My post regarding the temporary closure of a therapuetic boarding school is in no way intended to align with either the school or the state of Oregon. It’s simply information. If you are searching on the web, looking for answers for your troubled teen and are looking for guidance, you may be be interested in calling an Educational Consultant. The call is free! Check us out @ www.thebodingroup.com or call 800-874-2124
Taken from KOHD News
By Rachel Azevedo
A seven month investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services finds nine substantited findings of child abuse. Now the State has ordered a temporary closure of Mount Bachelor Academy, a therapeutic boarding school located 26 miles east of Prineville.
“We are asking parents to begin making arrangements for their children to leave, to be removed, from Mount Bachelor Academy,” said Gene Evans, DHS public information officer.
The investigation began after DHS received complaints of abuse back in March. At the time, there were about 90 students from 14 to 17 years old. Mount Bachelor Academy is licensed as a therapeutic boarding school.
“A therapeutic boarding school, under the state license, can provide services for students who have a range of issues; behavioral issues or mental health issues,” said Evans.
According to documents released by DHS, allegations initially stemmed from five students and focused on a mandatory program called “lifesteps.” Some of the activities required students to reenact past traumatic events, including prior physical or sexual abuse. The investigation revealed all areas of instruction created an immediate threat to all students.
Mount Bachelor Academy issued a statement to KOHD, saying quote:
“We vigorously disagree with the state’s findings… [The allegations are] not only erroneous but also create an unnecessary burden of distress and disruption for our students… We are quickly and aggressively pursuing legal options, including the possibility of a temporary restraining order.”
The academy says it will request a formal hearing to contest the suspenstion. It has 90 days to implement new program guidelines in a dozen areas including behavior management and therapeutic services.
Mount Bachelor Academy is part of Aspen Educational Group which also runs SageWalk, the wilderness school based in Redmond that’s currently under investigation for criminal death of a student who died while in the school’s care.
November 2, 2009
Background Information: Mt. Bachelor Academy
Children, Adults and Families Division, Oregon Department of Human Services
Investigations conducted by the Oregon Department of Human Services at Mt. Bachelor Academy (MBA), a therapeutic boarding school located near Prineville, have resulted in nine substantiated findings of child abuse and neglect against the school’s leadership and therapeutic program.
As a result of the abuse investigation and violations of Oregon’s licensing standards, the state has ordered Mt. Bachelor Academy to temporarily cease all therapeutic, educational and residential services to children until further notice.
The abuse and neglect findings centered on the program as a whole, as well as the school’s Executive Director, and involved five children who attended Mt. Bachelor Academy during 2007-2009. The results of the investigation are being provided to local law enforcement officials.
The investigation was conducted by the Office of Investigation and Training (OIT) at DHS. Investigators with OIT reported that all students at MBA were required to participate in “emotional growth” workshops, called Lifesteps, which included activities that were coercive, intimidating and humiliating — including sexualized role play and reenactment of past traumatic events, such as prior physical or sexual abuse.
While the initial reports described concerns about Lifesteps, the investigation ultimately revealed serious safety concerns about MBA’s curriculum and program as a whole. The experience of the five students was consistent with that of other children enrolled at the school. The report concluded that the experiences of “these five youth are exemplars of the program’s treatment of its students as a whole.”
As a result of the OIT investigation, DHS Children, Adults and Families Residential Treatment Services and Licensing found violations of state licensing standards for therapeutic boarding schools, and state officials will require MBA to cease providing therapeutic, educational and residential services to children.
The licensing program determined in its investigation that there are conditions present that immediately endanger the health and safety of the children enrolled at MBA. The program found that MBA’s methods of educational instruction, emotional and behavioral intervention and daily interaction with students create an immediate threat which places all children at risk of harm.
Further, the investigation revealed that MBA has subjected children to Lifestep workshops as a therapy technique that is harmful and damaging to their health or welfare. In addition, that MBA has not provided the therapeutic treatment necessary for children to overcome or improve with substance abuse issues, mental health issues, eating disorders and other issues, nor provided qualified staff to treat such conditions.
