This is a staff list for Trinity Teen Solutions in Powell, WY
(a/k/a Trinity Teen Youth Solutions)
(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 Teen Trinity Solutions. 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 Teen Trinity Solutions, you have the right to take action.
If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Teen Trinity Solutions, 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 Trinity Teen Solutions and rescue them if they are there now.
|
Name |
Unit/Position |
Additional Information |
| Jerry Woodward | Director | Woodward is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Woodward is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Angie Woodward | Director | Woodward is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Woodward is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Justin D. McColl | Clinical Director |
McColl is a licensed professional counselor in Wyoming. Source:
https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification
McColl is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Bernadette Schmitt | Counselor | Bernadette P. Schmitt (may be a different person) is a licensed professional counselor in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Schmitt is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Erin Elston | Field Supervisor | Elston is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Elston is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Marie Shelli | Field Advisor | Shelli is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Shelli is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Amanda Byers | Field Advisor | Byers is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Byers is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Kristin Tichenor | Field Advisor | Tichenor is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Tichenor is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Samantha Huebsch | Field Advisor | Huebsch is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Huebsch is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Aleshia Renkemeyer | Field Advisor | Renkemeyer is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Renkemeyer is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Christa Lopiccolo | Staff | Lopiccolo is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Reported by survivor to have worked for this program from 2002-2005. |
| Hope Gillis | Staff | Gillis is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Reported by survivor to have worked for this program from 2003-2005. Reportedly earned degree in Theology from Steubenville University. |
| Louise Ferguson (Eckhardt) | Staff | Ferguson is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Reported by survivor to have worked for this program for a couple of years. Reportedly lacked any qualifications or degree and is a cousin of Angie Woodward (program director). |
| Bridget George | Staff | George is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Reported by survivor to have worked for this program for a couple of years. Reportedly lacked any qualifications or degree and is a niece of Angie Woodward (program director). |
| Joseph Hyland | Therapist | Jospeh M. Hyland (may be a different person) is licensed SOLEY AS A licensed professional counselor in Wyoming and is not a licensed therapist. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Has reportedly worked for this program since 2005. Survivor reported via e-mail that girls were forced to go to him to speak about their issues even when uncomfortable discussing issues with a male therapist. |
| Rebecca Sloan | Therapist | Rebecca E. Sloan (may be a different person) is a licensed Certified Addictions Practioner and holds only a provisional professional counseling license (not fully licensed). Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification |
| Danielle Scheuer | Supervisor | Scheuer is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification |
| Janet Carroll | Life Coach | Carroll is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Carroll is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Elizabeth Godin | Life Coach | George is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Godin is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Erica Prestwich | Marketing | HEAL does not perform background licensing searches on office, accounting, nor maintenance staff. |
| Amanda Estabook | Life Coach | Estabook is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Estabook is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Alicia Dow | Life Coach | Dow is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Dow is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Laurie Krehbiel | Life Coach | Krehbiel is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Krehbiel is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Sydney Dunavin | Life Coach | Dunavin is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Dunavin is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Jillian Zeitler | Life Coach | Zeitler is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Zeitler is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Therese Sanderson | Life Coach | Sanderson is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Sanderson is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| Kyle Woodward | Asst. Director | Woodward is not a licensed mental health professional in Wyoming. Source: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/license-verification Woodward is not a licensed educator in Wyoming. Source: E-mail from Professional Teaching Standards Board, State of Wyoming. |
