Liahona Academy Affiliated with WWASPS?

[Anonymous]

Liahona Academy-in Southern Utah is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification facility.  We have reason to believe it is an associate of WWASPS and is a program within the Cross Creek program.  After filling out the online assessment, available by clicking on the Liahona underlined title above, and choosing what most people understand are normal teenage behaviors caused by hormonal fluctuations that occur during puberty/adolescence we received a ?Severe Danger? rating and were advised to call immediately to hear the sales pitch.  Choose whatever on the list you think add up to normal teen behaviors and see what rating you get.  I bet you?ll be shocked.  Based on their inability and bizarre manner of assessment, no interview with the child is warranted nor any real evaluations before they advise a residential facility be the next step, we believe Liahona is suspect and best to be avoided.  If you were abused at Liahona Academy or had your rights violated in anyway, please contact us and we will add your online testimonial to this website as a warning to others.

Source:

http://www.beyondbusiness.net/childtortureusa.htm

I'm confused! My understanding is this program is owned by one of the AhQuin family members (same family that owns Maximum Skills Life Academy in Cedar City, Utah).  I could be wrong, but that is my understanding.  Perhaps someone can provide further documentation to support the claim that this program is,in fact, affiliated with WWASPS?

 ::

[Anonymous]

Maximum Life Skills group home for boys is where that group counselor was killed.  Liahona is run by another of the AhQuin family members.  

Who says this program is affiliated with WWASPS?

[Anonymous]

The program may not be officially a branch to WWASPS.  Many off-shoot programs that *are* WWASPS have carefully hidden connections.  But this program, independent though it may be, has as its owner a man who worked for WWASPS, was fired by that company, who has worked as a "transporter/escort" (kidnapper), and whose program seems to work exactly like WWASPS.  Maybe if the IRS followed the money, they'd find WWASPS written all over it, but for now, that fact doesn't really make much of a difference one way or the other.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck...well...duh, it's a duck.  WWASPS is simply a company which copied Provo Canyon and other older brainwashing cults for its own model.

[Anonymous]

AhQuin worked for WWASPS?  When?

[Karass]

My son and I recently ran into an old friend of his that he hadn't seen in quite awhile and it turns out the kid spent a year at Liahona Academy. Very weird...I personally know only a few survivors, and now this makes two people I know that went to this place.

In the 15 minute conversation we had, I heard enough to make me suspect that this program might be a WWASPS affiliate.

"Liahona" is a Mormon word meaning "compass," and this guy confirmed that he got a strong dose of the Mormon religion, that they more or less tried to convert him. And of course there were Levels and punishment and humiliation and all that familiar unpleasant stuff.

What I found really disturbing (I know, it's all disturbing) is how this kid ended up getting sent there. He said his parents went to some kind of seminar about dealing with difficult teens -- I'm guessing one of those things were someone rents out a meeting room at the local Holiday Inn or something like that -- and someone was there ready to sign kids up at the end of the "seminar." Wow, is this the latest marketing tactic? Take the program sales pitch on the road and host "seminars" for parents in various cities? It's unclear whether the sales rep collecting the signup forms was a Liahona staffer or an EdCon-vict, but I guess that's besides the point.

Anyway, Liahona is near Hurricane & St. George -- more or less in the back yard of the WWASPS nest and the AhQuin's seem to be a prominent family from that area, going way back to the pioneer days of Utah. Besides the father & son at Liahona, it seems that at least one other member of the family works or has worked in this industry at another program.

I also saw a reference on Fornits and also elsewhere on the net that Gayle Degraff Palmer does or at least used to do admissions for Liahona. My son's friend didn't know that name and couldn't confirm it, but then again, how many program kids ever see the admissions person?

I gave this kid the URL for Fornits and suggested he might want to have a look, and see if he felt like posting some of his experiences. I don't know though, maybe he has not been back in the world for a long enough time yet to deal with that.

[Deborah]

More on Lihona/ MLS here:
http://www.fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?p=39569#39569

[Anonymous]

We sent our son to Daytop for treatment for drug/behavioral issues which were tearing the family apart.  He deliberately got kicked out of that facility, and we were given one day to remove him.  in the interim, our house was broken into in his absence(specifically his room.)  so, upon adbvice of a friend and after a recommendation from another school we sent hime to  Liahona, specifically requesting that he receive a psychaitric assessment, meds, if necessary, and therapy.  He was there 3 months, and saw the psych once.  No report.  No meds.  He has returned home, and he is worse than when he went in.  -And, he despises us for sending him to Liahona, where he states he was physically abused.  What remedy do we have?  They told us they could extend guardianship beyond his 18th birthday.  We sent a permission note, and have not yet received any court document confirming the same.  In fact, I suspect that an extension was not even a valid legal procedure in Utah.  Has anyone else had that experience with this facility?  Help?  I want my son back. -and if we can't resore him, we want justice.  Demetra

