Elevations RTC Investigations
Elevations RTC Investigations
Elevations RTC Investigations
Contact Info:
Summary of Issue:
2 female youth sexually acting out: reported ID the therapist that she and another student had
tnuched each other's genital areas while sitting In the hallway on dorms In the evening of 6/5/17. She
reported the conlact happened under a blanket. reported that the other peer initiated the contact
and that she felt like she "muldn't say no" even though 5he was uncomfortable with the conlact
stated that after the peer stopped toodllng her that the peer grabbed her hand and guided It to the
peer's genitll areas where then IDUChed the peer.
Clients Involved:
Licensees, Staff, and Witnesses Involved:
.
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
6/6/2017 7:00:00 PM
Therapist called and talked with both parents.
Kelly Richards
6/7/2017 2:00:00 AM 2347940
Actions Planned by Licensee:
6/8/2017: Per investigation of event by , no breaches in policy or procedure
were found. The students were within eye sight of the staff members and other students. Neither
student was on any sort of safety precautions or additional supervision precautions. The students were
able to engage in sexual acting out behaviors due to lower bodies being covered by blankets.
Subsequent to the incident, staff have been directed to not allow students in close proximity to each
other to be fully or partially covered in blankets. Hands must be visible.
6/8/2017: Upon disclosure of incident to Primary Therapist (of both students), on
6/6/2017, was notified of the incident and the allegation of sexual abuse/assault per policy and
procedure. indicated that the report was of routine urgency and that a safety check and interview
would take place on campus within 3-5 days. Additionally, the Primary Therapist initiated a safety plan
to keep the two students separated. Student, was scheduled for discharge from the program on or
before 6/30/2017. The safety plan would remain in place throughout that time.
6/15/2017: completed a safety check and brief interview with on 6/12/2017. An in-person
interview was requested and scheduled for 6/14/2017 by at the in
Farmington, UT. Student was transported to by Elevations staff on 6/14/2017 and interview was
completed.
6/27/2017: was interviewed by at on 6/14/2017. At that time
indicated that she would be interviewing on campus in the following weeks. interviewed
on 6/22/2017. After the interview indicated to primary therapist, , that
based on the interviews, the facts of the incident, and that parents were not interested in pursuing
charges, she did not anticipate the matter proceeding further in any way. Her decision regarding this
would be reviewed by her supervisory team by July 101h.
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
-- Select Investigate Within --
Priority Due Date:
Document Admin Staffing:
staffed with Janice and Jeff
Date Priority Met:
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Documents:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Violations:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
Yes No
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
no violations noted. Neither
student was on any sort of safety precautions or additional supervision precautions. The students were
able to engage in sexual acting out behaviors due to lower bodies being covered by blankets.
Subsequent to the incident, staff have been directed to not allow students in close proximity to each
other to be fully or partially covered in blankets. Hands must be visible.
Finalized Date:06/30/2017
Contact Info:
Summary of Issue:
On 8/12/17 allegedly from her cell phone showed provocative images of her girlfriend in
what has been described as "a lacey see through bra." These images where shown to 3 students
was assigned to be supervising; , and .
Clients Involved:
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
Program contacted Syracuse PD and The employee is on
unpaid administrative and will not be permitted to be on campus until the matter is resolved (at a
minimum).
Actions Planned by Licensee:
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
-- Select Investigate Within --
Priority Due Date:
Document Admin Staffing:
Janice Weinman DHS
12:27 PM
to me, Jeffery
I would have them get the answer to that question.
Because there is a law enforcement investigation, it is a 10-day QA (that makes it a
critical incident with an alleged law violation) and you will need to follow up to get the final
determination of their investigation to see if any other rules were potentially violated and what the
agency does about this staff member before you close it. (Did this staff have a cleared BCI?) .
Janice Weinman
Date Priority Met:
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Documents:
Add
Date Name Comment
08/15/2017 staff staff showed youth provocative images on her cell phone
Violations:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
Yes
Type of Incident:
Other
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
Finalized Date:12/07/2017
Contact Info:
Summary of Issue:
Another student approached this writer and said that needed to disclose some information.
told this writer that another student had been touching his buttocks and crotch on top of his
pants and he did not want this to happen. At approximately 16:00 this writer again approached
and asked if there was any further information about the incident. disclosed that he "made out"
and gave the other peer a "blow job." This writer asked if this was forced and shared that he did
these actions willingly as a means to upset his parents and hope that they would pull him from the
program.