| *(Trinity Teen Solutions, 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.) | ||
| Trinity Teen Solutions is reportedly owned and operated by the daughter of the owners of Mount Carmel Youth Ranch. | ||
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Preliminary Findings: This program costs $6,750 per month. (Source: http://www.trinityteensolutions.com/admissions.asp, 06/16/11) If a child were enrolled for one year, the total cost would be $81,000. That is over $20,000 of the cost of one year at Harvard University with room and board. "Harvard University will increase tuition next school year by 3.8 percent, the school announced yesterday, bringing the annual cost of a Harvard education, including room and board, to $50,724." (Source: boston.com, March 19th, 2010) Trinity Teen Solutions sister program, Mount Carmel Youth Ranch does not provide accredited and transferable education credits. Why would you pay $81,000 for unprofessional, "faith-based treatment" that will not provide legitimate education and credit? HEAL has received preliminary reports from attorneys and survivors/families who have been harmed by Trinity Teen Solutions. We are working with these individuals and will share more information as it becomes available. In addition, Trinity Teen Solutions recommends parents use "escorts" or hired kidnappers to transport a child to the program. This practice is reportedly illegal and prosecutable. Unfortunately, most children are not aware of this fact. And, if they become aware of it after the fact, they find out that they would have to prosecute their parents as well for conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Since children love their parents and don't wish to hurt their families by pursuing justice, they choose to remain silent. Using your child's loyalty to the family as a weapon against the child is unconscionable. And, Trinity Teen Solutions' suggestion that kidnappers be used to transport a child to their program shows their lack of respect and consideration for the welfare of the child and for the laws of the United States. Trinity Teen Solutions does not provide it's enrollment materials and program details online. We will share more information as it becomes available. |
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| Girls are trying to raise awareness of the treatment at Trinity and have started this website, with their testimonies. The link is http://maggiehiggs7.wix.com/trinityteensurvivors | ||
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Quotes from a Trinity Staffers Blog: “Yesterday I made it to the ranch; turns out it’s not that hard to find when you take the right roads. The girls were still on their 6-day hiking trip so they weren’t around, which is good because I wanted to learn my way around without them judging me. They’re very curious, manipulative, rude little things and I don’t want them knowing I’m as clueless I as I am. That being said, it is literally my job to love them. Luckily my brothers have taught me how to love annoying people.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/14/ “I got off my shift today at 7am (which is 9am Maryland time) and I have the whole weekend off. Actually I sort of have all next week off, but not really, because I work nights next week. So I’ll be going in at 10pm and leaving at 7am and sleeping sometime when it’s light out, which will be quite an adjustment. While keeping watch over the girls as they sleep, I’ll also be reading through their assignments and waking them up if there’s anything they neglected to do that day. It’ll be another way I’ll be able to learn about the girls and get comfortable in my position before I have to spend all day with them answering their millions of questions and keeping track of every single thing they do and how often they do it. So that’ll be fun.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/surive-one-week-check/ “Part of my job is reading the letters that the girls assigned to me (I have two) get from their families and making sure there is nothing in there that the girl shouldn’t be seeing. If there is, I have to email the parents and have them revise the letter before it can be given to the girl. Once the girls write back, I have to read those letters and make sure the girl isn’t saying anything she shouldn’t. Lies and manipulation are, obviously, not allowed.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/scary-movies-holy-cowgirls-and-a-lack-of-bacon/ “Over all it was an easy day. I did have a little trouble with a girl who wouldn’t do as I told her to because she insisted she knows better than me. I don’t like those type of arguments because often times the girls Do know better than me, when it comes to rules I haven’t learned yet or which computers have which programs. But they still need to do as I say, so I make them.