The legislation also requires facilities to develop suicide prevention policies, which include a plan for how they will respond when a child is self-harming or is suicidal. Service Settings. Comes from addressing the root of the addiction- not just the addiction itself. Email. Prescription medication can keep you comfortable during treatment by reducing opioid cravings and other symptoms of withdrawal. It is a co-ed facility that helps students through clinical services. Name. deductible, Report a missed paper by [email protected] calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or [email protected]. Information in the story may be outdated That is where hope begins. It seeks to provide clinical services, education, and other programs for teens, both girls and boys, that are identified as at-risk. SUBMIT. 43. Thats my child. Take the first step. With a Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission, Highland Ridge Hospital is renowned as one of Utah's leading providers of behavioral healthcare and substance abuse treatment. They have exceptional staff from there teachers, to counselors, group home and administration, a loved one wrote in a representative review. Our goal is to partner with clients to help them achieve their highest potential. Programming also includes individual, family, and group counseling. Away from friends, family, her culture. The treatment team has experience helping individuals struggling with problems surrounding adoption, addiction, depression, anxiety, family problems, and other mental health disorders. It allows for the alcoholic/addict to deal and cope with life's challenges in the real world as they have clinical arms wrapped around them, are held to a healthy balance of accountability and take advantage of the support offered by others who are successfully recovering. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax The loved one polled by Best-rehabs.com to date gave five out of five stars for accommodations and amenities. Suite E. Salt Lake City, UT 84123. Ultimately, her taking her own life at West Ridge Academy was foreseeable. Why was she so far from home? her mother asked. If the issues that this facility, or any facility, is addressing are too complex for that facility, the most important thing is to get the children to a place [where] they can be taken care of, he said. It exists to create an environment of real change for future generations. This alliance helps the client gain the necessary skills in life to lead a joyful, value-based, offense-free lifestyle. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) West Ridge Academy in West Jordan, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. WEST JORDAN An employee at a school for troubled teens has been charged with child abuse and accused of breaking the wrist of a boy who was acting out. I love her. [9], West Ridge also provides a day program called Sunshine Solutions for underprivileged local kids, age five and up which provides "summer activities, positive mentors and emotional growth to help them learn how to make good decisions". [34], The academy is nondenominational and open to all regardless of religious affiliation,[3][10] but has had a number of connections with the LDS Church throughout the academy's history. West Ridge Academy 5500 West Bagley Park Road West Jordan, Utah 84081. ABOUT WEST RIDGE ACADEMY. In-home assessments are $300, in-office assessments are $200, and outpatient sessions are $85. The report said she was given ten minutes of privacy to shower and had then asked a staff member for more time to go to the bathroom, where she then attempted to end her life. The Charter School Board approved the application and transition in January 2016, but the state's Board of Education reversed the decision the following month, denying the application without prejudice, amid allegations of abuse and financial insolvency. Our team of professionals provide a wide variety of treatment methods aimed to help you feel better and get your life back on track. (801) 253-0365. [29], West Ridge has been the subject of several lawsuits, including personal injury lawsuits in 2008 and 2010. She died by suicide at West Ridge Academy on Nov. 14. The West Jordan detective didnt seem worried about foul play, the report reads, and the medical examiner ruled Kirstas death a suicide. Parents sue a Utah treatment center after their daughter from Bermuda died by suicide (courtesy photo) Kirsta Simons, a 17-year-old Bermudian girl, was sent by child welfare workers to a Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Andy Larsen: Heres where National Weather Service forecasts flooding, in the short term and the long term, Murray police officers were justified in their use of force against a 52-year-old man who died after arrest, Salt Lake County D.A. Therapeutic goals address personal issues and mental health issues, and will aid in helping the client gain and maintain healing interpersonal connections. Therapy strategies comprise: Cognitive/behavioral therapy. [22] There are several elderly couples called as LDS service missionaries at the academy. We serve adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations. Treatment Center Details. She had suicidal ideations. To know there was no one held responsible is a slap in the face. Individual and Group Therapy focuses on whole and healthy recovery around mental and emotional challenges using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Follow Us. coed Grades: Ages 9-17 Students: 150 Faculty: N/A. Therapy sessions can help you identify the behavioral, emotional, and social effects of addiction and provide an opportunity for our experienced counselors to teach you strategies to cope with urges to use in the future. Your youth