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| DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY http://www.diamondranchacademy.com/ UTAH DHS LICENSE # 20018 "WE ARE DIFFERENT - BY DESIGN"
HURRICANE, UTAH - 11-01-2013
Recently, there have been several inquiries and testaments from parents regarding placement of their children in various facilities across the U.S. Diamond Ranch Academy (DRA) is one such facility, as there have been numerous Internet postings alleging a recent death of a child at DRA.
The State of Utah's DHS Licensing Division has confirmed that approximately six weeks ago, there was another child's death at Diamond Ranch Academy. This time, a young boy (name withheld out of respect for the young man and his family), perished after completing a suicide attempt.
Since prior postings have alluded to or described his suicide attempt, it has been confirmed by a Utah State Official that his precious life ended in a shower, hanging from a belt attached to a shower rod.
According to the State, the police and DHS investigations are near closure. DHS recommended
corrective action at DRA, which has taken place. One corrective act was installing collapsible shower rods and shower heads, so that they remain innocuous.
Excuse: "The staff gets complacent." Another word for negligent.
A State source conveyed, "the child that completed his suicide attempt was taken off suicide watch by the tending Psychiatrist/Psychologist two days before." Negligence?
Question: Why was a suicidal child at DRA to begin with? Why was he not transferred to a Mental Health facility?
DHS stated that their county receives "on average, one call a year relating to a child's suicide."
Since the investigation is near finalized, whether charges shall be filed remain to be determined.
Another quote from a State Official, who was very professional and kind, yet seemingly naive, "DRA is one of the better ones. I believe they can make a difference with these children."
Jilliestake response:
DRA surely did "make a difference."
"We are different - by design" - as in shower rods and shower heads?
DRA appears in dire need of a fresh marketing campaign to bounce back from apparent, egregious negligence. One imagines, DRA and its adjunct mental health care providers, pray the death of this young man is kept "under wraps."
But, hey, they can always count on Dr. Drew Pinsky (aka Dr. Drew) for a stellar recommendation.
Quoted from the DRA website, "As seen On Dr. Phil's Life Changers"
"I don't make this recommendation casually;
this is from years of experience in dealing with people with behavioral problems.."
It is more than evident, that the laws in Utah and across the country regarding Teen Residential Treatment Facilities, Wilderness Programs, and the like, must change to protect our young.
There is no accountability.
Educational Consultants that send children and youths to these facilites, still do not fathom that they are mandated reporters.
This is not the first child's life that was lost or destroyed, nor will it be the last, if there is no accountability or humanity.
As advocates for children, DRA is not recommended for placement.
WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE SORROW TO THE FAMILY, UPON THE LOSS OF YOUR SON.
Notes:
In all fairness to Dr. Drew Pinsky, Josh Shipp also arranged for a teenager to attend DRA on his former show, "Teen Trouble."
According to Diamond Ranch Academy's website, they are a licensed youth "residential treatment center."
Owners/Founders: Rob and Sherri Dias
Utah administrative code for Licensed treatment facilities.
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http://www.planning.utah.gov/Index_files/PDFs/ut3.57.pdf
UTAH DHS
http://www.dhs.utah.gov/
Hurricane, Utah Police Department
http://www.cityofhurricane.com/categories/departments/police-dept/
Thanks for your ongoing dedication to the truth and acquiring confirmation of this death. Suicide ideation doesn't just magically disappear. What criteria was used to determine that this young man was no longer 'suicidal'. One thing these programs do quiet efficiently is teach young people how to 'act', as in, how to pretend, or lie better.
ReplyDeleteBlessing to the family. I'm sure they thought, like other families, that they were doing the best thing for their child.
Another concern for me, is how programs have been increasingly successful in the past few years at keeping these stories out of the media. I hope you will forward these details to news outlets in Utah and elsewhere, in hopes that they will cover the story. Parents pay more attention to statistics, and when no one is keeping track of the stats, how can parents make a truly informed decision?
DRA seems to have the same 'cream of the crop' reputation as did HLA. So if there's this level of inadequate care in the 'better' programs, one can only imagine what's happening in the others.
I hope he's in a much happier place.
Deborah
Rob and Sherri Dias do not care about the children that come to DRA. They chased my father out after he realized I shouldn't stay there from their negligence for my bladder problem. They only care about money. I have seen Rob Dias abuse children at DRA. I went to DRA in 2004 and I can only image that it has gotten worse. Please, protect your children. This poor young man was driven to suicide.