The substantiated incidents of abuse or neglect are shown below:
The substantiated incidents meet Oregon’s legal definition of child abuse because they were inconsistent with recommended and appropriate treatment or care, used derogatory names/phrases, profanity, ridicule, harassment, coercion, and/or intimidation that was likely to endanger the child’s health or welfare. In addition, the activities subjected children to a substantial risk of harm to their health or welfare, and the adults failed to supervise or intervene when the child needed assistance or care, in an activity that was likely to endanger their health or welfare.
An expert in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry consulted by DHS as part of the investigation concluded: “In general, coercive, degrading and humiliating treatment is harmful to young people, especially those with psychological vulnerabilities. Young people (male and female) who have been victims of abuse often hold themselves responsible for the abuse, and develop sexualized behavior for reasons they often don’t understand. To confront them and humiliate them about these behaviors in an effort to force them to see themselves more clearly and consequently change their behavior can be very destructive. It has the risk of reinforcing self-blame and self-loathing attitudes already present in traumatized individuals. It is essentially retraumatizing.”
Today’s report also includes a substantiated allegation of child abuse against the Executive Director of MBA as “the individual responsible for delivery of therapeutic care to MBA students.” In that role, the Executive Director “administers through staff an ‘emotional growth’ curriculum in which all students must participate regardless of their emotional, behavioral or mental health needs, and regardless of their own trauma histories. This curriculum is delivered by staff who are not trained to treat the broad range of issues the children bring, and who routinely degrade and humiliate them.” The report concludes that the Executive Director, “knew or should have known what happens to students in [the] program.”
Mt. Bachelor Academy is a licensed Therapeutic Boarding School, located in a rural area, 26 miles east of Prineville, Oregon, licensed originally in 1988. The school admits both male and female students who are from age 14 to 17.5 at the time of admission, although some children are admitted pursuant to an exception as young as age 13. The total capacity is 125 students and the average length of stay is 14-16 months. Tuition is $6,400 a month with an additional up front, one time $2,200 enrollment fee. Other service fees are not included. In 2008, Mt. Bachelor was reorganized and became a program of Aspen Education Group. Aspen was recently acquired by CRC Health Group, Inc. In March of 2009, MBA had approximately 77 staff and 88 boarding students.
Last March, the state received reports of child abuse against Mt. Bachelor Academy, initially concerning the Lifesteps program at MBA. OIT is a division of DHS that investigates allegations of abuse by paid staff in various therapeutic or treatment settings, and OIT handled the investigation of the reports of abuse at MBA. There were two investigators primarily assigned to go to Prineville and interview people on campus. In addition, the office used three other investigators to conduct witness interviews of people in- and out-of-state. The investigators conducted interviews involving 65 witnesses, including MBA students and staff, along with licensed therapists familiar with individual students. Investigators consulted with a medical expert certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and they reviewed documents and photographed materials used as part of the MBA therapy program.
At the same time, the DHS Licensing program investigated standards for health and safety and looked at the school’s compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules related to their license as a therapeutic boarding school. Licensing notified MBA that they were prohibited from conducting their own investigation into the allegations of abuse reported to have occurred; prohibited from destroying or otherwise concealing school or student records; prohibited from disciplining or threatening discipline to students interviewed during the investigation; prohibited from conducting Lifesteps activities until further notice. Parents of students were notified of the investigation.
A “Therapeutic boarding school” is a program that is primarily a school and not a residential care agency (as defined in OAR 413-215-0506). Therapeutic boarding schools are licensed to provide both educational services and care to children for 24 hours a day and hold themselves out as serving children with emotional or behavioral problems by providing therapeutic services or assuring that children receive therapeutic services.
Statement from Sharon Bitz, Executive Director, Mount Bachelor Academy
Mount Bachelor Academy is deeply disappointed by the ruling of the Oregon Department of Human Services to temporarily cease all therapeutic, educational and residential services at the program.
We vigorously disagree with the state’s findings. This surprising action, following seven months of cooperative work by Mount Bachelor with the state since the allegations surfaced, is not only erroneous but also creates an unnecessary burden of distress and disruption for our students and their families.
As a result, we are quickly and aggressively pursuing legal options, including the possibility of a Temporary Restraining Order request. A TRO would at the very least give our families additional time to make orderly and appropriate arrangements for any child in need of immediate therapeutic services.
In addition, we are analyzing the details of the state report, and will request a formal hearing to contest the suspension order.