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/scary-movies-holy-cowgirls-and-a-lack-of-bacon/ “Monday I was technically not on the schedule to work, but it was a staffing Monday which means all 10 of us have to come in (usually there are only three on duty) for hours and hours of meetings. We meet with the therapists and discuss each girl individually to determine how she’s doing and what we could be doing for her. Also we eat a lot during these meetings, because little foods like fruit and vegetable platters and chips and cookies are provided, so it’s a very unhealthy morning. Then we meet with all the girls for more hours of talking. This part is actually pretty cool. And it goes from before dinner to after dinner so there is food provided here too, which I appreciate. It’s called Holy Cowgirl and the girls really look forward to it. All of us and all the girls sit in cook cabin and one by one each girl is assessed by her peers and by us. First one girl reads a list of things she’s done wrong that she is sorry for. Then each girl tells her one thing she did well since last Holy Cowgirl and one thing she did wrong, usually it’s “I noticed you were kind to the other girls, but you complained about your chores a lot” or something like that. After all the girls have said something, each staff gets to say something. Sometimes we say nice and encouraging things, but if a girl has been driving us crazy and being a real jerk lately this is a time when we can come out and say that and be brutally honest about it. And then we give her the new challenges, chores, and assignments that we came up with in the earlier meeting with the therapists. This went from 3 something to 8pm this time, but it’s gone to almost 11 before. I try to make what I say as concise as possible because with a meeting that long, big speeches make me want to smack people.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2013/09/18/scary-movies-holy-cowgirls-and-a-lack-of-bacon/ “I have discovered that I like sitting in coffee shops and reading or writing or minding my own business in some way. Except I’m constantly watching other people and eavesdropping when I can. Which I suppose is not a nice thing to do, but I feel like I’m justified. Here’s why: While I work, I basically hear “Excuse me, Janet” followed by a (usually unnecessary and dumb) question all day long. All. Day. Long. The girls live is such a small little world that hardly ever changes and is so structured and laced with rules that it makes them feel the need to express every single thought they have, usually in question form. I don’t really mind it, I try to care about all of their problems, but it’s just so loud. And the interactions are so different from what you get in the real world, because people in the real world aren’t this needy and vulnerable. So when I’m off work, it’s nice to see people and have normal human interactions. Plus coffee that I don’t have to make is one of life’s simple pleasures.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/coffee-cars-and-coworkers/ “In July, shortly after my parents came for what was probably their favorite vacation ever, I went on a five day camping trip up in the Bighorn Mountains. The pack was heavy but the adventure was worth it. We were there to fix fence on the 80,000 acre ranch that was housing us, but we were also there to just enjoy nature in general. Unfortunately there were no major wild life sightings, but the peace and beauty and incredible expanse of land were enough to keep our visual appetites satisfied. One strange situation that I hadn’t experienced until that week – being surrounded by wild fires. There were three fires going on while we were in the mountains, and we could see the haze and at some points even the dark smoke around us. Initially I thought we should be concerned and hoped we wouldn’t have to cut the trip short, but our mountain contact person did not think the fires were an issue, so I decided not to worry about them until I was told I had to. I never had to and the trip went on without any fire danger; aside from the expected dangers of having crazy girls tend your fire and cook your meals.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/im-still-alive/ “Last week on opening day, October 1st, I had the pleasure of announcing to my ranch mates that we were on higher than usual bear alert. There had been a three legged grizzly sow seen roaming the area, known to be responsible for about a dozen dead cows in Clark. Her two babies had just been caught in an attempt to lure her into getting caught herself, and so now there was an angry three legged grizzly sow roaming the area. Cows and people are an easy target for a gimpy grizzly that isn’t fast enough to catch its normal prey anymore. It was fun to be able to spread this news, because it got everyone worked up into a nervous frenzy. Especially since I followed it with, “Okay, let’s go out and do morning chores!”” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/animals-galore/ “When I do eventually get back to Wyoming, I’ll be coming back to a new house. We are moving to a mansion down the road here in Clark. It may not actually be a “mansion”, but ever since we learned they were building a new house for the staff to live in we have been having a lot of fun talking about all the luxurious amenities and mansion-like qualities of our imagined new home. Now we’ve seen it and walked through it, and it is mind blowing. It is huge! Nine bedrooms, 4 baths, a pretty stone fireplace, a glorious mud room (for some reason the mud room is one of our favorite parts), and a great mountain view. To top things off, I’ll be moving in to the master bedroom! I’ve never had a walk-in closet before and now I’ll have one that I can live in! I’m considering actually doing that, and just filling the main bedroom part with mattresses and pillows and having it be a general fun area. I even have two sinks in my bathroom! I’m thinking of turning one into a fish bowl.” https://orangejanet88.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/snicks-and-binos-binos-and-snicks/ |
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PLEASE SHARE WIDELY: Victims and Survivors of Trinity Teen Solutions, Mount Carmel Youth Ranch, Triangle Cross Ranch, and Bear Tooth Mountain Ascent Need to Report Any Misconduct (i.e. negligence, unethical and unprofessional conduct, abuse, etc.) Committed By: Matthew Schneider (license #: CAP), Penny Gifford (license #: LAT-264 and LAT-320), Justin D. McColl (license #: LPC-957), Bernadette Schmitt (license #: LPC-1314), Joseph Hyland (license #: LPC-950), and Rebecca Sloan (license #s: CAP-132, PPC-829) or any other licensed professional in Wyoming by filing complaints at: https://sites.google.com/a/wyo.gov/wyoming-mental-health-professions-licensing-board/complaints |
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| Reports of Mistreatment at Clark Facility Written by wendycorr on March 5, 2019 The Park County Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating reports of mistreatment at a residential treatment center for at-risk girls in Clark. The department issued a release yesterday saying only that deputies are currently investigating multiple reports of mistreatment from former internees at Trinity Teen Solutions in Clark. The incidents date back as far as 2008 and all of the alleged victims were juveniles at the time of the reported mistreatment. According to their website, Trinity Teen Solutions is a Catholic residential treatment facility located on a 4,000-acre ranch that offers, quote, “healing and therapeutic services to troubled girls between the ages of 12 to 17,” endquote. There are 14 beds at the facility, with a staff to client ratio of 1 to 4, and 24-hour supervision. The Sheriff’s Department notes that because the investigation is open and continuing, no further information is available at this time. Source: https://mybighornbasin.com/reports-of-mistreatment-at-clark-facility/ | ||
| Reports of abuse made against Clark ranch By LEO WOLFSON [email protected] Mar 6, 2019 0 Facebook Twitter SMS Email Facebook Twitter SMS Email Print Save Seven reports of mistreatment and abuse were recently made to the Park County Sheriff’s Office by people who spent time at Trinity Teen Solutions in Clark. None of the reports included sexual abuse. Trinity is a Christian-based residential treatment center for troubled girls, according to its website. Its programs include therapy, Christian and Catholic counseling, trauma counseling and academic schooling. The website says it has a 1-5 staff-to-patient ratio at its 4,000-acre ranch, serving girls 12-17-years old. The reports came from seven separate people made to the Park County Sheriff’s Office from Feb. 24-26 about incidents allegedly occurring between 2008 and 2015. The sheriff’s office said all the alleged victims were juveniles at the time of the reported mistreatment. The law enforcement agency is investigating the reports. Trinity was founded in 2002 by Jerrie and Angie Woodward. “We deny whatever reports they may be alleging,” Angie Woodward said. At the time she spoke she had not seen specific claims from the sheriff’s office. In 2016 Angie Woodward said Trinity sued three former residents for making defamatory statements about her facility in reviews online. She said the case was settled out of court with the women forced to remove their comments. Source: http://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_d3d12f36-405b-11e9-afd8-878ee60637d2.html | ||
