12. We accept them for who they are and the issues that they have in life. [22] There are several elderly couples called as LDS service missionaries at the academy. Police reports have suggested that Kirsta was on suicide watch in the days before her death and had been sleeping in a common area at the facility so staff could monitor her. Johnita Simons said she didnt know Kirsta had been sent to Utah and had no say in the decision. The kids there have complex issues and are sent there for help. Education is an important component of our treatment. It seeks to provide clinical services, education, and other programs for teens, both girls and boys, that are identified as at-risk. She had depression. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. Employees told police later that only a few minutes had passed, but police werent able to verify the timeline. Janet Farnsworth, the executive director of West Ridge Academy, said she couldnt speak specifically about Kirstas death, but said the facility sends heartfelt concern to her grieving family. What we expect to find in the records is that this was a foreseeable event, said Thaddeus Wendt, the parents civil attorney. West Ridge Academy - Overview, News & Competitors - ZoomInfo When a staffer told her that her shower time was up one Thursday afternoon, Kirsta reportedly asked to go to the restroom. Our focus on family, community, and dual diagnosis sets us apart as Utah's premiere inpatient rehab center. A search warrant filed by West Jordan police further states that the boy was being "loud" and was swearing and was "acting out by interrupting the class and being defiant to staff.". Her mother, Johnita Simons, still doesnt know why island officials picked West Ridge Academy. [3] The school is Christian but non-denominational, with the majority of students belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). At our core, West Ridge Academy is an all-encompassing program designed to heal families. Kirsta Simons, 17, had been sent to West Ridge Academy in Utah by the Family Court under the care of the Department of Child and Family Services in 2019. The Salt Lake Tribune reported: Employees told police later that only a few minutes had passed, but police werent able to verify the timeline. To date, the loved one surveyed by Best-rehabs.com gave four out of five stars for the staffs experience. First, many of us in recovery, more so in early recovery, think of ourselves as either being worse than or better than everyone else, which is one of the reasons why humility is such a big deal in 12-Step programs. But no disciplinary action was listed in documents released recently in response to a records request. West Ridge Academy was under investigation with the states licensing agency for about four months before the Department of Human Services Office of Licensing closed its case in March. Her mother, Johnita Simons, still doesnt know why island officials picked West Ridge Academy. Continue reading Be the first to find this review helpful Helpful Share 5.0 Theres not a day that goes by that my heart doesnt ache. Comes from addressing the root of the addiction- not just the addiction itself. Therapeutic Schools", "Utah Department of Human Services licensure records for West Ridge Academy", "Boys Ranch to dedicate spiritual center Thursday", "West Ridge Academy challenges accusations of abuse at state school board meeting", "A Utah facility for 'troubled teens' won't be disciplined after a girl from Bermuda died", "Employee at Utah school for troubled teens charged with child abuse", "Missionaries bring love into lives at West Ridge Academy", "Alex Boye performs at West Ridge Academy gala", Site critical of the facility, run by former students, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Ridge_Academy&oldid=1140167492, Educational institutions established in 1964, Therapeutic boarding schools in the United States, Buildings and structures in West Jordan, Utah, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Articles lacking reliable references from May 2011, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 19:59. Soon after the second request, David O. McKay, then president of the LDS Church, donated $10,000 to support the Utah Boys Ranch. I am deeply appalled by how this matter is being handled.. West Ridge Academy in West Jordan, Utah: Reviews, Pricing, & Info She had suicidal ideations. The academy was established in 1964 with the assistance of a $10,000 donation from David O. McKay, then president of the LDS Church. In fact, the goal is to make them better.. Employment - West Ridge Academy Applied Scholastics Academy of Salt Lake City. Guitars, ukuleles, and drums are available giving our residents newfound outlets to develop exciting interests. The schools policies state the staffer should have been in the bathroom and maintain[ed] frequent verbal check-ins with Kirsta. Jessica can be reached at jmiller@sltrib.com. However, we welcome all men who are looking to heal from emotional struggles in a safe men's-only