Aspen Education Group

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Aspen Education Group
PurposeTherapeutic interventions
HeadquartersCerritos, California
Region served
14 U.S. states and the United Kingdom
Parent organization
CRC Health Group
WebsiteAspeneducation.com

Aspen Education Group is an American company specializing in providing therapeutic interventions for adolescents and young adults, including wilderness therapy programs, residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, and weight loss programs. Since November 2006, Aspen Education Group, with corporate offices located in Cerritos, California has been a division of Bain Capital's CRC Health.

History

Aspen Education Group, Inc. was formed in December 1997 as a spin-off of College Health Enterprises. In 1998, Aspen was reported to have annual revenues of $28 million. That same year, the Sprout Group and Frazier Healthcare Ventures of Seattle purchased major interests in the company. In 2002, Aspen obtained an investment of $15 million from Warburg Pincus and $48 million or more in loans from CapitalSource and Caltius Mezzanine. For 2006, it projected revenue of $150 million. In 2005, The New York Times reported that analysts estimated that companies like Aspen had profits between 10 and 20 percent of their revenues.

Programs

Active

Active programs are listed in the table below, sortable by name, type or location. Most programs are members of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP); several have additional affiliations, such as the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camping.[1][2][3]

Therapy Programs
Name Type Location Description
Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Wilderness therapy Utah, Lehi For ages 13–17 with academic credit available.[4] Aspen Achievement Academy merged into Outback Therapeutic Expeditions March 2011.
SUWS of the Carolinas Wilderness therapy North Carolina A "therapeutic wilderness program with a focus on clinical intervention and assessment" ages 13–17 and a wilderness treatment program for younger children, ages 10–13.[4]
Talisman Camps Wilderness therapy North Carolina Summer Camps for Teens with nonverbal learning disorder and autism spectrum disorders.[4]
Turn-About Ranch Residential treatment Utah, Escalante Short-term coeducational therapy program, with a Christian-based philosophy, licensed as a residential treatment center and located on a working cattle ranch. Enrolls ages 13 to 18.[5]
Youth Care of Utah Residential treatment Utah, Draper Residential treatment center with enrollment limited to 45 students ages 12–18. Provides mental health and chemical dependency diagnosis. Academic services include the opportunity to do online classes with BYU if qualified. Must enter at least 90 days before 18th birthday.