doesnt need to struggle another minute. Soon after the second request, David O. McKay, then president of the LDS Church, donated $10,000 to support the Utah Boys Ranch. It seeks to provide clinical services, education, and other programs for teens, both girls and boys, that are identified as at-risk. minutes. Keep up with the latest by browsing live, upcoming and past games. They further stated that removing children from their home and placing them in Division of Child and Family Services care, like Kirsta was, is only done as a last resort.. A Utah youth residential treatment center will not be disciplined by state regulators after a teen girl from Bermuda died by suicide there last November. Theyve changed the way they decide which students require more supervision for their safety, she said, and also added more lighting and signage across the campus to better assist emergency workers when they are called. Tyler Haunga Feinga, 21, of West Jordan, was charged May 4 in 3rd District Court with child abuse, a class A misdemeanor. Connect with your inner- strength and take that first step toward healing. Police closed the case without taking action, and Utah regulators didnt discipline West Ridge Academy. 5500 Bagley Park Rd, West Jordan, UT 84081. westridgeacademy.com TYPE: Therapeutic Schools. This place did amazing things for my son. But she was rushed to hospital on November 14 that year and died the following day. 3.3. The death of 17-year-old Taylor Goodridge at Diamond Ranch Academy is the latest test for Utah's will to regulate the "troubled teen industry" Its a big void in my heart that can never be filled, she said, Kirsta, even though she wasnt in my care, I loved her. Call or Email West Ridge Academy for a free consultation now - (801) 669-9115 x1124. Reading or replaying the story in its [30] On January 9, 2009, Salt Lake City radio station KRCL invited Buttars, current West Ridge staff, and the student to the talk show RadioActive! Lawyers for Kirstas parents allege that West Ridge was negligent. West Ridge Academy received nearly $850,000 of that money, according to data from Bermuda officials. This approach is highly effective, see testimonials from other clients on our website. Spacious facilities on 50-acres include living quarters, two schools, the cafeteria, religious buildings, a gymnasium, a medical office, and outdoor sport areas. Kirsta had been in the foster care system, and Bermudian child welfare officials made the choice. Kirsta had been on suicide watch in the days before her death, according to a police report, but she was allowed to have 10 minutes of privacy to shower. Thats when she hanged herself. View 8 Photos. We serve adults 18+ with mental health and/or substance use. Our spacious mountain-style residences in Park City and Heber City offer individuals a refuge where they can process their experiences and start over in sobriety while receiving comprehensive, compassionate care. Strengths:Faith based Weakness:Cost, private nonprofit, which make up about 26 percent, https://www.facebook.com/pg/westridgeacademy/reviews/?ref=page_internal. [22] Later, leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars became the executive director and remained so for more than fifteen years before retiring amid controversy. The last time it publicly took action against a youth facility was a year ago, when it threatened to yank the license for Red Rock Canyon School in the aftermath of a riot, child abuse allegations and sex abuse charges. Take the first step and call our admissions or fill out the Contact a Specialist form. Utah legislators passed a bill this year that enhances oversight of the states youth treatment industry and places limits on their use of restraints, drugs and isolation rooms. It seeks to provide clinical services, education, and other programs for teens, both girls and boys, that are identified as at risk. This combination is more effective than any single approach. We provide immediate and lasting solutions in a caring and professional environment. Johnita Simons said she didnt know Kirsta had been sent to Utah and had no say in the decision. Each and every day, we are guided by four very carefully chosen words - care, concern, compassion, and competence. Schooling and counseling are some of the benefits that teens receive while enrolled at West Ridge Academy. We utilize a variety of therapeutic techniques such as CBT, Experiential, EMDR, TF-CBT, and specific group subjects such as relationship management and coping skills. Regulators did find the treatment center violated one rule that a staff member who was watching the girl should not have been outside the restroom when she attempted to end her life. Pat Reavy is a longtime police and courts reporter. Treatment Center, MD, APRN, LCSW, ACMHC, SUDC. Thats my child. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021, after many years of reporting at the Deseret News and KSL NewsRadio before that. MAT combines the use of counseling and medication to address the psychological and physical aspects of addiction. Kirsta, we know, was dealing with mental illness. In the days before her death, Kirsta hadnt been sleeping in her room. 9-12. Kirsta was rushed to a hospital and died the next day. If accommodation is required post-treatment, our male or female-only recovery homes provide the ideal transition. But no disciplinary action was listed in documents released recently in response to a records request. Facebook-f Twitter Soundcloud Youtube. Estimated read time: 2-3 "We take allegations of any type of abuse quite seriously and we'll wait for the results of the case before we take any further action," he said in a prepared statement. Ultimately, her taking her own life at West Ridge Academy was foreseeable. West