|
|
A Parent's True Story
Deception, Misrepresentation & Fraud
By Sue Scheff, Weston, FL
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 Magnolia Christian School
formerly 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 Magnolia Christian School formerly 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 November 2011 it is believed that WWASPS or Premier Educational Systems
LLC has affiliations with the following:
Academy of Ivy Ridge, NY (CLOSED)
Bell Academy, CA (CLOSED)
Canyon View Park, MT
Camas Ranch, MT
Carolina Springs Academy, SC (License revoked, re-opened as Magnolia Hills
Christian, now CLOSED)
Casa By the Sea, Mexico (CLOSED)
Cross Creek Programs, UT (Cross Creek Center for Boys and Cross Creek Manor
for Girls)
Darrington Academy, GA (CLOSED)
Discovery - Mexico
El Dorado, Costa Rica - 90 Day Boot Camp
Help My Teen, UT (Adolescent Services Adolescent Placement) Promotes and markets
these programs.
Gulf Coast Academy, MS (CLOSED)
Horizon Academy, NV
Jane Hawley - Lifelines Family Services
Kathy Allred - Lifelines Sales Representative
Lisa Irvin - Helpmyteen and Teens in Crisis (Will use Lisa Irvine at times
too)
Lifelines Family Services, UT (Promotes and markets these programs) Jane Hawley
Magnolia Christian School, SC - (CLOSED)
Mark Peterson - Teen Help Sales Representative
Majestic Ranch, UT
MENTOR School, Costa Rica (CLOSED)
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)
Respect Academy, NV
Royal Gorge Academy, CO (CLOSED)
Sherri Schwartzman - Lifelines Sales Representative
Sky View Academy, NV (allegedly closed?)
Spring Creek Lodge, MT (CLOSED) Rumors they have re-opened in another location
of MT.
Sunset Bay Academy, CA
Teen Help, UT (Promotes and markets these programs)
Teens In Crisis - Lisa Irvin
Tranquility Bay, Jamaica (CLOSED)
Sunset Bay Academy, Oceanside, CA - rumors of short term program there Are you considering any of the above programs or working with the marketing
arms? Don't forget to consider the current lawsuit (September 2011) against
this large organization with over 500 plaintiffs of allegations of abuse, neglect,
fraud and more. Click
here for the details.
In addition to defeating WWASPS in a jury trial in Utah, P.U.R.E. and founder
Sue Scheff won an unprecedented $11.3 million jury verdict for Internet defamation.
Despite being vindicated at a jury trial for damages in September 2006, many
of the attacks on Sue Scheff and P.U.R.E. continue out of malice and spite.
It seems when you can't defeat someone legally, many are taking their revenge
online. WWASPS continues to consider Scheff a disgruntled parent, and she is
the first one to agree. However she has also decided to move forward from it
and help others from making her same mistake.
|
