This is the History and Reporting Guide for Arivaca Boys Ranch in Arivaca, AZ

On this page you will find incomplete staff and complaint histories with sources cited (i.e. Progress Report), the general advisory against segregated congregate care with sources cited, and a reporting guide for those unlawfully harmed or firsthand witnesses to unlawful harm by or at this location to report violations of the law to the proper authorities/law enforcement.  The staff list itself will not be updated with additional names out of a sense of fairness where those providing the names ask for anonymity or confidentiality.  And, this program will remain eligible for merciful release if all criteria are met and no guest sermon is provided by a qualifying sponsor by that time.  In the meantime, it can graduate the COPE Conversion Program by meeting the Honesty In Marketing Standards (HIMS) or permanently close to be removed from the watch-list/released from the COPE Conversion Program.  If permanently closed prior to graduation or merciful release, it will be buried in the virtual graveyard. 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Ron Searle Managing Partner Owner at The Diamond Consortium.  Also formerly with LDS Church Education (Mormon).  Searle is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
D. Hyrum Wright Clinical Director Graduate of BYU (Brigham Young University--birthplace of abusive outdoor programs.)  Formerly with the Tempe Institute (LDS).  There is a David H. Wright that is a licensed professional counselor ONLY and has been since 2001 in AZ.  It is unclear whether or not this is the same individual.  And, it is disconcerting that someone with such a limited license would be placed in the position of Clinical Director, even if it is the same individual.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Glenn Banks Jr. Therapist Formerly with the Anasazi Foundation.  Also formerly with the Air National Guard.  There is a Glenn L. Banks (no suffix) that is a licensed independent substance abuse counselor ONLY and has been since 2003 in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Mike & Margaret Stroud Directors Educated at BYU.  Mike and Margaret Stroud are NOT licensed mental health professionals in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Boyd Anderson Facilities Facilities/maintenance workers are not expected to have mental health licenses, therefore, HEAL did not perform a license verification search on Anderson.
Luke Hallows Interim Director/Administrator Luke Hallows is formerly with WWASPS, specifically the Casa by the Sea program which is/was confirmedly abusive and closed as a result.  Hallows also reportedly worked for WWASPS' High Impact program in Mexico.  Hallows is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Phil Winch Mentor Graduate of BYU.  Formerly worked at an unnamed "ranch" and unnamed wilderness program.  Winch is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Ted Snow Cattle Program Mgr. Snow is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Allison Kellis Wrangler Kellis is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Don Conover Wrangler Conover is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Dallin Whipple Wrangler Whipple is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Carter Poulsen CFO Accountants are not typically expected to have mental health licenses, therefore, HEAL did not perform a license verification search on Poulsen.
Norm King Partner King is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
John Poulsen Partner Poulsen is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Clif Pinckard Partner Pinckard is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://azbbhe.us/verifications.htm
Jennifer Weiss Equine Director Weiss is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://www.azbbhe.us/DaEngine.asp
Justin Gibson Academic Director Arizona does not regulate nor provide any oversight of private schools.  This permits for rampant fraud and abuse.  For more information, see: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf (page 20)  And, "Under Arizona law (ARS 15-161), private schools are free to operate as they see fit without the supervision of state or local education authorities."  Source:  http://www.azed.gov/private-schools/  Many private schools do not offer accredited academic services and credits "earned" and these programs do not transfer to legitimate schools and colleges in most instances.
Buirge S. Jones Therapist Jones is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://www.azbbhe.us/DaEngine.asp
Robert Stahl Therapist Stahl is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://www.azbbhe.us/DaEngine.asp
Cecilia Graham Therapist Graham is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Arizona and has been since 2008.  Her license number is: LCSW-12572.  Source:  http://www.azbbhe.us/ProDetail.asp?ProfID=42942   You can file complaints against this professional here: http://www.azbbhe.us/pdfs/Complaint%20Form%20Revised%2015-1212%20PDF%20Fillable.pdf Or, click on "Complaint" link here: http://www.azbbhe.us/node/20
Jessica Lathen Adminstrative Director HEAL does not perform background or licensing checks on office, maintenance, cleaning, and/or food preparation staff unless they have unsupervised contact with minors in the program.
Jon Sharp Ranch Chef HEAL does not perform background or licensing checks on office, maintenance, cleaning, and/or food preparation staff unless they have unsupervised contact with minors in the program.
RD Ayers Field Projects Director HEAL requires RD Ayers full name, including first and middle, in order to determine whether Ayers holds any professional licenses in Arizona.
Tom Farrington Maintenance HEAL does not perform background or licensing checks on office, maintenance, cleaning, and/or food preparation staff unless they have unsupervised contact with minors in the program.
Amy Hamilton Equine Teacher Arizona does not regulate nor provide any oversight of private schools.  This permits for rampant fraud and abuse.  For more information, see: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf (page 20)  And, "Under Arizona law (ARS 15-161), private schools are free to operate as they see fit without the supervision of state or local education authorities."  Source:  http://www.azed.gov/private-schools/  Many private schools do not offer accredited academic services and credits "earned" and these programs do not transfer to legitimate schools and colleges in most instances.
Austyn Henretta Supervisor Henretta is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://www.azbbhe.us/DaEngine.asp
Josh Munn Wrangler Munn is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://www.azbbhe.us/DaEngine.asp
Sam Lammi Wrangler Lammi is not a licensed mental health professional in AZ.  Source: http://www.azbbhe.us/DaEngine.asp
CJ Wrangler HEAL requires CJ's full name, including first and middle, in order to determine whether CJ holds any professional licenses in Arizona.
     

