{"id":9702,"date":"2022-03-11T16:48:56","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T00:48:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9702"},"modified":"2022-03-12T23:31:22","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T07:31:22","slug":"eva-carlston-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/eva-carlston-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Eva Carlston Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eva Carlston Academy<\/b> (2011-present) Salt Lake City, UT<\/span><\/h1>\n

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

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

Eva Carlston Academy is a behavior-modification program that opened in 2011. It is marketed as a Residential Treatment Center for teenage girls aged 12-18. ECA states that they treat girls with a history of the following: Depression, Anxiety, Defiance & behavioral issues, ADHD, Learning issues, Emerging personality disorders, Self-harm, Addictions, Eating disorders, Suicidal ideation, Substance abuse, Autism spectrum disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Trauma, Low self esteem, Adoption and attachment issues, Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, among others. Eva Carlston Academy does not accept transgender residents. It has a maximum enrollment of 44, and the average length of stay is reported to be around 12 months.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program is located at <\/span>4943 Wasatch Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84124<\/span><\/a>. The campus contains three houses, in which anywhere from 12 to 16 girls live. Eva Carlston became a <\/span>NATSAP<\/span><\/a> member in 2015. However, as of 2021, it appears that ECA is no longer a member of this organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Kristi Ragsdale<\/b> is the Founder and Executive Director of Eva Carlston Academy. She began her career in the TTI working as a Family First Specialist at <\/span>Utah Youth Village<\/span><\/a>. She later became the Program Director at <\/span>Uinta Academy<\/span><\/a>. In 2010, she began working at <\/span>Solstice RTC<\/span><\/a> as the Admissions Director. She currently still works as the Executive Director of Eva Carlston.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sue Johansen-Hoffman<\/b> is the Clinical Director of Eva Carlston Academy. She previously worked for various treatment programs. In 2005, she began working as a Therapist at <\/span>Uinta Academy<\/span><\/a>. She left Uinta in 2005 to work as a Therapist at <\/span>Solstice RTC<\/span><\/a>, before leaving to work at Eva Carlston.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rick Jackson<\/b> worked as a Psychiatrist at Eva Carlston. He had previously worked as the Medical Director of <\/span>Island View RTC<\/span><\/a> and later, as the Medical Director of <\/span>Solstice RTC<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corrie Norman<\/b> is the current Academic Director of Eva Carlston. She previously has worked at both <\/span>Utah Youth Village<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Alpine Academy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sydney Haga<\/b> currently works as a Therapist at Eva Carlston Academy. She previously worked as a Team Lead at <\/span>Solstice RTC<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Like other behavior-modification programs, Eva Carlston Academy uses a level-system. Girls progress through the levels by earning points in a merit\/demerit based system. This system has been used in many confirmedly abusive programs, including the notoriously abusive <\/span>WWASP<\/span><\/a> programs. The level system consists of four levels, the first of which is called “Daily”. The other names of the levels are unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each resident is required to earn at least 10,000 points per day, which are awarded for good behavior. If a girl at Eva Carlston breaks a rule, she is punished with a demerit. This means that she loses a certain number of points, usually between 2,000 and 20,000. If a resident did not earn at least 10,000 points in a day, they were forbidden from speaking to anybody and were forced to complete worksheets and write essays. They also lose other privileges, such as being able to have a snack in the evening, reading books and writing in their journal.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>one survivor<\/span><\/a>, “if you didn’t make enough “points” in one day (generally either 10,000 or 5,000 depending on level in the program), you had to sit in a silent room working on essays such as “the importance of managing anxiety” and “the importance of accepting no” or making what were essential pro and cons lists on dealing with inane situations. you wouldn’t be allowed to speak to anyone, read a book, write in your journal, or do anything except silently work on assignments and ask for more. everyone was punished for crying, especially if you cried when punished. if you started crying when they gave you negative points, they would progressively increase the number you got. so first, -2000 points, then an additional -5000, then -10000, then -50000. it was horrible. i was so brainwashed by the end that i would habitually thank the staff for punishing me because crying is apparently “manipulation” that had to be beaten out of me. it was never an appropriate time to express any emotion that wasn’t submissive obedience.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact with the outside world is severely limited at Eva Carlston. All incoming and outgoing mail is reportedly monitored and censored by staff. In addition, the limited phone call time that each girl is given to call her parents is also highly monitored, and girls risk losing their phone call “privileges” if they mention anything negative about the program (or as ECA calls it, “manipulation” attempts).<\/span><\/p>\n

Daily Schedule<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to <\/span>one survivor<\/span><\/a>, the daily schedule is as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n