Therapy strategies comprise: Cognitive/behavioral therapy. [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. It found that the treatment center did violate one rule that a staff member who was watching the girl should not have been outside the bathroom when she attempted to end her life. 5500 West Bagley Park Road West Jordan, UT 84081 801-282-1000 Search. We accept adults age 18 and older who are battling addictions to prescription painkillers, heroin, and other opioids. WIN. It offers outpatient programs, medication management, day treatment, and residential treatment to teens who are struggling with mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders. 547 W. 3900 So. 9-12. 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. This lawsuit comes as a new state law requires centers to develop suicide prevention policies. West Ridge Academy in West Jordan, Utah: Reviews, Ratings, Pricing Staff will be in the bathroom during these times and you will maintain frequent verbal check-ins with staff.. [14] Stan and Mary Ellen Smoot, and Richard and Linda J. Eyre serve on an advisory board. Class 1A Region 17 West Ridge Academy Boys Basketball. We help with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-harm, trauma, substance abuse, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, borderline personality traits, reactive attachment disorder, oppositional defiance, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, high functioning autism, gender dysphoria, or rebellion. It is a co-ed facility that helps students through clinical services. Copyright 2021 West Ridge Academy. All Rights Reserved, Proud Member of Utah Non-Profits Association. Feinga, a staff member of the school who was also in the classroom, removed the teen from the room by placing him in a wrist restraint also known as a "gooseneck hold" or an "escort hold," according to charging documents. And, we think, preventable.. She was given an extra two minutes. West Ridge Academy - Wikiwand Has it worked? 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, the Board of Education approved the application. 3rd Grade Teacher. What should happen to the Fairmont Southampton SDO? 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. On Nov. 14, 2019, she tried to end her life. 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. Theres not a day that goes by that my heart doesnt ache. West Ridge Academy | West Jordan UT - Facebook Feel free to call to discuss how we can help you or a loved one. Even though she wasnt in my care, I loved her. Our program is different than a traditional 12-step treatment program. They also say the facility didnt have proper procedures to identify when a higher level of care was needed. Located in Midvale, Utah, Highland Ridge Hospital is a behavioral health and substance abuse treatment center that is dedicated to providing superior service to adolescents, adults, and senior adults. to discuss the article, but Buttars and West Ridge staff declined the invitation. We provide immediate and lasting solutions in a caring and professional environment. Call us with your questions and concerns and learn how your family can become whole again. Away from friends, family, her culture. and places limits on their use of restraints, drugs and isolation rooms. 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. Suite E. Salt Lake City, UT 84123. We believe that inpatient rehab is at the root of real, lasting recovery. 14. Staff Testimonials - West Ridge Academy And we just dont see that as something that occurred here.. And we just dont see that as something that occurred here.. Now her parents are suing West Ridge, alleging the treatment center should have done more to prevent their childs death. Johnita Simons said she didnt know Kirsta had been sent to Utah and had no say in the decision. By giving our students the opportunity, they can immerse themselves in treatment and develop new coping strategies while changing behavior patterns. 43. Since 1964, West Ridge Academy has been providing academic opportunity and clinical care programs. 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. Police reports show that Kirsta struggled while at West Ridge Academy and was on suicide watch in the days before her death. Parents and child welfare programs put an enormous amount of trust in residential treatment centers, Feller said. This approach is highly effective, see testimonials from other clients on our website. [citation needed] Until 2005, the Utah Boys Ranch was male-only. [21][22][23] The group originally purchased five acres on which to build the Ranch. The West Jordan detective didnt seem worried about foul play, the report reads, and the medical examiner ruled Kirstas death a suicide. View 8 Photos. West Ridge Academy is located in Utah. Police closed the case without taking action, and Utah regulators didnt discipline West Ridge Academy. What we expect to find in the records is that this was a foreseeable event, said Thaddeus Wendt, the parents civil attorney. 9.3. It exists to create an environment of real change for future generations. And even now, two years later, Im still feeling that loss.. Lawyers for Kirstas parents allege that West Ridge was negligent. [3] It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the name Children and Youth Services, Inc. We want all mothers to know that what your feeling is common but not normal and it can be treatable. [3] It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the name Children and Youth Services, Inc. Our comprehensive approach lengthens the runway of support that our clients receive. [28] In 2006 West Ridge Academy started a girls' athletics program[citation needed] and has a girls' basketball team. [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. However, we welcome all men who are looking to heal from emotional struggles in a safe men's-only environment. Support this work by making a donation today. Our fully licensed and credentialed clinical team includes addiction certified physicians, psychologists, psychotherapists, licensed addiction counselors, recreational therapists, interventionists, and dieticians. Residents take part in academic recovery, build life skills, attend wellness activities, create art, and learn music. In fact, the goal is to make them better.. Editors note: This story discusses suicide. 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. Theres not a day that goes by that my heart doesnt ache. minutes. She died in a Utah treatment center. Her parents are suing, claiming We take most insurance, Medicaid, and discounts for upfront payment. The school takes in students who have fallen behind in . 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. But she was rushed to hospital on November 14 that year and died the following day. Best Rehabs Utah West Jordan (UT) West Ridge Academy. [10][11], The board of directors is composed of prominent Utah residents including Shawn Bradley,[12] BYU religion instructor Sally Wyne, and LaVar Christensen. Police closed the case without taking action, and Utah regulators didnt discipline West Ridge Academy. 