Family Sues Syracuse based Island View Residential Treatment Center and Dr. Phil - call facility a "private prison"

Island View Residential Treatment Center was co-founded by Waypoint Academy co-founder

KSL recently reported, "The family of a teenage girl who claims she was berated on television by Dr. Phil and then sent to a residential treatment center in Utah where she was falsely imprisoned, has filed a civil lawsuit."

Read the full story here:

Family sues Dr. Phil, Utah treatment center

In their suit, they now call the facility a "private prison" and claim their daughter was placed there "for the purpose of forcing her to become obedient instead of truant by depriving her of freedom, privacy, education, and subjecting her to involuntary servitude, and unjust unusual punishments."
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.
The family also claims their daughter's constitutional rights were violated and she was falsely imprisoned, as well as conspiracy and fraud.

The facility, Island View Residential Treatment Center (now called Island View School), was co-founded by Waypoint Academy co-founder Jared Balmer.

From the Waypoint Academy website, we read some of Dr. Balmer's credentials:

Jared’s professional career centers on adolescents and their families. He is one of the pioneers of a multi-disciplinary approach in the private sector of the residential treatment arena, integrating education, milieu therapy, recreational therapy, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. While living in the mid-west, he founded two treatment centers that served students with severe conduct and related disorders. Since returning to Utah, Jared co-founded Rivendell Psychiatric Hospital, Island View RTC, The Oakley School, and the Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment. Drawing on his vast experience and passion for working with adolescents, he has joined forces with other seasoned professionals to create WayPoint Academy, a specialized residential treatment facility for males with anxiety and relation problems.

Troubled Youth Steals Van and Escapes From Waypoint Academy

The Ogden Valley News reported in their December 15, 2013 issue, that a youth had been located after fleeing the Waypoint Academy (formerly Green Valley Academy) in Huntsville.  

While the "academy" has only been open some nine months (since spring 2013), this is at least the second such escape that has been reported to the local authorities.  Since discipline is typically handled in house, It is unknown if any other youth have fled the facility.

From the Ogden Valley News,

A report from the Weber County Sheriff's Office states that a deputy recently responded to Waypoint Academy in Huntsville after staff reported that a juvenile had left the facility without permission and took a minivan belonging to the center after finding a spare set of keys to the van.  The juvenile then abandoned the van at about 8400 E. 100 S. because he couldn't figure out how to turn on the headlights.  He then ran north into area fields.

The juvenile was returned to Waypoint Academy after being located by the deputy a short time later hiding in the fields.  The center's operator ended the juvenile's enrollment at the facility and asked that he be taken to Archway Youth Service Center in Ogden so his parents could arrange placement at a new facility or travel plans could be made for his return to New York.  According to the sheriff's report, the juvenile was taken to Archway.

Residents will remember when Academy owners initially were considering a large home near the Trinity Abby in Huntsville as their campus.  Neighbors objected to having troubled teens housed in their backyards. 

Ultimately, Academy owners removed their petition and later purchased property in another residential neighborhood on Highway 39; their current location.

A Weber County planning staffer decided the Academy fit the definition of a "school" and issued approval for the facility, rather than putting the issue on the planning commission's agenda.

Concerns over potential water shortages and other issues surfaced, and the "Protect our water" campaign ensued.

Early on, during meetings held in 2010, Academy owners stated publicly that they would accept low risk "Forest Gump" type kids.  More specifically, kids with Autism, Asperger's syndrome and similar disorders.  However, their new website makes no mention of these disorders and instead touts anxiety.

WayPoint Academy provides specialized treatment for young men between the ages of 13-18 who are afflicted with various types of anxiety.

• Generalized Anxiety 

• Social Phobia

• Panic Attacks

• Agoraphobia

• Specific Phobia

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Depression is frequently present in individuals with severe anxiety. Thus, the criteria for admission also includes students with symptoms of depressive disorder.

Green Valley Academy changes name to Waypoint Academy

Nationwide job search ongoing

Construction is nearing completion of the infamous Green Valley Academy, which is curiously now called Waypoint Academy.   The facility plans to open in March, 2013.

