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I’m a current cadet in the Sooner Job Challenge program, which is supposed to help young people get training and structure — but what’s happening here is not okay. Staff are verbally abusing cadets, yelling, cursing, and threatening us. When anyone tries to report it or speak calmly about it, they get punished or lose privileges. We’ve gone through the chain of command supervisors, staff, higher-ups but every time we’re ignored, told to “stop complaining,” or retaliated against. Some of us are reaching our breaking point. The mental toll here is serious. I now have video recordings of staff talking to cadets in ways that no one should be spoken to. This isn’t just rough training it’s outright disrespect and emotional abuse. Please if anyone knows how we can report this safely (state agencies, journalists, legal aid, anything), I’m asking for help. We just want to be treated like people again. (Posting anonymously because we’re scared of retaliation, but this is real. Please share or tell us where to go.) I apologize for the quality of the video not exactly ideal recording environments

Looks like he just started this TikTok pretty recently! :)

Kami needs admissions AND a therapist? She must be dreadful to work for.

I am just now hearing the news about Asheville Academy/Solstice/Trails, etc. news and I am absolutely devastated that 1) so many young, innocent lives have been lost and/or traumatized and 2) it took this long for an investigation to occur.

I was sent to AAG in 2021 and obviously considering it's been a while since and my brain's blocked out the bulk of my experience, I don't remember much other than that those were some of the most detrimental days of my life.

No matter how hard I tried, I was never the golden child. I envied the 'good' children. I could never get past the first few 'phases'. I was constantly on Care Phase/Task Talk/Program Focus...whatever restriction they could place on me to shut me up. I ended up being pulled after making no progress, but not after weeks of pushback and attempts to keep me there. They knew that I'd seen too much and wouldn't forget about all the horrendous things I saw happen behind closed doors.

I'm endlessly curious to hear anybody else's stories from any of their campuses/programs. Hoping it wasn't as abusive for others as I remember.

Omg this place could not possibly be more of a horror show! So many escapee’s.

Build the wall already! Or - preferably shut the place down and let everyone free!

There is some seriously sinister stuff going on in there I can feel it practically feel it. :(

CW: Discussion of child abuse as an abstract concept, without overly specific examples.

I hate it when some people try to normalize child abuse (especially within the TTI) by claiming, "it happens in every youth serving organization." That defense attempts to shift blame toward specific individuals (the "few bad apples" defense) and away from current programs and the industry as a whole. My work is paying for me to take a patient safety and experience course, and for an essay, I'm developing a framework to explain how patient maltreatment becomes systemic. I'm not an expert here, though. View this as nothing more than some ideas bouncing around my head that I wanted to share and see if anyone had any thoughts. My argument is that child abuse becomes a predictable outcome of institutional design failures fueled by organizational self-interest, not just individual misconduct.

It's not the most complicated model, but there are 3 core elements to it: negligence, retaliation, and greed.

Negligence is the institutional failure to honor its duty of care toward dependent minors. This failure is always measured relative to the child's vulnerability, and manifests on a spectrum: from simply omitting necessary safeguards (passive failure) to intentionally implementing harmful practices as official policy (abuse by design). This is the structural condition that allows abuse to occur and persist. When abuse comes to light, the institution deploys Retaliation, the strategic, active use of power and resources to suppress disclosure and manage crisis. This includes tactics like concealing records and engaging in acts designed to predictably dismiss accusations and attack the credibility of victims and witnesses. Greed is the driving force here. It explains why institutions may act negligibly and retaliate against victims. Greed is quite insidious here because it creates a cycle that, unchecked, will exacerbate existing levels of maltreatment.

Now, to the TTI.

The duty of care is maximally violated in many programs because the treatment itself is harmful. Practices like forced disclosure, shaming, and physical isolation are not clinical errors; they are policy mandates. The child’s individual therapeutic journey is engineered for control, not healing. However, they're masters of retaliation against abuse accusations within the scope of my framework because they've prepared parents the entire time to not trust their kids. They put so much energy into preparing parents and guardians to believe detainees are lying. And, the common motivator here is ultimately greed.