| County sheriff’s office investigating reports of abuse at Clark facility Posted Thursday, April 4, 2019 8:05 am By CJ Baker In recent weeks, more than a dozen women have contacted the Park County Sheriff’s Office to report being abused at a Clark facility for troubled teenage girls. The allegations — from 15 former patients of Trinity Teen Solutions — are all years old, dating as far back as 2007 to as recently as 2015. Angie Woodward, who co-founded Trinity with her husband Jerry, said in an interview that the business takes any allegations of abuse or mistreatment very seriously. However, she also said the complaints appear to be coming from a group of young women who have repeatedly complained about the facility over the last decade. “We’ve been doing this for 17 years and it’s just devastating to have those kind of reports come through,” Woodward said last month. On its website, Trinity Teen Solutions describes itself as a Catholic residential treatment center that combines evidence-based therapy with a Christian environment. The for-profit business sits on a 160-acre ranch off Road 8RA that borders the Shoshone National Forest. Park County Sheriff’s Office Public Affairs Officer Lance Mathess said the recent complaints — which came in between late February and mid-March — are the first reports of abuse that his office has received about Trinity Teen Solutions. Records do show that the Wyoming Department of Family Services, which licenses the residential treatment facility, has previously received complaints. Reports provided to the Tribune by Woodward indicate that the department cleared the facility in four separate investigations. DFS officials looked into a litany of allegations in 2011 and 2012. At the time, unnamed former patients alleged that Trinity failed to provide adequate medical care; humiliated them by making them wear signs, calling them names or putting girls on “leashes;” punished them by restricting access to the bathroom and food or forced girls to sit in a chair all day without speaking; and censored communications with family members. However, the DFS investigation concluded that all of those allegations were unsubstantiated, finding there was either no evidence or not enough evidence to support any of the claims. More complaints were lodged in 2014 and 2018, and the reports show that Trinity Teen Solutions was exonerated in those DFS investigations as well. “These [allegations] have been investigated multiple times by the Department of Family Services,” Woodward said. It’s unclear exactly what has been alleged in the recent criminal complaints to the sheriff’s office. When she spoke to the Tribune last month, Woodward said she knew nothing about the reports, as she had yet to be contacted by the sheriff’s office. Mathess, meanwhile, declined to comment on any of the details of the allegations, citing the pending investigation. He also said he couldn’t comment on why the women decided to come forward now and in an apparent bunch: The first six reports came into the sheriff’s office on Feb. 24, with the rest trickling in at the rate of one, two or three reports per day through March 13. Over the years, a handful of former patients have taken to Yelp, Google Review, the Better Business Bureau, a Facebook group and even started a “Trinity Teen Solutions Survivors” website, posting allegations of abuse that are similar to the reports made to the Wyoming Department of Family Services. In 2016, Trinity Teen Solutions sued three former patients for defamation for various online posts; the Woodwards alleged that the three women — Florida residents Claire Malone Matson and Mollie Lynch and Chanel Plander of California — had knowingly made “wildly false statements” about the center in an effort to damage it. The lawsuit ended with a confidential settlement, Woodward said, and the reviews and postings in question from the women appear to have been removed from the web. Still, some negative reviews remain. In January, a Yelp user identifying herself as Maggie H. of Illinois gave Trinity a one-star review and shared many of the allegations that the Department of Family Services has said are unsubstantiated. For instance, Maggie alleges that girls were punished by being forced to sit in a chair for weeks without speaking — and had to eat “a bowl of kidney beans and olives instead of a regular meal” if they broke the rules. The 23-year-old also says she received a poor education and became someone she hated. “... We were constantly reminded that if we didn’t behave and change, that we would be held there indefinitely,” wrote Maggie, who said she was at the center from October 2011 to July 2013. After the program, “I sought treatment as an adult at facilities that had a proper understanding of my mental illnesses and addictions, and were able to effectively treat these things,” the 23-year-old wrote. “I am doing better now, it is in spite of Trinity Teen Solutions, not because of it.” For its part, Trinity says a full 96 percent of the girls who complete their program “effectively overcome the struggles in their lives.” Woodward said the negative reviews and complaints are outliers among the roughly 2,000 girls from all over the United States who have gone through Trinity Teen Solutions since its founding. She called the situation “very sad.” “It’s just devastating, because of course we’re never in the paper for the good we do,” she said. “A couple thousand girls and we’re never in the paper for that, for the little lives we save.” Different sheriff’s deputies are handling the investigations into the 15 complaints of abuse and assault, Mathess said. “We have no way of knowing when the investigations will be completed,” he said, adding Monday that, “They are all still open and ongoing.” Source: http://www.powelltribune.com/stories/county-sheriffs-office-investigating-reports-of-abuse-at-clark-facility,18389 | ||
