I dont know why but when i was there I never wanted to leave. 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. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. The boat bought with funds by Discovery Ranch was not once used for the kids, the owners just use it for personal use. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. We were victims of abuse. 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. After I graduated I was transferred to discovery ranch. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. They will do everything to keep themselves looking like the best option at all costs just for money. We were victims of abuse. I literally cant live with these memories. This is my real name, as Im no longer afraid to write my review under an alias. We focus on healing the entire family. 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. I literally cant live with these memories. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. Find out more about the assessment. Plaintiff Diamond Ranch Academy, Inc. (DRA) operates a residential youth treatment facility in Hurricane, Utah. Your teen is struggling. 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. They report that 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 attacker used threats of violence, coercion, guilt, and the merit system of Discovery Ranch to manipulate (the boy) to avoid reporting increasingly deviant sexual behaviors, including discussions about sex, pornography, masturbation, and sexual violence. According to the complaint, Discovery Ranchs merit system also prevented (him) from reporting the assaults because he believed that his inferior status and past interactions with Discovery Ranch staff and administrators would result in him being punished if he attempted to disclose the assaults. The family claims the sexual assaults went undiscovered and unchecked throughout the months of January and February and were only revealed when he [the assailant] was transferred from Discovery Ranch after being discovered engaging in bestiality with a horse. The family says that Discovery Ranch failed to adequately investigate the assailant for psychosexually deviant and violent tendencies before admitting him to Discovery Ranch and placing him in the dorm. Additional Information: Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School, 9/20/2020: (SURVIVOR) Discovery ranch seems to actively try to remove as many negative reviews as they can, many were mine being removed over and over. I literally couldnt make this shit up. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. , Kinda like a prison that just focuses on external behavior. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. We have the record and independent verification to prove it. Although there are no support groups for people like us and since the program is so small & were from all over the country, it feels and looks very real that you may be alone, YOU ARE NOT. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. 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. They report that 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 attacker used threats of violence, coercion, guilt, and the merit system of Discovery Ranch to manipulate (the boy) to avoid reporting increasingly deviant sexual behaviors, including discussions about sex, pornography, masturbation, and sexual violence. According to the complaint, Discovery Ranchs merit system also prevented (him) from reporting the assaults because he believed that his inferior status and past interactions with Discovery Ranch staff and administrators would result in him being punished if he attempted to disclose the assaults. The family claims the sexual assaults went undiscovered and unchecked throughout the months of January and February and were only revealed when he [the assailant] was transferred from Discovery Ranch after being discovered engaging in bestiality with a horse. The family says that Discovery Ranch failed to adequately investigate the assailant for psychosexually deviant and violent tendencies before admitting him to Discovery Ranch and placing him in the dorm. Additional Information: Discovery ranch seems to actively try to remove as many negative reviews as they can, many were mine being removed over and over. We have experience working with a variety of behavioral and emotional issues. worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. Paris Hilton just came out with a documentary on her experience at another abusive program just down the street from DR. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! They love tossing kids emotional and mental state around for worse, or they will lie about problems that a kid doesnt have just to keep kids there longer.They will try to keep kids from telling you from what is really going on, the use their security measures as a punishment Instead of safety and they can, have, and will threaten kids. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. My parents sent me there because I was depressed, doing poorly in school instead of getting straight As, got caught shoplifting a pack of gum from 7-11, spent too much time on the computer, and was too angry and defiant. Have been in contact with many former students that have not done well once leaving the ranch. As I walked away in shock he was tackled by staff.This was after I had already seen two separate suicide attempts. 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. The protocols here suck, and do absolutely nothing in the way of help. DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL! , The Troubled Teen Industry: Commodifying Disability and Capitalizing on Fear by Catherine Kushan. The chidren cant even have open discussions with other inmates there for fear of being punished and losing privileges. When I came back to real life I had forgotten how to smile and had to train myself to make facial expressions that corresponded to the emotions I should have felt in various circumstances. 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. Fact-Finding and Discovery Find out about "discovery" -- the process by which opponents in a lawsuit get information from each other to establish facts in the case. Its funny, almost all of the kids that left as a level 5 or 4 ARE DOING DRUGS AND ARE DOING WORSE AT HOME, goes to show how little the program works. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. 54A District Court 124 W. Michigan Ave., #54A Lansing, MI 48933 (517) 483-4433 Court Website. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. In Season 1, Episode 2 ("Under Siege"), the Raneys went to Virginia to help couple Kim and Josh Zabec the owners of Revolutionary Roots Farm after pigs had ruined part of their homestead. The level-system consists of five levels, which the boys progress through by earning points for good behavior while avoiding demerits for negative behaviors and rule infractions. Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. agolden@skyhinews.com. Your child will be put in with kids that are older than their age group, that were in gangs, that are addicted to drugs, etc. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. Your PRECIOUS child is NOT safe here! Their website lists the following conditions the program claims to treat: various mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, and oppositional defiance the last of which is no longer listed in the DSM substance abuse and other addictions, eating disorders [] learning disorders and nonverbal learning disability [] social struggles, low self-esteem, adoption/attachment issues, and grief and loss The unadvertised conditions that I witnessed among detainees included being LGBT, Internet addiction, and one girl in particular was sent there for having a black boyfriend. If you are at all struggling and/or would like to talk to someone who can relate, please do not hesitate to contact me through this post and Id be happy to exchange information so we can talk. Are they just being a teenager? First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. When the program opened, it housed both boys and girls on the same campus, but kept them completely seperate in different parts of the campus. I ended up running away from this program and deciding on a much better program that actually wanted to help people. linus pauling vitamin c, lysine protocol. We were victims of abuse. We have created this bond because unless you went through a detention center such as DR, you will not understand. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. We believe that teens are more than their diagnosis. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. We will not share your information. He will be expected to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes daily exercise and well-balanced meals. Although the system failed us, my peers and I have created somewhat of a little support group to cope and its helped us tremendously. I didnt ask to see that.. (During my stay, a kid in a different house was repeatedly raped by another kid for days until he was caught.) I have constant dreams where bugs are crawling all over my skin and I wake up screaming from anxiety. I felt like i somehow deserved to be treated like this and I think a part of me knew I could never stand living in the real world after all this happened. And the horrible part? May their souls rest in peace. Please reach out to me for questions, I will do my best to educate you on what is happening and get you current information. . On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. It began with a lawsuit filed by Hannah Archuleta, who appeared on Dr. Phil in 2019 and then went to the Turn-About Ranch. 0. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Discovery is the legal term used to describe the different processes that require parties in a lawsuit to exchange information that each side possesses. Our academic program meets your son at his level. if I saw him today i would punch him in the face. I wish I could give negitive stars! When I came back to real life I had forgotten how to smile and had to train myself to make facial expressions that corresponded to the emotions I should have felt in various circumstances. These programs are money makers. Are they just being a teenager? Regardless of what they were there for, NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE TREATED AS INHUMANELY AS CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF WERE. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Each part of his daily experience will reinforce his therapeutic goals. If anything, kids got worse from being here. The kids come out shell shocked, traumatized and fearful. Michele (Yelp), 2012: (PARENT) As a father I was treated poorly. Although the system failed us, my peers and I have created somewhat of a little support group to cope and its helped us tremendously. Therapeutic experiences challenge your son to learn and grow. They love tossing kids emotional and mental state around for worse, or they will lie about problems that a kid doesnt have just to keep kids there longer.They will try to keep kids from telling you from what is really going on, the use their security measures as a punishment Instead of safety and they can, have, and will threaten kids. Discovery Ranch a Utah corporation doing business as Discovery Ranch, Discovery Connections Attorney/Law Firm Details Plaintiff Attorneys Kathryn J. Steffey Attorney at SMITH HARTVIGSEN PLLC 257 E 200 S Ste 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Clayton H. Preece Attorney at SMITH HARTVIGSEN PLLC 257 E 200 S Ste 500 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Court Documents Listen to your child, and dont fall into the traps that programs make which lead parents to think their child is untrustworthy, a liar, manipulator, etc. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. The facility in Utah is run like a prison. 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. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. 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. Even though I have left the program, if I dont follow their horribly rigorous and reclusive aftercare rules I go back. Discovery Ranch only wants to know and talk about their truth which is nothing close to reality. discovery ranch lawsuit. 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. I had no contact with the outside world except letters to my parents which were censored, and observed phone calls once a month. I still hear screams from my friends being restrained in the back of my mind. First, let me begin by stating that sending your kid anywhere is a traumatic experience they will have for the rest of their life. Also there were lawsuits against this place. Now, other past guests on the show are coming forward with similar stories, including . 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. 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. (only the higher rank kids would be allowed to do this). They only allow astonishing ones to pass. Terrible place dont send your child here. You and your son will work to rebuild your relationship with weekly family therapy, family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. No one deserves what they really do to people. The reason I am writing this now is because I ended up becoming an alcoholic and drug addict once I went to college and had finally had complete freedom. We were treated like we were in prison, and if we stepped out of line, we had our privileges taken away. It makes me fucking sick that this place, along with HUNDREDS of others, still exists, quietly protected under the umbrella of the state government of Utah, and that parents are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for their children to be tortured and driven insane or into obedient, soulless sociopaths. Anonymous (Tales from the Black School), 7/8/2013: (SURVIVOR) DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM! And before you tell me that was a long time ago, I am a part of multiple survivor groups online for former students from DR and other abusive programs in Utah. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. 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., In February of 2015, a former resident at DR and his family filed a lawsuit against the school reporting that the boy was violently and repeatedly sexually assaulted by another resident at the program. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. Also a staff there named Matt polson threatened to restrain me several times. (and have it be removed weeks later). Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. They dont let parents talk freely to their own child. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. If you have any logic in your brain in the slightest then you should realize how goddamn stupid it would be to send your kid to this shit hole. , Its been about 8-9 years since I left DR; Im now 25 and although I dont dwell on what happened so much anymore, this place has had such a negative impact on my life. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. ), 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. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. The main issue I have with this place is that it literally fucked up my education so bad that Im 17 and still in freshman English. This website uses cookies and third party services. It is run like a prison. I understand that people need to help themselves and I cannot blame Discovery Ranch for my decisions but this environment definitely did not promote positive change in my life. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. I didnt ask to see that.. In May 2018, the family that owns Blind Frog Ranch in Moab, Utah, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM . And the horrible part? On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. I suggest seeking different options for your child. As per Discovery, intruders have appeared on the land at Blind Frog Ranch in many forms. 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. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. Also there were lawsuits against this place. 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. 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. The amounts of times I screamed out loud in physical/mental exhaustion from being undermined and unheard is uncountable. Are they just being a teenager? There may be more reports for "Discovery Ranch for girls" For more results perform a general search for "Discovery Ranch for girls" Showing 1-1 of 1 . These issues include: At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. The parties fought over depositions and the production of documents, among other things, in various states where witnesses were located. It is degrading and disrespectful and I will forever hate this program as they manipulate people into spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to not help there kids. Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. 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.. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. 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.. They often cause way more harm than good. 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. Residential Treatment is an Intensive Healing Experience, Individual, family, and group therapy all take place within a residential treatment setting. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. Overpriced, over rateddo not send your child there if you care about them. Seek other avenues for your child. Keith (Yelp), 6/28/2013: (PARENT) This is the worst place to send your child. The staff often used abusive behaviors and were very rude to us. A free inside look at company reviews and salaries posted anonymously by employees. He said that he was abused by a staff member while there. dont do this to your child We are all begging you. Countless amounts of times seeing staff restrain kids in inhumane ways. 19K views, 49 likes, 17 loves, 159 comments, 10 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from FOX 13 News: UTAH RANCH LAWSUIT - A teen is filing a lawsuit against a Utah ranch where she says she was sexually. The entire facility is designed to create a rich therapeutic and healing environment. Let us help. The tuition is reported to be anywhere between $6,500 to $12,000 per month. Blind Frog Ranch Lawsuit. Its sick and I hope in the future these places will be illegal and I will NEVER send my kids to one of these places. They have the same goals in mind. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. I was 15 years old. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. I suggest seeking different options for your child. Clinton Dorny is the Executive Director of Discovery Ranch. Therapy was more like brainwashing than therapy. At Discovery Ranch we understand that when your teen is in trouble, your whole family is in trouble. In fact, the administration at discovery ranch intentionally delayed my high school graduation by refuting me the right to do my classes in order to keep me there longer. They often cause way more harm than good. Also if you notice, a large majority of the 5 star ratings are from former staff as opposed to parents/students. William (Google Reviews), 6/1/2020: (SURVIVOR) Through my stay I personally witnessed: Two suicide attempts. Not a single one of us agree that this program helped us or our relationships with our families. Proof is attached as an image. I had never done drugs, drank, or even smoked a cigarette at this point in my life. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. how to walk a human a dogs guide. 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. Throughout your sons experience at Discovery Ranch he will have the support of caring, educated, experienced professionals. I posted this exact review several times spacing itself out several months. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. 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. I am not the only victim. They are very abusive and they will lie to you. Both boys have turned out well however, my brother has trauma from the experience. We respect your privacy. If you have a child with attention deficit disorder do not send your son here BECAUSE it is like water boarding to have a kid sit in a room for 7 hours straight and have them study all day even though they are trying. You have been warned and I still have ptsd and Ive been going to therapy for 2 and a half years and more to come. You can be assured that your son will not confront these challenges alone. Their website lists the following conditions the program claims to treat: various mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, and oppositional defiance the last of which is no longer listed in the DSM substance abuse and other addictions, eating disorders [] learning disorders and nonverbal learning disability [] social struggles, low self-esteem, adoption/attachment issues, and grief and loss The unadvertised conditions that I witnessed among detainees included being LGBT, Internet addiction, and one girl in particular was sent there for having a black boyfriend. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. At Discovery Ranch for Boys, we hold ourselves to the highest professional standards. It is degrading and disrespectful and I will forever hate this program as they manipulate people into spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to not help there kids. 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. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. We would act like we loved the treatment center, and that there wasnt any abuse going on. Discovery Ranch is an Ascent Company behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. These programs are money makers. This investigative process is aptly named "discovery," because it often turns up facts and documents that were previously unknown -- to at . 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. NAAS is an organization that has accredited many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including many WWASP programs. 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. They would yell at us and use excessive force. I had an IEP at my old school because I cant learn that easily but the program directors convinced my parents I was too lazy to do work that I had trouble doing. 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. 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.