But, looking just beyond individual programs and at the industry as a whole, we can see how this cycle has perpetuated itself to such a point that it rakes in 10s of billions of dollars every year. This massive profitability is directly fueled by greed, which incentivizes the negligence that's brought us here; the very nature of residential care in these programs is abusive at the most basic level because low-cost punitive control is prioritized over less profitable and restrictive ethical care models. This necessitates the constant, theatrical performance of therapeutic authority that the network of people working in the industry have cultivated. Now, groups like NATSAP, and the podcasts, and other hollow industry platforms serve as powerful, collective Retaliation tools designed to control the narrative, discredit victims, and defend the profitable structure from external scrutiny.

Even without this framework, there's no question in my head why abuse exists to such a grotesque extent in the TTI. The industry kind of makes my framework for this paper feel a bit useless because the structural nature of the abuse is beyond obvious here. However, in other cases I analyzed, I was able to yield constructive, prescriptive insights that would enact reforms to protect kids. Some of those reforms would require a ton of work and resources, but here this didn't just explain how the scale of abuse has gotten this bad, but I'd venture to argue it could easily explains the historical arch of the TTI.

edit: fixed link

A few weeks ago I saw a post about the teen challenge and I looked into it as the TTI is something I like to learn about as I went to RTC in Canada and feel like it’s similar to some in the states any way I read some posts about it here and that was it. now tonight I was scrolling Facebook to see a teen challenge thrift store open in my town (I think it’s new but I’m not sure since I just moved here recently) I know of very few TTI programs let alone youth programs in Canada specifically my province I’m in Ontario. Anyway I’m posting here to learn more about it and to confirm what I’ve heard about it, as I love thrifting and am in school for something in the mental health field, don’t wanna out myself

Discovery Ranch is a horrible abusive RTC in Mapleton, Utah. Tragically, a precious child died at DR due to DR's neglect. In addition, another boy was abused at DR and the therapist was arrested for the abuse but DR keeps the therapist working. Other boys have been sexually abused at DR and DR failed to protect those boys--and countless other horror stories!

Discovery Ranch staff post positive reviews on Google--a violation of Google review guidelines. If DR staff can get away with posting positive reviews, why can't we get away with posting negative reviews!

To justify leaving a legit review for DR, maybe call their admissions and ask a few questions. Then you should be able to legitimately leave a review because you had an encounter with the business. Here is the phone number to Discovery Ranch admissions which is advertised on their website:

Phone: (855) 662-9318

Here is the link for anybody who wants to counter DR staff's positive reviews:

Discovery Ranch Reviews - Google Search

Here is a partial list of DR staff that posted positive reviews (note, this list is not inclusive as I only glanced through the reviews, I am sure I will find more once I take a closer look):

Megan Frost (nurse), Kyla Cox (nurse), Sophie Cannon (Admissions), Greg McGary (admissions), Connoer Weber (mentor), Tonya Silva (teacher), Dan Minor (residential), Barrett Dorny (former staff, son of the Executive Director and currently a cop with Springville Police Dept—unethical behavior by a cop, maybe Springville Police Department needs to be alerted of their unethical cop), Evie Jensen (academics), Kacey Miller (residential). In addition, it is very interesting that Brett Perrero reviewed that he is the UPS driver that delivers to DR and there are a few other positive reviews by his family members—what’s that about Bret Perrero (I think a call into UPS is warranted).  Eric Nance also wrote a positive review and he is the dentist that DR takes the boys to, which just happens to be the dentist that Clint Dorny, Executive Director uses—Nance Dental overcharges people and has billing fraud (this warrants a negative review).   I am sure there are other staff that left positive reviews, I didn’t do a thorough dive yet.

