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Deception, Misrepresentation & Fraud
By Sue Scheff, Weston, FL
By Sue Scheff™, Weston, FL
sue.s [at] helpyourteens.com
After experiencing my good teen making some bad choices, I found myself
on the Internet surfing until I was so confused and stressed I couldn't
make any decision. One group of specialty schools and behavior
modification programs kept popping up wherever I clicked; I figured they
must be good. Then I received their beautiful glossy literature with a
video that could make any parent weep (I actually received 4 packets of
the same material)! The cost was reasonable in comparison with other
programs, or so I thought until I enrolled my child. The hidden costs
added up like a grocery bill. I was totally misled by my rash decision.
This is a common mistake when parents are placed in a desperate
situation and a swift sales rep is waiting for you; answering every
question the way you want to hear it and making promises that convince
you that they can help your child.
My true nightmare was just beginning.
Impressed by the fancy words and glossy brochures, I enrolled my child
with the understanding that they were qualified help. I am ashamed to
say, I never did a background check on these programs. I had called
their parent references that they gave me (and later found out they were
paid to talk to me, some actually receiving a free month’s tuition). I
know many of you are thinking I must have been nuts, and you are right.
While in this stage of my life, I was in a total frenzy. I truthfully
just wanted help for my child and thought for the money I was paying, it
must be good.
Long story short, my frenzy and desperation was my biggest mistake I
made. This was not what they sold me. It was more of a warehousing of
teens program. I was looking for therapy and internalization through the
help of professionals. I believe if you take a negative child, and put
them in a negative environment, it builds resentment and anger.
Literally, this is what I had done. I had no idea as to what I did.
Fraud, misrepresentation, combined with a vulnerable parent can lead to
danger for a child in my opinion.
I attempted using the so-called Independent Educational Consultant that
immediately wanted a check for $350.00 just to talk to me. They claimed
they could help me (without even knowing my daughter) for about another
$3000.00 or more.
It was a couple of months later, after I attended some very bizarre
seminars that were mandated in order to visit your child that I realized
I had made a big mistake. I wrote my withdrawal letter immediately after
the second seminar. Actually, in retrospect, red flags went up shortly
after I dropped my child off and I asked who the psychologist would be,
and guess what, there was none, unless I wanted to pay extra! So who led
the group therapy they raved about? There was no group therapy, there
was a person who sat in a circle with them as they reflected, which was
usually another student. I would have hired their psychologist for
another $100 per visit, but why? We could have done that at home. Their
sales reps told me that there was a licensed therapist "on staff and on
site". I should have pulled my child then, however I thought I was
over-reacting since I was in such confusion and frenzy. The staff was
very good at convincing me to "trust the program" instead of addressing
my concerns.
During my child’s entire stay of almost 6 months, I was never allowed to
speak with my child. I only spoke with an employee once a week for about
15 minutes (In my further research, these employees had no credentials
and many didn’t have education beyond High School including the
President of the Organization). My child wrote me letters: some good,
some bad. The good ones were considered manipulation; the bad ones were
considered proof that they needed to stay longer. I couldn't win and
neither could my child.
After observing and listening to some of the other teens there and their
families, I realized it was all very strange. Some of these kids were
there for well over a year and the families were so deep into this
program, it was sickening and sad. The support group meetings were like
a Stepford Family Reunion, with a leader making her financial profits.
These poor kids just wanted to be loved and held by their parents, who
couldn’t be there. I later found out it usually takes up to 6 months to
speak with your child, and in most cases up to a year to see them.
Although they sell you another story, the truth be known, most take 2-3
years to graduation. Recently I understand a law was passed that
mandates you can see your child after 3 months. I am not sure if this
group of programs is abiding by this new regulation; however, it is in
place.
I brought my child home and
when she felt confident I wouldn’t send her back, I heard some
unspeakable stories. The stories were very consistent with many others I
was hearing and reading about. My child went immediately into real
counseling where, after almost two years, we are recovering from this
traumatic experience in our lives. My child was suffering from
depression and nightmares from the stay at Carolina Springs Academy. The
fear of being sent back, had created suicidal thoughts, however the
excellent psychologist helped my child through this horrible post
experience of WWASP. I have heard from many other post-WWASP students
and families suffering from the same symptoms, which is very sad.
I firmly believe, until you walk the shoes as a parent of a teen, you
really don't know the feeling of hopelessness. I have been there and I
have survived and learned from it. I believe in sharing my knowledge of
this, very political, industry with as many families as possible. It is
very scary to know that even Independent Educational Consultants (that
are supposed to be professionals) have no state or government
regulations. In other words, anyone can state they are Educational
Consultants. This combined with the misrepresentation of schools and
programs, is very frightening and costly in many ways.
Our experiences occurred with Carolina Springs Academy, one of
many of their programs that are part of the World Wide Association of
Specialty Programs (WWASP aka WWASPS aka Premier Educational
Systems). Some of the program names are: Cross Creek Manor - UT, Cross
Creek Center - UT, Spring Creek Lodge - MT, Tranquility Bay - Jamaica,
Casa By The Sea (closed due to allegations of neglect and abuse),
Academy at Dundee Ranch (raided and closed), Academy at Ivy Ridge - NY
(accreditation suspended in April 2004; 2005 State Attorney General
Spitzer made Ivy Ridge pay approx. $1.65 Millions Dollars in fines and
to parents for Educational Fraud), Majestic Ranch - UT, Pacific View,
Midwest Academy - IA, Paradise Cove (closed due to allegations of
neglect and abuse), Morava Academy (closed due to allegations of neglect
and abuse), Darrington Academy - GA, and Horizon's Academy - NV. I feel
all of their programs are simply boot camps that claim internalization;
however, lack it tremendously. Their specialty is cash cropping
children; marketing and using a child are part of their strategy. They
are, in my opinion, a children’s warehouse and a parents’ escape from
their desperate situation. Their deluxe *Marketing and Pyramid skills
seems to be what they specialize in.
