Academy Programs (2002-present) Fairmont, WV

Residential Treatment Centers

History and Background Information

The Academy Programs is a company which operates three behavior-modification programs in West Virginia. The programs are marketed as Residential Treatment Centers for teenagers (12-17) dealing with ADHD, Depression, Conduct Disorder, Substance Abuse, Adjustment Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Disruptive Behavior Disorder, or co-occurring issues.

All three programs are located on the same road, Crosswinds Dr, Fairmont, WV 26554. The programs are located extremely close to the airport and to a local public high school.

Founders and Notable Staff

Programs

Youth Academy

Youth Academy is marketed as a therapeutic residential program which has the capacity for 12 males and 10 females aged 12-17. The program states that it is a “community-based, family-centered program delivering intensive treatment services in the least restrictive environment possible.” Some of the conditions the program claims to help treat include ADHD, Depression, Conduct Disorder, Substance Abuse, Adjustment Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Disruptive Behavior Disorder. The program is located at 3 Crosswinds Dr, Fairmont, WV 26554.

YALE Academy

YALE Academy is marketed as a residential program which has the capacity for 24 male & female residents aged 12-17. The program claims to help treat co-occuring disorders or issues. The program also states that it enrolls youg adults (18-21) who are in need of a transitional living program. The program is located at Crosswinds Dr, Fairmont, WV 26554.

Yore Academy

YORE Academy is marketed as a residential program which has the capacity for 24 male & female residents aged 12-17. The program, like YALE Academy, claims to help treat co-occuring disorders or issues. The program is located at 7 Crosswinds Dr, Fairmont, WV 26554.

Program Structure

The Academy Program rely heavily on the philosophy of “Re-EDucation“. The idea of Re-ED was developed in the early 1960’s by Nicholas Hobbs as an ecological model that views the child as inseparable from his/her family and social context.

Abuse Allegations

On February 18th 2016, Cassandra Noss, a 25-year-old therapist at the Academy Programs, was arrested after an investigation into sexual abuse allegations came from a minor in her care. According to reports, another worker at the Academy Programs turned Noss into police after allegedly discovering inappropriate pictures of Noss and a teenage boy she was treating. The teen told investigators he and his therapist, Noss, developed feeling for one another and had sex with one another at least ten times at Noss’ home. She allegedly picked the boy up at his Grafton home during weekend visits to bring him to Morgantown where the abuse is said to have occurred. The 17-year-old boy told police that he had sex with Noss at least 10 times in Morgantown. Noss was charged with four counts of sexual abuse by a person in position of trust to a child, and her bond was set at $100,000. Additional details are presently unknown.

Survivor/Parent Testimonials

2014: (SURVIVOR) “community service? children do ground maintenance. Punishment too severe. One child misbehaves, all stand for an hour. visitation..put you in a room, with door open, can only talk. Open and read all mail, to and from child. Never meet the social worker. rarely see a counselor. No interdisciplinary team at all. Not enough activities to keep children active. one minute for a shower. school teacher very sarcastic. closed campus, like children on lock down. Week end activity…a dvd movie. Child gets school..otherwise just get baby sat. not conducive to learning at all. Staff doing counseling, but college degree in a totaling different field!” – Alice (Google Reviews)

If you attended one of the Academy Programs and would like to contribute a testimony of your experience, please contact info@breakingcodesilence.org

Related Media

Academy Programs Website Homepage

Secret Prisons for Teens – Academy Programs

Morgantown therapist accused sexually abusing teen patient (WV Metro News, 2/18/2016)

Academy Programs employee arrested on sexual abuse charges (Times West Virginian, 2/18/2016)

Academy Programs employee arrested (Times West Virginian, 2/19/2016)