Residents will remember when Academy owners initially were considering a large home near the Trinity Abby in Huntsville as their campus.  Neighbors objected to having troubled teens housed in their backyards.  Ultimately, Academy owners removed their petition and later purchased property in another residential neighborhood on Highway 39.

A Weber County planning staffer decided the Academy fit the definition of a "school" and issued approval for the mammoth facility, rather than putting the issue on the planning commission's agenda.

Concerns over potential water shortages and other issues surfaced, and the "Protect our water" campaign ensued.

Waypoint Academy has been ramping up lately and has been advertising several job openings nationwide on such sites as www.simplyhired.com.  At press time, the ad is no longer posted.  However, multiple positions are still being offered here.

The name change is interesting.  While we may never know the reason behind the change, there is considerable negative Internet clutter related to the Green Valley Academy, so owners may be
looking for a new beginning with Waypoint Academy.

Early on, during meetings held in 2010, Academy owners stated publicly that they would accept low risk "Forest Gump" type kids.  More specifically, kids with Autism, Asperger's syndrome and similar disorders.  However, their new website makes no mention of there disorders and instead touts anxiety.

WayPoint Academy provides specialized treatment for young men between the ages of 13-18 who are afflicted with various types of anxiety.

• Generalized Anxiety 

• Social Phobia

• Panic Attacks

• Agoraphobia

• Specific Phobia

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Depression is frequently present in individuals with severe anxiety. Thus, the criteria for admission also includes students with symptoms of depressive disorder.

East Huntsville will be welcoming their new neighbors before we know it.

Provo Teen Escapes From Residential Treatment Center

A troubled teen from the Provo Canyon School escaped and went on a crime spree Sunday, leaving one dead.

Watch the Fox 13 footage here:

Stolen SUV involved in fatal crash, teen in custody

Is this what we have to look forward to when Ogden Valley gets its first Residential Treatment Facility?

OGDEN VALLEY Planning Commission Meeting Tonight @ 5 PM

Their are a few of items of interest on tonight's agenda of the Ogden Valley Planning Commission:

1. STA 2011-02 Discussion and action on an amendment to Chapter 4 (Subdivision Improvements Required) of the Weber County Subdivision Ordinance
2. Policy Discussion and action on Submitting Information to a Planning Commission Policy 

Later:

5-2. Legal Counsel’s Remarks: Therapeutic Schools

The meeting begins at 5:00 and will be held in the Weber County Commission Chambers, Weber Center (2380 Washington Blvd)

Click here to view the agenda 
Download a full copy of the Ogden Valley December 06, 2011 packet, in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), here. Packets are available only for the current agenda and approximately thirty days after that date.

We invite our expert readers to review the packet and comment on the proposed improvements.  Are they truly improvements or changes meant to make it more developer friendly?  That is the $100 question.

Reminder of Tonights meeting along with a report of findings from the Hydrogeologist that was presented to the state on the well protest.

Just a reminder about the meeting tonight,
Oct. 6, 2011
at the Huntsville Library
at 6:00 pm,
regarding an update on Green Valley Academy.
Please come out and get the lastest on the issue.
Also here is the attachment of the report of findings from the Hydrogeologist that was presented on our behalf to the state on the well protest.
Thank you all....

Ogden Valley Protection Counsel

Click here to view the report

Community Meeting Thursday

Click here to view a related article that appeared in the 9-15-11 issue of the Ogden Valley News.

Green Valley Academy Update - Your Help Is Needed

Click Below to Enlarge

URGENT -- Green Valley Academy Files for Well Permit - Protests must be submitted by June 22, 2011

Green Valley Academy has filed for a well permit under Jared Balmer.  Protests need to be filed before June 22, 2011.  Click this link for instructions on protest filing  Anyone concerned about their water must file a protest.   

To date, only 4 neighbors have filed a complaint, but this request for 13 ac./ft. of water could have far reaching effects to those both near the property and beyond.

Don't sit back and assume someone else is going to do this for you. If you have a a concern, file a protest on your behalf. 

Click this link and select the county "Weber" and it will pull up the current petitioned wells. Instructions on how to file are at the top of the web page.

Here's the pertinent info from the link.