Ridge Academy (known as the Utah Boys Ranch until 2005), is a youth residential treatment center based in West Jordan, Utah, USA. Ultimately, her taking her own life at West Ridge Academy was foreseeable. But they failed her, her mother said. Located in West Jordan, Utah and founded in 1964, West Ridge Academy is a private nonprofit, which make up about 26 percent of all treatment facilities in Utah. Thats when she hanged herself. Earlier this year the Utah Senate voted unanimously in favour of a bill to increase oversight of the states troubled-teen industry and place limits on the use of restraints, drugs and isolation rooms. The boy "was crying really hard" at the time and told Feinga "he probably broke it.". Call us with your questions and concerns and learn how your family can become whole again. The treatment center has a gymnasium, a baseball field, and soccer field. All mothers will have direct access to our qualified staff of therapists and medical personnel for medication management while attending our unique program. Editors note This story is part of Sent Away, an investigative reporting partnership between The Salt Lake Tribune and KUER, with support from APM Reports. The state of Utah always gave it another chance.Sent Away is an investigative reporting podcast made in partnership with KUER, The Salt Lake Tribune and APM Reports, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Subscribe now on Apple or Spotify. We are LGBTQ affirmative. The academy states that it provides "quality clinical services, education, and experiences which promote spiritual awareness, personal accountability and change of heart. It didnt seem to matter what the teen treatment center did wrong. West Ridge Academys website indicates the treatment team includes mental health professionals, therapists, psychiatrists, and medication managers. Located in Midvale, Utah, Highland Ridge Hospital is staffed by an exceptional multidisciplinary team of professionals who customize and implement treatment plans for each patient admitted. Support this work by making a donation today. [5][6][7][8] In 2016, the application to transition West Ridge Academy into a charter school, named Eagle Summit Academy, was approved by the Utah Board of Education after including caveats to keep public and private funding separate in the school's budgets and to ensure the safety of the new charter school's students. No further action required, the report states. 3rd Grade Teacher. The legislation also requires facilities to develop suicide prevention policies, which include a plan for how they will respond when a child is self-harming or is suicidal. We are client focused and solution based. Police say a 15-year-old boy at West Ridge Academy, 5500 W. Bagley Park Road, was being disruptive in class on Jan. 4. Now her parents are suing West Ridge, alleging the treatment center should have done more to prevent their childs death. From here on out, you never have to go back. Welcome to the official West Ridge Academy Facebook page. We understand overcoming addiction is not easy. Can you list the top facts and stats about West Ridge Academy? 801-282-1000 Campus Map Schedule a Tour Meet The Staff In early 2005, it opened new, separate facilities for girls and changed its name to West Ridge Academy. . Since 1964, West Ridge Academy has been providing academic opportunity and clinical care programs. Staff will be in the bathroom during these times and you will maintain frequent verbal check-ins with staff.. [3] The school is Christian but non-denominational, with the majority of students belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Families feel it too. She died by suicide at West Ridge Academy on Nov. 14. Staffers moved her to the common area, a police report states, so they could keep an eye on her after she had attempted to harm herself. The schools policies state the staffer should have been in the bathroom and maintain[ed] frequent verbal check-ins with Kirsta. [citation needed] Until 2005, the Utah Boys Ranch was male-only. Jessica Miller is a legal affairs and criminal justice for The Salt Lake Tribune, where she has worked since 2011. To know that my baby girl died in such a horrific manner is heartbreaking, she said. Religious, ethnic and gender preferences are accommodated upon request. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}403503N 1120110W / 40.584239N 112.019367W / 40.584239; -112.019367, West Ridge Academy (known as the Utah Boys Ranch until 2005), is a youth residential treatment center based in West Jordan, Utah, USA. Rediscover the person you were before trauma and addiction at Acqua Recovery. Take the first step and call our admissions or fill out the Contact a Specialist form. She was given an extra two minutes. Johnita Simons, the teenagers mother, told The Salt Lake Tribune she hoped her lawsuit would help protect other families from similar tragedies. Our team can address situations in the moment and provide constant support, facilitating growth and change in a positive way. Residents take part in academic recovery, build life skills, attend wellness activities, create art, and learn music. It offers outpatient programs, medication management, day treatment, and residential treatment to teens who are struggling with mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders. We want all mothers to know that what your feeling is common but not normal and it can be treatable. [24], In late 2015, an application was submitted Utah's Charter School Board. Guitars, ukuleles, and drums are available giving our residents newfound outlets to develop exciting interests. Utahs troubled-teen industry has been under intense scrutiny from lawmakers, activists and news outlets for the past few years over accusations of