Discovery Ranch is reported by many survivors to be an extremely abusive program. 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. discovery ranch lawsuit - kestonrocks.com Lawsuit filed March 3rd against the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF). 8 9 comments Best Add a Comment dsholliday 7 yr. ago 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. discovery ranch lawsuit. To them, there is one way that every kid learns, and if you have learning disabilities thats too fucking bad and ask the doctor to raise your meds the next time he comes. 'Dr. Phil' Ranch Abuse Scandal: What to Know - Celebrity Is 'Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch' Fake or Scripted? What We Know Also there were lawsuits against this place. Parents wont know or understand the gravity of impact this experience has had until after you get out and have openly talked about it, and although its very hard not to blame or take your anger out on them, you have to realize they made their decision out of love and ignorance. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our 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.. Staff members are chosen at random, as the turnover rate is insanely high. 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. This will provide him with the. These issues include: At Discovery Ranch for Boys, all the professional departments work together. Any complaints about the program and the abuse kids witnessed would be brushed off by program coordinators and therapists. Our parents (his Mom and step-father) regret sending him there even all these years later. Non-Verbal Learning Disability including High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD). 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. Find out more about the assessment. Feel free to ask anything about my stay I'm an open book. Duane and his son, Chad Ollinger, are trying to finish a goal set by Duane's own father. DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC., Plaintiff and Counterclaim Defendant, v. CHELSEA FILER, Defendant and Counterclaim Plaintiff. I thought I was actually crazy, but it was all real. These programs are money makers. 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 licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. What Is Discovery in a Lawsuit? - FindLaw Family Alleges Bestiality at Alternative School . The pain doesnt just stop, they dont forget what you did to them, regardless of your intentions. My brother was at the Ranch over a decade ago. John (Yelp), 10/28/2019: (SURVIVOR) There are plenty of articles that prove why Discovery Ranch is dangerous for the mental development of children. Please. You get used to the screaming and pleading for help, it becomes background noise. Lawsuits, harassment then found him. Teenagers at Discovery Ranch have extremely limited contact with the outside world. It does not represent any obligation. The location grew in popularity after rumors swirled that the land . Last year, Granby Ranch Metropolitan District, a homeowner-controlled metro district, filed suit against the group of entities associated with the Granby Ranch development. One small slip up, and you have all privileges taken away from a day to sometimes even a week. 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. agolden@skyhinews.com. 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. , DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO DISCOVERY RANCH IF YOU CARE ABOUT THEM! Please save your child from this place. Jason (Google Reviews), 6/10/2016: (SURVIVOR) Terrible place dont send your child here. The Famous Blind Frog Ranch: A Private Ranch In Montana That Is Home To The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. Abuse at its finest.. we were totally and utterly underfed, one morning we were fed one mini bagel and one cream cheese. The representative will help connect you with resources that can help your family--even if that help is not from us. 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 (Yelp), August 2020: (SURVIVOR) Kinda like a prison that just focuses on external behavior. I had to raise a baby cow for the slaughter to learn to deal with loss, exercise until I threw up blood, pick up cow shit every day, I could go on and on. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. 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. Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. 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. 0. For example, in an employment law case, a fired employee will want to see their personnel file, and through discovery, an employer would likely be required to provide those documents. Your job as parents is to help your child, you guys are the problem not your kids. 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. STOP DISCOVER RANCH they will play you out of so much money its unbelievable. I am at a loss for what to do at this point. When Jack Stuef found a chest of gold and jewels in a Wyoming forest last year, he felt giddy. I attended Discovery Ranch in Mapleton Utah from November 18th 2015 to May 15th 2015. The school uses research to help create an individualized treatment plan for each teen. My brother noted some of the staff was wonderful and he used their tips to get through challenges after his father died (my Moms 1st husband). 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 It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! Grand Ledge Courts. They want the parents to say only what they tell them to say. They do a terrific job at keeping kids quiet. 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. DISCOVERY RANCH FOR GIRLS Ripoff Reports, Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits and Frauds Reported Your Search: Discovery Ranch for girls. Our academic program meets your son at his level. It wasnt until he left the program that people even found out about this happening!! 