Youre parents will love that, Ha!). My son, although he enjoyed his stay, refused to be brainwashed, and therefore got nothing therapeutical out of his stay; only resentment and anger, and he gained knowledge how to manipulate therapists to his benefit. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. 0. They would yell at us and use excessive force. As part of the therapeutic learning process, all boys participate in weekly ropes activities that build character and help develop lifelong skills. Blind Frog Ranch Lawsuit. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. ), I witnessed a 15 year old boy be sodomized by a broom handle and have the living shit beat out of him because he tried to run away and watched a girl punch a window and slit her wrists in front of me because she couldnt take it anymore. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. My personal experience here was horrible. The school uses research to help create an individualized treatment plan for each teen. Craig Smith worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. This website uses cookies and third party services. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. BE CAREFUL OF THEM. , This place is sickening. They strip you of everything, even contact with your own parents, and dangle it in front of you as motivation to do/act how they want. For a year I was put down and felt stupid and inadequate and my opinion didnt matter and if I decided to express it I would be put on some protocol that restricted me from doing anything but sitting at a fucking desk and staring at the god damn wall. He previously worked at, worked as the Residential Director of Discovery Ranch. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. We also understand that every teen and every family is unique. The night staff was apparently fucked up on heroin, meth, pcp, etc the whole time and had virtually no training or qualifications, which I learned when a male staff member sexually propositioned me over Facebook when I was 18, so three years later, and told me what happened behind closed doors. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. 2:14-CV-751-TC. The program is affiliated with several other Ascent Company programs, such as RedCliff Ascent, Discovery Academy, Discovery Connections, and Oxbow Academy. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. ages 13-18. Are they just being a teenager? It is reported that they are only allowed to communicate with their parents through heavily censored and monitored letters, as well as a once-monthly phone call, which is also monitored by staff. No one deserves what they really do to people. Basically non-existent education. Although you move on and mature, its a wound that never fully heals and cuts deep. Allegations of abuse that have been reported by survivors include: According to a Thesis published in 2015 by Catherine Kushan, Discovery Ranch, a treatment center located in Mapleton, Utah, provides an empirical example of how this industry rhetorically manipulates legitimate psychiatric conditions to solicit clients. The website is misleading. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. Discovery Ranch has been a NATSAP member since 2005. Sure, we said all the things our parents wanted to hear once we got out, it was certainly drilled into us every single day, but that faded into a deep anger/depression that raised months, sometimes even years later, & you find yourself in worse condition than you were before entering DR; battling a demon 98% of people will never know. Completing the assessment is free. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? DR also advertises their calf program heavily, where each new resident is given a baby calf to care for and raise. We focus on healing the entire family. And the horrible part? The night staff was apparently fucked up on heroin, meth, pcp, etc the whole time and had virtually no training or qualifications, which I learned when a male staff member sexually propositioned me over Facebook when I was 18, so three years later, and told me what happened behind closed doors. I can still hear the screams of kids being restrained and having their arms pinned behind them and blood flow cut off because they didnt follow simple orders. After essentially being re-traumatized after remembering all this, I recently went on a five day bender started Wednesday where I got high and or drunk every waking moment, which culminated with me waking up on my bathroom floor on Monday morning covered in blood and vomit next to two empty bottles of wine and Xanax spilled across the floor with a five page suicide note on my computer that Id written in a blackout. These experiences will teach your son values like Responsibility, Grit, Honesty, Respect, Courage, Kindness, and Accountability. They often cause way more harm than good. They emotionally and mentally compromise kids for fun. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the, We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as, . The ranch has the best of both worlds: a small-town atmosphere with access to world-class skiing, outdoor activities, surrounded by beautiful mountains, and close to two major universities and hospitals. In other words, do not trust them. Not only were surveillance cameras found pointing at their worksite, but military helicopters have flown over the Utah land and spy drones have been seen, too. Im happy to say that she is leading a normal life and leaving DR was the best thing that happened. Josephine (Yelp), 11/26/2013: (SURVIVOR) I try to think positively about it but honestly this shithole gave me PTSD. I still maintain close relationships with both girls and boys who are around my age (23-27) that have gone through exactly what you are going through now; so whether its easier to talk to a guy or girl or someone with a similar case to yours, I can put you in contact with them if youd like (Free of charge too! I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. I literally couldnt make this shit up. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. Feel free to ask anything about my stay I'm an open book. Are they just being a teenager? The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. These issues include: At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. My personal experience here was horrible. June 27, 2022; how to get infinite lingots in duolingo; chegg payment options; discovery ranch lawsuit . (Blood sprayed on me). Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. He will be expected to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes daily exercise and well-balanced meals. THATS WHEN YOU KNOW THE PLACE IS TERRIBLE. Davinci (Google Reviews), 2018: (SURVIVOR) Beware the evil behind their smiling eyes! Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. The ranch horse manager Jerry put a phone in my face showing horses having sex. Residential Treatment is an Intensive Healing Experience, Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. Our academic program meets your son at his level. It is run like a prison. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. It got heated on the ranch and Duane kept referring to this person as a "freeloader." The ranch hasn't been short of intruders, in many forms including surveillance cameras and spy drones. Are they just being a teenager? This is not just a couple of resentful people. There was never any you can do it it was you better do it or youre going to be put on mc and never get out of here. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. Even when I started feeling feelings again I realized on Wednesday that I had been experiencing emotions with maybe 50-75% of the intensity that I normally should, which was put into perspective when I finally accepted that these things truly happened to me and felt for the first time in my life the appropriate pain and humiliation that corresponds to being treated in such a way for such an extended period of time. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. Now, other past guests on the show are coming forward with similar stories, including . There is not enough research of the negative effects places like DR have on a young person, people dont like to talk or hear about places like DR, the system is extremely flawed, its a corporation that works very hard to keep you there as long as possible for obvious financial reasons while hiring unqualified staff. We support & vent to each other about how difficult and lonely it was for us to get back to normal life after we left, how it shaped us into the adults we are today, and what steps we took to try and heal from this horrible experience. My parents spent over $200,000 here before they realized I was not getting the help I needed. I would estimate their rate of rehabilitation around 20%. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. DISCOVERY RANCH - 20 Photos & 27 Reviews - 1308 S 1600th W, Mapleton, UT - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services Discovery Ranch 27 reviews Unclaimed Counseling & Mental Health Edit Write a review Add photo Save Photos & videos See all 20 photos Add photo Location & Hours 1308 S 1600th W Mapleton, UT 84664 Get directions Edit business info They would arbitrarily lock me in a tiny pitch black closet devoid of food, water, a bathroom, or human contact for days, usually because I made an inappropriate facial expression like crying or raising my eyebrows when they screamed at me that I was worthless and no one could ever love me. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. Once a lawsuit gets underway, parties to the lawsuit or their lawyers start gathering information related to the lawsuit. May their souls rest in peace. I didnt ask to see that.. This investigative process is aptly named "discovery," because it often turns up facts and documents that were previously unknown -- to at . They only allow astonishing ones to pass. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they. It sickens me that even after the kid is out of this place they threaten to send them back to this horrible place. I was forced to do the most humiliating and degrading things possibly conceivable; I was forced to eat a girls used tampon, lick cow shit off a girls boots, unclog a toilet with my bare hands adult male staff would masturbate to me showering, changing, and using the toilet while masturbating (keep in mind I was 15. Renewed Hope Ranch seeks "to provide unsurpassed residential care to troubled teenage girls who significantly struggle to overcome their mental, emotional, behavioral and educational challenges," according to its website. Discovery Ranch is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), but it is important to note that neither the United States Department of Education nor the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes NAAS as an accrediting agency for institutions of higher education. At one point during my stay, I saw my friend stab his arm repeatedly with a pencil, spraying blood all over me and the windowsill we were sitting on. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. We Have Helped Struggling Teens To Learn The Skills They Needed To Heal, Thrive, And Reunite With Their Families. worked as the Clinical Director of Discovery Ranch. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they are able to inform their parents of abuse, their parents are manipulated by DR into believing that their child is lying and being manipulative in an attempt to be pulled from the program. If anything, kids got worse from being here. 02-17-2016. He will receive consistent feedback. In January 2104, the boy was placed in a dorm at Discovery Ranch with three other boys, one who began grooming him and another resident for "sexual victimization" until he was "violently sodomized," the family says in the lawsuit. Aside from the obvious prejudice and discrimination, many of these conditions are not legitimate clinical impairments, and those that are require individualized care, which this facility does not provide.. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. I was told Control-freak parents often produce children who feel guilty and disloyal , fearing theyll disappoint their over-bearing parents. I couldnt believe he was blaming me for thisafter we could no longer afford to send her there she was abruptly released and told good luck. The reason for posting this is that this is cathartic for me and nice to have a group of people who have at least a basic Contact one of our well-trained representatives now. Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch is a show on the Discovery Network about a rancher and his son who operate a 160-acre ranch in Utah. The Clinical, Academic, Residential, and Experiential departments all work together. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. The last few years of my life have felt unreal, Ive had migraines with frustration wondering how places like this exist, and how theyve gotten away with so much deceit. Discovery Ranch is accredited by the, Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), , but it is important to note that neither the United States Department of Education nor the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes NAAS as an accrediting agency for institutions of higher education. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including many WWASP programs. You might feel that you are all alone. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. Eaton County Circuit Court 1045 Independence Blvd. I suggest seeking different options for your child. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. I would estimate their rate of rehabilitation around 20%. There is a culture of caring and respect, but also of excellence and high expectation both for staff and students. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. Discovery Ranch is the Top Residential Treatment Center for Troubled Teen Boys 1318, Located in Utah. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. . Any minor infraction is punished severely. The program has a maxmimum enrollment of 60 boys, and the average length of stay is reported to be around 10 months, but this can be substantially longer if the boy is deemed resistant. He since has shut down and will not discuss it so no idea if it was accurate or something he said when first home to avoid being sent back. A friend of mine stabbing his arm 15+ times with a pencil. If you are LGBTQ and need support, call the Trevor Project Hotline 1-866-488-7386, If you are having suicidal thoughts, call toll free 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741, If you are a child being abused or know of a child being abused call toll free 1-800-422-4453. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. However, the abuse overshadowed it. When she was given her home visit, her mom took her to the doctor and was diagnosed, although we have tried to find the outcome of the lawsuit, none of us have been able to track her family down to share our sympathy). You have tried outpatient therapy. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. I dont believe that the people who tortured me were innately evil; i think it was a situation similar to Abu Ghraib. Staff care about one another and take a genuine interest in the girls. Chad Ollinger and his brother, Duane, are gold prospectors in the Uintah Mountains of Utah. Please save your child from this place. Jason (Google Reviews), 6/10/2016: (SURVIVOR) Terrible place dont send your child here. The website is misleading. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. After essentially being re-traumatized after remembering all this, I recently went on a five day bender started Wednesday where I got high and or drunk every waking moment, which culminated with me waking up on my bathroom floor on Monday morning covered in blood and vomit next to two empty bottles of wine and Xanax spilled across the floor with a five page suicide note on my computer that Id written in a blackout. At one point during my stay, I saw my friend stab his arm repeatedly with a pencil, spraying blood all over me and the windowsill we were sitting on. Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. The lawsuit filed by the staff parents said the couple joined Eagle Ranch as staff parents in April 2020 and ended their employment in January 2022. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. We all cope in our own ways, but if we can help by sharing our experiences and what we learned, theres not a single one of us that would turn down a younger DR peer that is currently battling our same battles. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. I am not the only victim. They are left up to their own with limited to no help from the teachers. A kid was put in isolation for about 4 weeks before being moved to a different treatment center. Im happy to say that she is leading a normal life and leaving DR was the best thing that happened. , I try to think positively about it but honestly this shithole gave me PTSD. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. (Blood sprayed on me). We can help your family. The facility in Utah is run like a prison. He will have the support of well-trained and experienced clinical, academic, residential, and experiential staff members. I stopped feeling emotions and didnt for two years. The reviews on their website are COMPLETELY weeded before theyre posted. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. They emotionally and mentally compromise kids for fun. The lawsuit was filed in Eaton County Circuit Court more than four months after Hultberg initially "asked the district to provide mask exemptions that had been approved," in a Sept. 7, 2021, FOIA . You can be assured that your son will not confront these challenges alone. The parents believe discovery ranch and most kids have no hope of anyone listening to them because they think no one believes them and they wont talk and they lie about it. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. In addition, your son will experience many opportunities to explore Utah. They left me more broken than they found me. Jackson (Yelp), September 2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. I cannot even put into words the pain I feel even today when my experience gets brought up or when I read about other kids that are STILL suffering from having to go through this program. how to walk a human a dogs guide. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage boys aged 13-18 with emotional and behavioral issues. DR does not accept transgender males. Also they lie to the kids about the effects of marijuana, such as the claim that you can withdrawal from it, but I know that isnt true. Im scared to mention my real name because Discovery Ranchs aftercare program still controls my life. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. These programs are money makers. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. Sanoy (Google Reviews). If Im in the car with someone and they make a wrong turn or something I will flip out and start having a panic attack because all I can think about it oh my god where are they taking me theyre locking me up again. However, the abuse overshadowed it. discovery ranch lawsuit. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. This isnt how we should treat precious children The staff have no idea how much damage theyre doing as theyre just following orders This is a mess it needs to be shut down.. There is overmedicating (including putting kids to sleep for doing nothing wrong. In addition to taking part in the equine therapy and horsemanship programs, he will have access to the fully-equipped music studio. He previously worked at the confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of the WWASP organization. Stay in touch with the other people you shared your time with during DR, reach out to them when things are tough, talk about your struggles. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. Duane and his son, Chad Ollinger, are trying to finish a goal set by Duane's own father. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. This will provide him with the. At Discovery Ranch we understand that when your teen is in trouble, your whole family is in trouble. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. When you try to induct real truths into the once a week, 1/2 hour, monitored phone call, the therapist redirects you to la la land. Grand Ledge Courts. Anyone is free to fact check this, and contact me with further questions [redacted]. While some people purchase land for views or for the prospect of building a property, Duane Ollinger 's family bought the massive 160-acre Utah plot known as Blind Frog Ranch to search for buried treasure. Its heart wrenching to see how many families were deeply financially destroyed as well as personal connections being permanently damaged. It does not represent any obligation. If they mention these sorts of things to parents (over heavily monitored phone calls and letters in the mail), contact between student and parent would be cut off. I was forced to do the most humiliating and degrading things possibly conceivable; I was forced to eat a girls used tampon, lick cow shit off a girls boots, unclog a toilet with my bare hands adult male staff would masturbate to me showering, changing, and using the toilet while masturbating (keep in mind I was 15. Staff unresponsive, administration unresponsive and kept to company line to detriment of my son. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. There thieves taking advantage of parents dispositions and they should be shut down , After my daughter was here for here for 2 months her condition worsened and she started having suicidal thoughts which had never happened before.When I met with her Dr. They picked favorites and we were treated like garbage. The schooling they provide is a joke. And the scariest part was that it was fantastic during the day; we would do ropes courses and go skiing and horseback riding and talk to a truly kind therapist every day who genuinely though I was insane or a pathological liar and convinced me I was hallucinating or having nightmares.