Feedbacks about Eagle Ranch Academy near St. George in Utah - Volume II

This testimony was found on Reddit. All rights go to the original author which has chosen to remain unnamed.

I've thrown pieces of my story around this sub a couple of times, but nothing too memorable, so I'll just leave it short and sweet by saying I had an extremely abusive childhood, coupled with absentee parents, and was eventually put into two separate "troubled youth" facilities - one for 41 days which wasn't bad minus transport and solitary confinement and the other for a year and a handful of months, which was abusive, demeaning, and awful - for running away from home to avoid being sent to a clearly neglected - we took a tour together - facility in my home state for, as my parents stated, "someone to do our parenting for us" - yes, verbatim. I never had a drug problem, never committed any crimes, and was simply trying to take control of my life before they continued to beat me into the ground any further - wouldn't recommend it, but in my situation it was all I could do. I needed something to change.

Anyway, It's been quite some years since I've been in either facility, I'm an adult, I've moved past it - for the most part, some PTSD and anxiety still sticks around but it's nothing I can't live with - and I'm trying to make up for the time I lost. Unfortunately, due to financial hardship, I've had to move back in with my parents temporarily - with someone else, no worries, he keeps me sane - and it's been rocky but bearable. Today, however, my mother brings up that one of the program directors of the abusive facility I attended emailed her to check up the other day, and she was going to forward it to me so I could maybe have a nice chat and give him an update? To which I say - a little rudely, today has been excessively rough for a sea of reasons - "Why on earth would you forward me that? Why in gods name would I want to look back on that time in my life?" She then tries to change my attitude. "Oh brother. Why not start looking at that time as a positive, instead of sitting in self pity?" This has been a constant point of disagreement for us since I left the program. I've taken accountability for the things I did to get myself there - running away isn't acceptable, our lack of communication was all of our faults, etc. - but I refuse to believe that sending me there was the best/their only option. As well, I've gained some knowledge and changed some traits because of my time there, but I refuse to see that experience as a positive. Nothing about what I witnessed there was acceptable, respectful of the clients, or in-line with my morals. I was ripped from my bed in the middle of the night and driven three states away with a single bathroom break, no food, no water, no explanation, and constant bullying from the transporters. I was subjected to cruel and rather unusual methods of punishment, and made to feel like I wasn't a valuable human being - nonetheless a human being. Sure, I graduated high school early, but that's a small upside to the situation overall. Along with that, my parents are now in a pool of debt whilst unemployed because they spent both my and their savings on this place that is admittedly dishonest to potential customers - they'd even have us clients feed hopeful parents stories to keep their interest.

She scoffs at me any time I try and explain to her why I try and ignore that period of my life, and won't look at it as a good thing. Is it just denial, and her trying to feel alright with her decision, or is there just no hope for getting parents to believe the wrongdoings of facilities that convince them their kids are manipulating when they explain the troubles they face from these programs?

tl;dr: went to two programs, try to discuss how awful they were with parents years down the line as an adult, constantly belittled and told i'm dramatizing it. no hope to reach the same page?

Sources:

• Parents who expect you to look on your time in these facilities as a good thing? (Reddit troubled teen - link with the original testimony)
• Factsheet about the facility (Fornits Wiki)
• Other facilities (Safe Teen Schools)

Mshiloh at Eagle Ranch Academy

This testimony was found on Merchant Circle. All rights goes to the author known as Mshiloh.

Self-Esteem Loss and Emotional Trauma

I was been through many trials and painful events (varying from sexual abuse to physical torture), however, the darkest and most hopeless time of my life was the 11 months I spent in Eagle Ranch Academy.

When I left the facility, I was reduced to a raw, traumatized, pathetic creature. I say creature because that's the way I was trained to view myself while there. I have never felt so worthless. They practice degrading and humiliating disciplines that still haunt me from time to time. I've been able to heal from the emotional turmoil and abuse I experienced at ERA through years of therapy and self-esteem development. I now love myself and am functioning normally, but Eagle Ranch took what little self-worth I had at the time and dissolved it with sick treatment and twisted methods of "behavior modification".

