This is a  staff list for Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Program in Petersboro, UT

(a.k.a. .)

(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 Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Program.  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 Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Program, you have the right to take action. 

 

If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Program, please contact [email protected] 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 Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Program and rescue them if they are there now.

 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Benita Quakenbush-Roberts Founder/Owner Quakenbush is a licensed Psychologist in Utah and has been since 1999.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Gary L. Roberts Founder/COO Benita's husband.  Roberts holds no professional licenses in Utah.  He is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mary E. Doty Program Consultant Doty is not a licensed Psychologist in Utah.  Doty was formerly licensed but has not been licensed since 2010 in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Michael P. Twohig Program Consultant Twohig is a licensed Psychologist in Utah and has been since 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Brian Matthew Jensen Psychiatrist
Internship: Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland, 2005 – 2006

Fellowship: Our Children's House at Baylor, Baylor University, Dallas, Texas, 2006 – 2007

Jensen has been with Avalon since 2008.  Jensen no longer appears to be working at this facility.  Jensen is a licensed Psychologist and has been since 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html

Charles Bentley Clinician Charles George Bentley (may be a different person) is a licensed Psychologist in Utah, but, has only been licensed since March, 2012.  (Meaning he was not a licensed psychologist in 2010 when he began working as a clinician at Avalon.) Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html  
Donald Hebert Therapist Hebert formerly worked at another unnamed residential "treatment" program.*  Hebert is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Utah and has been since 1989.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kathryn Laurel Clements Therapist Clements formerly worked Sunnyside Therapeutic Day School, Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, 2000-2001.  Clements is not a licensed mental health professional in Utah.  Clements was formerly licensed in Utah as a Social Worker (not a therapist).  Clements has not held a license in Utah since September, 2010.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tera L. Lensegrav-Benson Therapist Lensegrav-Benson is a licensed Psychologist in Utah and has been since 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Martin Toohill Therapist Toohill no longer appears to be working at this facility.  Toohill is a licensed Psychologist in Utah and has been since 2005.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Dr. W. Dean Belnap Psychiatrist Vice-Chairman of the Board with the Family Leader Network.   Belnap is a licensed medical doctor and has been since 1948.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Chad Speth Primary Care Provider Speth is a licensed APRN and has been since 2005.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Stacey L. Brown Nurse Brown is a licensed Registered Nurse and has been since 2006.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lesle K. Dickey Nurse Dickey is a Licensed Practical Nurse and has been since 2006 in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Alyssa Anderson Dietician Anderson no longer appears to be working at this facility.  Anderson is a Certified Dietician in UT and has been since 2005.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Anne Stephens Dietician Stephens is a Certified Dietician in UT and has been since 2008.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kayley Valcarce Food Services Valcarce no longer appears to be working at this facility.  HEAL chose not to check for professional licensure on Kayley Valcarce as Food Service Providers are typically not required to hold specialized licenses.
Ali Wormgoor Food Services HEAL chose not to check for professional licensure on Ali Wormgoor as Food Service Providers are typically not required to hold specialized licenses.
Doriann Pye-Petersen Direct Care The Children’s Center, Pocatello, Idaho 2005-2007.  Petersen came to Avalon in 2007.  Pye-Petersen is a licensed Assoc. Mental Health Counselor in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Faye Frazer Direct Care Frazer is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html 
Jill Lowe Education Lowe no longer appears to be working at this facility.  HEAL performed professional licensure verification subsequent to Lowe's departure from Avalon and we have chosen not to perform it as a result.
Carrie Schmidt Admissions Schmidt has been with the program in 2003.  Schmidt is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html 
Katie Atha Admissions Atha has been with the program since 2004.  Atha is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html 
Hollie Archibald Therapist Archibald joined Avalon in February, 2010.  Archibald is a licensed Psychologist and has been since 2010.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Sherrily Brown Nurse Brown is a licensed APRN and has been in Utah since 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Rachel Rood Dietician Rood is a Certified Dietician and has been since 2000.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mel Eppich Physical Activity Eppich is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Brooke Anderson Education HEAL has contacted the Utah Office of Education and is waiting on verification of Anderson's teaching credentials.
Laurel Jensen Programming Jensen is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lorene Hernandez Finance Department HEAL has chosen not to do a licensure verification on Hernandez because accounting does not necessary require any professional licenses.
Sara Boghosian Psychologist Boghosian is a licensed Psychologist and has been since October, 2012.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tyler Christiansen Psychologist Christiansen is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lisa Fraleigh D.O. Fraleigh is a licensed Osteopathic Doctor and has been since 2011.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Megan Rasmussen Education HEAL has contacted the Utah Office of Education and is waiting on verification of Rasmussen's teaching credentials.
Mike Hinds Therapist Michael K. Hinds (may be a different person) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in UT and has been since 2001.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Krys Olyler Therapist Olyler is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Michael Albright Therapist Albright is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in UT and has been since 2016.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Sharon Walls Therapist Walls is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in UT and has been since 2015.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Hannah Sawitsky Therapist Sawitsky is licensed solely as an Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor in UT and has been licensed since 2016.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Alexandra Reveles Doctoral Clinical Asst. Reveles is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Nina Jorgensen Medical Director Jorgensen is a licensed medical doctor in UT and has been since 1994.   Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Carisa Palmer Nursing Director Palmer is a licensed registered nurse (RN) in UT and has been since 2016.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ester Biggs Nurse Biggs is a licensed registered nurse (RN) in UT and has been since 2013.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Paula Lauscher Nurse Lauscher is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in UT and has been since 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tara Atwood Nurse Atwood is a licensed registered nurse (RN) in UT and has been since 2016.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html 
Christina Sperry Dietitian Sperry is a certified dietitian and has been in UT since 2002.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lauren McMullam Dietitian McMullam is not a licensed certified dietitian in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Katelin Jensen Neurofeedback Technician Jensen is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
McKenzie Eskelson Neurofeedback Technician Eskelson is licensed solely as a social services worker in UT and has been licensed since February, 2017.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Robin Hunt Neurofeedback Technician Hunt is licensed solely as a social services worker in UT and has been licensed since 2016.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Caitlin Goodrich Neurofeedback Technician Goodrich is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jaclyn Daniels Neurofeedback Technician Daniels is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Shay Gladwin Neurofeedback Technician Gladwin is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Madison McCormick Direct Care Coordinator McCormick is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kim Norris Direct Care Coordinator Norris is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jennifer Cheney Education Coordinator Utah does not require private school educators to be licensed or certified.
Taylor Bird Yoga Instructor Utah does not require private school educators to be licensed or certified.
Todd Windley Self Defense and Eastern Philosophy Utah does not require private school educators to be licensed or certified.
Brent Greer Equine Specialist Utah does not require private school educators to be licensed or certified.
Carrie Bostrom Admissions Director Bostrom is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
DeeDee Parry Admissions Parry is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in UT.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Loreen Thompson Financial Coordinator HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Bob Thomas CFO HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Bryan Bostrom Financial Controller HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Darlene Wabel Adolescent Facility Office Mgr. HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Jennifer Tolman Director of Specialty Services HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Mike Smith HR Manager HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Winnie Gray Corporate Office Mgr. HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Darin Brower IT Specialist HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Misha Cantwell Financial/Legal Specialist HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
T'Nesha Cleveland Billing Specialist HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Julie Wiley Utilization Review HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Casey Petersen Facility Mgr. HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Colton England Facilities HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
Sam Roberts Asst. Facility Mgr. HEAL does not perform licensing checks on office, maintenance, nor food services staff.
     

