{"id":9678,"date":"2022-03-11T16:32:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T00:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9678"},"modified":"2022-03-12T23:35:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T07:35:15","slug":"la-europa-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/la-europa-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"La Europa Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"

La Europa Academy<\/b> (2005-present) Murray, UT<\/span><\/h1>\n

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

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

La Europa Academy is a <\/span>CERTS<\/span><\/a> behavior-modification program that was founded in 2005. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenaged girls between the ages of 14 and 17. It claims to be able to treat girls with a history of depression, bi-polar, anxiety, trauma, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, emerging personality disorder and other relational and emotional problems. It has a maximum enrollment of 36 girls, and the average length of stay is reported to be between 9 and 12 months. The program’s tuition is reported to be upwards of $10,000 per month.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program is located at <\/span>1121 Vine St, Murray, UT 84121<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

La Europa has been a member of <\/span>NATSAP<\/span><\/a> since 2005. It was accredited by the <\/span>Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS)<\/span><\/a>, but it is important to note that neither the United States Department of Education nor the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools as an accrediting agency for institutions of higher education. In fact, NAAS is most well-known for in the public for the State of New York not accepting the diplomas given by the <\/span>Academy at Ivy Ridge<\/span><\/a>, which was a confirmedly abusive <\/span>WWASP<\/span><\/a> program which was also accredited by NAAS. NAAS has “accredited” many notoriously abusive behavior-modification programs, including <\/span>many<\/span><\/i> WWASP programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

La Europa Academy is affiliated with the other <\/span>CERTS<\/span><\/a> programs, including <\/span>Kolob Canyon RTC<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy<\/span><\/a>. There is also a Transition Program called “Mosaic House” located about a half mile East of La Europa, which is for girls who have graduated the program but are not allowed to go home yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Kent Tasso<\/b> is the Owner of La Europa Academy. He is the Founder\/CEO of <\/span>CERTS<\/span><\/a>, and previously founded both <\/span>Kolob Canyon RTC<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Moonridge Academy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Robbi O’Kelley<\/b> is the current Executive Director of La Europa Academy. She behan working in the TTI at <\/span>Northstar Center<\/span><\/a>, a reportedly abusive <\/span>Aspen Education Group<\/span><\/a> program. She then worked at <\/span>New Leaf Academy of Oregon<\/span><\/a>, another Aspen Education Group program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dave Nichols<\/b> is the current Clinical Director of La Europa Academy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Craig Rodabaugh<\/b> previously worked as the Clinical Director of La Europa Academy. He is also the Chief Clinical Officer of <\/span>CERTS<\/span><\/a>. He currently works as the Clinical Director of <\/span>Kolob Canyon RTC<\/span><\/a>, another CERTS program. He previously worked as the Clinical\/Admitting Director of <\/span>Logan River Academy<\/span><\/a>, a reportedly very abusive program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nora Urbanelli<\/b> previously worked as the Clinical Director of La Europa Academy. She previously worked as a Therapist at <\/span>New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a>. She now works as a Therapist\/Social Worker in private practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

David Mayeski<\/b> previously worked as the Admissions Director of La Europa Academy. Before this, he worked as a Therapist at <\/span>New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a>. He currently works as the Family Services Director at <\/span>Aspiro Wilderness<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aaron Aldridge<\/b> is reported to have previously worked at La Europa as the Clinical Director. Prior to this, he worked at the reportedly abusive <\/span>Vista Treatment Centers<\/span><\/a> from 2005 until 2015. He currently works as the Director of Spruce Mountain Inn, a residential and transitional program for young adults.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jason Scott Calder<\/b> worked as a Therapist at La Europa Academy until August 2007. From August 2007 until July 2014, Calder worked at <\/span>Summit Preparatory School<\/span><\/a> as the Assistant Clinical Director. He then went on to work at <\/span>Outback Therapeutic Expeditions<\/span><\/a>. He then worked at <\/span>New Haven RTC<\/span><\/a> until June 2017. In September 2017, he was <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> on charges of rape, forcible sodomy and forcible sexual abuse. This arrest came in conection to reports that he has sexually abused a resident at New Haven. He <\/span>pled guilty<\/span><\/a> to these charges and, in 2018, he was sentenced to seven years to life in prison.<\/span><\/p>\n

Melissa Stephens<\/b> (her married name is now Melissa Child) worked as a Therapist at La Europa. She also has worked as a Therapist at the confirmedly abusive <\/span>Island View RTC<\/span><\/a>. She later went on to work as a Therapist at <\/span>Solstice RTC<\/span><\/a>. Her current employment is unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Like other behavior-modification programs, La Europa uses a level-system consisting of seven levels. These levels are reported to be:<\/span><\/p>\n