Closed

Closed/Former Programs
Program Name Location Description Closure
Academy at Swift River Boarding school Massachusetts, Cummington Co-educational college preparatory therapeutic boarding school for adolescents aged 14–171⁄2.[5]
Adirondack Leadership Expeditions New York, Near Saranac Lake A "character-development wilderness program for troubled teens".[4] An average stay of 45 days, using a dense forest environment for the hikes.[6] Closed in September 2013.[7]
Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment Syracuse, Utah Conducted assessments needed to develop intervention and treatment plans for troubled adolescents.[5] Became independently owned as ViewPoint Center in May 2014.
Aspen Achievement Academy Utah, Southern For adolescents 13–17. Minimum stay is 35 days. In March 2011, Aspen announced that this program would be consolidated into Outback Therapeutic Expeditions.
Aspen Ranch Utah, Loa For adolescents aged 13–171⁄2; utilized an equine therapy program. Length of stay ranged from 9–24 months. Closure plans announced in March 2011.
Bromley Brook School Vermont, Manchester Center Boarding school for girls ages 14–18. Closure announced in March 2011.
Camp Huntington Residential treatment New York, High Falls Co-educational, residential, summer camps for children and young adults who have special needs such as autism spectrum disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and cognitive impairment.[5] Closed in August 2021.
Cedars Academy Delaware, Bridgeville Boarding school for boys and girls ages 11–18 specializing in Asperger syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorder. There are also 18- to 21-year-olds living off-campus in a young adult transitional program. Closed August 2009.
Copper Canyon Academy Arizona, Rimrock Girls only boarding school with a structured therapeutic environment for ages 13–17, acquired by Aspen Education in 2002. Closed April 2014.[8]
Excel Academy Texas, Conroe Coeducational boarding school for grades 9 to 12. Closed November 2008.
Four Circles Recovery Center Wilderness therapy North Carolina, Blue Ridge Mountains A wilderness-based treatment program for older teens and young adults ages 18–28 with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders, combining traditional counseling, wilderness experiences and a 12-step program.[5][4] Closed in 2018, website says that they are no longer accepting new patients.[9]
Island View Residential Treatment Center Residential treatment Utah, Syracuse Academic services and therapeutic programs for adolescents aged 13 to 18. The academic program at Island View is accredited with the Utah Department of Education, the California Department of Education and the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Must be admitted at least six months before 18th birthday. In 2014, this facility became independently owned and was renamed Elevations RTC.
Lone Star Expeditions Texas, Davy Crockett National Forest Wilderness intervention for youth ages 13–17 and their families. Closed April 6, 2009
Mount Bachelor Academy Oregon, Prineville Co-educational, ages 13–18 experiencing emotional and behavioral disorders including: Minor Depressive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Substance Abuse, and ADHD as well families struggling with adoption issues. Founded in 1987 by College Health Enterprises; around 1998 they spun off MBA and a handful of other facilities into the company that became Aspen Education Group. Following actions by the Oregon Department of Human Services, closure of the school was announced Monday, November 9, 2009.[10] In October 2010, the state of Oregon withdrew its orders and actions against MBA in return for recognition that DHS had a "reasonable" basis to investigate the charges.[11]
New Leaf Academy North Carolina, Hendersonville Private boarding school for girls ages 10 to 14 upon admission. North Carolina location closed June 2010. Aspen announced that The Talisman School would open on its site in August 2010 to enroll youth with autism spectrum disorders. Twenty-seven students remaining at New Leaf North Carolina were to be sent to New Leaf Oregon and to the Bromley Brook School.
New Leaf Academy Oregon, Bend Private boarding school for girls ages 10 to 14 upon admission. In March 2011, Aspen announced plans to close the Oregon location at the end of the 2010–2011 academic year.
NorthStar Center Oregon, Bend Young-adult transitional-living program for ages 171⁄2 to 24 for treatment of substance abuse and addiction. Established in 1991, NorthStar operated independently until 1998, when it was acquired by the Aspen Education Group. Closure announced in March 2011.
Oakley School Boarding school Utah, Oakley Co-educational college preparatory therapeutic boarding school.[5] Closed on June 30, 2017.
Passages to Recovery Utah, Southern A 35- to 50-day intensive outdoor drug and alcohol treatment program for young adults ages 18 and over. In March 2011, Aspen announced that it was consolidating this program into its SUWS program in Idaho.
Pine Ridge Academy Utah, Draper Therapeutic boarding school and residential treatment center enrolling ages of 11 to 18. Closed June 2009
SageWalk Oregon, Redmond For boys and girls ages 13–17 with emotional and behavioral problems. The minimum stay was 30 days, after which participants often transferred to a therapeutic boarding school or other long-term facility. The average was 60 days for the "Family Reunification Plan".[12] Operations suspended on public land pending the investigation of the August 2009 death of Sergey Blashchishena.[13]
Stone Mountain School Boarding School North Carolina, Black Mountain Therapeutic boarding school for boys aged 11–16, specializing in ADHD and learning differences.[5] Program website makes reference to finding a cure by going back to the Tom Sawyer era.[14] The school operated under a Special Use permit issued by the U.S. Forest Service in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests.[15] The school was established in 1990.
Talisman Academy Boarding School North Carolina An academic program for grades 7-12 for students with nonverbal learning disorder and autism spectrum disorders.[5] Closed after the summer of 2013.
Talisman Transitions Independent living North Carolina An independent living program for young adults ages 18 to 24 with asperger syndrome, nonverbal learning disorder, high-functioning autism and similar autism spectrum disorders.[5] Closed after the summer of 2013.
SunHawk Academy of Utah Utah Residential treatment program and boarding school for teens aged 13–17 Closure plans announced in March 2011.
Wellspring Academies (formerly Academy of the Sierras) California, Reedley Year-round boarding schools for overweight or obese teens. Closed in July 2013.[16]
Wellspring Camp La Jolla Weight Loss Camp California, La Jolla Co-ed outdoor program for ages 10–24 and for families. Closed in March 2017.
Wellspring New York New York, Adirondack Mountains Weight loss program for women ages 12–24. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring Adventure Camp North Carolina North Carolina, Canton, Blue Ridge Mountains Co-ed program for ages 11–17. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring Adventure Lake Tahoe Nevada, Incline Village, Campus of Sierra Nevada College Co-ed outdoor program for ages 11–18. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring Texas Texas, San Marcos Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 12–17. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring Wisconsin Weight Loss Camp Wisconsin, Platteville Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 11–17.
Wellspring Oregon Oregon, Corvallis, Campus of Oregon State University Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 11–18. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring Georgia Georgia, Rome, Campus of Berry College Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 11–17. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring DC DC, Washington, Campus of Foxcroft School Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 11–24. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, Poconos Weight loss program for ages 11–24. Closed on an unknown date.
Wellspring Hawaii Hawaii, Big Island Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 13–18. unknown
Wellspring Vancouver Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 12–18. unknown
Wellspring UK Weight Loss Camp United Kingdom, Devon, England, Campus of Exeter University Co-ed weight loss program for teens aged 12–18. Appears to have closed after the summer of 2014.[17][18]