 

HEAL UPDATE:  June 21st, 2017

Today we added new staff names to the staff list and ran licensing searches on new staff.  As you can see above, there is definitely false advertising happening here.  Two of the new therapists are not even licensed mental health professionals.  HEAL has received over 10 complaints about this program.  This program has nearly replaced all its staff since we last updated in 2012.  High staff turn over, lack of proper licensing, and lack of oversight make this program one to avoid.
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.  The HEAL Mission of COPE (HEAL) found in many cases where this offer has been abused or resulted in revealing additional basis for our concerns. For some examples see feedback.  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-lis/enrolled in the Conversion Program 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. 

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 https://www.cope.church/legalarguments.htm for more information.  Now, most facilities on our watch list include waivers, indemnity clauses, and sworn statements legal guardians must sign assuring the program that the parents/legal guardians 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 https://www.cope.church/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 "Emancipation Guide".
July 30th, 2020: Conversion Program Progress Report: Arivaca Boys Ranch

REPORTING GUIDE FOR VICTIMS, SURVIVORS, AND WHISTLEBLOWERS:
 
In Arizona, the criminal statutes of limitation are 1 year on misdemeanors, 7 years on most felonies, and no statute of limitations on more serious felonies including rape and murder.  For civil suits in Arizona, the statute of limitations is 2 years.  Here are your options:
 
1.  Report crimes such as fraud, assault, battery, labor trafficking, and child abuse to law enforcement in Arizona.  You can call the Pima County Sheriff at (520) 351-4900 to inquire about filing an official complaint which may provide the probable cause needed to get a warrant for investigation and/or prosecution. 
 
2.  File a consumer complaint with your home state's attorney general against Arivaca Boys Ranch and include your request for compensation for any harm done to you.  If your home state is Arizona or you'd like to file with the Arizona State Attorney General as a non-resident, here is that link: https://www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer 

3.  If you do not wish to file a consumer complaint, you can contact a private personal injury attorney and look into suing in tort/civil court.  However, if you can't afford the retainer, you should expect to settle out of court with a non-disclosure agreement which may bar you from speaking publicly about the incident because you've agreed (even if with a grumbling assent) to the terms of the settlement. 
 
4.  You may send a new e-mail to rev@cope.church with subject "Post My Feedback" and we will post your feedback (e-mail printed to .pdf disclosing your name and e-mail address and any information in your e-mail with that subject) to https://www.cope.church/feedback.htm  and add a direct link to those .pdf files to this page . 

 5. You may also wish to provide a guest sermon.  Guest sermons are posted at https://www.cope.church/sermons.htm , under Progress Reports/Guest Sermons at https://www.cope.church/conversion.htm where appropriate, and on program info pages when applicable.  So, one provided by you on your program would also be placed on this page .  Guest sermons should be written into the body of an e-mail and sent to rev@cope.church . Your first and last name will be disclosed (contact info will not be unless you expressly request disclosure).  For sermons available on our site see https://www.cope.church/sermons.htm  (and sermon archives linked on that page).  If you have questions about this option, please contact rev@cope.church. Please see https://www.cope.church/givetoday.pdf  to get an idea what your sermon may be worth.
 

 

 

 Last Updated: February 22nd, 2023

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