35-12590	E5204	Jared Balmer	Pineview Reservoir	IO	Weber	13 acft	Apr 27, 2011
		1166 Sunset Dr.	Sec 16 T 6N R 2E SLB&M				May 26, 2011
		Kaysville, UT 84037	Huntsville			YES	Jun 22, 2011

APPLICATIONS IN CURRENT ADVERTISING CYCLE

Persons objecting to an application must file a CLEARLY READABLE protest stating FILING NUMBER, REASONS FOR OBJECTION, PROTESTANT'S NAME AND RETURN ADDRESS and any request for a hearing. Protests must be filed with the State Engineer, Box 146300, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6300 on or before the 'Protest End Date' associated with each application found below.

NOTE: Please be aware that effective, July 1, 2009, there will be a $15.00 fee for each protest filed.

Planning Commission Meeting Summary

By Fred

As expected, the Planning Commission voted to move the Therapeutic School item to a working meeting June 7. Everyone is invited to come and participate.

It is unfortunate that all who attended and ready to comment were not allowed to comment. I thought they could have handled it better. Even Ben Hatfield got cut off in the middle of is Staff summary.

Another Important Ogden Valley Planning Commission Tonight @ 5 PM

Therapeutic School Zoning Amendment on Agenda

The meeting will be held in the:
Weber County Commission Chambers,
Weber Center (2380 Washington Blvd).
The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m.
 
Huntsville resident Fred Smullin has spent many hours drafting new language for an amendment to the Weber County Zoning Ordinance that addresses the definition of a school.   Be sure to attend to support Fred's efforts (or dispute them if you feel so inclined).

From the agenda:

3-3. ZO 2011-1 Consideration and/or action on a text amendment to the Weber County Zoning Ordinance by amending the definition of “school,” and adding the definition of “Therapeutic School,” establishing facility requirements and to include “Therapeutic School” as a conditional use in the F-5, F-10, F-40, AV-3, FR-3, and CV-2 Zones (Fred Smullin, Applicant) 

Two more important items are on the agenda:

3-1. UVR 030209 Consideration and action on a request for a variance to the Weber County Subdivision Ordinance to allow an additional time extension of final approval for The Retreat at Wolf Creek Utah Subdivision Phase 1, in the RE-20 Zone, located at approximately 5334 East Elkhorn Drive (Rob Thomas for Wolf Creek Properties LC, Applicant)

3-2. Deferrals Consideration and action on a recommendation to the County Commission regarding options for deferrals of public improvements (curb, gutter, sidewalk, asphalt)

We will note the importance of item 3-1 as the proposed land in zoned RE-20, which is among the most dense zoning in Ogden Valley.

Green Valley Acadamy Update

Happy Easter everyone!

There have been a few new developments in the Green Valley Academy saga.

First, we were forwarded this email:

Hey Folks!

Just an update. On Monday April 18, 2011 an injunction was filed in Judicial Court regarding GVA.  We would like to extend our appreciation to Chris and Sue Johnson and Kathy Peterson for all their work in making this happen. In the coming days we will have updates as to the result and any hearing dates that might be attendable by the public.  Again just a reminder about the Fund at Zions Bank under the name "Ogden Valley Protection Fund" any donations are greatly appreciated. 

Ogden Valley Protection Counsel
   "For the Greater Good of the Valley"

We also were tipped off of the following in an anonymous post, which we did not publish since the author could not follow our simple rules:

Deed recorded April 14th, to BALMER watch for the well driller soon,,..... 

We checked it out on the Weber County GIS site and the deed for Serial # 21-025-0012

is in fact in  the name of:

BALMER, JARED & BULLOCH, MIKE ETAL

Green Valley Academy - still in the spotlight - Sage Quotes concerning Residential Therapeutic Treatment For Youth

Guest comments promoted to the front page   By Danna

The following have been quoted from various sources concerning "Residential Therapeutic Treatment for youth".

Glen Zaugg - NATSAP President:
"In the last two years, the economic downturn in this country has hit many of our members particularly hard. Parents have had fewer options regarding funding sources, and consequently, more than a handful of programs have closed." (i.e. Mount Bachelor Academy)

Treatment Magazine:
"CRC's Youth Therapeutic boarding school leader Aspen Education has been hit by the credit crunch as parents are unable to access second mortgages and tuition loans to finance the huge cost of helping their children. CRC has admitted it has had major difficulty filling beds."