Clients Involved:
Contact Info:
Summary of Issue:
Hello,
So I processed a referral for a child (not in Utah's custody) who reported that he believes that a member
of the night staff at his treatment facility (Elevations, RTC) was having anal sex with him. I didn't see this
facility on the list of current State of Utah contracts, but thought I should still let you guys know.
Attached is the for the referral I processed.
Clients Involved:
Contact Info:
Summary of Issue:
Attempted suicide with glass from a calculator.
Clients Involved:
Contact Info:
User Phone:
Summary of Issue:
This is according to recollection:
indicates that he has touched or grabbed bottom several times over that last couple weeks in
line or in the group room. He tries to get close to her whenever he can.
reports that on Friday, March 15, 2019, during the skiing trip, he and were sitting on the bench
with staff. He doesn't remember if it was . The staff were talking with other peers and
reached over and grabbed crotch. He indicates it was a fast touch and there wasn't a
conversation about it.
On Saturday, March 16, 2019, on the way home with rec, was sitting on the first back seat bench and
was sitting directly behind her on the right side of the van. He states that he tapped her arm and
pointed toward her crotch. She moved his hand to be under her clothing. He reports that he digitally
penetrated her as much as he could while she was sitting. He also said that she had her hands in his
pants and that she was not rubbing, but had her hand rested on his penis.
Yesterday, March 19, 2019, and learned that they would be going to the library. said to meet
her in the adult fiction section before they left the library. He asked if they would kiss and she said yes.
HE states that when they went to the library, he first looked at movies and then went to the adult fiction
section. She said she wasn't ready yet and to come back so he came back later. They were looking for a
book for her and talking about sexual topics. They kissed each other (he says it wasn't a french kiss), and
he touched her crotch. He states that she held his arm there for about a minute.
On the way back from the library, was sitting in the front passenger seat and was sitting in the
seat right behind her. He states that he tapped her shoulder to get her attention and she didn't look, so
he tapped and rubbed her butt area for the rest of the drive trying to get her attention. She didn't ever
look back or acknowledge him on the ride.
This is according to
It has basically all happened this past week. I think about a month ago he was talking to me and he said
something about wether I was 100% bisexual or gay. That question kind of scared me. I panicked and
said I am bi and I am not. I guess it kind of gave him a green light and some leeway and I didn't realize
that I said it but I did. About a month ago we were watching Guardians of the Galaxy and and I
were on the same couch and I was sprawled out on the couch and he was sitting up for the first half and
then adjusted himself and got closer to me. 10 minutes later my hand was out and I wasn't paying
attention and he then grabbed my hand and held on to it. I didn't say anything because I didn't want
that attention. It lasted only about five minutes. That's what only happened that day and the majority
of what happened happened this week. On rec we went on a hike it was about maybe two hours to the
trail(car ride) and about two hour back. There was a kid in shotgun, don't remember who. was
sitting in the front row and is in the middle and I am by the door. was in the row behind me.
About 20-30 minutes in to the drive I turned around and said Hey that's not my seat belt, and instead of
my seatbelt around my waist it was his arm. It stayed there for about another 20 minutes and I wasn't
really doing anything because I was kind of scared. We have about 20 minutes left in the drive now and
he moved his hand from my waist down to my butt, and it was there for about 5 minutes. We are about
5 minutes away from campus and he moved his hand from my butt to my groin area. We were really
close to campus by the traffic circle going up the road and his hand then moves to my upper groin, at
this point he had his hand under my pants touching my groin and then I tapped him as I saw the school
and said that's enough. Then there was the library, same deal. We went to the library, I was in shotgun,
I was the only girl in the van and nothing happened in the van both ways. We have an hour in the library
to find a book and came up to me after about 45 minutes and then sits there and moves pretty
freaking close to me to where if there was a magazine between us it would drop. I then felt his hand go
from bracing himself up to on my hip lightly. From that point it goes from my middle half down to my
butt again, ha, but this time nothing happens with the pants, they stay where they are, but this time I
felt like a minor squeeze. Now we have about 2 minutes left (staff) comes over, he doesn't
know anything happened, moved away, I said Hi and he asked if I had the books I wanted
and then he said lets go check out. I turn and not go to the exit and go back in the isles and saw
and he told me to go back to two isles by the romance novels I think, so I am walking down the isle, ha
ha wink wink, and he is walking behind me and grabs my arm gently enough to get my attention, I
stopped and turned around and he guides my arms back and I turn and face him and before I could say
or think about anything then it happened. It starts with a K and ends with an S. It lasted about .5
seconds or less than a second and at that point I am kind of like okay I am going peace out and went and
checked out my books got in the van and came back here and tha's the end of that
Clients Involved:
Contact Info:
Contact Info:
User Phone:
Summary of Issue:
On 12/30/2019 (client) reported to that on 10/9/2019
pulled down pants in corner of their bedroom during evening free time, and started touching his
genital area and continued after he said "stop." He reported she then pulled her pants down, then back
up and began "humping" him. He reported the next day she pulled her bed covers up and exposed
herself masturbating. reported she had a sexual interaction with on her admission date which
she thought was consensual, involving both students pulling their own pants down and touching one
another's genitals.