Eagle Ranch restricts communication content with family members with a term called "manipulation". Any communication outside of the facility involving negative comments about the program and their treatment is immediately intervened. Once a week, 10 minute phone calls are monitored and terminated if the we mentioned the abuse. We were allowed to write a limited amount postcards to our families. They chose postcards as stationary so they could review the letter and ensure there was no "manipulative" content.

From an outside perspective, some of the rules and practices of the facility seem normal, but much more is revealed from the inside that only former ERA residents are able to describe. The people in my "pod" and I had to play a role in order to be released from the facility. We had to, as we called it, "fake it 'til we make it". Many of the staff who were sincere quit their jobs there because of the abusive environment.They would tell us that they cared about us, but just couldn't support this facility and its tactics. I have kept in touch with my former ERA residents, and EVERY SINGLE ONE has testified of the abuse and pain from the program. Most have relapsed on drugs, alcohol, and/or other risky behaviors. Those of us who are emotionally stable today, accredit NONE of it to Eagle Ranch Academy.

The program is a waste of your hard-earned money and a damage to your child's self-worth. Please, please don't send your child to Eagle Ranch Academy. This is a genuine plead. I am an intelligent, insightful person, and I can honestly say that this program has caused me a degree of permanent damage. I thank my family and loved ones for listening and helping me to recover as much as I have. If you love your child, which I know you do- otherwise you wouldn't be considering treatment programs, seek other options.

I pray that ERA will be brought to justice, but until then, I pray that my testimonial will help parents look into other programs/treatments and other former Eagle Ranch residents to speak out. Thank you.

Sources:

The original testimony Factsheet about the facility (Fornits Wiki) Staff list (HEAL-online)

Analysing former contract from Eagle Ranch Academy

Years ago a student of the law analyzed part of the contract from Eagle Ranch Academy. We will publish parts of the rapport as soon we are finishing analyzing it.

The first two parts are from the contract. The last part is the remarks of the student.

Question:

"What happened the first few hours after my child arrived at Eagle Ranch Academy?

Answer:

Upon arrival, your child was immediately transferred from their escort to the Program or Assistant Program Director who took your child to our family room and spent a few minutes talking to them. Two staff members escorted your child to a private room and spent time getting to know your child and outlined our program.

During this process the two staff members that were with your child were of the same gender as your child. All personal clothing, etc., are stored and given to you during your first campus visit. Your child was then issued formal Eagle Ranch Academy uniforms and all other personal items needed during their stay at ERA. A current student was then assigned as a mentor or “buddy” that will be with your child for the next few days."

Remarks from the student

First, if this is a "voluntary only" program, why do children need to be transported by "escorts" (paid kidnappers who arrive in the middle of the night/very early morning to shock, restrain, and spirit away a child to an arguably illegal lockdown facility)? In the introduction letter of the enrollment packet above, ERA states it is a voluntary program and that children in the program must be there voluntarily. This is obviously a deceptive statement as coercion is used to get the child to "volunteer" to remain in the program. If you deprive a person of any hope of going home and promise nothing but torture and pain for non-compliance, you can probably get them to "volunteer" for anything. This is not the true volunteerism that comes from the will or desire of the individual volunteering, but, coerced conformity.

The manipulation of language in this sense is dubious and suggests that ERA is an abusive program. It is very nice to say that the two staff "spent time getting to know your child", but, the reality is they performed a strip search including possibly restraining your child to the ground, ripping off their clothes, and having untrained and unqualified staff perform a full body cavity search on your child. If your child has any history of being physically or sexually abused, this will re-traumatize them and no extra care will be used to safeguard a sexual assault victim from a violent takedown and strip search if the staff "deem it necessary" (and they will/do). The fact that it was a strip search is reinforced by the fact that the director finds it necessary to state that the two staff members are the same gender as the child being searched.