 *(Avalon Hills Residential Eating Disorder Program, 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.)

Former Staff Review:

Posted February, 2018:

"The individual units were a great place to work. The leadership team is out of touch from the units. They have a couple members of the leadership team that are aware of the goings on at the units but overall they make decisions that are from left field and have a negative impact on the overall program."  Source:  https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Avalon-Hills/reviews

Posted June, 2017:

"I was so excited for this job opportunity. It however turned into a nightmare. Higher management were so hard to work with. Spoke very negatively of other employees. They did not provide very good communication and they had unrealitisic expectations." Source:  https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Avalon-Hills/reviews


HEAL has received four confidential complaints about this facility from former clients. 

THE TRUTH:

All segregated congregate care providers, including those on our watch-list, are welcome to contact us to correct any information or provide additional data that may assist with delivering the whole truth to the public.  We've found in many cases where this offer has been abused or resulted in revealing additional basis for our concerns. For some examples see: http://www.heal-online.org/tcfl.htm,  http://www.heal-online.org/bolthouse.htm and http://www.heal-online.org/abundant2.htm.  Now, we are willing to look at the facts and may have questions or require documentation backing up any claims.  We do verify licensing, academic backgrounds, and other qualifications when investigating and researching programs on our watch-list to assist consumers seeking additional information on such programs or victims requiring assistance with getting corroborating evidence of their claims.  We do that in order to make sure the information we provide is accurate and verified and cite our sources.  In the event any information we've posted is in error, we're happy to make a correction.  And, for information on how such requests are handled and have been resolved historically, see: http://www.heal-online.org/requests.htm. 