For over 20 years, Mount Bachelor Academy has enjoyed a solid reputation as a quality, accredited therapeutic boarding school for teens with behavioral, emotional or motivational problems or special learning needs.
We remain proud of Mount Bachelor’s record of life-changing, positive results for young people in our care, and confident in the professional conduct of our staff and leadership who have committed their careers to making a difference in the lives of young people and their families. Mount Bachelor has been recognized for comprehensive therapeutic best practices and safety protocols, and has independent verification of its success through participation in third-party outcome studies with oversight by the Western Institutional Review Board.
Throughout the state inquiry, we have been heartened by the overwhelming support from Mount Bachelor Academy alumni and current students and families. More than 100 individual letters and a letter with roughly 200 signatures were filed with the Oregon DHS in support of our school.
Over the years, the Bodin name became synonymous with placement. This is an incorrect label given that much of our work is planning. Planning for success at home. We utilize our clinically trained Educational Consultants, local resources and creative planning to develop a wrap-around plan individually catered to the needs of the particular student.
Of course, this is not to say that placement does not become necessary in some cases. Our extensive travel and knowledge of the many different programs, schools and levels of care make us a valuable resource in those cases. Each year, we visit and evaluate over 100 schools and programs around the country. We also work hard to stay connected to local schools and resources as well.
For more information visit www.thebodingroup.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
INDUSTRY LEADERS PARTNER TO DEVELOP FULL CONTINUUM OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WITH STRUGGLING TEENS
Los Altos, CA 11/3/2008- Bodin, the largest Educational Consulting Group in the country announced today a partnership with Homeward Bound, the industry leader in aftercare and transition management to offer Bodin’s Transitional Services.
This partnership will allow Bodin to expand their services to work with the many families who are in need of immediate in-home intervention as well as families requiring aftercare for students returning from an out of home residential placement. Bodin’s Transitional Services will incorporate Homeward Bound’s in-home intervention and multi-systemic support model.
“The partnership with Homeward Bound broadens the range of professional services offered to our nationwide clients.” said Douglas Bodin, CEO of Bodin, “This service added to the special needs and traditional consulting and testing services we provide to families of children, adolescents and young adults creates an integrated set of options all geared at supporting the educational and emotional needs of their students. This in-home support in concert with continued local, individual and family therapy will create a continuum of care unmatched in the industry.”
Homeward Bound has years of experience providing innovative, evidence-based Earlycare™ services as an in-home treatment option as well as aftercare programs to teens and families returning home from treatment. The integration of these programs with Bodin’s consulting services creates a powerful combination of designing, coordinating and executing a comprehensive plan.
“We have long believed that families are best served when consultants offer a full range of treatment options,” said Homeward Bound’s Founder and CEO Dr. Tim Thayne. “We are pleased to be able to integrate into Bodin’s Transition Services. This type of partnership will allow a wider population of families to benefit from the teen treatment industry.”
For more information about the services offered by Bodin, please call 800-874-2124 or visit www.thebodingroup.com.
About Bodin:
Bodin has been providing Educational Consulting and Psychological Testing since 1979. With several offices in Northern and Southern California they have served families local, nationally and internationally and seen thousands of clients with a broad spectrum of issues relating to education, behavior and family.
About Homeward Bound:
Created in response to a need for more effective aftercare help for troubled teens, Homeward Bound is recognized as the industry leader in aftercare and transition management. The company’s innovative, evidence-based aftercare program helps teens and families bridge the gap between out-of-home treatment and the return to real life. For more than three and a half years, Homeward Bound has assisted teens and their families throughout North America in navigating the transition process and achieving long-term success, unity, and happiness.
Contact:
Brenda Loringer-Bell
5050 El Camino Real, Suite 101
Los Altos, CA 94022
650-937-1111
Douglas Bodin and Kevin Kindlin, Educational Consultants at Bodin were recently interviewed by Allen Cardoza’s Radio Show, Answers for the Family. If you are interested in listening click on the following link http://www.latalkradio.com/Allen.php
If you are the parent of a struggling teen you may cringe when the phone rings and the caller ID shows the number of your child’s school. This is the time of year that the promises your child made and the hopes that you had that this year would be different are falling apart. It may be the time of year that you need to call an Educational Consultant to begin developing an alternative plan for success if your student continues to struggle. At Bodin, our Educational Consultants are skilled in working with families who have children, adolescents and young adults sruggling with issues ranging from learning differences to major mental health issues.
