946. Arivaca Boys Ranch
The facility was located in Arizona. The target group was teenage boys. Feedback from parents were very mixed as it seemed that the diagnoses the teenage boys arrived with was a bit too complicated for the mostly untrained staff to handle.
Here are some of the reviews.
Absolutely DO NOT send your kiddo here for treatment of ADHD, PTSD, ODD or other mental health issues. They are not qualified to provide care for these types of challenges. I placed my son there just last Friday (6/18/2021) and by Monday I received a call that they couldn’t handle him. The therapist who called me literally said “I am talking to him softly and trying to redirect him but it is not working”. She then asked me what she should do!! They were fully aware of his history of prior hospitalizations, trauma and aggression and yet they still led me to believe they could help him.
Keep in mind, we live 1600 miles away and I had literally just returned home after placing him in their care when they called me. My son was transferred to a local crisis center and then to a local behavioral center (he is actually still there until we can make other arrangements to get him back closer to home). I cannot even begin to imagine how much additional trauma my son has experienced with all of this.
Jody P. from California
My son went about five years ago and now I hear about all the things that went on. I fought with Ron that entire 10 months he was there because they did not have the people and staff that were adequate for what these kids needed. Kids were getting the drugs for the horses, Ron sold out to my sons father who was the enabler for a truck and other things that could be used by his school. He doesn’t care about the children that are there and it’s only about the money. This is the most unprofessional, understaffed,
Sandra L. from Mesa
And enabling place you could send your child. The counselors aren’t even to the caliber they should be. Once they get your money, they care less what your child does or if he ever gets healthy. If you have a parent that is enabling your child, they can buy Ron out to let the child do whatever they want as long as you give Ron money or other things. It is a big joke now with my son five years later and what a horrible place this was and not helpful at all! Ron is basically a money hungry uncaring human. Save your money and put it somewhere else. If this place isn’t shut down now it should be shut down! When you look at the bad reviews, trust them. I noticed that my review from years ago that was bad was taken down by them. So, I am putting another one on here in case they are not closed
people should be aware that this just a money making scheme for the owner. That would be you Ron. You should hang your head in shame. You care nothing about the boys or their sobriety.
Sources:
- Arivaca Boys Ranch (Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora)
- Arivaca Boys Ranch (Project Unsilenced)
- Arivaca Boys Ranch (2007-present) Arivaca, AZ (Anti-Troubled Teen Industry Activism & Survivor Support)
945. Brooklawn
Brooklawn is a treatment center in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2022 the media reported that a child aged only 7-year-old had died at the facility.
When the cause of death was reported to be positional asphyxia it became clear that the guidelines the employees follow was very wrong. In the end, it is always the responsibility of the management and in the end the owners to secure that employees work using guidelines that does not bring risk of harm and death to the children, they have in their care.
It cannot be fun to be there as a child.
Sources:
- Boy who died at Brooklawn children’s center in Louisville identified (Louisville Courier Journal)
- 7-year-old died at Kentucky youth treatment center due to suffocation, autopsy finds; 2 workers fired (Louisville Courier Journal)
944. Vista Dimple Dell Canyon
In 2022 the center was reported to be about to close. The media spoke of numerous complaints concerning the treatment of the patients.
Reviews are not that positive. Here are some testimonies from former patients:
Nobody should EVER go through the abuse kids are put through here. Every single day since the day I was released from this prison atmosphere two years ago I have to deal with the trauma I have from this place. Not only was I not allowed to speak (a basic human right) for weeks at a time (once for leaving a bottle of shampoo in the shower on accident), but staff forced kids to turn on each other and bash each other in group settings. I will never be the same person and left the program with lifetime resent towards my parents and countless mental health issues.
Kristen on Google
I am about a year and a half out from this program and have had time think about the six months i spent there. I still have a lot to work through and am currently working on with my current therapist. I feel as if I can confidently say that Vista Sage shattered my trust in the therapist client relationship for a while along with my confidence to succeed. I would highly recommend finding other places ( preferably in the woods ) for your children if you don’t want them to resent you for the rest of their lives. This place is a breeding ground for people to get rich off the backs of kids that are just trying to get by. Very Disappointing and I hope more people come out about their experience.
Celeste on Google
I attended this place in 2018. When I got there, instantly I knew that this place was not going to benefit my mental health. The staff basically makes it known that snitching on other students and betraying their trust, would further your treatment. If I did anything wrong, their solution was to not allow me to speak, or anyone to speak to me for a week. Not too sure how that is supposed to do anything other than make the child feel alone and desperate. I had multiple staff/ therapists tell me I was never going to change if I decided to leave when I turned 18. One of the therapist, who wasn’t even assigned to me, made it a point to have everyone gather in a group and literally shame me for everything I did infront of me. Not to mention they tried to hide from the parents the fact that staff were sneaking vapes in for the kids. This place is truly disgusting to the core. It’s because of places like this that breaking code silence exists. I hope everyone who went here is recovering from the trauma I know most of us still deal with. I honestly wish I could write a whole book on how horrible Vista Sage is.
Anna on Google
It does not sound like a fun place to be as a teenager.
Sources:
- Utah youth treatment center is closing after 26 former residents were sued for abuse and maltreatment (Local News)
- Vista Treatment Centers (1991-present) Magna/Sandy, UT (Anti-Troubled Teen Industry Activism & Survivor Support)
- Vista Treatment Centers (Project Unsilenced)
943. Take Care
Take Care was a group home located in Maribo on the southern island Lolland in Denmark. In 2021 and 2022 the media published several articles questioning the use of force against the youth placed at the facilities. Late 2022 the police in Denmark charged 6 employees for the use of unnecessary force against the youth.