In many parents and professionals’ opinions, the fine line of their
cult-like program is enough to destroy many families and children, as we
have many testimonials to. (Please review some of our Informational
Articles for more true stories). I am speaking from experience. I used
to sell their program and market their schools to gain free months’
tuition. Yes, whenever you refer a family, you would get a free month!
What a concept, and I fell for it! Being involved in selling the program
controls your mind in the consistency of how great they are when in
reality, you have not even spoken to your child. I had no idea how the
program was working; I was just trained to sell like a good follower.
There are many followers of this program who have become programized.
There is many like myself, and more waking up daily. Dateline,
Primetime, 48 Hours & Inside Edition has done segments on this
organization that paint the same picture of negative experiences. There
are many newspaper and magazine articles (including People, Forbes, New
York Times, LA Times, News Day, Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, Guardian,
Jamaican Observer, YM Magazine, Salon, Time Magazine, Spin, etc.) and
lawsuits pending against WWASP that they are struggling to keep silent.
Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. Why take a chance with your
child?
Many wonder why they are allowed to continue, it is simple, money and
plenty of it. Money is usually the root of evil, and it seems obvious
with this. I am a firm believer that one day WWASP aka WWASPS aka
Premier Educational Systems will be held accountable for their actions.
The day will come that many truths will be exposed. For the sake of the
silent cries of the children, the sooner the better.
First Lawsuit WON Against WWASP:
P.U.R.E.™ is proud to have defeated WWASP (click here to learn more
about this victory) as they attempted to silence P.U.R.E.™ and myself.
Please note that we won in their state of Utah. I believe this is the
first of many wins. Additionally, in June of 2006, P.U.R.E. went on
to defeat WWASP in the Federal Supreme Court of Appeals.
I hope my experiences have saved parents from making the mistake I made
in desperation. I am sharing my personal experiences to create awareness
about the misrepresentation and fraud I endured. This story was not
written out of malice against WWASP (World Wide Association of
Specialty Programs), it was written for the principle and morals that
they lacked. I think they call it "Accountability." I am accountable
for what I have written as being the truth as I experienced it.
*As a footnote for their Marketing, when I was searching, I was
recruited by a Miami based parent that has made a mission (in many
peoples’ opinions) of building this pyramid for WWASP. Although she
claimed she had no financial gain from this, we have further learned
that she collects large sums of money for her involvement with WWASP.
Although she states she makes her income from her Title Company, it was
discovered that she was arrested in February 2002 on charges of
illegally diverting nearly $6 million in trust money through a variety
of schemes. Lynn Pretzfeld, of Miami Florida, was charged with
conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft.
According to the Florida Department of Insurance, the now closed Title
Examiners Inc. diverted money into personal accounts from escrow
accounts.
UPDATE - According to public record, on June 3, 2003, Lynn Pretzfeld is
now a Convicted Felon and on 10 years probation as well as paying
restitution.
Case #F02003735B (Click here to view PDF file)
Please note that WWASP seems to make it a habit to change their names.
When I was involved, it was WWASP. A couple years ago, it became WWASPS
(with an "s") and presently we understand they are opening under Premier
Educational Systems. I assume when parents do Search Engine research, it
eliminates any bad press that may be associated with previous names.
This is just an opinion. If you have nothing to hide, why the constant
name changes?
As of May 2006, it is believed that WWASP aka WWASPS or Premier
Educational Systems has affiliations with the following:
Academy of Ivy Ridge, NY (Recently withdrew their affiliation
with WWASPS)
Canyon View Park, MT
Camas Ranch, MT
Carolina Springs Academy, SC
Cross Creek Programs, UT (Cross Creek Center and Cross Creek
Manor)
Darrington Academy, GA
Gulf Coast Academy, MS
Help My Teen, UT (Adolescent Services Adolescent Placement)
Promotes and markets these programs. Lisa Irvin
Horizon Academy, NV
Lifelines Family Services, UT (Promotes and markets these
programs) Jane Hawley
Majestic Ranch, UT
Midwest Academy, IA (Brian Viafanua, formerly the Director of
Paradise Cove as shown on Primetime, is the current Director here)
Parent Teen Guide (Promotes and markets these programs)
Pillars of Hope, Costa Rica
Pine View Christian Academy (Borders FL, AL, MS)
Reality Trek, UT
Red River Academy, LA (Borders TX)
Royal Gorge Academy, CO (It is believed that Randall Hinton - who
admitted using pepper spray on teens - is employed at this facility and
recently arrested).
Sky View Academy, NV
Spring Creek Lodge, MT
Teen Help, UT (Promotes and markets these programs)
Tranquility Bay, Jamaica
In addition to the legal battle
with WWASP, P.U.R.E. and founder Sue Scheff won an unprecedented $11.2
million jury verdict for Internet defamation. Despite
being vindicated, many of the attacts on P.U.R.E. continue out of
malice and spite.
NEW Click here for update on Sue
Scheff
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