Tom Crote - Family Light:
"recommends against referring to or enrolling in any Aspen program due to what the closing of New Leaf of North Carolina says about the value system of the company."

Dr. Rod Hoevet - Clinical Psychologist:
"Illicit substance Abuse is an enormous problem in American mental health. On a daily basis I review patient records from large well respected mental health agencies. These records often will outline a heavy substance abuse and then, in the very same record diagnosis Bipolar or any number of other disorders. This is a no brainer. The DSM is explicit: you cannot diagnose any mental illness if it is otherwise explained by drug intoxication or WITHDRAWAL. This is reckless and unethical, which leads to unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments."

Alison Barkoff - Senior staff attorney at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: (i.e. Mount Bachelor)
"We feel very strongly that for-profit residential facilities are completely inappropriate for special education. They have been shown to be ineffective and commonly employ practices that do harm. But because the programs are privately run, what happens within their walls is largely a mystery. No one knows whether the programs succeed or fail."

Last summer when the OVPC conducted their work meeting at Oakley School, it was noted that their enrollment was not to full capacity plus every student had to be drug free for at least 3 months. I also heard Dr. Balmer declare the students of the Green Valley Academy would be the "Forest Gumps" of the world. Subsequently, I discovered in the Syracuse City minutes, that when Island View Residential Treatment Center first started there were over 10 calls a month to law enforcement. In 2010 the Chief of Police stated in a letter that they had received NO CALLS.

In my opinion from the information presented here, there are two major questions:
1. If the kids can't call the police, who is watching out for their rights?
2. What is to be done with a large building in the middle of a residential neighborhood with its massive sewer system and water company, when the business fails?

d

Citizen's Report From Last Night's Board of Adjustments Meeting

Guest Post by Fred Smullin

I am saddened to report that after a couple of hours of private debate, the Weber County Board of Adjustment announced that they voted 4-1 to deny the appeal of the current land owners and neighbors to the proposed Green Valley Academy (GVA) site.  I have since learned that the vote was actually 3-2 and the minutes will be adjusted to reflect that.  They ruled that, as currently defined, the GVA "application language" met the requirements of the AV-3 school definition.  It's important to note the distinction that only what GVA put on their application was allowed to be considered, not what the true intent of the facility was, or what their previous contradictory application said.  They used the words necessary to get the prize, not what GVA was really about.  All for a group that doesn't apparently own the property yet.

I feel for those impacted directly and wish them luck in however they choose to continue their battle.  I would encourage everyone to offer them your support as this was a tough loss for them and everyone in the valley.

I'll let the Ogden Valley Protection Counsel (OVPC) advise us on how to best support them next.  What we citizens can do is continue to recommend changes to our zoning to limit the impact of these institutions.  I'm somewhat skeptical after watching the proceedings.  There are too many angles that can be picked apart legally.  But, I am not ready to give up.  It just shows we have a lot of work to do and rushing changes through may create more gaps than are filled.

If GVA is built, we as citizens can be watchful.  The community can be the watch dog and if enough incidents and complaints are documented publicly, licenses can be revoked and facilities closed.  It takes a paper trail to reach that decision.

Likewise, parents research the internet leading up to the decision to contract GVA to modify the behavior of their child.  If public records exist online citing factual issues with GVA, it will have an influence on their recruiting efforts.  The greatest factor to their success is keeping hidden what parents don't want to hear.  So, it's up to the community to be diligent, hold them accountable, and report, report, report.

Please use the Valley Forum to voice your opinion and support for the residents that are impacted.

Board of Adjustments Upheld Staff decision

Comment Promoted to the Front Page
By Greg Anderson

The Board of Adjustments upheld the staff decision that the Green Valley Academy is a school. They spent over two hours in closed-to-the-public deliberations before reaching their decision.

Any more reports from those in attendance?