ReplyDeletewhat do you mean they chased your dad out? how can they do that?
ReplyDeleteI love the way you guys have no compassion for the kids themselves.. You are simply trying to shut down a school. Their "naivety" is their compassion and trust in those kids to treat them as kids, not psychopaths. The kids at Diamond Ranch Academy are just that, KIDS, and they have made mistakes in their lives but they are there to change and not let their past define their future. Yet you suggest that they go into a mental health facility, rather than being with kids their age going through similar things as them who can help them turn their lives around.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Are you a low end marketer?
DeleteThis is yet another fine example of lack of security and reliability for our youth. I have heard far too many cases of abuse occurring at DRA and after each complaint, all i hear about is Rob and Sherri Dias doing whatever they can to ensure it doesn't leak out too far or ruin their stellar reputation. They should spend a little more time, money and effort on actually taking these counts of abuse, mistreat and self-mutilation seriously instead of Rob going out and buying himself a new car, watch or redoing many of their houses. It honestly disgusts me.
ReplyDeleteI went to DRA in 2008. This story is sad, but I never encountered any abuse. Sure it was not "fun" being there, but I was always safe. To the person who commented the staff chases their father out, when my mother decided she no longer liked the way the program was dealing with my therapy (my therapist quit and so I wasn't getting the correct amount of time due to the therapist getting extra kids) she took me home. Sure the staff told her I should stay but within an hour once my paper work was done and stuff was collected I was headed home.
ReplyDeleteMy Husband and I also sent our beautiful and most precious Daughter to DRA. Unfortunately we were lied to so many different time by so many different people, it became hard to tell who was telling the truth anymore. When we were finally able to have visits with her we would drive for a day and a half, sleep in our car just so we could visit with her for a few hours.... then they started testing her without our permission and giving us these diagnosis about her having learning disability's .... then on one visit one of the Teachers goes to a meeting, telling us we (parents) dont need to be there when in actuality it was an IEP meeting with the School District and he didnt tell us that... We also carried a large file box of her records that we were able to get from the school districts (what they hadent lost) and since we only have a few things to show The people a the IEP meeting decided that we just had not sent Jessica to school and thats why there were no records??? What... Jess's Dad is a Cop and I am a helicopter Mom so there was never anytime that Jess didnt not go to school, well I guess except when she was cutting class maybe.... Her therapist also quit or had so many Children to counsel that it was a joke for our Daughter to get any physiological counseling of any value just because he was spread so thing and he was still going to school and wasnt even a full psychiatrist yet ....They finally kicked her out because they werent bright enough to figure out how to bill our insurance which would have paid them very well... I pray for the young Mans Family and I'm so very sorry he felt that despondent with no way out or no one to talk to... The MOM
ReplyDeletei had no idea places like these existed- pretty bad when you send your kid off for help and he dies.
ReplyDeleteMy son currently attends DRA, and on balance, while there are issues, we have determined to leave him there until he completes his semester of work. I can confirm that a child from Colorado did, in fact commit suicide, my son personally discussed it with the staffer who found the body (before the DRA gag order was imposed), and I can confirm that the Diaz family has significant pull in the Hurricane community to keep these events hushed up. If my son was even in the slightest prone to suicide, I would have immediately brought him home.
ReplyDeleteI am disgusted with your attitude. Have you not seen drasurvivors.com? You son is being ABUSED and you are allowing it to happen. Parents like you disgust me even more than those who are oblivious to what's going on. You KNOW the facts and yet you choose to ignore them. You have absolutely NO IDEA what he going through right now, but I DO.
DeleteHow do you know your son ISN'T suicidal? Did they tell you that? Because DRA is enough to make ANYONE suicidal. Maybe you'll be getting a phone call next. I speak from experience.
I guarantee that you son's mental health and well-being will be seriously damaged for the rest of his life because of what you've done. I hope once he is 18 he never has anything to do with you again, because you sound like a "parent" who deserves it.
How many red flags do you need? If you know that things are being hushed up...then what else is being hushed up?
I am so disgusted with you I cannot find the words.
BRING HIM HOME NOW - AND KEEP HIM AT HOME.
seriously.....YOU have no right to tell someone how to deal with their child. You take care of your kid and let others deal with theirs. You are disgusting.
DeleteUnderstandably, the Therapeutic Teen Industry for both child advocates and its surviviors emotes an atmosphere where emotions run high.
