ask because Dusky Goulding, Director of Darrington Academy, is all of 23 years old.

Not surprisingly, he resists admitting his age and avoids answering questions about his qualifications.

I know his "qualifications," though.

His brother Dace ran Casa by the Sea from the day it opened until shortly before Mexican authorities shut it down.

And since Ma and Pa Goulding worked at Casa as well, Dusky practically grew up there.

That's the way it works with WWASPS/Teen Help.

Credentials aren't required - just connections.

posted August 23, 2005.

Casa by the Sea - Mexico

Even though the placed is supposed to be closed, there are 4 security guards patrolling the grounds.

And they don't want anyone taking pictures.

When questioned, the guards freely admit to being employed by Casa.

I'm sure the folks at WWASPS/Teen Help would say they are there to protect the buildings contents from theft.

I say they wouldn't have to worry about it if they didn't put these facilities in such economically depressed areas.

posted August 23, 2005.

Thanks, Maia

The New York Times did a complete 180 today and published a fluff piece on the teen help industry.

Unlike Tim Wiener who reported on abuse and fraud in the industry, this reporter wrote what amounts to a "how to" manual for folks looking to make money off of these kids.

Maia Szalavitz, author of the upcoming book, Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids, promptly blasted the Times.

I'd like to thank Maia for taking the time to get the whole story and making the effort to stand up for these kids.

And I'd like to give the New York Times a hot tip - next time you want to run an article about this industry, give it to a reporter who cares enough to do it right.

posted August 17, 2005.

Thayer Learning Center - Missouri

There isn't any news about Thayer Learning Center.

I was thinking about Roberto Reyes today and just want to people to remember him.

Roberto died at Thayer in November 2004 after he was bitten by a spider.

Instead of providing medical treatment, the staff at Thayer with their vast lack of basic medical knowledge, diagnosed that he was "faking it."

State investigators determined that Roberto would have lived had he received medical care and the case was turned over to the prosecutor.

I hope this is one of those situations where no news is good news.

posted August 17, 2005.

Academy at Ivy Ridge - New York

A 17 year old was arrested today for pulling the fire alarm at Academy at Ivy Ridge.

Aside from being locked up, he will probably be kicked out of the facility.

Considering the reports coming out of Ivy Ridge, that's a good thing, but think about it for a minute -

This kid was from Nairobi, Kenya - a far cry from the land of plenty.

According to statistics:

• Life expectancy in Kenya is 47 years.



• The degree of risk from major infectious diseases is very high.



• Kenya has the 5th largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world.



• The per capita income in Kenya is the equivalent of $390 US.



• 40% of children in Kenya are malnourished.

After living with all that, it terrifies me to imagine what could be happening at Ivy Ridge that this kid found to be so unbearable.

posted August 16, 2005.

Casa by the Sea - Mexico

Yes, I know. Mexican authorities shut down Casa by the Sea last September.

But take a look at the email I received last week from the folks at Teen Help -

Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005
To: ********
From: "Parent Options" info@teenhelp.us
Subject: We received your submission, thank you for contacting Parent Options.

Thank You for using Parent Options. Our goal is to give parents different options on price and locations that can best help their struggling teen.

You may shortly receive a call from representatives of the 3 schools below.

For your convenience we have also included the schools phone numbers and web addresses below.

We will also be sending you a listing of other schools and programs that may also assist you in getting help.

Spring Creek Academy is one of the Nation's most popular Schools for Struggling Teens. It has a tremendous track record and a high parent satisfaction rate.
Phone: 800-637-0701
Web: http://sclinfo.com/th/

Casa by the Sea is a renown program that provides superior quality and services, yet is very cost effective. It is considered by many to be the Best Value available.
Phone: 877-865-9935
Web:http://tic.casabythesea.org/

Academy of Ivy Ridge is one of the Nation's most advanced Schools. It utilizes a "state of the art" computerized curriculum. It also provides the right kind of environment and support that assist many of Today's students in succeeding.
Phone: 800-793-5156
Web: http://prh.ivyridge.us/

Hmmm...So what do you think? Is the referrer a moron who forgot that Casa by the Sea closed or has the program reopened under everyone's radar?

Considering what these folks get paid for each kid they get in the program, they wouldn't make the mistake of referring to someplace that wasn't open.

posted August 17, 2005.

Pillars of Hope/Dundee Ranch Academy - Costa Rica
Carolina Springs Academy - South Carolina

Sources are reporting that Narvin Lichfield, owner of Dundee Ranch Academy/Pillars of Hope in Costa Rica and Carolina Springs Academy in South Carolina, WILL stand trial in Costa Rica in the near future.

We are also hearing that Narvin is paying for happy Dundee Ranch Academy kids and parents to go to Costa Rica and give testimony on his behalf.

Any Dundee Ranch Academy folks out there who want to see justice served are encouraged to contact the folks at PANI.

In May 2003, Lichfield was arrested for child abuse after Costa Rican authorities raided and shut down Dundee Ranch Academy.

Upon learning of his arrest, South Carolina officials banned Lichfield from being on the property at Carolina Springs Academy.

Dundee Ranch is now called Pillars of Hope and claims to only take willing adults.

My guess - these adults turned 18 in other World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) facilities and were extorted into going to Pillars of Hope.

This extortion is called the "exit plan" in the programs.

In a nutshell, is says stay in the program or be homeless and penniless.

Some choice, eh?

Oh yeah, Narvin is the brother of Robert Lichfield, founder and head-puppeteer of WWASPS/Teen Help.

For more info on Dundee Ranch Academy, check out ISAC and WWASPSinfo.net.

posted August 12, 2005.

Spring Creek Lodge Academy - Montana

I was looking through some corporate records and something caught my eye.

Everyone knows *wink* *wink* that the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) facilities are all "independently owned and operated."

Well, I guess it's just a coincidence that Dan Peart, owner of Majestic Ranch Academy - the WWASPS facility for the little kids (as young as SEVEN) - is a Co-Vice President of Spring Creek Lodge Academy.

And it's probably just a coincidence that Dan Peart is the brother-in-law of Robert Lichfield, founder and head-puppeteer of WWASPS/Teen Help.

And it's probably just another coincidence that Robert Lichfield is building a very large, very expensive log home right behind Spring Creek Lodge Academy.

Nice to know that Bob found a way to spend the 45% cut he gets from these "independently owned and operated" programs.

posted August 5, 2005.