| Trinity investigation in DA’s hands By LEO WOLFSON [email protected] Jul 24, 2019 0 Facebook Twitter SMS Email Facebook Twitter SMS Email Print Save Investigators are still looking into claims of abuse made against a Clark facility in charge of troubled teens, but the Park County Sheriff’s Office has wrapped up its part of the investigation, Sheriff Scott Steward said. With his department having handed off their part of the investigation to the county’s district attorney Bryan Skoric, it is now up to him to analyze the results and make a final determination as to whether Park County will press any charges against Trinity Teen Solutions. Steward and Skoric could not speak to the likelihood of charges being filed or not but Steward said Skoric still has some legal questions he is deliberating. Trinity is a Christian-based residential treatment center for troubled girls. Their programming involves ranch-based curriculum including tending to animals, Catholic counseling, trauma counseling and academic schooling. In February and March separate complaints were filed against the facility, dating from 2007 to 2015. The complaints included reports of emotional and physical abuse. Trinity’s website says it has a 1-5 staff-to-patient ratio at its 4,000-acre ranch, serving girls 12-17-years old. The treatment center was founded in 2002 by Jerrie and Angie Woodward. Angie Woodward has denied all alleged claims. In 2016 Trinity sued three former residents for making defamatory statements about the facility in reviews online. Source: http://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_5ab3720e-ae4b-11e9-8311-f7ae4170a3da.html | ||
| FORMER YOUTH CENTERS’ RESIDENTS ALLEGE ABUSE, FORCED LABOR, HUMAN TRAFFICKING TOM MORTON Published: November 30, 2020 Trinity Teen Solutions via Facebook SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE ON TWITTER Participation in "group therapy" without a licensed therapist "with the sole purpose of staff and other exploited girls degrading and humiliating the participant.' Two related youth "residential treatment centers" in northwestern Wyoming promise to instill responsibility, values and motivation in troubled teenagers through a variety of therapies, education and working in a wilderness setting with a Christian-based philosophy. "There is a healing process that takes place for troubled girls when you combine wilderness therapy, animal therapy, emotional growth and experiential therapy in the beauty of nature," according to the Parent Handbook of Trinity Teen Solutions, Inc, west of Powell. 10 Sec Remembering Tom Petty: One Year Later Likewise, the 50,000-acre Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC, 15 miles to the east of Trinity Teen Solutions offers help for troubled boys ages 10-17 on a working cattle ranch. "Through the love of Christ, we aim to educate the mind, strengthen the body and elevate the spirit of each at-risk young man at Triangle Cross Ranch. Healing transformation begins when struggling young me recognize that life is sacred and discover their God-given talents in His wonderful Creation," according to directors Mickey and Jerry Schneider. But three young women who attended Trinity Teen Solutions and one young man who attended the Triangle Cross Ranch and their attorneys tell much different stories in a 57-page class action lawsuit they filed in Wyoming U.S. District Court on Wednesday. SEE DETAILS OF ABUSE ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT HERE "Human trafficking remains a shockingly prevalent practice throughout the world," wrote Michael Rosenthal and Nathan Nicholas of the Cheyenne law firm Hathaway & Kunz, and two other attorneys from Memphis, Tenn. "The 'troubled teen industry' is a predatory industry that operates across the United States, especially in rural areas where the oversight of mental health facilities and residential facilities for minors is difficult or impracticable," Rosenthal and Nicholas wrote. "These companies promise the parents of teens with mental and emotional disturbances, problems with delinquency, and addiction issues respite from the challenges of treatment and parenting their children with too-good-to-be-true promises of cutting-edge therapies and education in a residential setting," they wrote. These treatment centers often operate in legal gray areas, some are well-intentioned and well-run, some cause harm to their residents, and some don't deliver on their promises, they wrote. It's also a $1 billion industry that houses between 10,000 and 14,000 children a year, too, Rosenthal and Nicholas wrote. "These companies charge desperate parents shockingly high prices while simultaneously providing little to no actual treatment and substandard education." Such is the case with Trinity Teen Solutions and the Triangle Cross Ranch, which attract youth whose parents pay $6,000 or more a month for therapy, treatment and education, the attorneys wrote. Instead, the programs used the teens for forced labor for months if not longer, they wrote. "They were made to labor from early morning until late at night, without pay, under the constant threat of physical and emotional punishment and further confinement." The women plaintiffs, who will be identified