HEAL does not support segregated congregate care for many reasons which include that many such facilities are abusive, exploitative, fraudulent, and lack effective oversight often as a result of fraudulent misrepresentation coupled with the ignorance of those seeking to enroll loved ones in such facilities, programs, schools, or centers without a valid court order and involuntarily.  In the United States such involuntary placements done without a court order are apparently illegal as they either violate the Americans with Disabilities Act community integration requirement or due process rights of those involuntarily placed.  Now, in regards to parents, in the United States parents have the right to waive their own rights, but, not the rights of their minor children.  See http://www.heal-online.org/legalarguments.htm for more information.  Now, most facilities on our watch list include waivers, indemnity clauses, and sworn statements parents must sign assuring the program that the parents have the right to make the placement involuntarily and without due process in a segregated congregate care environment, however, California and federal prosecutors as well as settled law appears to suggest that is not the case.  In fact, in the David Taylor case found at http://www.heal-online.org/provocases.htm, Taylor sued Provo Canyon School and his mother as co-defendants.  His mother was found liable for 75% of the damages awarded to Taylor as a result of multiple complaints including false imprisonment, while the program was found only 25% liable because the mother owed a duty of due diligence to investigate anyone to which she would entrust care of her child and she failed to do so. 

Now, HEAL opposes segregated congregate care and we find most placements are happening illegally in the USA which if the youth understood their rights would result in unfortunate outcomes for the parents, particularly when they don't exercise good judgment and support the fraud and abuse rather than their own children when they need remedy and justice.  And, HEAL supports all victims of fraud and abuse in seeking remedies at law for any crimes or torts committed against them.  And, that's true whether or not the program or victims are in the USA. 

HEAL has a 5 point argument against segregated congregate care we'd like you to consider:

a.  Segregated care is unconstitutional and a civil rights violation.  It is only permissible if a person is unable to survive independent of an institutional environment.  For more on this, watch the HEAL Report at  https://youtu.be/C4NzhZc4P0A.  Or, see:   http://www.ada.gov/olmstead/  which includes in part:    "United States v. Florida – 1:12-cv-60460 – (S.D. Fla.) – On April 7, 2016, the United States filed an Opposition to the State of Florida’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.  In the Motion, the State had asked the Court to rule, on a variety of grounds, that the United States could not recover damages for unnecessarily institutionalized children to whom the State had been deliberately indifferent."

b.  Institutionalization is always dehumanizing and coercive.  Institutionalization always harms the institutionalized and deprives them of protected civil rights.  Dr. David Straker, Psychiatry Professor at Columbia University's School of Medicine (Ivy League) explains this in detail at http://changingminds.org/disciplines/sociology/articles/institutionalization.htm.  "Many institutions, from prisons to monasteries to asylums, deliberately want to control and manage their inmates such that they conform and do not cause problems. Even in less harsh environments, many of the institutionalization methods may be found, albeit in more moderated form (although the psychological effect can be equally devastating)."  (See website linked in this paragraph for more info.)

c.  Institutionalization is not in the best interest of children.  Institutions are not ever better for a child than living with a loving family.  Source:   http://www.unicef.org/cambodia/12681_23295.html       

d.  Reform schools, residential treatment programs, and other segregated congregate care settings have been shown to be ineffective and harmful.  Best source on this currently is:     https://www.acgov.org/probation/documents/EndoftheReformSchoolbyVinny.doc

e. Boarding Schools, even the "good ones", result in a form of social death, isolation, and cause both anxiety and depression.  Therefore, it is clearly not in the best interest of the youth subjected to those environments.  Sources: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun/08/boarding-school-syndrome-joy-schaverien-review and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/11662001/The-truth-about-boarding-school-syndrome.html

Beyond the above arguments against segregated congregate care, we have reports from the NIH, Surgeon General, Yale University Studies, and much more showing the methodologies of behavior modification are damaging, harmful, and ineffective.  You can request these documents via e-mail.  In addition, for such programs offering academic services or claiming to offer diplomas, certifications, or the like, it is important to check to see if it is a diploma mill with no accredited academic services.  Please see article: "Avoiding Scams: What You Need To Know"  for important information on how to avoid education/training scams.

If you'd like to see what HEAL suggests rather than segregated congregate care (i.e. committing a crime or tort against your child if done against their will without a court order), please see articles: "Fix Your Family, Help Your Teen" and "How Would You Handle My Out of Control Teen?".

If you have a complaint against any facility, please file a complaint with the appropriate law enforcement agency or your home state's attorney general.  For reporting resources see: http://www.heal-online.org/report.htm.  (Reporting guide is for USA only at this time.)
 

 Last Updated: August 10th, 2019

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