Also the question about the economy was questioned as the facility charged the social services DKK 75,000 per month for treatment of the youth while the facilities donated an amount of between 150,000 and 200,000 to care abroad.
The facilities were closed by the authorities in 2022. The management is trying to reopen the facilities under new names. Ubasen seems to be one of them.
Later a trial against 6 employees were started. They were charged with various accounts of assault.
Sources:
- På kant med loven – omstridt opholdssted brugte kommunale kroner på nødhjælp (TV2 East – in Danish language)
- Seks pædagoger fra lukket opholdssted tiltalt for vold og ulovlig tvang (TV2 East – in Danish language)
- Overgreb mod børn på opholdssted – nu lukker socialtilsynet stedet (DK Social – in Danish language)
- Unge udsat for overgreb – nu klager deres opholdssted til Ankestyrelsen (Aalborg Universitet – in Danish language)
- Seks pædagoger tiltalt for vold og ulovlig tvang – nu begynder retssagen (TV2 Nyhederne)
942. Pohjolakoti
Pohjolakoti located in Muhos, Finland is a group home controlled by the organisation Nuorten Ystävät. They run a number units for the child welfare authorities, people with special needs and people in need of social rehabilitation and employment. They also control some private schools and clubhouses.
The Pohjolakoti group home became a subject of investigations back in 2011 when it was revealed that they had detained children in prison cells. Also the use of restraints was criticized. While the investigation did not result in any criminal conviction, it forced the facility to make changes in its policies.
However it could not have been fun to be there as a teenager before the attention by medias forced the changes to be made.
Sources:
- Nuorten Ystävät (Wikipedia)
- Has anyone heard of Pohjolakoti in Muhos, Finland? (Reddit r/TroubledTeens)
- Syyttäjä ei nosta syytteitä yhdestä Muhoksen Pohjolakotiin liittyvästä rikoskokonaisuudesta – viisi kokonaisuutta yhä syyteharkinnassa (Kaleva – in local language)
- Poliisi sai valmiiksi Muhoksen Pohjolakotia koskevan esitutkinnan – syyttäjälle siirtyy seitsemän epäiltyä rikosta nuorten huonosta kohtelusta (YLE – in local language)
941. Solbacka Läroverk
Solbacka Läroverk was a boarding school foundeed in 1901 which closed in 1973.
For the first number of decades it was for boys only but in the late 1940’s, girls were allowed to enter. It closed due failing enrollment.
Later the daily life and testimonies of abuse were revealed. The book “Ondskan” by Jan Guillou is written based on his experiences at Solbacka.
It could not have been fun to be there as a student.
Sources:
- Solbacka läroverk (Wikipedia – in Swedish language)
- Kostskoler udvikler sociale krøblinge (Dagbladet Informantion – in Danish language)
- ‘Close all boarding schools!’ (Nordstjernen)
940. TSI Owens Cross Roads
This facility will change name. If it will change its way, remains to doubt. Fact is that criticism against the facility include unsafe living conditions, staff abuse and neglect, and improper and excessive use of restraints. A number of students tried to escape the facility over the years making themselves and possible residents at risk.
As of May 2022 it is empty.
Numerous facilities operated by Sequel TSI have been investigated. Because Sequel TSI basically is a business they rebrand as Brighter Path of Alabama, so they can continue their way to conduct business after using some paint and money on new marketing material. Why the authorities fall for this scheme remains a mystery.
It could not have been fun to be there as a teenager.
Sources:
939. Capital Christian School
The Capital Christian School located in Sacramento, has recently been in the news when former students told the world of the abuse they suffered of the hands of a former teacher. An abuse they claimed the school was informed of. Also more recently parents were surprised that they were kept in the dark of alleged abuse while the police investigated.
Sometime might indicated that it could not be fun to be a students at the school if you are one of the unlucky ones who falls victim for a molester.
Sources:
- Men accusing former Capital Christian teacher of abuse speak out (Newsbreak)
- Parents Notified 6 Months After Accusations Against Sacramento Teacher (CBS 13 Sacramento)
- Christian school in California investigating possible teacher sexual misconduct; parents informed after seven months into investigation (The Christian Times)
938. Huronia Regional Center
Huronia Regional Center was also known as Ontario Hospital School and Orillia Asylum for Idiots was opened in 1876. It closed in 2009.
It has its own cemetery consisting of 1440 unmarked graves and 571 numbered graves. Some have since been removed.
After the closure the authorities apologizes and compensated some of the victims for the abuse they suffered at the facility.
It could not have been fun to be there as a child.
Sources:
- Huronia Regional Centre (Wikipedia)
- The history (Remember every name)
- A Mohawk Huronia Regional Centre survivor speaks out about the abuse he says he endured (Global News)
- Her brothers suffered abuse and neglect at Huronia care centre. Now she’s telling their story (CBC)
937. MacLaren Children’s Center
MacLaren Children’s Center was opened sometime in the 1940’s. Due to overcrowding and change of the categories of children who was placed there it transformed from a traditional group home to a kind of youth prison. Many children tried to run away and criticism arose against the conditions offered to the children.
MacLaren was closed in 2003 after a pair of lawsuits alleged that staff had physically abused dozens of residents and that the facility routinely failed to properly care for children with emotional and behavioral problems.
Since the closure claims of abuse have been made.
It could not be fun to be there as a child.
Sources:
- MacLaren Hall Sex Abuse in Los Angeles (Herman Law – Voice for victims)
- Decades later, former foster children allege abuse at MacLaren Children’s Center (LA Times)
- ‘House of Horrors’: Twelve Former Residents of MacLaren Hall Sue Los Angeles County for Failing to Protect Them From Sexual Predators at Children’s Emergency Shelter (Cision PR Newswire)
- MacLaren Children’s Center in El Monte, Two Decades Since Closure (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY IN TIME)
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