[Deborah]

We sent our son to Daytop for treatment for drug/behavioral issues which were tearing the family apart.  He deliberately got kicked out of that facility, and we were given one day to remove him.  in the interim, our house was broken into in his absence(specifically his room.)  so, upon adbvice of a friend and after a recommendation from another school we sent hime to  Liahona, specifically requesting that he receive a psychaitric assessment, meds, if necessary, and therapy.  He was there 3 months, and saw the psych once.  No report.  No meds.  He has returned home, and he is worse than when he went in.  -And, he despises us for sending him to Liahona, where he states he was physically abused.  What remedy do we have?  They told us they could extend guardianship beyond his 18th birthday.  We sent a permission note, and have not yet received any court document confirming the same.  In fact, I suspect that an extension was not even a valid legal procedure in Utah.  Has anyone else had that experience with this facility?  Help?  I want my son back. -and if we can't resore him, we want justice.  Demetra

Guardianship can be extended beyond the age of majority, but it requires more than a permission slip. Parents have to prove to a judge that their child is incapable of handling their own affairs and/or functioning independently. But, then we are talking about Utah, and programs. Easier to do with the aid of a program.
You can speak to an attorney re: the abuse. You or your son can also report it to CPS and DHS, for what good that will do in Utah. The latter licenses programs.
As far as 'helping' your son, I think the most pressing thing to do is help him figure out the source of his distress, or find a friend/therapist he trusts enough to explore that with. Help him determine if his life is going the way he would like it to be. If not, what he'd change. And what steps need to be taken to get back on a track he'd prefer. Help him remember what gives him passion and when/why he lost it. Same thing you'd do for your best friend or partner. Teens aren't that different, you just have to prove to them that you are on their side to help them achieve the goals THEY desire. Be prepared for rejection. It's just a test to see how dedicated you really are and if you're stong enough to help him through a rough patch. If you wimp out (cry, wring hands, gult trip) or pull the authoritarian card (punishment, placement), you both loose. He won't trust you to be able to help him, and rightfully so.
The only things he needs to see from you are genuine caring, no judgement, matter-of-fact and accurate information, suggestions on steps to take to achieve his goals, and your assistance where it is wanted. Save your anger and worry to vent to your friend, partner, therapist. Yeh, you should be seeing a therapist so you can be more objective and focus on him, and not yourself. I'm not suggesting you do this, but manipulating kids with one's fears/anger is not effective.
Woops... the very first thing you do is apologize for sending him away. And it's best if you are sincere. They know the difference.

[Nihilanthic]

How about instead of just apologizing...

Do something meaningful.

Give up something you want for as long as your child lost EVERYTHING, and give your child something they want.

Sell your car and get a POS, and buy your kid a new one. Give up a nice TV and let him/her have it instead.

Eat shitty food for months and give him or her gourmet food...

Or for that matter, why not go sleep on the floor in dirty ill fitting clothes and yell at yourself in a mirror?

 :roll:

[Anonymous]

We sent our son to Daytop for treatment for drug/behavioral issues which were tearing the family apart.  He deliberately got kicked out of that facility, and we were given one day to remove him.  in the interim, our house was broken into in his absence(specifically his room.)  so, upon adbvice of a friend and after a recommendation from another school we sent hime to  Liahona, specifically requesting that he receive a psychaitric assessment, meds, if necessary, and therapy.  He was there 3 months, and saw the psych once.  No report.  No meds.  He has returned home, and he is worse than when he went in.  -And, he despises us for sending him to Liahona, where he states he was physically abused.  What remedy do we have?  They told us they could extend guardianship beyond his 18th birthday.  We sent a permission note, and have not yet received any court document confirming the same.  In fact, I suspect that an extension was not even a valid legal procedure in Utah.  Has anyone else had that experience with this facility?  Help?  I want my son back. -and if we can't resore him, we want justice.  Demetra

Demitra--  

Contact the Licensing Director of Utah:
Ken Stettler (801) 538-4235.  

He informed me the office is like a Law Enforcement Agency, if the abuse is not reported they can not act on it.  He told me all complaints are investigated.  Believe your son, he was abused!These programs all use the same behavior method. I say this with deepest sincerity, be so very grateful he came home alive.  Many parents are lied to about what you actually recieve at the "program".  Some parents are not as lucky as you.  They don't get a second chance with their child.  

Get help from local psychiatrists, therapists &/or hospitals with your support.  I recommend spending every spare minute having a good time with him without any critisism.  Unconditional love.

Once again I beg you to contact the licensing office so that other children may not endure what your child has.  Would you mind listing the people you worked with at Liahona?