Controversies and criticisms

The Aspen Education Group in 2005 was the target of criticism related to the large revenues its programs generated, and the charge that the provider takes advantage of parents in desperate situations.[19]

In January 2014, Aspen Education Group was accused of "slavery", "abuse", and "false imprisonment" in a lawsuit by the family of a teenage girl who claims she was berated on television by Dr. Phil[20] and then sent to a residential treatment center owned by Aspen where she was falsely imprisoned, filed a civil complaint in federal court.[21] The girl and her mother appeared on the "Dr. Phil" show in February 2013. In the episode, the teen admitted to having sex with adult men she met online, which the family called "bizarre and dangerous conduct" in their lawsuit.[22] To help the family, Dr. Phil then paid for the daughter to enroll at Aspen's Island View Residential Treatment Center. In their suit, the family calls the facility a "private prison" where their daughter was deprived her of freedom, privacy, education, and subjected to "involuntary servitude, and unjust unusual punishments."[23] In one incident, the daughter apparently refused to obey staff members who told her to get off of her bed. When staff members tried to pull her off, her right arm "was badly and perhaps irreparably broken, and its main nerve severely damaged," the lawsuit states.[24] The family also claims the teenage girl's constitutional rights were violated and she was falsely imprisoned, as well as alleging conspiracy and fraud.

In 2009, Oregon state investigators stated that they had found nine cases of abuse and neglect at Mount Bachelor Academy, and the school was ordered to close.[25] Aspen denied the allegations,[25] and after a legal settlement the findings were modified to read that "the agency had reasonable cause to believe that abuse or neglect occurred at the school".[26]

In 2008, a 16-year-old girl enrolled at the Bromley Brook School became involved in a sexual relationship with a teacher.[27] The 40-year-old teacher subsequently pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor.[28]

In 2004, a 14-year-old boy died at Aspen's Lone State Expeditions wilderness program. During the program, the boy and his group had hiked several miles in 90-degree weather. In 2006, a wrongful death lawsuit was brought against Aspen Education Group over the incident. Aspen later settled the case out of court.[29]

In news and popular culture

Several Aspen Educational Group programs have been featured in the media:

  • An article in the UK Sunday Mirror described the experiences of a teenage girl from England who attended Aspen Achievement Academy.[30]
  • The British TV documentary Britain's Youngest Boozers, broadcast October 25, 2005 featured the Aspen program SUWS of the Carolinas.[31]
  • SageWalk (not yet owned by Aspen when aired) was featured in the American version of Brat Camp.[32]
  • Aspen Education programs have been featured multiple times on the Dr. Phil show in the United States.[33][34]
  • Passages to Recovery and NorthStar Center were featured on A&E Television Network's documentary series "Intervention".[35]
  • Aspen Education Group's programs were called a "carousel of treatment" in an article from Utah NPR [36]

