Aspen Education Group

Aspen Education Group

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Therapeutic services
Predecessor	College Health Enterprises (spin-off)
Founded	1997-12
Fate	Acquired by Bain Capital's CRC Health Group in November 2006
Headquarters	Cerritos, California , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Wilderness therapy, residential treatment, therapeutic boarding schools, weight management programs
Owner	Bain Capital (via CRC Health Group)
Parent	CRC Health Group

Aspen Education Group is a U.S.-based organization specializing in therapeutic services for teenagers and young adults. Their offerings encompass wilderness therapy initiatives, residential treatment facilities, therapeutic boarding schools, as well as weight management programs. Since November 2006, Aspen has been operating as a subsidiary of Bain Capital's CRC Health Group, with its headquarters situated in Cerritos, California.

History

Established in December 1997 as a spin-off from College Health Enterprises, Aspen Education Group, Inc. reported $28 million in annual revenue by 1998. That same year, significant ownership stakes were acquired by Sprout Group and Frazier Healthcare Ventures. In 2002, the company raised $15 million from Warburg Pincus alongside loans exceeding $48 million from CapitalSource and Caltius Mezzanine. Aspen anticipated generating $150 million in revenue by 2006. Later that year, Bain Capital purchased Aspen for $300 million. The company's financial model, which primarily depended on private payers rather than governmental funding, attracted private equity investors. Profit margins were estimated to range between 10% and 20% of revenues in 2005.

Around 2009, Aspen discontinued six of its programs. By March 2011, the company announced the closure of an additional five programs and the consolidation of three others, attributing these changes to diminished demand influenced by economic factors. Among the programs shuttered were Bromley Brook School, New Leaf Academy of Oregon, NorthStar Center, Aspen Ranch, and SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center. The Aspen Achievement Academy merged with Outback Therapeutic Expeditions; Youth Care of Utah integrated into Island View Residential Treatment Center; and Passages to Recovery was incorporated into the SUWS Adolescent Program to broaden its service offerings. In July 2013, Aspen terminated five more programs: Academy at Swift River, Stone Mountain School, Talisman Academy, Adirondack Leadership Expeditions, and SUWS Adolescent & Youth Programs of Idaho.

Active

The following active programs are presented below and can be sorted by name, category, or location. Most participate in the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), with several also affiliated with organizations such as the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camping.

Therapy Programs

Name	Type	Location	Description
Talisman Camps	Wilderness therapy	North Carolina	Seasonal camps designed for adolescents diagnosed with nonverbal learning disorder and autism spectrum conditions.
Turn-About Ranch	Residential treatment	Escalante, Utah	A brief coeducational therapeutic program grounded in Christian principles; licensed as a residential treatment center situated on an operational cattle ranch. Serves individuals aged 13 to 18.
Youth Care of Utah	Residential treatment	Draper, Utah	A residential treatment facility accommodating up to 45 youths aged 12–18; offers mental health and substance abuse evaluations. Academic instruction includes online coursework with BYU when eligible. Admission requires enrollment at least 90 days before the participant's 18th birthday.

Closed

... [Further entries continue with concise summaries emphasizing operational details and dates of termination] ... }

Controversies and criticisms

In 2005, Aspen Education Group encountered backlash concerning the substantial income generated by its offerings and accusations of taking advantage of vulnerable parents. Since that time, the Group has discontinued multiple programs due to difficulties in maintaining enrollment, including the shutdown of the Oakley School in 2017.

Allegations of mistreatment and harsh conditions within Aspen programs

In April 2014, a mother claimed that her teenage daughter was transported from Texas to a Utah facility likened to a "private prison," where she endured rigid controls and punitive tactics.

Earlier that year, in January 2014, a federal lawsuit was initiated against Aspen Education Group by a family alleging "slavery", "abuse", and "false imprisonment" after their daughter was placed at Aspen's Island View Residential Treatment Center following an appearance on the "Dr. Phil" television program. The complaint described serious mistreatment, including a broken arm resulting from staff intervention, along with alleged infringements on constitutional protections.

A 2012 lawsuit asserted that Aspen’s Turn About Ranch inflicted torture-like treatment on a 15-year-old girl, involving stress positions and public humiliation; however, the case was dismissed in 2013 due to the statute of limitations.

In 2011, Aspen and CRC Health Group faced legal action accusing them of negligence connected to sexual misconduct by an instructor at Bromley Brook School. The plaintiffs cited breaches of the Americans with Disabilities Act and pursued both compensatory and punitive damages; this matter was resolved through settlement in 2012.

Lawsuits filed in 2010 alleged sexual assault occurrences at Aspen's Cedars Academy as well as inappropriate staff relationships at Aspen Ranch.

In 2009, neglect at Aspen’s SageWalk wilderness program led to the death of Sergey Blashchishen, aged 16, from heatstroke; staff reportedly delayed emergency intervention, prompting an investigation into negligent homicide.

That same year, Oregon officials shut down two Aspen-operated adolescent programs after uncovering nine abuse allegations at Mount Bachelor Academy, including forced "sexualized role play." Following legal pressure from the facility, language in the official report was softened. Former students subsequently filed lawsuits totaling over $60 million combined for claims including emotional distress, battery, breach of contract, and negligence. Aspen has expressed its intent to robustly contest these allegations.

