{"id":9605,"date":"2022-03-11T15:36:56","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T23:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9605"},"modified":"2022-03-13T17:26:18","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T00:26:18","slug":"sunrise-rtc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/sunrise-rtc\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunrise RTC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunrise RTC<\/b> (2000-present) Hurricane, UT<\/span><\/h1>\n

Residential Treatment Center<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

History and Background Information<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sunrise RTC (also called Sunrise Academy) is an <\/span>Embark Behavioral Health<\/span><\/a>\/InnerChange behavior-modification program. The program originally opened in 2000 as “Sunrise Girl’s Home”. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenaged girls between the ages of 13 and 17. Sunrise claims to treat girls with a history of the following: trauma, chemical dependency, mental illness, depression, anxiety and, or low self-esteem. Sunrise has a maximum enrollment of 76 girls and the average length of stay is reported to be between 10 and 12 months. Sunrise RTC has been a <\/span>NATSAP<\/span><\/a> member since 2006.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program operates in two campuses. The first campus, known as the Hurricane Campus, is located at <\/span>65 North 1150 West, Hurricane, UT 84737<\/span><\/a>. The other campus, known as the Fields Campus or the Washington Campus, is located at <\/span>3611 S Camino Real, Washington, UT 84780<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

On June 30, 2006, Sunrise RTC was purchased by the holding company of <\/span>New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a>, Solacium. At this time, Sunrise RTC was marketed as a less-expensive option for parents who could not afford New Haven. According to a <\/span>2006 press release<\/span><\/a> regarding this acquisition, “Sunrise will differentiate itself from New Haven in the following four ways: 1) it will have a strong community service oriented program; 2) it will not treat students and families with deeply-ingrained personality issues; 3) it will have lower staff-to-student ratios and higher therapist caseloads; and 4) it will utilize the splendor of the southern Utah national parks in its program activities.” Sunrise RTC is still the sister program to <\/span>New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a>, which is now also owned by the same company, <\/span>Embark Behavioral Health<\/span><\/a>\/InnerChange.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is reported that Sunrise is closely affiliated with a wilderness program called <\/span>WinGate Wilderness<\/span><\/a> in Kanab, UT. Survivors have reported that many teenagers are funneled to Sunrise from WinGate, and also from Sunrise to WinGate as punishment. Sunrise also operates a transitional program for teenagers and young adults aged 17+ called Sequoia House, which is located on the Washington Fields Campus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Founders and Notable Staff<\/b><\/h2>\n

Boyd Hooper<\/b> is the Founder and also worked as the Admissions Director of Sunrise RTC. He was also involved in recruiting families to send their children to <\/span>Focal Point Academy<\/span><\/a>, and was named as a defendent in a <\/span>lawsuit<\/span><\/a> brought forth against Focal Point by the family of a former resident. He currently works as the Admissions Director of <\/span>Sundance Canyon Academy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brian Pace<\/b> was the Program Director of Sunrise RTC. He previously worked at the reportedly abusive <\/span>Red Rock Canyon School<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bernard (Bernie) Farrow<\/b> worked as the Clinical Director of Sunrise RTC. He previously worked as a Counselor at the Academy at Cedar Mountain, which was the previous name of <\/span>Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy<\/span><\/a>. He is also reported to have previously worked at the reportedly abusive <\/span>Red Rock Canyon School<\/span><\/a>. Bernie Farrow’s credentials have been brought into question in the <\/span>WWASP vs PURE transcript<\/span><\/a>. It is also reported that Cedar Mountain Academy sued Bernie Farrow for misrepresenting his credentials to the program. The transcript also mentions his dismissal from this program. He later worked as a Therapist at <\/span>Whitmore Academy<\/span><\/a> in Nephi, Utah. Whitmore Academy’s owner, Cheryl Sudweeks, was put on trial for 7 counts of abuse\/hazing against 4 students. His wife, Arlene Farrow, worked as the Admissions Director of the Academy at Cedar Mountain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matt Bulkley<\/b> worked as the Lead Therapist at Sunrise RTC. He previously worked as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Redcliff Ascent<\/span><\/a> Wilderness program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joel Beckstrand<\/b> was one of Sunrise’s founding directors and worked as Sunrise’s Education Director. He previously worked at the reportedly abusive <\/span>Red Rock Canyon School<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacson Parker<\/b> worked as the Education Director and later as the Executive Director of Sunrise RTC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dave Prior<\/b> worked as Sunrise’s Executive Director from 2006 until 2015. He had previously worked as a Therapist at <\/span>Cedar Ridge Academy<\/span><\/a> from 2000 until 2002. He then went on to work as a Therapist, and later, as the Assistant Clinical Director of <\/span>New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a> from 2002 until 2006. He now works as the Chief Operations Officer of InnerChange.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jack Hinman<\/b> worked as the Clinical Director of Sunrise RTC from 2007 until 2013. He previously worked as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Island View RTC<\/span><\/a> from 2005 until 2007. After Sunrise, Hinman went on to work as the Clinical Director of the reportedly abusive <\/span>Discovery Ranch for Girls<\/span><\/a>, and as the Executive Director of <\/span>Kolob Canyon RTC<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Moonridge Academy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Helen B. Johnson<\/b> worked as the Clinical Director of Sunrise RTC. She currently works at <\/span>Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy<\/span><\/a>, a <\/span>CERTS<\/span><\/a> program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brad Simpson<\/b> is the Executive Director of Sunrise RTC. He previously worked for LDS Family Services in St. George, UT. He is reported by survivors to be physically abusive and also to lead the attack therapy groups at Sunrise RTC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Craig Simpson<\/b> is the Senior Clinical Director of Sunrise RTC. He previously worked as a Therapist at Primary Children’s Medical Center Residential Treatment Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tracey Gerlach<\/b> works as the Director of Professional and Business Development at Sunrise RTC. She previously worked as a Field Instructor at <\/span>SUWS of the Carolinas<\/span><\/a>. She also has worked as the Director of Professional and Business Development at InnerChange.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sue Barnes<\/b> is the Director of Family Communication at Sunrise RTC. She has been a long-time employee of InnerChange.<\/span><\/p>\n