DeleteIt is difficult enough to tackle issues related to this abusive, fraud-based industry, when one allows emotions to detract from debate and facts, which we feel are far more proactive, though difficult to achieve, when factoring in the human spirit. All, please refrain from personal attacks in comments.
If you have an experience that will help one gain knowledge, then by all means, please impart it, but respectfully.
Thank you.
Jilliestake Staff
DRA was not bad. I speak from experience. I was there for six months before my parents brought me home. The only reason I got to leave early was because my therapist quit and with the extra kids for each therapist I did not see a therapist regularly, which was half of the reason I was there. The kids who fought it had a bad time. Never once in my six months was I abused, either verbally or physically. We had benefits where they took us off ranch, if you were good. We had three square meals and two snacks a day. We had classes, homework, and rec time (sports ect). It disgusts me all of the rumors people say about DRA. I still know a few girls from DRA, even though I went in 2008. Half are still mad they went and those kids who are still angry are doing awful, on the flip side the girls who tried to work through DRA without spite are all just graduating college and having awesome lives. The only thing I hated about DRA was I missed my friends back home, that was it. I gained an awesome work ethic. I will admit when I was there of course I didn't love it, and I would rather be home doing what I wanted to. However, my life did a complete turn around once I went there. I thank my parents everyday for sending me there. If I didn't go I guarantee with the way I was heading I would be pregnant in middle school and into drugs. Instead I am a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. So, to the person who is calling DRA a terrible place you are wrong. I was there for six months. The staff were awesome. Ricky use to let us play football instead of doing calisthenics (basically hard cardio) for a treat. We got special gifts/meals on all holidays. After a long day we all went back to the dorms and played games and just laughed.The girls I made friends with are still my friends to this day. We laughed together, we cried together, we became sisters. DRA is not evil. DRA is not bad. When I look back at the girls from DRA I keep in contact with, the ones who still hate DRA are the ones who went back to their old habits. The girls who don't regret going there are the ones who are now very successful.
DeleteI went Utah expecting to go to a different treatment program. When we got there there were bars on all the doors and windows. You could not leave through any door way inside the building because every door way was key card activated. My parents would not be able to see me for a year had they left me there. My mom couldn't handle that places secretive ways. The very next day I went to DRA. At first I was on suicide watch, but after a week they took me off, and it was never a problem.
To the person who said they would not left them see their kid on a visit, there could have been a reason. Each level prompted a different level of visit. At the "supervisor" level, you got two days for your parents to visit, but you could not stay over night with them. At the "manager" level you got a weekend hotel visit. Then at the next level you got to go home for a week. The level after that it was about a week and a half. If you got enough citations (basically naughty points for things like talking back, being violent, or breaking any rules) you were temporarily dropped back to the first level ( for just a week , then you went back to the regular level). Chances are something like this happened. Never once did I see parents having a hard time. Many girls left early and i'm sure, just like with my mom, the staff tried to talk them out of it. However, they left the kids go.
I apologize for this long post, but people need to know the truth, not an angry former DRA kid's view.
The above post exhibits naivete', among other issues in text that appear 'contrived' to say the least.
DeleteNo child experiencing suicidal ideations should ever be enrolled at DRA, period. The facility is obviously not equipped to handle the mental health needs of a suicidal child, which has been proven by suicide attempts and completions.
DRA has a contract withan 'outside', 'adjunct'
psychologist that is not on property as continuous staff, He is not a psychiatrist. DRA is not a Mental Health facility. DRA appears to be playing Russian roulette with chldren's lives.
"Levels?" These are human beings, not Pavlov's dogs. This is not an experiment, or is it?
How many suicidal deaths have there been at DRA... that have been covered up?
You are more than welcome to think my post is contrived, that is your opinion. I cannot comment on whether DRA is equip for mental health issues such as suicide, however they counseling staff are all licensed mental health professionals. I agree however at least one mental health staff should be on campus at all times. However, when you boil it down having that staff there would not necessarily stop a suicide.
DeleteThe levels were established to be positive reinforcement. With each level increase you were entitled to more privileges, its simple behavioral reinforcement which many programs use. Its truly tragic that this has happened, however I want to establish that not every experience from DRA is negative.
QUOTED FROM ABOVE: "However, when you boil it down having that staff there would not necessarily stop a suicide."
DeleteCorrect: What will stop child suicide, is not accepting students or keeping students with suicidal ideations. Period. Total negligence.