In 2008, Steven Peters, a teacher at Bromley Brook School, pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a minor after engaging in an improper relationship with a student.

In 2004, Aspen’s Lone State Expeditions wilderness program was linked to the death of 14-year-old Matthew Meyer caused by hyperthermia during a hiking trip. Staff reportedly misinterpreted his symptoms as anxiety attacks and delayed medical assistance. After extended litigation, Aspen reached a settlement regarding the wrongful death claim associated with this tragedy.

Pricing

Aspen’s programs range in cost from $200 to $500 daily, amounting to roughly $73,000 to $182,000 annually, depending on treatment duration which can last from one month up to two years. These significant fees frequently generate financial concerns among those responsible for covering treatment expenses.

Misleading promotional methods

Educational advisor Tom Croke has voiced strong criticism regarding Aspen's promotional strategies and the abrupt termination of programs, which negatively impacted student support services. In a 2010 blog entry, he conveyed serious concerns about recommending Aspen to clients due to staff reductions and unexpected closures. Although Aspen demonstrated better efforts to manage transitions during the 2011 program shutdowns, by 2014 Croke remained doubtful and advised families to avoid enrollment unless there were contractual financial safeguards protecting against early program discontinuation. He also emphasized that institutions no longer under Aspen’s ownership should not be evaluated based on the Aspen brand.

The Wellspring diet initiative, once part of Aspen but now under RiverMend’s ownership, has attracted criticism from some quarters regarding its methodology.

Lack of rigorous scientific backing and questionable results in Aspen Education Group’s treatment programs

Two studies commonly referenced in Aspen’s promotional materials are the "Report of Findings from a Multi-Center Study of Youth Outcomes in Private Residential Treatment" (August 2006) and "A Multi-Center, Longitudinal Study of Youth Outcomes in Private Residential Treatment Programs" (April 2007; with summaries used in marketing). A notable conflict of interest arises because Aspen both financed these investigations and owns the evaluated programs.

Media coverage and cultural references

Various programs operated by Aspen Education Group have been highlighted in media outlets:

• The UK’s Sunday Mirror covered a teenage girl’s journey at Aspen Achievement Academy.
• The British television show "I Know What You Ate Last Summer" followed six obese teenagers attending Wellspring in California.
• The 2005 documentary Britain's Youngest Boozers featured Aspen’s SUWS of the Carolinas.
• Turn About Ranch appeared in the second season of the UK version of Brat Camp.
• Aspen programs have been showcased multiple times on the US Dr. Phil program.
• Passages to Recovery and NorthStar Center were profiled on A&E’s documentary series Intervention.
• Utah NPR referred to Aspen Education Group’s offerings as part of a "carousel of treatment," amid protests from survivors opposing troubled teen facilities.

External links

• Archived site of Aspen Education Group

Discontinued/Former Programs
Program Name	Location	Overview	Date of Closure
Academy at Swift River	Cummington, Massachusetts	Therapeutic boarding school with coeducational college preparatory curriculum for adolescents between 14 and 17½ years old.	Date unknown
Adirondack Leadership Expeditions	Saranac Lake, New York	Wilderness-based program focused on character development for at-risk teenagers; typical enrollment lasted approximately 45 days.	Ceased operations September 2013.
Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment	Syracuse, Utah	Conducted behavioral assessments to guide intervention and treatment strategies for troubled youth.	Transitioned to independent ownership as ViewPoint Center in May 2014.
Aspen Achievement Academy	Southern Utah	Program for adolescents aged 13 to 17 with a minimum duration of 35 days.	Merged into Outback Therapeutic Expeditions in March 2011.
Aspen Ranch	Loa, Utah	Equine-assisted therapy program serving adolescents aged 13 to 17½; program lengths ranged from nine months to two years.	Closure announced March 2011.
Bromley Brook School	Manchester Center, Vermont	Residential school exclusively for girls ages 14 through 18.	Announced closure March 2011.
Camp Huntington	High Falls, New York	Coeducational summer residential camps designed for children with special needs, including those on the autism spectrum.	Closed August 2021; property acquired by Camp Migdal in July 2022.
Cedars Academy	Bridgeville, Delaware	Residential school specializing in supporting students with Asperger syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorder aged 11 to 18; included a young adult transitional program (ages 18–21) located off-campus.	Closed August 2009.
Copper Canyon Academy	Rimrock, Arizona	Therapeutic boarding school for girls aged 13 to 17 featuring a structured environment; acquired by Aspen Education in 2002.	Closed April 2014.
Excel Academy	Conroe, Texas	Coeducational boarding institution serving grades nine through twelve.	Closed November 2008.
Four Circles Recovery Center	Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina	Wilderness treatment center targeting young adults aged 18 to 28 with substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges; combined counseling, outdoor experiences, and a twelve-step approach.	Discontinued operations in 2018; ceased new admissions.
Island View Residential Treatment Center	Syracuse, Utah	Provided both academic and therapeutic services for adolescents aged 13 to 18; held multiple educational accreditations. Enrollment required six months prior to the individual turning eighteen.	Became independently operated and rebranded as Elevations RTC in 2014.
Lone Star Expeditions	Davy Crockett National Forest	Wilderness intervention program serving youth ages 13 to 17 and their families.	Closed April 6, 2009.