To fully understand what murky water one must wade through, let us glance at an excerpt taken from the website of Thomas J. Croke founder of “Family Light.” Mr. Croke is an educational consultant.
Family Light Thomas J. Croke
“Ridge Creek has settled into a new identity and focus. Historically, it was a wilderness program. In 2009, it expanded into a therapeutic "College Prep [School] with a Wilderness Twist." Since then, the wilderness program has been dropped, and the therapeutic boarding school well establishcd. Ridge Creek School, took over the buildings of a former school historically located near it. However in the fall of 2011, those buildings will become the site of newly founded boarding and day school that will not have therapeutic content. Ridge Creek will return to the nearby buildings that are mostly unussd at the time this is written.”
If one is going to put their reputation on the line, one should investigate the school they recommend. It is not enough to add a disclaimer. The family pays you a fee to do your homework. Whether or not you place a disclaimer on your website, you have a moral and ethical responsibility, not to mention a fiduciary one. Before placing this drivel on your website, perhaps you should remember, a child’s life is in your hands.
There is a huge problem here. The ORCC documents state on one hand that Ridge Creek Wilderness (RCW) program was indeed active in 2009 and 2010, yet on the other hand, the ORCC documents state the RCW program was not active. Several DFCS and ORCC interviews with students and parents state that their children were sent to RCW in 2009 and 2010. More alarming, students stated that “Wilderness Intervention” was not a “program,” but a “Tavern” also known amongst insiders as “The Chalet." Several children were sent to “Wilderness Intervention” for eight days as part of behavior modification; according to DFCS, this is no longer allowed per the ORCC.
In addition, Administrative staff informed the ORCC and Educational Consultants (Tom Croke’s statement above) that Ridge Creek Wilderness program was not operational, and it had been dropped. Yet, according to parents, Chris Grimwood wrote Individual Service Plans (ISP) “plans” for students in spring of 2010. We shall not get into why a staff member with an MSW from an online diploma mill such as Farington University should not be writing ISP’s. The “Tavern” or “The Chalet” was used throughout the years for behavior modification. After years of complaints, in 2010 Ridge Creek School received citations from the ORCC. The use of the “Tavern” or “The Chalet” for behavior modification was to cease - per DFCS and ORCC.
*Note: According to students, former staff, and the ORCC (see reports) "The Chalet," also referred to as a “Tavern” is a shack. In the ORCC investigative reports the "Tavern” had no amenities... no heat, no lights, no running water, no lavatory, no windows, no beds, floor boards, etc. The Chalet/Tavern is on the other side of the lake near the Ridge Creek Wilderness camp; it can be found by the creek.
INVESTIGATION BY ORCC/DFCS 06-28-2010
RIDGE CREEK WILDERNESS ORCC SURVEYOR ON 07/12-2010
Georgia Department of Human Resources,
Office of Regulatory Services State Form
Statement of Deficiencies
and Plan of Correction
Inspection begin date
Inspection end date:
7/12/2010
7/12/2010
Name of Provider or Supplier
RIDGE CREEK, INC.
Street Address, City, State Zip Code
830 HIDDEN LAKE ROAD
DAHLONEGA, GA 30533
Inspection Results
T 0000 Initial Comments.
The purpose of this survey is to follow up on the status of this agency/ to conduct the
re-licensure study.
T 9999 Closing Comments.
An e-mail was received on July 12, 2010 from the Director of the facility stating that they don’t have any placement activity at this moment and it is unlikely for the facility to have any placement until next spring. The Director agreed to inform the Surveyor when the facility has placement activity.
Georgia Department of Human Resources,
Office of Regulatory Services State Form
Statement of Deficiencies
and Plan of Correction
Inspection begin date
Inspection end date:
7/12/2010
7/12/2010
Name of Provider or Supplier
RIDGE CREEK, INC.
Street Address, City, State Zip Code
830 HIDDEN LAKE ROAD
DAHLONEGA, GA 30533
Inspection Results
T 0000 Initial Comments.
The purpose of this survey is to follow up on the status of this agency/ to conduct the
re-licensure study.
T 9999 Closing Comments.
An e-mail was received on July 12, 2010 from the Director of the facility stating that they don’t have any placement activity at this moment and it is unlikely for the facility to have any placement until next spring. The Director agreed to inform the Surveyor when the facility has placement activity.
RIDGE CREEK WILDERNESS ORCC SURVEYOR RE-LICENSURE REPORT 08-2009
Georgia Department of Human Resources,
Office of Regulatory Services State Form
Statement of Deficiencies
and Plan of Correction
Inspection begin date
Inspection end date:
8/25/2009
8/25/2009
Name of Provider or Supplier
RIDGE CREEK, INC.
Street Address, City, State Zip Code
830 HIDDEN LAKE ROAD
DAHLONEGA, GA 30533
Inspection Results
As of: Saturday, October 31, 2009
T 0000 Initial Comments.
The purpose of this visit was to conduct the re-licensure study T 9999 Closing Comments.
A site visit was made on August 25, 2009 around 12:00 PM The Director informed this Surveyor that the agency don't have any placement activity at this moment. The agency was informed to contact the Surveyor when the facility has placement activity.”
RIDGE CREEK SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SPIN ANOTHER YARN TO DFCS AND THE ORCC
LISTENING TO RIDGE CREEK SCHOOL(RCS) ADMINISTRATORS TELL IT, DJJ AND ADJUDICATED CHILDREN/ADULTS AGE 18 OR OLDER, DID NOT ATTEND RIDGE CREEK SCHOOL IN 2009 AND 2010. INSTEAD, THE DJJ CHILDREN WERE ADMITTED TO RIDGE CREEK WILDERNESS (RCW). HOWEVER, BY RIDGE CREEK, INC.’S OWN ADMISSION TO THE ORCC AND EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS, RCW WAS NOT OPERATIONAL.
RIDGE CREEK SCHOOL HAS TEETERED ONE TIME TOO MANY. ONE CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
ORCC SURVEY REPORT 03-11-2011 – THE MOST DAMNING
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