This is a  staff list for Bridges Boys Academy in Bend, OR

(a.k.a. Bridges Academy)

(we are working to acquire the complete records for ALL years)

 

We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at the Bridges Boys Academy.  For information on your rights and how to take action, visit www.heal-online.org/blowthewhistle.htm.  If you were fired or forced to resign because you opposed any illegal and/or unethical practices at Bridges Boys Academy, you have the right to take action. 

 

If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Bridges Boys Academy, please contact info@heal-online.org if you remember the long-term employees and from which years.  This will help!   Also, if you recognize any of these staff as having worked at another program, please send in any information about their past or present employment at other facilities and/or cults.

 

 

Please don’t place your loved one in Bridges Boys Academy and rescue them if they are there now.

 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Joan McComber Executive Director As one of the founders of Bridges Academy, Joan has been with the School since its inception in the Fall of 1997. Just prior to helping start Bridges Academy, Joan worked as a field/family therapist at SageWalk, The Wilderness School. (SageWalk was closed by Oregon officials following a death at the program.)
Kelley Jones (male) Program Director  
Maureen Bidasolo Admissions/Intake Bidasolo may no longer be working for this program.**
Paige Tapia Support Services Paige is a Utah native, but has lived in Oregon most of her life and has three grown children.
Archie Hamilton Mentor No further info is available on this staff.*
Mark Morris Medication Manager Mark joined Bridges Academy as a mentor in 2002. Mark has more than eight years experience working with at-risk youth in various capacities. Prior to joining Bridges Academy, Mark worked at the Eastern Oregon Youth Correctional facility and Kirkland Institute.  How is he qualified to administer or manage medication?  Morris may no longer be working for the program.**
Eric Jacobs-Nicholls Case Manager Eric has been with Bridges Academy for many years, not only as a mentor, but as a former student as well.  No college degree or training other than having been through the program.
Glenn Murray Night Staff Murray may no longer be working for the program.**
Matthew Ray Mentor Ray may no longer be working for the program.**
Peter Lear Counselor (Addiction Studies/Research) No further info is available on this staff.*  Lear may no longer be working for the program.**
Scott Getty School Nurse Joined the program in February, 2010.
Brian Hodges Night Staff  
Matthew Hogstad Night Staff  
Ryan Massey Mentor Formerly worked at "unnamed" programs in Utah and Arizona.
Scott Jones Night Staff  
*(Bridges Boys Academy, like many other programs in this industry, keeps a "tight lid" on any specific information regarding their staff, qualifications, and practices.  Please contact us with the names of any staff of which you have firsthand knowledge or experience.  Thank you for your help.)

**The staff-member listed no longer appears to be associated with the program based on the program's public information.
HEAL has chosen not to review the application made available online for Bridges Boys Academy at this time.  It is incomplete and fails to include the complete enrollment agreement, liability release information, and other criteria by which HEAL can determine the ethical and/or legal legitimacy of the program.  Bridges Boys Academy is welcome to submit the information required for such a review.  In the meantime, HEAL has some concerns based on the fact that McComber got started with Aspen Education Group.  Aspen Education Group's contracts are unethical and very likely illegal.  See www.heal-online.org/aspenranch.htm for example.  Parents may wish to compare the actual enrollment and contract for services from Bridges Boys Academy to those of Aspen Education Group programs.  If there are abundant similarities, parents should avoid Bridges Boys Academy. 

It is important for families to understand that Bridges Boys Academy is not licensed as a drug/alcohol treatment program in Oregon.  Bridges Boys Academy appears to only be registered as a private school in Oregon.  It appears that registration with the state is optional for private schools and this suggests that there is no oversight or very limited oversight and regulation of such schools in Oregon.  It is not licensed as a residential treatment facility nor is it licensed to provide "therapeutic" services.  This is a serious concern as the primary focus of the program appears to be behavior modification as opposed to education.  It does not appear that Bridges Boys Academy is properly licensed to provide the services they claim to offer.  HEAL was unable to verify that Bridges Academy meets the required licensing of a residential program.  It does not appear to be licensed by the Department of Human Services or the Children Services Division that is required by Oregon.  This is an additional concern.  Programs that are not properly licensed are a serious concern and a lack of proper licensing is a warning sign of an abusive program.

 

 Last Updated: September 27th, 2010

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