Clients Involved:
Contact Info:
Can Contact User?: Yes
User Contact:
Summary of Issue:
Hello,
I was at Elevations RTC and I believe there is abuse and mistreatment going on. Physical
restrainst were very violent and used quite often. I have watched a kid get tackled to the ground so hard
his face was gushing blood as he was restrained there for at least half an hour. I have cleaned another
kids blood off a cinderblock wall after staff smashed his head against it. I cannot even count the number
of times I watched kids get restrained and listened to them screaming, "Stop! It hurts! Please stop!
You're hurting me!!" Kids are often restrained even when they are not a threat to themselves or anyone
else. In addition, the method of restraint is quite unsafe and results in dislocated shoulders and other
injuries. Sexual abuse is also a concern. I heard from a student who was there 12 years ago that the
, , had sex with multiple girls at the facility. I also know a kid who was
assaulted by another student and told staff. Who did nothing. Psychological abuse is also present. One
of the most egregious forms of it in my opinion was isolation. Isolation was used as a punishment, with
very minor offences getting an hour, and major ones up to 3 months. We were told that the isolation
was legal because the door was open, but the psychological effects are the same. I knew several people
who were isolated for over 2 months, and started having hallucinations because of it. There are many
many more forms of mistreatment at Elevations RTC that I do not have time to mention, but it is enough
that now I see a trauma therapist for the trauma I got there. I still have nightmares that I'm back there,
and I've been out for about a year and a half now. Elevations RTC is abusing vulnerable and suffering
teenagers and it cannot be allowed to continue. If there is anything you can do to investigate I would be
so grateful. Please let me know if there is any more information I can provide or something else I should
do. Thank you for reading my message and I hope you have sympathy for me and hundreds of other
teenagers with similar experiences.
Sincerely,
Clients Involved:
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
NA
Actions Planned by Licensee:
NA
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
Initiate investigation within 10 business days
Priority Due Date:
02/18/2020
Document Admin Staffing:
Identify possible client right violations as outlined in the complaint.
Date Priority Met:
02/11/2020
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Date Time Type Who
02/11/2020 10:00 Site Visit - Unscheduled Blake Tingey
02/06/2020 09:50 Administrative Staffing Blake Tingey
Documents:
Add
Date Name Comment
01/29/2020 Elevations RTC - public complaint
Violations:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
Yes
Type of Incident:
Abuse - Physical
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
Investigator interviewed clients and staff. Unable to support any evidence of abuse, neglect, and/or
sexual misconduct. Clients feel safe and enjoy the program. Staff have no complaints about the
program and have all necessary training. No violations.
Finalized Date:03/24/2020
Contact Info:
User Email:
User Phone: 801-773-0200
Summary of Issue:
In a discussion regarding results of psycho-sexual testing with primary therapist and psychologist,
reported that they had engaged in sexual activity with in the bathroom. reports that
the sexual activity was consensual. However, was 13 at the time of the alleged incident.
denies any sexual activity occurred. The incident was reported to
who indicated that the case would be passed along to local law enforcement.
Clients Involved:
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
Checked temperature, symptom and work logs. Communicated to co-workers about minimal risk of
exposure. Education provided about not working with symptoms. Worked with health department to
identify risk level and folks involved.
Actions Planned by Licensee:
Continue with COVID-19 risk management and prevention plan. Checking for symptoms and
temperatures on-going. Working with our medical staff to identify risks and actions needed.
