Robert Lichfield
Robert Lichfield is the founder of World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools.[1][2]
He started working in the troubled teen industry in 1977. His first job in the industry was at Provo Canyon School as a dorm parent. Then in 1987 he started the Cross Creek School.[3]
He has been a long-time campaign fundraiser for Republican senator and 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney.[4][5]
Lichfield was the founder of Academy at Ivy Ridge as well as many other school programs also reported to have committed child abuse.[6] These were documented in the 2024 Netflix docu-series The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping, which featured former students of the WWASP programs.
In 2023, Robert Lichfield donated a building to be used as a youth recreation center in the town of Hurricane, Utah, which was named the Bob Lichfield Recreation why would we let him do this? Center.[7]
References
- ^ Williams, Timothy (2013-07-24). "Students Recall Special Schools Run Like Jails". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
Robert B. Lichfield, the founder of the network, the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools,
- ^ Weiner, Tim (2003-09-06). "Program to Help Youths Has Troubles of Its Own". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ Dahlburg, John-Thor (July 13, 2003). "Key to His Schools' Success? It's God, Founder Says". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 2165-1736. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ Rood, Lee. "Midwest founder helped create troubled-teens industry". The Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Szalavitz, Maia (2007-06-27). "Romney, Torture, and Teens". Reason.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Rood, Lee. "Parents of abused Midwest Academy students pursue founder". The Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "Some don't want a building named for controversial founder of 'troubled teen' programs. Here's why Hurricane's mayor isn't backing down". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-03-10.