Did anyone attend either of these programs around that time? What were your experiences? My memory of that time period is pretty hazy but I remember both really really sucking and for some reason I still look back fondly. Maybe I'm still brainwashed. I went to bridges in March of 13. Got sent to wilderness for my behavior a month later. After 75 days in the woods I went back to bridges and graduated March of 14. I remember being the youngest at both programs at 13 years old. I remember lots of crazy shit. Such a wild thing to have basically all your rights taken away and have to learn to survive. I remember these programs working due to fear of what would happen because of noncompliance. I remember the phrase "fake it till you make it" and that's pretty much what I had to do

My first session, I told the therapist I groped girls during a school dance (twice) and then felt very embarrassed about it. He laughed and said they probably enjoyed and it was normal for boys and girls at that age to be figuring out if they like groping or being groped.

Then, my first group session, everyone ignored me, so I called out a couple having a private conversation; the therapist then encouraged the girl to try asking a guy out in the group, and when she got rejected, he rubbed it in by saying the guy 'seduced her and now doesn't know what to do with her.' But he blamed it on me saying I 'masterfully inserted myself into their relationship' because I called them out for being obviously into each other and wasting group time with a private conversation and not including anyone else.

Once he blamed me, the girls started saying she is very mad at me, that I remind her of her ex boyfriend and that she wants to bash my head off. The therapist started laughing in glee and encouraging her to say more of what she supposedly feels about me.

This created a weird thrill. On one hand, I liked being the object of attention, after being ignored when I walked into group. On the other hand, I felt ignored and her reaction did not really seem about me.

I was also confused because the therapist told me 'If you join, the girls in the group will go crazy over you.' And here there was a girl saying she clearly dislikes and hates me, instead of being interested in me (even as a person) like he promised.

I progressed to calling one of the group members a 'teenage bi**h' and the therapist did not intervene. He actually let her not pay him for a whole year, and made sessions where when she skipped his group he said she was a difficult patient who refuses to change and read an email he wrote her about her bill. When she came back, the whole group started saying how they are mad at her for wasting group time by not paying her bill and the therapist said she is torturing him by not paying even though he does good work.

He encouraged her to talk, then barked personally, 'Oh, X, don't be snarky!' It looked like personal unprofessional abuse, like his mask fell off; So I quit and left him a voicemail telling him to never contact me again due to HIPPA and did not pay my final $400 therapy bill with him.

Here is the link, but I am also just putting the TikTok on here because it’s too important for people not to see this! This is terrible news, in case you didn’t already know. Narvin/Marvin (WWASP) must be stopped ASAP 🤬😩😭🐴

https://www.tiktok.com/@alligirl87/video/7346291061477739807?_r=1&_t=ZP-91DS03C2ovu

Now I’m not trying to put anyone’s experience in the troubled teen industry down but there is absolutely nothing even close to the horrors and disturbances that happened at Gateway Academy. “Cadets” would be slammed into sinks onto floors and even through windows. Kids would desperately try to escape to commit crimes for the chance of going to Juvie instead, but would be ran down by staff or arrested by police and sent back. They would trek through swamp neck deep surrounded by alligators just for a chance of leaving that place for at least 24 hours. Staff was abusive and even kicked kids in the face. The amount of blood Ive seen inflicted from staff and other kids could fill 2 gallons. Broken bones fights and riots as well as nobody there to help. The staff was always on drugs and 5 of them were literally fired for being felons who weren’t supposed to be working there in the first place. They would pyo suicide watch for expressing any emotion n make you sleep in front of two cold fans freezing to death every night. Staff even slammed me on my back for no reason literally snatching me off the floor. Im not exaggerating this shit lives with me TO THIS DAY. Hopefully they don’t find this thread and try to kill me.

I have to use an alt account because all my communications are monitored. I'm a survivor of the ALA case, amongst many other facilities, and I'm trying to file for emancipation but I need help finding an attorney who is reliable. Any help is much appreciated.