Board of Adjustment Meeting Reminder - updated

Don't miss the update at the bottom of this post

The Appeal to the Weber County Board of Adjustments Thursday - neighbors vs Green Valley Academy "School"

The appeal to the Board of Adjustment hearing is this

The meeting will be held in the Weber County Commission Chambers,
Weber Center (2380 Washington Blvd).
The meeting will begin at 4:30 pm


The agenda is short so we will include it below (click here to visit the county web site):

1. Minutes Approval of the January 27, 2011 meeting minutes
2. BOA 2011-01: Consideration and action on an appeal of an administrative decision by the Weber County Planning Division in determining that Green Valley Academy meets the definition of “School” in the Weber County Zoning Ordinance, and is, therefore, considered a permitted use in the AV-3 Zone as a “private education institution having a curriculum similar to that ordinarily given in public schools.” (red emphasis and underline added by us)
3. Other Business:
4. Adjournment:

Download a full copy of the Board of Adjustment March 17, 2011 packet, in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), here. Packets are available only for the current agenda and approximately thirty days after that date.

UPDATE:  3-17-2011 @ 10:20 AM

We will open this post up for live blog updates of today's meeting.  If you have a smart and fancy phone, please attend today's meeting and give us play by play updates by posting in the comments section.  We will be anxiously standing by.

Weber County Board of Adjustments to Hear Green Valley Academy Appeal

The Weber County Board of Adjustments will hear the Appeal of the Green Valley Academy's Design Approval on March 17, 2011.  The residents near the proposed site have filed the appeal.

As is typically the case, the Weber County Web site makes no mention of the meeting, but our intel has provided us these details:

March 17, 2011
4:30 PM

Weber County Commission Chambers

Mark your calendars and arrive early to get a seat as Ogden Valley residents will likely pack the house.

On another hot topic, the heliport petitioners have scheduled an appeal to the Weber County Commissioners on March 29.

Ogden Valley Protection Counsel Meeting Tonight

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Huntsville Library 7PM.  

Please do what you can to get the word out make a few phone calls, tell your neighbors, send emails to your friends.

Discussion will include updates on the Green Valley Academy Appeal and updates on the recent merger with the Valley Citizen's For Responsible Development.

Merger of Two Ogden Valley Advocacy Groups

Merger of Two Ogden Valley Advocacy Groups

As of March 1, 2011, two separate advocacy groups in Ogden Valley have united under a single name. The former Ogden Valley Protection Council (OVPC) has merged and become part of the existing VCRD ( Valley Citizens for Responsible Development ) under the VCRD title.

The VCRD Board of Trustees has been expanded from 7 members to 11 effective immediately to include representation from the Ogden Valley Protection Council.

There will be a meeting of the former Ogden Valley Protection Council members on Tuesday, March 8th at 7PM at the Huntsville Library to discuss the merger. We encourage all Valley residents to add their name to our expanded organization.

"SPEAK UP FOR WHAT YOU WANT, OR TAKE WHAT YOU GET"

There will be additional information on this merger forthcoming. If you have any questions about the expanded VCRD, go to www.vcrdutah.org. If you wish to join the VCRD, send just $10 per year per person to:

VCRD

PO Box 115

Huntsville, Utah 84317

Guest post by LeeAnn

Orrin Hatch has an agenda of :
Meeting with Interior Secretary Salazar, Head of BLM on Administration's Devastating New Land Policy.
He wrote:

"I made it very clear to the Secretary and Director Abby that the Administration’s new Wild Lands policy will be devastating to rural Utah and those communities in our state that depend on access to public lands. Closing off so much land in Utah is unacceptable. The people of our state are sick and tired of being dictated to by Washington bureaucrats. The secretary and Director Abby told me that they would examine the impact of this new Administration policy – I will hold them to that. There can and will be no empty promises from the Administration on this reckless policy.”

Let me rewrite Orrin Hatch letter for Ogden Valley vs. Green Valley Academy:

We, the citizen of Ogden Valley, make it very clear to our GVA, OVPC, Weber County Commissioners, Our State Representative Gage Froerer that Utah acceptance of Therapeutic Schools is very devastating to rural Utah. Using land where water is such a premium, and the water reservoir is easily contaminated if the sewer system is not regulated closely. The people of our Ogden Valley and Utah state are sick and tired of being dictated to by GVA bureaucrats and government bureaucrats. We want our state and local government to look into this reckless policy.

Orrin Hatch is worried about the large wild lands, but it appears that these wild lands will be used by GVA as they slowly take over the state with one school at a time. So why preserve these lands and ignore the local smaller rural areas? It boils down to the vote versus the dollar.