Here's What Survivors of a 'Troubled Teen' Program Say Went On Inside - Summary

Summary

The text appears to be a transcript of an interview or a personal narrative, likely from a survivor of a reform school, possibly Cross Creek in Utah. The narrator describes their experiences in the school, which they describe as a manipulative and traumatic environment.

The narrator talks about their son, Theo, who was sent to the school to help him deal with his struggles with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Theo was forced to participate in a program that involved intense therapy sessions, isolation, and the denial of his human rights. The narrator mentions how Theo was often punished for minor offenses, including being restrained and put in isolation for months.

The narrator also details the school's tactics to break down the students' spirits, including constant reminders of their parents' lack of care for them. She mentions how the school manipulated her into believing that she had to keep Theo in the program for his own good.

The narrator also talks about the aftermath of Theo's time at the school. She describes his behavior after leaving the school as quiet and withdrawn, a response she attributes to the trauma he experienced.

The narrator expresses her anger towards her son's former counselor and the school's administrators, accusing them of neglecting her son and failing to protect him from the abuses he suffered. She also mentions that the school was eventually closed in 2012, but similar programs are still operating in Utah.

The narrator concludes by expressing her hope for reform in the industry, particularly in Utah, where there are over 100 facilities similar to Cross Creek. She mentions a piece of legislation that could potentially regulate these programs more effectively, but she also expresses her concern that the lack of regulation has allowed abusive practices to continue.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text:

1. The text is about the experiences of former students who went to Cross Creek, a tough love boarding school in Utah that allegedly abused them.
2. The text includes interviews with Theo Charles, Sarah, Mary, Demers, Carly, and Theo's mother, as well as former executives of Cross Creek and a Utah state senator.
3. The text describes how some students were kidnapped by strangers and taken to Cross Creek without their consent or knowledge.
4. The text describes how some students were subjected to cavity searches, isolation, rape reenactments, verbal abuse, and physical restraint at Cross Creek.
5. The text describes how some students were brainwashed and manipulated by Cross Creek staff and therapists, and how they were not allowed to communicate freely with their parents or peers.
6. The text describes how some students suffered from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and trauma after leaving Cross Creek.
7. The text describes how Cross Creek closed in 2012, but the industry of for-profit reform schools is still operating in Utah and other states with little regulation or oversight.
8. The text describes how some former students are organizing a movement called Breaking Code Silence to expose the abuses and demand change in the industry.
9. The text describes how Utah passed a new legislation to increase inspections and transparency for these programs, but it does not address the needs of the thousands of survivors who were victimized in the past.

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