{"id":9674,"date":"2022-03-11T16:30:12","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T00:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9674"},"modified":"2022-03-12T23:35:31","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T07:35:31","slug":"liahona-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/liahona-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Liahona Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liahona Academy<\/b> (2001-present) Virgin\/Hurricane, UT<\/span><\/h1>\n

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

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

Liahona Academy is a <\/span>WWASP<\/span><\/a>-affiliated behavior modification program. It was founded in 2001 by Clayton AhQuin Sr and Joe AhQuin. Liahona Academy is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for boys aged 12-17. Liahona reports that the average length of stay is between 6 – 9 months, although it is likely that these are underestimates.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program operates in two locations. One campus is located at <\/span>325 W 600 N, Hurricane, UT 84737<\/span><\/a>. The other campus was previously located at <\/span>1055 UT-9, Virgin, UT 84779<\/span><\/a>. However, the second campus has recently moved to <\/span>the building<\/span><\/a> directly next to the original facility.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Liahona Academy denies any affiliation with the Mormon Church, the word “Liahona” is a Mormon word meaning “Compass,” and survivors attest to a heavy Mormon influence in the program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Liahona Academy is not outwardly affiliated with <\/span>WWASP<\/span><\/a>, but it has employed many staff from <\/span>WWASP<\/span><\/a> programs such as the notorious <\/span>Cross Creek Programs<\/span><\/a> in La Verkin, UT. In addition, the program structure at Liahona Academy is nearly identical to that of WWASP programs. For these reasons, Liahona Academy is suspected of being a WWASP spin-off program.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Clayton AhQuin Sr.<\/b> was the Founder od Liahona Academy. He is the father of Adam AhQuin, who worked at <\/span>Second Chances in Southern Utah<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Olympus Academy<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Horizon Academy<\/span><\/a> (All WWASP facilities). The AhQuin family also started <\/span>Maximum Life Skills Academy<\/span><\/a> in Cedar City, UT. Clay AhQuin Sr. has also apparently worked at other WWASP facilities before founding Liahona Academy. He passed away on September 10, 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clayton AhQuin Jr.<\/b> is the son of Clayton Ahquin Sr., and is the current Executive Director of Liahona Academy. Clay left the human-rights organization <\/span>HEAL<\/span><\/a> a <\/span>voicemail<\/span><\/a> but did not state the purpose of his call. He has also previously worked at the reportedly abusive <\/span>Second Chances in Southern Utah<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe AhQuin<\/b> is mentioned as one of the “creators” of Liahona Academy. He also founded <\/span>Key Point<\/span><\/a> in 2006 and <\/span>Olympus Academy<\/span><\/a> in 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

Parker Haslam<\/b> is the current Program Director of Liahona Academy. His prior employment is presently unknown, although he reports that he has worked in the TTI since 2003.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gayle Palmer DeGraff<\/b> worked in the Admissions office at Liahona Academy. Prior to this, she was the founder of the <\/span>confirmedly abusive<\/b> Summit Quest<\/span><\/a> until it was closed in 1991 following the death of a 15-year-old resident, Michelle Sutton, from dehydration. She also is reported to have worked as the Admissions Director at the <\/span>Challenger Foundation<\/span><\/a> before it, too, closed following the death of a 16-year-old resident, Kristen Chase, from heatstroke in 1990. She has also worked in the Marketing department of <\/span>Lifelines Family Services<\/span><\/a>, which was a marketing arm of <\/span>WWASP<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>source<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Brian Parker<\/b> worked as the Director of Clinical Services at Liahona Academy. He previously worked as a therapist at <\/span>Cross Creek Programs<\/span><\/a> (WWASP program) in La Verkin, UT. Many survivors of Cross Creek have recounted Parker’s psychologically damaging methods of “therapy.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Thane Palmer<\/b> was a Therapist at Liahona Academy. He previously worked as a Therapist for <\/span>Cross Creek Programs<\/span><\/a> (WWASP) in La Verkin, UT. He is the current Program Director of <\/span>Three Points Center<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carolyn Callahan<\/b> was a Case Manager at Liahona Academy. She previously worked as a Family Representative at <\/span>Cross Creek Programs<\/span><\/a> (WWASP program) in La Verkin, UT.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Like other behavior-modification programs, Liahona Academy utilizes a level system consisting of five levels. These levels are reported to be:<\/span><\/p>\n