Marcy Clark<\/b> is the Admissions & Marketing Director of Sunrise RTC. She also works as the Director of Admissions at Vive Family Support Program, another InnerChange program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allen Stayner Richards<\/b> works as a Therapist\/Clinical Director at Sunrise RTC. He previously worked at Southwest Behavioral Health Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Cantril Nielsen<\/b> works as a Psychiatrist at Sunrise RTC. He has also worked as a Psychiatrist at the reportedly abusive <\/span>Eagle Ranch Academy<\/span><\/a>. He previously worked as an LDS Psychiatrist in the 1980’s and was forced to pay a sizeable wrongful death malpractice settlement in the masturbation-shame suicide of 16-year-old Kip Eliason; “In the 1980s, LDS Psychiatrist Cantril Nielsen found himself caught between his conflicting religious and professional oaths. Nielsen paid a sizable wrongful death malpractice settlement in the masturbation-shame suicide of 16-year-old Kip Eliason. The lawsuit alleged that Nielsen violated professional standards of psychiatric care by prescribing that his patient should follow his Mormon bishop\u2019s advice to abstain from masturbation in order to be \u201cworthy,\u201d rather than basing treatment on empirical medical evidence required by medical ethics. Medical experts in the case verified the empirical evidence that masturbation is not only harmless, but that masturbation abstinence has a documented history of suicidal risk” (<\/span>source<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Derek Barney<\/b> works as a Therapist at Sunrise RTC. He previously worked at the abusive <\/span>Alpine Academy<\/span><\/a> for nearly 8 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kim Seay-Smith<\/b> works as a Therapist at Sunrise RTC. She began working at Sunrise RTC in 2007, and left in 2015 to work as the Program Director and later the Executive Director of <\/span>Lava Heights Academy<\/span><\/a>. She returned to Sunrise as a Therapist in March 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mara Roehl<\/b> works as a Therapist at Sunrise RTC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kirk Simon<\/b> works as a Psychiatrist at Sunrise RTC. He previously worked at <\/span>Island View RTC<\/span><\/a>, a confirmedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> program, as the Medical Director. He also worked as a Psychiatrist at the <\/span>Aspen Institute For Behavioral Assessment<\/span><\/a>. He currently works as the Psychiatrist at <\/span>Solstice RTC<\/span><\/a>, which is a <\/span>Family Help & Wellness<\/span><\/a> program founded by various former Island View staff.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mollie Mylar<\/b> previously worked as the Admissions Director of Sunrise RTC. She previously worked in Admissions at <\/span>The Oakley School<\/span><\/a>, a reportedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> program. She then went on to work at <\/span>Second Nature<\/span><\/a> wilderness program before working at Sunrise. She is also reported to have later worked in Admissions at the <\/span>Willow Creek School<\/span><\/a>. She currently appears to be the Director of Professional Relations at <\/span>Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Program Structure<\/b><\/h2>\n

Like other behavior-modification programs, Sunrise RTC uses a level system. The names of the levels have changed during the course of Sunrise’s existence, but their various names are given below:<\/span><\/p>\n