The Q & A claims that all personal items will be returned, but, the contract above states that ERA keeps no inventory and accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen items. So, their promotional materials (i.e. Q & A form) contradict the contract and point to deceptive marketing practices. The assignment of a "buddy" is typically the assignment of an "upper level" student who will be given control over your child and will use manipulation, lies, abuse, and sabotage to "help" your child be broken so he/she too can become a slave to the program and begin the process of "earning" the right to be treated like a human being. The fact that the "buddy" is assigned for a few days is also misleading. The "buddy" will remain until your child shows signs of submitting to the program.

Sources:

• Old version of talk page (Secret Prisons for teens - Can only be viewed in Denmark)
• Factsheet about the program (Fornits Wiki)

Feedbacks about Eagle Ranch Academy near St. George in Utah - Volume I

We have searched the Internet about Eagle Ranch Academy in Utah. We have gathered feedbacks from both former students and parents of former students. All rights go to the original authors:

"Decieved mother of 1" stated:

This place is a torture chamber for youth! My daughter is currently incarerated there & I can't get her out! They brainwash these children, physically & emotionally abuse them, force them to go through emotional "growth" seminars that are humilating & degrading. Their website is a complete LIE. Google Dr. Moody who is currently employed by ERA. He use to work for the CIA ,they are using the same methods the CIA & government uses that have been considered inhumane and against the Geneva Conventions! DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO THIS LOCK DOWN PRISON!! Staff members have molested children there, they do not get a proper education, they are forced to carry large stacks of books around for days, they are forced to carry around large back packs full of sand & rocks at all times for punishment, children have been physically beaten& molested. DO NOT SIGN YOUR RIGHTS AWAY!They ARE NOT regulated by the state of Utah as they claim to be. If your child is currently in ERA, GET THEM OUT NOW!!!!

Lili stated: FIND ANOTHER WAY

This place is torture. i was there about a year ago and i still can't seem to move past it. It has emotionally scared me. The treatment tactics are inhumane and abusive. I haven't been able to get past the sense of worthlessness that i felt when i was there. I felt as though nothing i did or said mattered and i deserved everything that came to me. I was a bad kid so i deserved to carry around this backpack filled with sand. I was a bad kid so i deserved to be put on ghost for months at a time. ( ghost is when absolutely no one can talk to you or associate with you in any way.. its like you don't exist) I would never recommend sending your child to one of these places. find different alternatives. No parent should ever sign the costody of their child away to some institution they saw online. (by the way the website lies about everything)

decline to state stated: find another way

i was a student at eagle ranch academy for 5 months. i am now an adult trying to make something of myself. looking back on the experience, i cant believe these people are still in business. the staff uses threats or force to get things done if anyone defies them. the psychiatrist that shows up once a month or so doesnt think twice about putting still-developing young adults on serious medications that arent used for fully grown adults today. the food is an unhealthy mess, i myself gained 50 pounds in my 5 months, its been 2 years since i arrived there and im still struggling to lose the weight. any student who resists the program is 'staffed,' a process involving psychological torture on a daily basis, in order to 'break' the unruly students spirit. im writing this for a number of reasons. 1. so that parents dont blow away their life savings on this sham of a program 2. so that teens and young adults dont have to go through a drug induced brainwashing 3. i still cant sleep sometimes

Jude stated: Don't do it!

I was forced into ERA 3 years ago and it still effects me to this day. I honestly don't know how this place hasn't been shut down yet. I thought for sure someone would of spoken up by now. I will never forget some of the traumatic events that occured while i was at ERA and it is safe to say the program DOES NOT work. Parents--please don't waist you're money. These people are psychos, they took from me 8 months of my life i can never take back... I would not wish this place on my worst enemies, never mind my own children. Please, if you are a parent thinking on sending your child here, I have a first hand perspective.. it doesn't work. save your money.

Sources:

• Page with the original statements (Merchant Cicle)
• Factsheet about the facility (Fornits Wiki)
• List of employees (HEAL-online)