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
On-site within 3 business days
Priority Due Date:
07/10/2020
Document Admin Staffing:
Follow up using OL COVID protocol.
Date Priority Met:
07/09/2020
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Date Time Type Who
07/09/2020 03:57 Other Licensor Activity Theresa Oram
07/09/2020 10:45 Other Licensor Activity Theresa Oram
Documents:
Add
Date Name Comment
08/04/2020 Infectious Disease Policy 2020
08/04/2020 COVID Policy 2020
07/06/2020 Incident Report
Violations:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
Yes
Type of Incident:
Illness Outbreak
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
Licensee seems to have taken the necessary action to adhere to Office of Licensing administrative rules;
no further action required.
Finalized Date:07/13/2020
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
mask wearing, social distancing, temperature and symptom monitoring/recording of students and staff,
staff training, additional cleaning and hygiene measures
Actions Planned by Licensee:
not at this time, health department determined all clients and staff with possible exposure were at low
risk due to mask wearing, social distancing, and timing of symptoms - additional monitoring of
symptoms for those clients and staff is being conducted
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
Initiate investigation within 10 business days
Priority Due Date:
08/19/2020
Document Admin Staffing:
Communicated to licensee - Thank you for providing the Office of Licensing with your COVID Incident
Report information. The last time we received an update was on 8/6/2020. Please fill out this form with
your most recent update.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this.
Office of Licensing
Date Priority Met:
08/11/2020
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Date Time Type Who
08/17/2020 12:53 Other Licensee Contact John Ortiz
08/11/2020 11:09 Other Licensee Contact John Ortiz
Documents:
Add
Date Name Comment
08/12/2020 COVID Update delete
08/10/2020 Elevations RTC - COVID staff email
08/06/2020 Elevations RTC - COVID Incident Report
Violations:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
Yes
Type of Incident:
Illness Outbreak
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
Licensee reports - no - no staff or clients met the criteria for requiring isolation or quarantine.
Finalized Date:08/17/2020
Contact Info:
Summary of Issue:
The practices at Elevations RTC are abusive to the point where multiple kids attempt suicide each month
just to get out of there. Many abusive disciplinary practices are employed to brainwash (not
metaphorically, these are techniques used in organized abuse) kids into blindly obedient robots under
the guise of "treatment." Also, they purposefully overmedicate and the therapists blatantly overstate
their qualifications, often retraumatizing people and rarely, if ever, practicing ethical therapy.
Clients Involved:
Unknown
Licensees, Staff, and Witnesses Involved:
Unknown
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
NA
Actions Planned by Licensee:
NA
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
On-site within 3 business days
Priority Due Date:
08/25/2020
Document Admin Staffing:
Identify concerns addressed in the complaint, identify possible reporting concerns and overall safety of
the facility.
Date Priority Met:
08/24/2020
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Date Time Type Who
09/10/2020 02:00 Site Visit - Scheduled Blake Tingey
08/27/2020 01:30 Site Visit - Scheduled Blake Tingey
08/25/2020 10:49 Collateral Contacts Blake Tingey
08/25/2020 09:14 Collateral Contacts Blake Tingey
08/24/2020 10:14 Collateral Contacts Blake Tingey
Documents:
Add
Date Name Comment
09/15/2020 Investigation Notes Notes by Blake Tingey
09/11/2020 Clinical Note 8/12/2020 clinical note.
09/03/2020 Incident Report from October 2019.
09/03/2020 Documents Critical Incidents for multiple clients and email of training for staff
comments.
08/25/2020 Client List As of 8/21/2020.
08/18/2020 Complaint Email
Violations:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
Yes
Type of Incident:
Any Injury - Staff/Client
Self Harm
Serious Injury
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
Investigators never heard from original complainant to get more specifics or details of the allegations.
Investigators randomly interviewed several clients and staff and found little to no concerns. A few
incidents were mentioned in the interviews that the investigators followed up on and it seems the
program responded appropriately to those incidents. An incident of self harm was not reported, but no
injuries were sustained according to the reports.
Finalized Date:09/15/2020
Contact Info:
User Email:
User Phone:
Summary of Issue:
Staff attempted to place student in a restraint during which the student and staff's heads collided and
again bumping both their heads when falling to the ground. Student was sent out to be assessed at the
ED and staff later was sent out to be assessed as well. Student currently on concussion protocol and
staff on home rest.