by their initials, are C.S. of Lee County, Ill.; A.G. of Greenville County, S.C.; and A.N. of Scott County, Minn. The man self-identifies as John Doe of Escambia County, Fla. Their stories are told in more detail here. SEE DETAILS OF ABUSE ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT HERE Powell attorney Joey Darrah, who has represented Trinity Teen Solutions, said that he is reviewing the lawsuit. He has not been formally served with it, he said. "In scanning it, it doesn't look like it has a lot of merit, there's a lot of unconnected parties here." Trinity Teen Solutions is not affiliated with Triangle Cross Ranch, Darrah said. The plaintiffs are seeking millions of dollars for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder plus compensation for forced labor and other economic and non-economic damages. The abuses they allegedly endured included: Jail-style strip searches upon arrival. Sleep and food deprivation. Lack of medical care.. Assault and battery. Emotional abuse. Lack of promised instruction. Participation in "group therapy" without a licensed therapist "with the sole purpose of staff and other exploited girls degrading and humiliating the participant.' Lack of access to latrines. Forced unpaid labor at nearby churches, a community center, private businesses, and the monastery that makes "Mystic Monk Coffee." Rosenthal and Nicholas named 19 defendants, who are listed here. They filed the lawsuit as class action, asserting there are at least 100 people who encountered the same abuses as the plaintiffs. At least 50 former residents are in a subclass of those who have been diagnosed or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, they wrote. They will need the court's approval for the class action designation. The attorneys lay out five causes for action: Federal law for forced labor. This applies to 11 of the 19 defendants including Trinity Teen Solutions, Triangle Cross Ranch, and nine people involved in their ownership and/or operations. "Defendants knowingly provided or obtained the labor services of Plaintiffs and the putative [claimed] class by means of force, threats of force, physical restraint, or threats of physical restraint ... ." The plaintiffs believed they would suffer serious harm if they didn't work. Federal law for forced labor. This applies to all defendants. "Defendants knowingly benefitted financially and/or received things of value from participating in a venture which had engaged in the providing or obtaining of forced labor or services ... ." Federal law for trafficking. This applies to all defendants. "Defendants knowingly recruited, harbored, transported, provided, and/or obtained by any means Plaintiffs and members of the putative class for their labor or services ... ." Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This applies to Trinity Teen Solutions, Triangle Cross Ranch, nine people involved in their ownership and/or operations, and the owner of a business and the owner of a ranch who benefitted from the forced child labor. In this context, the defendants engaged in a criminal enterprise or racket to profit from human trafficking and forced labor. Negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress. This applies to defendants Trinity Teen Solutions, Dally-Up LLC, the Diocese of Cheyenne, and the Society of our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity. "Defendant TTS, acting through its employees and agents, by extreme and outrageous conduct recklessly caused Plaintiff [A.N.] and other similarly situated severe emotional distress and/or bodily harm through conduct described herein that goes beyond all possible bounds of decency, is regarded as atrocious, and is utterly intolerable in a civilized community. She, and others similarly situated, suffered as distress so severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it and she and others similarly have, in fact, suffered from and required treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," according to the lawsuit. SEE THE 19 DEFENDANTS NAMED HERE Powell attorney Joey Darrah, who has represented Trinity Teen Solutions, said that he is reviewing the lawsuit. He has not been formally served with it, he said. "In scanning it, it doesn't look like it has a lot of merit, there's a lot of unconnected parties here." Trinity Teen Solutions is not affiliated with Triangle Cross Ranch, Darrah said. SEE DETAILS OF ABUSE ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT HERE Filed Under: assault, Casper, class action, complaint, emotional distress, forced labor, human trafficking, lawsuit, Meeteetse, Powell, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, RICO, Triangle Cross Ranch, Trinity Teen Solutions Read More: Ex-Teen Treatment Centers' Residents Claim Abuse, Forced Labor | https://k2radio.com/former-youth-centers-residents-allege-abuse-forced-labor-human-trafficking/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral Source: https://k2radio.com/former-youth-centers-residents-allege-abuse-forced-labor-human-trafficking/ | ||
| 2022 Lawsuit: Extreme Abuse: https://twitter.com/heal247/status/1528502698932285442 | ||
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