{"id":9710,"date":"2022-03-11T16:53:16","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T00:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9710"},"modified":"2022-03-12T23:30:45","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T07:30:45","slug":"eagle-ranch-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/eagle-ranch-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Eagle Ranch Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eagle Ranch Academy<\/b> (2005-present) St. George, UT<\/span><\/h1>\n

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

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

Eagle Ranch Academy is a behavior-modification program founded in 2005. It is marketed as a co-ed treatment center for troubled teenagers aged 12-17. ERA has a maximum enrollment of 57, and the average length of stay is reportedly between 8-10 months, but can be much longer if the teen is deemed resistant. The tuition is reported to be around $800 per day.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program is located as <\/span>115 W 1470 S, St. George, UT 84770<\/span><\/a>, which is the former location of <\/span>Brightway Adolescent Hospital<\/span><\/a> which was a notoriously abusive (and now-closed) <\/span>WWASP<\/span><\/a> program. For this reason, Eagle Ranch Academy is suspected of having connections to WWASP. In addition, the program model, jargon and methodology of ERA is very similar (if not identical in some ways) to the WWASP Program model.<\/span><\/p>\n

ERA claimed at one time to be accredited by the <\/span>SAIS<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>SACSCOC<\/span><\/a>, however, this was never true. The program now claims to be accredited by <\/span>CARF International<\/span><\/a>, but it is important to note that CARF has accredited several controversial programs, such as <\/span>Narconon<\/span><\/a>, which is a <\/span>Scientology<\/span><\/a> organization which promotes the theories of founder L. Ron Hubbard regarding substance abuse treatment and addiction at Utah State.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Paul Arslanian<\/b> is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Eagle Ranch Academy. He is the brother of David Arslanian. Before founding ERA, Paul worked as a football coach with his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

David (“Dave”) Arslanian<\/b> is the Co-Founder and Admissions Director of Eagle Ranch Academy. He is the brother of Paul Arslanian. Before founding ERA, Dave worked as a football coach with his brother at Utah State. In 2000, Dave sued the university after he fired for hiring his brother, Paul Arslanian, as offensive coordinator against the president of the school’s wishes. Additional Information: <\/span>COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Lawsuit Challenges Hiring and Firing<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Kelly Jo Miller<\/b> was the Program Director of ERA. She previously worked at <\/span>SunHawk Academy<\/span><\/a> and Spring Mountain Treatment Center. She is also the Vice President\/Owner of Journeys Adolescent Services, which is a teen “transport\/escort” company which is hired to kidnap children and take them to these types of programs. She also reportedly has a daughter (Sierra\/Cierra) who works at ERA and has been reported to be physically abusive towards the children there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Katherine Benson<\/b> worked as the Assisstant Program Director of ERA. SHe previously worked in the same position at <\/span>SunHawk Academy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Various other staff members have come to ERA after working at <\/span>SunHawk Academy<\/span><\/a>, which is a reportedly abusive (and now-closed) behavior-modification program located nearby in St. George.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Like other behavior-modification programs, Eagle Ranch Academy uses a level-system. Student progress through the program by completing “packets” which are the equivalent to levels. Each packet has a set of assignments the teen must complete to be eligible for the next packet. The packets are based on values and are reported to be:<\/span><\/p>\n