Clients Involved:
Involved Clients:
Licensees, Staff, and Witnesses Involved:
Involved Witnesses:
Involved Staff:
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
Staff on unpaid administrative level as this incident is under investigation.
Actions Planned by Licensee:
Pending investigation.
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
On-site within 3 business days
Priority Due Date:
09/28/2020
Document Admin Staffing:
Identify possible client rights violations, identify concerns of physical intervention techniques.
Date Priority Met:
09/28/2020
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Date Time Type Who
10/01/2020 01:50 Collateral Contacts Ahmed Samatar
09/28/2020 12:33 Collateral Contacts Ahmed Samatar
09/28/2020 10:24 Collateral Contacts Ahmed Samatar
Documents:
Add
Date Name Comment
11/16/2020 Elevations RTC - Notice of Violation (staff )
10/19/2020 Elevations RTC - Staff's First Aid card
10/19/2020 Elevations RTC - Staff's CPR card
10/19/2020 Elevations RTC - Staff's PCS Certificate
10/08/2020 Elevations RTC - follow up and response email
09/21/2020 Incident Report delete
Violations:
Add
Violation Date Rule# Resolved Date
11/16/2020
501-2-8 Core Rules. Rights of Consumers.
11/16/2020
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
Yes
Type of Incident:
Any Injury - Staff/Client
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
The staff was terminated and the client was discharged back to his home state of . I called
to report the alleged Physical Abuse. However, no new updates. I sent the program the violation and let
them know that I would follow up if new updates come from
Finalized Date:11/16/2020
Summary of Issue:
It is reported that the child has said that there is an increase in traumatic experiences at the facility and
have been there for over a year and there is more trauma. No further details are known beyond this.
It is reported that there have been concerns for forced medicating, not being able to see their parents,
physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of the children at the facility. It is reported that there are concerns
for sexual relationships with staff, improper restraints and slamming children into the ground or walls,
and excessive confinement. It is reported that there are interventions that are not evidence based. It is
reported
that there are concerns that licensing is a self governed organization and they allow this behavior to
happen in facilities like this. It is reported that there are concerns of mail being read, phone calls being
monitored.
It is believed that there is supposed to be a box where children can voice their concerns at residential
treatment facilities that are locked and facility staff cannot read this and there are concerns that
children don't have a way to voice their concerns without staff being aware of this and ignoring them.
It is reported that there are concerns about children staying in residential treatment for too long and it
affects their mental health. It is reported that this is concerning because adults would need severe
mental health concerns to be inpatient for a year.
Clients Involved:
No further details are known about this
child.
Licensees, Staff, and Witnesses Involved:
Unknown
Licensee Follow-Up
Actions Taken by Licensee:
NA
Actions Planned by Licensee:
NA
Additional Comments:
Office Follow-Up
Investigate Within:
On-site within 3 business days
Priority Due Date:
01/12/2021
Document Admin Staffing:
Identify concerns addressed in the complaint, specifically, possible client rights and behavior
management concerns.
Date Priority Met:
01/07/2021
QA Monitoring
Activity Log:
Add
Date Time Type Who
02/11/2021 12:03 Other Licensor Activity Blake Tingey
01/14/2021 08:55 Other Licensor Activity Blake Tingey
01/07/2021 10:15 Interview(s) Blake Tingey
01/07/2021 09:59 Interview(s) Blake Tingey
01/07/2021 09:35 Interview(s) Blake Tingey
01/07/2021 09:03 Collateral Contacts Blake Tingey
Documents:
Add
Date Name Comment
03/05/2021 Program response Executive Clinical Directors email terminating Internal and Team
Focus (IF TF) process.
01/05/2021 LE Report
01/05/2021 Incident Email
Violations:
Add
Nothing found to display.
Update Status
Findings
* Critical Incident:
A critical incident occurred related to this Investigation.
No
Sites Affected:
All Sites
Elevations RTC 2514 South 1300 West Syracuse, UT 84075
Elevations RTC1873 S. Bluffridge Dr. Syracuse, UT 84075
Conclusion Summary:
Coordinated this investigation with another investigator, Ahmed Samatar. We conducted client
interviews together to determine if there was any abuse or neglect happening at the program. The
interviews resulted in a few concerns that Ahmed followed up on. Ahmed was unable to substantiate
any allegations and believes the program is responding appropriately to clients needs. No further
action.
Finalized Date:02/23/2021