environment. Highland Ridge Hospital is a fully accredited by the Joint Commission and is one of the most respected and distinguished treatment centers in Utah. One key benefit is that it is a fraction of the cost of other programs as Renaissance Ranch Outpatient's primary goal is to aid in liberating the captive from the chains of addiction not monetary gain. Sequel Youth and Family Services, which owns the St. George facility, ultimately opted to close Red Rock Canyon School last summer. Missed dearly: Kirsta with Johnita Simons (Photograph supplied) (Photograph supplied). They provide lasting solutions through comprehensive mental health services for youth and their families. Our program and therapists treat maternal all perinatal mood and anxiety disorders related to childbirth. Copyright 2023 royalgazette.com. The report said she was given ten minutes of privacy to shower and had then asked a staff member for more time to go to the bathroom, where she then attempted to end her life. [11] The Board of Education revisited the application in March 2016 following the preparation of a 60-page report prepared by the State's Office of Education providing details on the issues raised the previous month. No one talked the way she did. What should happen to the Fairmont Southampton SDO? 5500 West Bagley Park Road West Jordan, UT 84081 801-282-1000 Search. [14] Stan and Mary Ellen Smoot, and Richard and Linda J. Eyre serve on an advisory board. All rights reserved. OP Outpatient; RES Residential; Take the first step and call our admissions or fill out the Contact a Specialist form. The Caf chefs offer well-planned, nutritious meals, and provide dietary/allergen-sensitive options for those requiring a certain diet. Theyve changed the way they decide which students require more supervision for their safety, she said, and also added more lighting and signage across the campus to better assist emergency workers when they are called. Even though she wasnt in my care, I loved her. She said the girls death did not prompt changes in their treatment methods, but they did make changes to how they respond during crisis events. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021, after many years of reporting at the Deseret News and KSL NewsRadio before that. Our program is different than a traditional 12-step treatment program. A Utah facility for 'troubled teens' won't be disciplined after a girl We provide lasting solutions through comprehensive mental health services for youth and their families. [3] It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the name Children and Youth Services, Inc. Thats when she hanged herself. On Nov. 14, 2019, she tried to end her life. 5500 West Bagley Park Road, West Jordan, Utah, 84081. Reading or replaying the story in its Investigative documents say the handbook has been updated, and the state licensing worker expressed no other concerns in documents released to The Salt Lake Tribune. Call us with your questions and concerns and learn how your family can become whole again. The kids there have complex issues and are sent there for help. We serve individuals, couples and families across the lifespan from children age 3 to seniors to empower them to rise above life's challenges. West Ridge Academy Executive Director Bob Stubbs said Feinga has since been fired. It allows for the alcoholic/addict to deal and cope with life's challenges in the real world as they have clinical arms wrapped around them, are held to a healthy balance of accountability and take advantage of the support offered by others who are successfully recovering. Police say a 15-year-old boy at West Ridge Academy, 5500 W. Bagley Park Road, was being disruptive in class on Jan. 4. We work in alliance with the client and family members, along with referring agencies, such as clergy, courts, probation officers, case managers and others concerned in the life of the client. She was given an extra two minutes. ( 5 Reviews) Call (801) 282-1000. I just dont understand why she was sent there. Spencer Cox signed a new law that places more regulations on Utah's "troubled teen" centers. West Ridge Academy | West Jordan UT - Facebook We are a fully licensed Outpatient Addiction Recovery Center that cares! I love her. Care, concern, compassion, and competence are four words that guide staff in achieving that goal through the utilization of safe, proven, reliable, and evidenced-based treatment protocols. We are LGBTQ affirmative. The centers state licensed mental health professionals complete all the assessments. 801-282-1000 Campus Map Schedule a Tour Meet The Staff If you're as disgusted by Russia's abhorrent attack as we are, please support Ukraine and its people. Parents sue a Utah treatment center after their daughter from Bermuda died by suicide (courtesy photo) Kirsta Simons, a 17-year-old Bermudian girl, was sent by child welfare workers to a Utah. Follow Us. The West Jordan detective didnt seem worried about foul play, the report reads, and the medical examiner ruled Kirstas death a suicide.