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. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. TENA CAMPBELL U.S. District Court Judge. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. 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. The decision you make for your child will stay with them forever. The average stay is OVER a year not under like they love to say. 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. We do all this so that you can know your son is safe with us. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. I am not the only victim. I literally cant live with these memories. We have the record and independent verification to prove it. 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.) , family visits, and Parent Day Seminars. You can be assured that your son will not confront these challenges alone. If anything, kids got worse from being here. 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. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. Also the staff there (although there were some that I liked) were extremely rude. 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. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. While at Discovery Ranch, your son will participate in a variety of outdoor activities. We found a traditional therapist that proved to be far more effective. When you fail thats on you, dont punish your kids for your actions. Their motto is apparently Strength in the Struggle. I am a victim of emotional and physical abuse by Discovery Ranch. 9/17/2020: (SURVIVOR) Please do not send your child to this horrific and abusive program. I literally couldnt make this shit up. departments all work together. It brought everything back because I lived that experience, except for ten months and it was real. 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. please if you are thinking of sending anyone or know anyone who is considering to send someone here, keep the kid far away from them. On top of that I was forced to study 7 hours straight on the weekends if I didnt meet academic requirements. (Check glassdoor reviews) In return, we have lots of untrained, unequipped young adults who arent prepared to deal with seriously mentally ill children. If you absolutely need mental support for your child, I suggest something that is close to home, and something that does not limit their ability to see and interact with the outside world. My mind sometimes uncontrollably cradles and turns to static when I hear the same radio noise as the staff used at DR. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. If youre a troubled teen thats reading this that just recently got out, or its been years and its still effecting you, please believe me when I say that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 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. 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. She currently works as the Residential Director at, is reported by survivors to have run the facility. Its another long, tough, painful battle after you leave DR and I havent known one other person who didnt suffer after getting out. But I fucking wasnt. We were indirectly expected to manipulate visiting parents of troubled kids who have not yet been sent to treatment. 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. Formal Discovery: Gathering Evidence for Your Lawsuit | Nolo May their souls rest in peace. His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. Terrible place dont send your child here. 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. This is not just a couple of resentful people. I attended Discovery Ranch for 6 months Ama! : r/troubledteens Every part of Discovery Ranch, from the amazing campus to the nationally accredited Academic Program, helps to promote growth and healing. 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). The teenagers at Discovery Ranch as forced to adhere to a strict set of rules at all time. Lawsuit claims Utah rehab ranch broke its own rules by admitting an This place did not save my life it scared me to have problems. , I attended Discovery Ranch 5 years ago when I was 15 years old. This creates a streamlined experience for your son. If you absolutely need mental support for your child, I suggest something that is close to home, and something that does not limit their ability to see and interact with the outside world. worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. In other words, do not trust them. We will not share your information. If you are like most parents of Discovery Ranch students, you have been looking for help for a long time. But, the couple was later outspoken on social media about the extent to which they were helped by the Raney family. 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. My personal experience here was horrible. If any of you also went there shoot me a pm id like to hear about it. However, your teen is still troubled and your family is still in crisis. 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.. 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). They lied and were mainpulative, and power tripped all the time. Before you would consider sending your son away, you need to know that he is going to a place you can trust. Are they just being a teenager? I still have insomnia and night terrors of being at that place. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. They will dream about it years after, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares about being back there. These programs are money makers. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. Happened several times to my friends. Kids are constantly getting restrained and put on drugs to keep them under control. 