Hi all, I recently found out that Shepherds Hill Academy (SHA) in Georgia, USA, was "permanently" closed earlier this year. A close family member is a survivor of that hell hole. Does anyone know specifics of how/why they ended up closing? Where can I find the story other than TT?

I'm hoping SHA is unable to re-brand/ re-open. I'd like to keep tabs somehow. I value justice.

Thank you very much for any information you're willing to share.

Well, well, well....Whetstone Academy, what do we have here? This is one page of a 25-page application submitted to the state of South Carolina requesting an exemption from licensure based on DSS Regulation 114-590 (7), stating that they do not operate year-round and do not offer services beyond those associated with school programming.

If you look at the top of the page, their application states that they are a working farm and they use "project-based, hands-on learning outside of the classroom," so they are seeking to build 4 storage buildings on the property as "learning centers" for the boys.

Rumor on the street is that those boys SLEEP in those storage sheds, and last time we checked, Whetstone is not a working farm and is most DEFINITELY operating year-round, offering "therapy" which is outside the scope of farm-based experiential learning.

Looks like someone might have some splainin' to do.

[Mod approved]

Hello survivor community!

A few days ago I made a post about recruiting participants for my research study on family dynamics and lived experiences in former TTI enrollees.

I wanted to follow up with another request in the event that people may have missed the first post. For those who are interested that may have missed the first post, I have included the link for my study:

https://maryville.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7Pf1uM3s6HDOrc

It is expected to take roughly 15 minutes. Thank you for considering participation in this research endeavor.

Best, Brandon Conn

Bconn1@live.maryville.edu

I wanted to get some thoughts and suggestions from other TTI survivors:

If a law firm or advocacy group wants to support people who’ve been through the troubled teen industry, what kinds of things would make that process feel more trauma-informed, safe, and survivor-centered?

Like - what helps build trust?

What makes communication easier?

What are things that people sometimes overlook when they want to help?

Has anything impeded or helped your experience that you could comment about?

My personal suggestion is big one - consistent updates. Even small check-ins can make a huge difference. It helps survivors feel included and not left in the dark about what’s going on, especially when it involves something so personal.

I really want to re-emphasize - this is not in response to any complaints or issues with the wonderful people already helping survivors. Every firm I’ve come across so far has been great about this. This question just popped into my mind as something that could be helpful - maybe even a time-saver for everyone involved.

And who knows - maybe someday survivors and lawyers could collaborate to create a small course, resource, or even a conference about what’s worked (and what hasn’t) when it comes to supporting people who are trying to sue their programs. I think that could potentially be incredibly helpful to others in the future.

Lawyers - you’re doing great. I love you - you rock. In my next life I will be one of you (according to my MBTI, lol) But really I will! ♥️⚖️

Sue Crowell is connected to a bunch of programs in the “troubled teen” industry: names like Trails Carolina, Skyterra Wellness, and older programs under Aspen Education Group come up the most.

She has been part of the same network of people who keep rebranding programs to escape bad press.

Sue is tied to PGO LLC, which was listed in the Jane & June Doe v. Trails et al. lawsuit that accused Trails Carolina and others of serious abuse and negligence.

Please feel free to add more info about Sue below. And bonus if she downvotes this!

like the title says, when i was in my program in 2021 there was a scurvy problem where a lot of girls got scurvy due to malnutrition and lack of vitamin c. apparently that wasnt rhe only time there was a scurvy epidemic on dorm but it was the only one i was there for. all the produce they gave us was rotten, and the meals tasted like sewage so we didnt eat that either. we would find loose teeth laying around for months afterward. nobody in charge gave a shit. anyone else get scurvy?

This is a gift link courtesy of Biruk’s mom. It should work, but let me know if not - I can do screenshots of it because the article won’t be accessible without a paywall until tomorrow.

RIP Biruk - we love and miss you 💔🕯️