[Anonymous]

:flame: Reading all of this make me sick!!! because I know what it's like in one of those places. My mother sent me to Cross Creek Manor. I'm only 13 I'm glad to be home. If your having some kind of problem with your son or daughter make sure your help is near you, and you do your homework on that place. My mother didn't I'm glad she loved me enough
to bring me back to Houston. I'm doing better, but one parents is right not all get to come home alive. I saw alot in that school and it's no place for a kid to be. They abuse you one kid was force to eat her own vomit clean the toilets with a toothbrush and then brush her teeth. A girl told me that a should do what they say or they would send my out of town. With out my mother knowing. I said okay..I hate that place and whats sad is there are still children over there. Emotional nightmare!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

The Ah Quin family are like cockroaches infiltrating numerous shitholes in this satanic industry. Liahona is a mormon word meaning "compass' -- compass pointing straight to hell!

[Oscar]

I found some reviews on Yelp about Liahona Academy near Virgin. Here they are:

I sent my son here. The problem that I had with this facility is that the mental health help is not very good. The kids that are sent here deserve so much more. Even though I paid a huge amount of money for his care, they try to get away with the very least possible.  Don't send your troubled teen here until you do lots and lots of homework. Ask lots of questions and keep them on their toes. I trusted them too much. My son wasn't physically harmed here, but he wasn't helped in the way I'd hoped

I sent my son here and it was a mistake. Most, if not about all, of the staff are not professionally trained to handle at-risk youth. In fact, many of the staff are not great role models that put 100% into this academy. And they should because the cost is around $6,500 a month. For  that price the youth should be getting top-notch counseling and a very good selection of knowledgeable teachers.  The teachers are mostly cranky, old  women from the neighboring area that come in just a few times a week.  My child could never get any math help because there were always too many others that needed assistance and there was only one teacher for the subject.  The owner is virtually absent most of the time. I can't say all, but most of the the workers at Liahona have a responsibility that they are shirking by not giving their 100% and striving to make a real difference in the lives of these youth. These are all lost opportunities. Parents, my advice is to try to get your child some help closer to home where you aren't forced to give up guardianship. See counselors in your area. Get your child in a place where you can better monitor what is going on.

Sending my son to Liahona was the worst mistake of my life.  He went there for a year and nine months.  He got out 6 months ago and is much worse than ever before.  A boy that roomed with him at Liahona calls and says that he along with four other boys have all relapsed just as before Liahona.  In the last 6 months since my son got out of Liahona, he nearly died twice from heroin overdose, became a convicted felon and is now a homeless heroin addict.  My son was much better before I took him to Liahona. 
The staff at Liahona are like wolfs in sheeps clothing.  They want money and your son's interest is irrelevant.

It's my moral obligation to inform parents of the abuse. After suffering from clinical depression and being diagnosed as having a true chemical imbalance I can tell you The actions takin at this school only worsened my condition. After attempting suicide while in attendance and being beaten by Parker Haslam (on multiple occasions) I was told by Parker himself that I should kill myself, But I wouldn't be able to because I was so selfish. Every cry for help was called manipulation by the staff and this facility left me with trauma that still creeps up till this day. I'm a grown man now, I've had real phsychological help from a therapist who actually addresses my issues including the trauma I received from the mental/physical  abuse at liahona. I'm happy and have found joy in life again thanks to God and the love of my family. I just have to speak my peace about the abuses here and both me and my mother regret ever deciding to attend this program.

First of all, I used to be a resident at Liahona Academy. I stayed until I graduated. Liahona Academy is a terrible place.

The therapy side is really twisted. They even tell you how they are breaking you down. First, taking your identity. Any personal items are gone, and your head is shaved. Now you have the same shirts and shorts as everybody. Then you sleep in the common room with the lights on your first night. Your first group is when they welcome your to the Liahona zoo. They trick you into thinking they are taking you to a local zoo, but then end up making you act like an animal until they can get a good laugh. I remember when they made an obese kid act like a walrus, and they dragged it on. Some amusement at the expense of a teen who just went through getting kidnapped, had to strip in his underwear in front of a staff to check for weapons, had his head shaved, and now 40 of your peers are laughing at you, because they did it too, and they got laughed at too. Brutal tearing down of your personality. Repression of expression. Lack of a change in incoming stimuli from your environment puts your brain into a susceptable place to be manipulated.

Behavior modification, your probably thinking this is just a little therapy and making you follow rules. The form of discipline they use are essays. The worse the rule you break the more words your essay has to have. they go from 300 to 3500. If you get 1200 or more words of essays in a week then you get on there worst discipline which is called work crew. And its called crew because there's rarley just one or no people on it. Its a crew of the twice-removed society "troublemakers or rulebreakers" Your on an entirely new program on work crew. When your on work crew you sit and stare at a wall all day unless you are outside running an indefinite amount of laps. Until they feel like saying stop.

It was impossible to cry for help there, we were brainwashed and they decided whether to send your weekly letter or not. We had raw chicken for dinner on Halloween of 2008. A year where time goes so slow and hell never ceases, will draw out depression for the rest of my life. Please do not send your child there.