Get him out! Because of supervision, he can't tell you what is happening! Staff will try and twist it as a manipulation if he tries to tell you about physical abuse, solitary confinement, or withholding food. Save your boy! There are better ways!
DeleteWhat I would like to know is...... who's fingerprints are on the "supposedly" suicide belt!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, although nothing rarely gets out of Utah, unless they wish it.
DeleteSupport H.R. 1981: Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2013
ReplyDelete- See more at: http://justwrit.com/stop-child-abuse-in-residential-programs-for-teens-act-of-2013
As I former student at a similar school for "troubled teens" I warn parents, please do not send your kids to institutions like this. There are other options, though you may think otherwise. I spent 3 years in Missouri, at Thanks to Calvary Baptist Church and Boarding Academy (Which is now shut down due to severe child abuse and neglect) and several kids attempted suicide there as well. These places, schools like this..should all be closed down. It's been 10 years since I left there and still have nightmares. That place nearly ruined my life..I now suffer from physiological issues, severe anxiety, and insomnia because of it. Myself and a few former students from TTC are currently writing a book about our experiences and our lives resulting from it-in efforts to warn parents of these places. These schools need to be shut down for good.
ReplyDeletePeople keep saying "there are other options....keep your kids home" let's talk about what parents whom are having a super hard time SHOULD do, places like DRA are often a last ditch effort, parents have tried everything and anything and their kids refuse to follow even basic rules. Regular therapy, consequences, logic, trust and verify, lower expectations....what else just wait it out and unleash them on society? I think jail costs a lot more that 60 k a year ( to tax payers). So what can we do, if not someplace like this?
ReplyDeleteDear Anon,
DeleteIt is not easy and nary a parent will purport it to be so. In addition, any 'program facility' that markets themselves to 'fix' a multitude of teen and tween anomalies, including, but not limited to mental health issues, presents several problematic areas.
Do your research on facilities, on Educational Consultants that have referred to 'noted', documented abusive or fraudulent facilities. If the facility utilizes non-evidence based therapy - run. If the facility commingles Special Needs children with violent, adjudicated youth- run. If you cannot research, then hire/outsource research to an an 'objective' party who will only produce documented evidence.
Insist that changes be made, so that help is community-based, if possible. Although with ACA(Obamacare), there is evidence and current growth indicates that the Therapeutic Teen Industry market place will boom and spring up like a surge due to insurance coverage without accountablility.There is grave concern here as well.
Please read "Educational Consultants for Dummies."
If we can be of further help, please let us know.
Best to you.
I was the most hated by staff student without mental issues.
ReplyDeleteThe comments posted above where made by dra staff aka danny borchardt rick rob dias...
I can tell by the nature of there speech which mimics there doctrine that they administer in daily doses.
I have been given special private conversations with these heads of staff like cody wardle which incorporate these flamboyant displays of scripture simulating :"words of wisdom"..
They speak about "Boiling it down" In defense of preventing suicide being impossible. What young adult would sit on the forum defending a place that incarcerated that individual and write such a defensive post with cult like praise of there practices?
There are no incentives for this. 5 % of the people who are admitted to the tortures of DRA end up staying in positive communication.
I don't call the jails I have been to and "connect" with them because a side effect of the punishment is solitary reflection into ones life...
Now that I have presented this to you the reader please tell me is it possible that the person above can do as I have anonymously and state that they are a student or parent?
The I.p. address will lead to st.George or hurricane I can guarantee that....
and to jillie stake you should of recommended "how to troll for dummies"
This place completely traumatized me.. I'm so scared all the time that people are going to come get me. Physically I'm home but mentally I'm still lost and alone out there. I don't even know what to do with myself anymore, I just want to scream but I've gotta throw on this cloak of normalcy too make everyone else happy. They robbed me of something I can never get back, my peace of mind
ReplyDeleteMy child attended DRA from August 2009 to August 2010. He struggled and struggles to this day with Reactive Attachment Disorder related to living his early life in a Russian orphanage. His behavior was pretty unbearable. The "therapist" was essentially useless. My child came out no different than he went in but at least he wasn't worse or dead. The living conditions were dreadful. The "mattresses" were filthy and thin and the food incredibly cheap. The cost then was $6,200 per month. They wanted to keep him there forever, because he "was making progress" which is DRA speech for "Do you have any money left in your checking account?" Most of the staff are friends or relatives of the owners of the facility and they have almost no training. Dr. Pinsky and Dr. Phil giving this place rave reviews makes me truly doubt the qualifications and integrity of these 2 men.
ReplyDelete