abuse and neglect at some facilities. We help you develop healthy coping and relationship skills and how to hold boundaries to keep you safe, healthy and happy. Her daughter, Kirsta, was supposed to get help at West Ridge Academy. We look forward to being a part of your healing journey! With a large group of therapists, we can offer a wide variety of approaches and personalities to match our clients with the therapist who can best support them in their goals. [32][9] The report was also critical of school's proposed financial structure. If you or people you know are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255. According to West Ridge Academys website, treatment typically starts with a comprehensive mental health assessment. We take most insurance, Medicaid, and discounts for upfront payment. Kirstas mother said she hasnt received any communication or condolences from West Ridge after her daughters death, calling that lack of communication a disgrace., Where is the accountability? she said. Employee Handbook. While at West Ridge, Kirsta shared a room with three girls in one of the nearly dozen multicolored brick cottages scattered throughout the 50-acre West Jordan campus. Our program is different than a traditional 12-step treatment program. West Ridge Academy Executive Director Bob Stubbs said Feinga has since been fired. We use the full continuum of care to walk with you through every step of your personalized recovery journey. With services available for adolescents and teens (ages 12-17), adults, and the senior population, Highland Ridge strives for excellence in short-term care with the goal of providing patients the tools they need to be successful in the recovery process. Programming includes therapy, group therapy, and medication management. Outpatient addiction treatment is being more and more recognized as a highly effective and realistic approach to addiction recovery by substance abuse and mental health professionals around the world. On Nov. 14, 2019, she tried to end her life. When a staffer told her that her shower time was up one Thursday afternoon, Kirsta reportedly asked to go to the restroom. The schools policies state the staffer should have been in the bathroom and maintain[ed] frequent verbal check-ins with Kirsta. Call now and talk to one of our Admission Specialists. Those were known issues. What we expect to find in the records is that this was a foreseeable event, said Thaddeus Wendt, the parents civil attorney. The kids there have complex issues and are sent there for help. [9], West Ridge also provides a day program called Sunshine Solutions for underprivileged local kids, age five and up which provides "summer activities, positive mentors and emotional growth to help them learn how to make good decisions". When a staffer told her that her shower time was up one Thursday afternoon, Kirsta reportedly asked to go to the bathroom. But the school allowed students 10 minutes of privacy to shower, according to a police report. [12] The current executive director is Kenneth R. Allen, who is also director of Proficio Management, a management company owned by the academy. While at West Ridge, Kirsta shared a room with three girls in one of the nearly dozen multicolored brick cottages scattered throughout the 50-acre West Jordan campus. In early 2005, it opened new, separate facilities for girls and changed its name to West Ridge Academy. We encourage the client to make empathetic decisions regarding all those he/she associates with, especially family and friends, so that relationships will cause no harm to self or others. Programming that has helped thousands of people achieve sobriety at a rate two times higher than the national average, Highland Ridge continues to hold the reputation as a respected and distinguished treatment center. West Ridge is a residential treatment facility for at-risk youth. A Utah youth residential treatment center will not be disciplined by state regulators after a teen girl from Bermuda died by suicide there last November. The parents of a Bermudian teenager who took her own life at a US treatment centre have launched a lawsuit against the facility over her death. While at West Ridge, Kirsta shared a room with three girls in one of the nearly dozen multicolored brick cottages scattered throughout the 50-acre West Jordan campus. Parents and child welfare programs put an enormous amount of trust in residential treatment centers, Feller said. The state has more than 100 such centers and attracts students from all over the United States, and beyond. Sequel Youth and Family Services, which owns the St. George facility, ultimately opted to close Red Rock Canyon School last summer. The reason that parents and guardians place their children in these kinds of facilities is based on a promise that these kids will be no worse off when they leave, Feller said. WIN. Through the use of safe and reliable evidenced-based treatment interventions, we are proud to be one of the most distinguished and respected treatment centers in the state of Utah. West Ridge Academy was under investigation with the states licensing agency for about four months before the Department of Human Services Office of Licensing closed its case in March. [1]. West Ridge Academys executive director did not respond to a request for comment. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The parents lawyers have tried to get records that might explain why Kirsta was there at all, but the lawsuit says the facility hasnt handed them over. Nestled in Utahs Wasatch Mountain Range, we specialize in providing gender-specific care to those struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) and underlying mental health conditions. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. We are a fully licensed Outpatient Addiction Recovery Center that cares! West Ridge Academy. Allegations of abuse from former students were one of the main reasons Utah's Board of Education initially denied the application for West Ridge Academy to become a charter school called Eagle Summit Academy. [31] On October 21, 2010, the student sued West Ridge Academy in California District court, alleging negligence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse.[8]. Most of the feedback was positive, and individuals praised the center, treatment effectiveness, and its staff. We are a group of caring medical professionals who have help thousands of adolescent, adult, and older adult clients achieve their long-term recovery goals and go on to lead happy and successful lives free from the debilitating symptoms of depression. The Caf chefs offer well-planned, nutritious meals, and provide dietary/allergen-sensitive options for those requiring a certain diet. The report identified several lawsuits against West Ridge Academy, several of which were settled out of court, but could not find any corroborating evidence to support the allegations of abuse. Summarize this article for a 10 years old, West Ridge Academy (known as the Utah Boys Ranch until 2005), is a youth residential treatment center based in West Jordan, Utah, USA. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Staying in one of our recovery homes while attending our PHP or IOP outpatient treatment is the ideal way to transition back to independent living. Spencer Cox signed a new law that places more regulations on Utah's "troubled teen" centers. [citation needed] Until 2005, the Utah Boys Ranch was male-only. It exists to create an environment of real change for future generations. [21][22][23] The group originally purchased five acres on which to build the Ranch. Discover our comprehensive continuum of care programs and counseling sessions. They further stated that removing children from their home and placing them in Division of Child and Family Services care, like Kirsta was, is only done as a last resort.. 2021-22 Salary Schedules . In fact, the goal is to make them better.. One EMDR session is equal to sixty normal therapy sessions and often gets to the root cause of addiction. We treat all clients with respect and dignity, regardless of the depths or seriousness of their situation. "[4] The facility has received criticism for past abusive practices toward residents, including facing lawsuits in 2008, 2010, and 2012 by former students. West Jordan, UT 84081. 547 W. 3900 So. 5 subscribers in the WestRidgeAlumni community. Kirsta Simons was sent away to a place where no one looked like her. In their 73-page lawsuit, they say West Ridge didnt communicate a treatment plan with Kirstas parents and did not sufficiently supervise Kirsta. She had suicidal ideations. West Ridge Academys executive director did not respond to a request for comment. Everyone is on an EVEN playing field, no better, and certainly, no worse. During that time, Kirsta is the only teen to have died in a Utah center though other deaths were reported in similar facilities across the country, including in Michigan, where 16-year-old Cornelius Fredericks died while staff restrained him. [36] H. David Burton, when he was the Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church, said that the LDS Church "has been and continues to be a long-time supporter" of West Ridge Academy.[37]. [citation needed] Until 2005, the Utah Boys Ranch was male-only. She told staff members that she felt like no one loved her, and she had been harming herself. Learn about addiction treatment services at West Ridge Academy. Johnita Simons said she hopes her lawsuit brings some accountability and spurs change so that nothing similar happens in the future. The Bermuda government wrote in a public statement in December 2019 that sending a youth overseas is not a decision taken lightly and is only done after all other resources locally are exhausted. Local resources, they say, include family, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists and other family intervention programs. [11] In response to the allegations, the State Office of Education prepared a 60-page report providing more details for the Board on the issues raised. and places limits on their use of restraints, drugs and isolation rooms. [10][11], The board of directors is composed of prominent Utah residents including Shawn Bradley,[12] BYU religion instructor Sally Wyne, and LaVar Christensen. We offer free 30 minute consultations to help point you in the right direction. To date, the 68 people who left reviews on its Facebook page, which it has the ability to manage, gave an average of 3.9 out of five stars. At EVNSQ, we take a person where hes at, regardless of what brought him to us or where he wants to go from here. Two days later, other staff members took the boy to a local hospital where X-rays of his left wrist revealed a distal fracture, according to the warrant. When the boy began to resist, Feinga said he applied a "bent wrist procedure" that involved him bending the boy's wrist back and applying pressure, the charges state. If you or people you know are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255. The litigation, filed last month in a Salt Lake City courtroom, alleges West Ridge Academy owed a heightened duty of care to ensure kids are kept safe, but failed to protect Kirsta from herself. Super irregular schedule makes it difficult to maintain a good sleep schedule. The program addresses postpartum depression, anxiety, scary thoughts you might be afraid to share, intrusive thoughts, feeling irritable, worthless, coping, and thoughts of harming yourself or feeling like family is better off without you.