References

  1. ^ Affiliations Adirondack Leadership website, accessed March 3, 2012
  2. ^ "Holistic Rehab Program l Mental Physical Spiritual Emotional - Four Circles". Fourcircles.crchealth.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Therapeutic Wilderness Camp for Troubled Teens: Tailored Treatment - Teen Treatment Program in NC". Suwscarolinas.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e Aspen Education Group - Wilderness Programs [1], accessed March 3, 2012
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Residential Schools". Aspeneducation.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  6. ^ [2] Archived January 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Outdoor program for troubled teens closing". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-10-30. Retrieved 2015-11-29.
  8. ^ "Our Doors Have Closed". CCA Site. April 7, 2014. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011.
  9. ^ "Four Circles Recovery Center". Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  10. ^ Gordon Oliver (November 9, 2009). "Mount Bachelor Academy in Prineville to close by Dec. 9". The Oregonian.
  11. ^ Lerten, Barney (October 2, 2010). "DHS, Mount Bachelor Academy Settle Case". KTVZ. Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  12. ^ [3] Archived January 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Mom Mourns Son After Camp Death". Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  14. ^ "Life Changing Therapeutic Programs for Troubled Teens - Aspen Education Group". Stonemountainschool.com. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  15. ^ "Life Changing Therapeutic Programs for Troubled Teens - Aspen Education Group". Stonemountainschool.com. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  16. ^ "Wellspring Academy to close". ABC 30 Action News: KFSN-TV Fresno. July 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Wellspring UK Facebook Page". Facebook.
  18. ^ "Wellspring UK Inquiry Form". Wellspring UK.
  19. ^ Louise Story (August 17, 2005). "A Business Built on the Troubles of Teenagers". The New York Times.
  20. ^ "Dr. Phil.com - Shows - Young, Online and Out of Control". Drphil.com. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Gov.uscourts.utd.91862".
  22. ^ "Dr Phil Teen Sierra Meets Older Men Online & Says She Witnessed Murder". Recapo. 2013-02-25.
  23. ^ Pat Reavy (29 January 2014). "Family sues Dr. Phil, Utah treatment center". DeseretNews.com.
  24. ^ Lacey Donohue. "Lawsuit Accuses Dr. Phil of Ridiculing, Exploiting Sex-Seeking Teen". Defamer. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01.
  25. ^ a b Azevedo, Rachel (November 3, 2009). "Mount Bachelor Academy Ordered to Temporarily Close". KOHD. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  26. ^ Mount Bachelor Academy, DHS reach settlement Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Jason Chaney, October 7, 2010, Central Oregonian, Retrieved 2010-10-14
  27. ^ "Vermont Today - Vermont News, Vermont photos, Vermont business, Vermont Events". Vermonttoday.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  28. ^ "Guilty Plea For Frm. Teacher in Sex Charges". Corrections.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  29. ^ Levin, Art (July 18, 2012). "Dark side of a Bain success". Salon.
  30. ^ "SAVED by Brat Camp Sunday Mirror - Find Articles". www.findarticles.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  31. ^ [4] Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "These kids face harsh reality (The Boston Globe)". Boston.com. 2005-08-10. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  33. ^ "Dr. Phil's list of treatment programs". Drphil.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  34. ^ "results of search for Aspen Education on Dr. Phil's site". Drphil.com. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  35. ^ "Teen's Addiction Leads Family To Unique Wilderness Therapy Program". Medical News Today. 2006-08-01. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  36. ^ "'It's What I've Been Waiting 30 Years For:' Survivors Of Abuse In Troubled Teen Facilities March On Provo Canyon School". KUER. 2020-10-11. Retrieved 2020-10-13.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aspen_Education_Group&oldid=1106590208"