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. After discovery ranch I couldnt even talk to my parents for months because of the trauma it caused me. Discovery is the legal term used to describe the different processes that require parties in a lawsuit to exchange information that each side possesses. My personal experience here was horrible. Seek other avenues for your child. , This is the worst place to send your child. We maintain professional memberships in research organizations, such as The Joint Commission and NATSAP. If anything, kids got worse from being here. Discovery ranch was hell on earth for me. Parents have no clue what they are getting themselves into by sending their children there. I was a student and am a survivor of Discovery Ranch, Utah. AMA! 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 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. We believe that teens are more than their diagnosis. 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. Dave Blackwell worked as a Therapist at Discovery Ranch. Plaintiff Diamond Ranch Academy, Inc. (DRA) operates a residential youth treatment facility in Hurricane, Utah. Research shows this is the best approach to help your son and family heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. We have all suffered enough, its time to heal and create a system that works. Carebear (Yelp), 2015: (SURVIVOR) This place is horrible. You are a survivor of an abusive environment that is very similar to a prison. 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. 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. For many parents, this focus on parental participation is the reason they choose our program. Yeomans v Discovery Ranch | 2:17-CV-00768 | Court Records - UniCourt 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. This type of environment makes reporting abuse and neglect impossible for teenagers. 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. They tear children apart, and they come out broken. Staff refusing to let kid use the bathroom, and making him pee/poop himself. The moment I stepped foot on campus, I was treated like some sort of criminal. because Utah has a natural landscape that is second to none. Youre parents will love that, Ha!). We had a close friend that took her life during our time there, we lost a friend to drug addiction that spiraled after leaving DR, and we had another friend who lost her life to cancer, which could have been detected in the earlier stages if DR didnt fail to seek proper medical attention (she was actually punished quite often for complaining about the pain and was either made to do hard manual labor or the staff would put her in isolation for days on end. 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. 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. You will also be able to observe your sons progress through our secure, password-protected parent portal. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. 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. 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. It began with a lawsuit filed by Hannah Archuleta, who appeared on Dr. Phil in 2019 and then went to the Turn-About Ranch. 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. They are there only to try and give the staff (who by the way have no training in psychology at all) an easier time. 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. behavior-modification program founded on August 21st, 2005. the licensed substance abuse counselor has obviously never touched a substance in her life. I will never forgive Discovery Ranch for the damage they did to me, and the damage they continue to do to future generations. I am not the only victim. If you want to send your kid to either wilderness or discovery ranch why dont you do us all a favor parents and send your child to Disney Land so theyll be happy rather then send them to whats pretty much a mental institution for parents that have no idea what the fuck there doing. Your son will have the opportunity to build the strength and resilience he needs to thrive at home. Listen to your child, what do they think they need? However, our neighbor whose son went there the following year had all good experiences. 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 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. Derek (Yelp), 8/21/2015: (SURVIVOR) 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. My first treatment center was Redcliffe ascent, and I did really well there. ! , A family member of mine attended this school so everything I have heard is 2nd hand. I was there almost ten years ago, and it feels like yesterday because of my PTSD. There are over 600 people in 2 different groups put together, and we are all in contact with many kids that just left. 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. 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. Therapeutic experiences challenge your son to learn and grow. DISCOVERY RANCH - 20 Photos & 27 Reviews - Yelp His step-father (my Dad) told me not to discuss it around him. In comparison, most of the other residents had serious drug problems, were in gangs, were extremely violent, etc. Discovery Ranch strives to heal your family as a whole. We earned academic accreditation through Discovery Academy. With the help of a REAL rehab and AA, I had achieved 14 months sober. Discovery ranchs idea of privileges is being able to sit on something other than hard wood chairs. 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. 25 votes, 28 comments. Also, I would sit there and talk to my therapist while he takes notes and this is a direct quote is that it? Then the session was over. In addition, survivors have reported that on the off-chance that they. If you are in an urgent situation and need help call 911. 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. Staff care about one another and take a genuine interest in the girls. In this experiential, safe, and supportive environment, your son will confront his personal challenges with the goal of healing and increasing his capacity which builds his self-confidence and self-esteem.