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West Ridge Academy

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West Ridge Academy
Location
West Jordan, Utah, USA
Information
School typeprivate
Denominationnondenominational
DirectorKenneth Allen
Age range9 - 17
Enrollment150
Websitehttp://westridgeacademy.com/

West Ridge Academy (known as the Utah Boys Ranch until 2005), is a youth rehabilitation boarding school (classified as a "therapeutic school" according to Utah statutes) based in West Jordan, Utah, USA. It seeks to provide clinical services, education, and other programs for teens at risk. It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the name Children and Youth Services, Inc. The academy states that it provides "quality clinical services, education, and experiences which promote spiritual awareness, personal accountability and change of heart."

Until 2005, the Utah Boys Ranch was male-only. In early 2005, it opened new, separate facilities for girls and renamed itself to West Ridge Academy.

Stated purpose and governance

Currently the stated purpose of the West Ridge Academy is "to offer hope and healing to families" by establishing "new coping skills and moral and spiritual values that will propel them into a more functional and peaceful way of life." The board of directors is composed of prominent Utah residents including LaVar Christensen, and past board members included politician Gov. Norman Bangerter as well as other local religious (both Mormon and non-Mormon) and community leaders. The current executive director is Kenneth R. Allen, who is also director of Proficio Management, a management company owned by the academy. Since their founding, they state they have helped over 25,000 teens. West Ridge is governed by the Utah Department of Human Services and is reviewed annually for compliance to its general standards and specific standards for such facilities. West Ridge Academy is current with all licensure requirements.

History and controversy

Utah Boys Ranch navigation sign prior to renaming of the facility to West Ridge Academy in 2005

The Utah Boys Ranch was founded by Lowell L. Bennion and a group of his associates in 1964. Later, leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars became the executive director and remained so for more than fifteen years before retiring amid controversy stemming from allegations of use of Utah Boys Ranch facilities as part of his campaign for public office.

On January 2, 2009, Eric Norwood, a former Boys Ranch resident, published an article alleging abuses and controversial practices at the ranch while it was under the direction of Buttars. On January 9, 2009, Salt Lake City radio station KRCL invited Senator Buttars, West Ridge staff, and Eric Norwood on their talk show RadioActive! to discuss the article, but Buttars and West Ridge Academy declined.

On May 15, 2008, Tyler Elsey, a former West Ridge Academy resident, filed a lawsuit alleging negligence and sexual abuse against West Ridge Academy in Utah District court.

In addition to allegations of abuse, former students and staff at the academy allege there is a strong connection with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church), although the Academy maintains that it is nondenominational.

Notes

  1. "Admissions". West Ridge Academy web site.
  2. Ball, Fred (October 3, 2007). "Fred Ball Speaking on Business". KSL Radio Small Business Resource Center. KSL. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  3. "Home page". West Ridge Academy web site.
  4. "Strugglingteens.com review of West Ridge Academy".
  5. "West Ridge Academy program description". West Ridge Academy web site. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. "West Ridge Academy 2007 tax form 990" (PDF). p. 20.
  7. "Board of Trustees". Web Archive of Utah Boys Ranch website. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. "Home page". Proficio Management web site.
  9. "West Ridge Academy 2007 tax form 990" (PDF). p. 8.
  10. "West Ridge Academy Staff", West Ridge Academy, retrieved 6/9/2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. "West Ridge Academy web site home page". West Ridge Academy web site. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. "UT Admin Code R501-15. Therapeutic Schools". Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. "Utah Department of Human Services licensure records for West Ridge Academy". Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. Bradford, Mary Lythgoe (1995). Lowell L. Bennion: Teacher, Counselor, Humanitarian. Dialogue Foundation. pp. 214–215. ISBN 1560850817.
  15. Illegal Goings On at the Utah Boys Ranch?, Associated Press, 2004 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |day= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. Norwood, Eric (2009-01-02). "Trapped In A Mormon Gulag". Orato Media Corp. Retrieved 2009-02-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. Gena Edvalson (1/13/2009). "RadioActive! Jan 9 The Mormon Gulag". KRCL RadioActive website. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  18. "Elsey v. West Ridge Academy case #2:2008cv00390". Federal District Court Filings. Retrieved 6/12/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  19. "Legal Issues and Bad Press". www.mormongulag.com/legal. Retrieved 6/12/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. Frequently cited examples of this alleged connection with the Mormon church include the following:
    • There are several elderly couples called as Mormon service missionaries at the Academy. These missionaries state that they do not proselytize, but provide spiritual counsel for the youths that come to them. Farmer, Molly (April 15, 2009). "West Ridge Academy missionaries tutor with love". MormonTimes. Deseret News.
    • Prior to 2005, while operating under the name, Utah Boys Ranch, the logo of the facility included the phrase, "Do What is Right, Let the Consequence Follow". This is also the title of an LDS hymn.""Do What Is Right...Let the Consequence Follow" Our Yearly Theme". Web Archive of Utah Boys Ranch website. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
    • The stated purpose of the the Utah Boys Ranch in 1999 was to provide clinical services and education through theistic practices, emphasizing "spiritual and moral values" and the "principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ." Additionally, the Director at the time had made statements that indicated the facility "promotes and teaches religious principles". In reference to the Ranch not entering into government contracts the Director stated, "the facts indicate that our government believes the laws governing separation of church and state are violated when governmenr dollars are used in any program that promotes and teaches religious principles.""A Message From Our Director". Web Archive of Utah Boys Ranch website. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

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