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. [12] The current executive director is Kenneth R. Allen, who is also director of Proficio Management, a management company owned by the academy. West Ridge Academys website notes residential treatment is for teens between nine and 18. It didnt seem to matter what the teen treatment center did wrong. How Utah became the nation's top place to send troubled teens, Thinking about getting rid of your lawn? [10][11], the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are LGBTQ affirmative. At Wings Recovery for Men, we believe everything you need to thrive in life is already within you. Why was that determined to be the best place for her to be?. 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. 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. Connect with your inner- strength and take that first step toward healing. One key benefit is that it is a fraction of the cost of other programs as Renaissance Ranch Outpatient's primary goal is to aid in liberating the captive from the chains of addiction not monetary gain. West Ridge is a residential treatment facility for at-risk youth. 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. The treatment centers treatment groups include Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills groups for girls, sexual and pornography addiction group for boys, and support groups for teens struggling with self-esteem, mood disorders, and grief. 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. During day treatment, clients may participate in mental health therapy, recreational therapy, and substance abuse therapy. We specialize in the treatment of trauma, military and first responders. To know there was no one held responsible is a slap in the face. Kirsta was rushed to a hospital and died the next day. Prescription medication can keep you comfortable during treatment by reducing opioid cravings and other symptoms of withdrawal. Contact Us - West Ridge Academy Take the first step and call our admissions or fill out the Contact a Specialist form. 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. Recreational Therapy is an important part of treatment. Thats when she hanged herself. Our passionate, experienced staff aim to assist the recovering individual through their first year of sobriety, step by step with the ultimate goal of improving their overall success as they transition into a new way of life. Away from friends, family, her culture. 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. He told investigators that "the wrist bent is used for when residents are harming staff, harming peers, run risk or causing damage to the West Ridge property. This is important to our philosophy because beginning treatment in the here-and-now allows a man to SQUARE up to his life, SQUARE up to those who love him, and most importantly, get SQUARE with himself. [19] The license of West Ridge Academy is reviewed annually and the organization receives periodic visits from a licensing specialist to monitor and provide technical assistance and to insure compliance with Core and Categorical Rules of Treatment. New Beginnings Behavioral Treatment Agency, Depression Treatment | Highland Ridge Hospital, Addiction Treatment | Highland Ridge Hospital, Taylorsville Comprehensive Treatment Center, Wings Recovery for Men (Waves Treatment Center). Jessica Miller is a legal affairs and criminal justice for The Salt Lake Tribune, where she has worked since 2011. SUBMIT. 5500 West Bagley Park Road, West Jordan, Utah, 84081. Employees told police later that only a few minutes had passed, but police werent able to verify the timeline. Job Postings for the 2023-24 School Year. We help you resolve the effects of any physical or emotional trauma you may have experienced in your life through our qualified EMDR therapists. Those were known issues. Our students attend an accredited school, participate in various 1A sports, and engage in recreational therapy. All mothers will have direct access to our qualified staff of therapists and medical personnel for medication management while attending our unique program. The state has more than 100 such centers and attracts students from all over the United States, and beyond. Highland Ridge Hospital is a fully accredited by the Joint Commission and is one of the most respected and distinguished treatment centers in Utah. According to West Ridge Academys website, treatment typically starts with a comprehensive mental health assessment. Thats my child. "[4] The facility has received criticism for past abusive practices toward residents, including facing lawsuits in 2008, 2010, and 2012 by former students. West Ridge Academy. The mothers will learn and master skills to help them overcome their challenges, connect with their child and partner, and feel back to normal.. 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. Employee at Utah school for troubled teens charged with child abuse - KSL deductible, Report a missed paper by emailingsubscribe@sltrib.comor calling801-237-2900, For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support801-237-2900or emailsubscribe@sltrib.com. "[4] The facility has received criticism for past abusive practices toward residents, including facing lawsuits in 2008, 2010, and 2012 by former students. or superseded by additional information. The centers residential program was created to model a healthy home environment. Therapeutic goals address personal issues and mental health issues, and will aid in helping the client gain and maintain healing interpersonal connections. Located Read More Contact Who is West Ridge Academy Headquarters 5500 W Bagley Park Rd, West Jordan, Utah, 84081, United States Phone Number (801) 282-1000 Website And, we think, preventable.. The Bermuda government wrote in a public statement in December 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. 752 were here. ", The boy told police that while in that hold, "he heard a pop, resulting in his wrist being fractured. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. She died by suicide at West Ridge Academy on Nov. 14. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Take the first step. 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. Johnita Simons said she didnt know Kirsta had been sent to Utah and had no say in the decision. where she died by suicide nearly two years ago. 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. West Ridge Academys website indicates the treatment team includes mental health professionals, therapists, psychiatrists, and medication managers. Ultimately, her taking her own life at West Ridge Academy was foreseeable. Cons The hours are long with no breaks in between. Individuals typically stay in day treatment between four and eight weeks. where she died by suicide nearly two years ago. Utah regulators later found that the facility had breached regulations because the staff member tasked with watching the girl should have been outside of the restroom and made frequent verbal check-ins with her, but no disciplinary action was taken. The loved one surveyed by Best-rehabs.com to date provided mostly positive feedback and five out of five stars for counseling options, family participation, and indicated they would recommend the center. It exists to create an environment of real change for future generations. Phone. Program related to preteens/teen in addiction. Now her parents are suing West Ridge, alleging the treatment center should have done more to prevent their childs death.