If you have a child who is struggling, please feel free to contact us aat 800-874-2124.
Gen. Barry McCaffrey and Brenda Loringer-Bell of Bodin
I attended the “Recovery Takes Flight” celebration in Marin County last week to honor the many who have battled addiction, sought treatment and had the opportunity to thrive in recovery from addiction. Myself included.
Former US Drug Czar and Retired Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey was there and reminded the audience and media that ” Twenty on million Americans need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug or alcohol problems according to the numbers form HHS; less than three million receive treatment. In California, 3.1 million need but do not receive treatment; less than 200,000 are treated. We have a huge treatment gap.”
While I could not find data to show out those numbers, how many are adolescents and young adults, it is fair to assume that at Bodin, we have the opportunity and obligation to every family we see to be aware of the current trends in drug abuse and addiction. This includes keeping informed about the current drugs of abuse, recent studies, options for treatment and employing Educational Consultants who have extensive experience in addiction treatment.
I could go on and on, but the message is this…recovery happens and it feels really good to be a part of it.
Douglas Bodin, CEO
http://admittingmistakesasaparent.blogspot.com/
Dear Sue—
That’s a fantastic reminder to desperate parents of the risks associated with getting on the internet. Predatory practices by otherwise reputable organizations, let alone those by the disreputable ones, are outrageously commonplace. As an Educational Consultant I also agree almost entirely with your assessment of educational consultants! My firm is the largest in the country, employing almost exclusively Masters and Ph.D. – level, experienced professionals to act as the guides and planners for families in crisis. It’s the best of both worlds, in my opinion. As trained therapists, they understand the intricacies and nuances of often significantly clinical issues. But as a team of 15, constantly traveling around the country visiting and evaluating hundreds of programs, we bring a level of knowledge and on-the-ground experience that is unmatched. Furthermore, with a diversity of clinical experiences and backgrounds, our team approach allows each consultant to collaborate and derive support and guidance from other members of the team on a regular and routine basis. I further agree that consulting with your therapist is an important component of the process. We get most of our referrals from therapists who may recognize the possible need for a residential placement but rely on our travel, experience and expertise to help determine its necessity and location. Finally, with regard to the politics, I believe you are unfortunately correct that individual practitioners are limited in the number of programs with which they can remain conversant. They have their “favorites” that are often based on factors unrelated to the specific needs of a particular child. And while Wilderness programs are often an extraordinary first step as a preparatory and evaluative tool, they aren’t for everyone. Adhering rigidly to the best interests of the child, advocating for his or her needs and remaining involved throughout placement(s), guiding a family and problem-solving at every step is an essential recipe for successful outcomes. Being more than mere “matchmakers” is what has contributed to our success and growth for 30 years.
If you are a parent of a struggling teen you may be searching for answers. At Bodin, we firmly believe that there are no general answers to the difficulties families and teens are struggling with. There is not one or even one hundred schools that can solve the problem. Every single family we see is different and every plan we develop is different, too.
The Educational Consultants at Bodin are available to assist families who need help. Our expertise is in creating unique and clinically appropriate plans for success. Our educational consultants travel throughout the U.S. and abroad to evaluate schools and programs. We work hard to stay connected to many local resources within each community we work in so that every plan is developed to support not just the student, but the entire family system.
If you have a struggling teen, please check out www.thebodingroup.com or call 800-874-2124
Most people would use that term to describe the kid down the street known to have troubles with the law or who has a history of using alcohol or pot. For the Educational Consultants at Bodin, we see troubled teens who do fit the typical idea of a troubled teen, but who are not thriving for many reasons other than substance use and troubles with the law. We work with adolescents, young adults and families who need guidance developing appropriate and individualized plans for academic and emotional growth. We have developed relationships with schools, programs and individual resources throughout the country in order to ensure that a plan we create will be successful. Much of our work is with the families in order to maintain the plan and not fall prey to the common parenting pitfalls that can interrupt or setback these plans.
If you think you have a troubled teen and would like to speak to a consultant, call 800-874-2124
