The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

WWASPS students were disciplined in this HOBBIT room in their U.S. program. The New York Times cover story today had the headline above! Over a decade later and these programs are still in operation.  Sure, some name changes - and shift around some people, but it is still the same from what I am reading. It's not a secret, my family was a victim of the teen help industry. We struggled with a teenager that was a good teen making some bad choices - we needed help.  But did that mean we needed to be duped?  Why do people prey on the weak?  I am not concerned about that right now. Fact is, yes, some teens and families need help and we believe in that - as does my daughter. Our story has been well documented both online and published by Health Communications, Inc (HCI).  What many can't comprehend is how the people and programs that harmed our family and my daughter - as well has hundreds (if not thousands of others) is still in operation? I...

Why change your name all the time? What are you hiding from? Seneca Ranch Second Chance Youth Ranch Carolina Springs Academy Magnolia Christian Academy Next...... If a t first you don't succeed.....  Are you at your wit's end with your at-risk teenager?  Surfing the Internet and tired of all t he marke ting ploys you are finding? Before you make your plu nge , take 5 minutes to rea d my s tory - www. aparentstruestory.com - I was once in your shoes.     I get it, we need help, your teen needs help.  There are excellent re sources out there.  However when a p rogram is consta ntly changing their name, what are they running from?   Th ink about it--- do you really want to trust your child with p eople are always changing their name? Be an educated parent.  Get yo ur teen help.  Do your research.   This is only my opinion - based on my firsthand experiences.  Parents are feel to do what they feel is best f...

Searching online for help for your troubled teen? Maybe they are not troubled, they have always been a good kid, but now they are making some really bad choices - hanging with the less than positive influences - smoking some pot (not to mention the cigarettes) - drinking - and starting to fail in school. We have even watched our teen drift away from the things they used to love such as sports, dance, music, hobbies, etc. Defiance, lack of respect, underachieving, withdrawing from family activities, and simply a child you no longer recognize - where did your happy toddler go? This scenario is very common, it happened to me over a decade ago - and is the reason I created my organization - Parents' Universal Resource Experts . I don't want to rehash my story here, you can read it on www.aparentstruestory.com or in my books Wit's End! Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out of Control Teen . I want to help you a bit as you are searching the Internet for help for...

Recently it was brought to my attention from a parent that I helped several years ago, she was reading a series of articles on abuse and neglect that happens in residential programs for teens and kids. We are in 2012 - a time when you would think that transparency of all schools and programs should be a given.  Unfortunately, like I also learned the hard way, when it comes to the big business of "teen help" and parents are at their wit's end - they can fall prey to most anything that sounds like relief. This is one of the reasons I created my organization, Parents' Universal Resource Experts, Inc (P.U.R.E.)  I felt there wasn't any place I could turn that could give me reliable information.  PURE helps educate parents and gives them insights to a very daunting industry.  Though you initially think you are looking for a boot camp type environment (thinking you want to teach your child a lesson) you will soon realize that your teen is crying out for help....

After 12 years, my organization has been recognized for helping literally thousands of parents and families with their tweens, teens and young adults. Recently I was interviewed by Career Thoughts . Parents' Universal Resource Experts, Inc was created after I was duped online by trying to get my own daughter help.  I was a parent at my wit's end .  I was vulnerable - I was scammed - and my daughter suffered the consequences. Many people have asked about her, and she is now a grown woman, successful in her career and has two children of her own.  We have overcome the hurdles - not because of the horrific program she went to, but in spite of it - and because of the fantastic help we found after it to help de-programize her from the damage they did to her. I always share with parents to learn from my mistake and gain from my knowledge.  That is the biggest gift I can give. Enjoy this article -click here .  

Not able to recognize your teen anymore? Are you considering residential therapy for your teen, and recognize those program names? Stop and read on.... You find yourself surfing the net.  Your once happy baby, turned toddler progressed into elementary school then suddenly hit adolescence and something changed.  But what was it? After all, your teen is smart, they are good looking, usually very athletic, capable of getting A's yet bringing home C's, you are getting reports that they are skipping classes, if they aren't skipping school all together - then you suddenly see a shift in their choice of friends.... what is going on? Some parents will think - typical teen - maybe it is.  However when do you know when it is time to intervene?  It always it!  It is a parent's responsibility to know when safety trumps privacy. Keeping the lines of communication open, even when your teen clams up.  It isn't easy, but talking is your road to finding out what ...

This is  big decision, take your time! Are you confused yet? Looking for teen help and realizing this is a BIG BUSINESS? So, your teen is driving your crazy.  You are at your wit's end . You have finally decided you need outside help. You have exhausted all your local resources.  Local therapy doesn't help, heck, you can't even get your teen to attend.  Your teen is failing in school, he/she is very smart yet doesn't want to attend school and believe they know it all.  Many say, " typical teen ", but as a parent, we know it is more than that. Where did our good kid go?  Good kids making bad choices - and they don't need to be placed in an environment that will make them worse in my opinion - learn from what happened to me! As a victim of the WWASPS organization - I am often called or receive many emails about our (my daughter and I) experiences with them.  Obviously not pleasant.  Though I am happy to say the program she wa...

Do your research when looking for help Since my story broke in 2001 - the stories have not stopped with allegations of abuse, neglect, fraud etc.   How many lawsuits have been settled with confidentiality statements and a check?  I have heard of many.  I have seen the settlement agreements.  I was not one of those parents - I was able to fight legally and defeated them at a jury trial!  In Salt Lake City - a city of their peers - no one condones child abuse. They couldn't defeat me legally - so they took to the Internet - helping to create and instigate slime, lies, defamation and more against myself and my family as well as my organization .  Although they weren't directly named in my lawsuit for Internet defamation and Invasion of Privacy, discovery proved their name came up more times than they wanted - I am sure.  Not to mention the defendant was given WWASPS attorney's to defend her.  Yes, the web of lies and deceit never ends.  ...

My experiences with WWASPS SCAMS? FRAUD? ABUSE?  If you read my Blogs, most know my story.  From the time my daughter turned 14 and started giving me a handful of troubles, to finding a so-called  teen-help program that make me a lot of promises.  Not only were the promises broken, my daughter endured abuse both physically (being placed in a box for 17 hours), sleeping in sewage and other indescribable things - forced me into starting a crusade (as some have put it) to let parents that are desperate know more about this big business of "teen help". Here we are - almost a decade later, and the program that harmed my daughter (did I mention I defeated them in a jury trial?) is finally closed.  Carolina Springs Academy also known recently as Magnolia Christian School (both affiliated with WWASPS) closed their doors.  Hopefully it is for good.  However, that didn't stop the owners, Lichfield brothers , from going abroad. The recent news from T...

With the recent closing of Magnolia Christian School , which was formerly Carolina Springs Academy , it seems that World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) is slowly decreasing in size.  Is it the economy or the fact that there are many disturbing stories out there, as well as successful lawsuits such as mine .  Currently I believe Red River Academy is their East Coast/Central States main program as Horizon Academy and Cross Creek are on the West Coast. Are you considering residential therapy ?  Are you are your wit's end with your teenager?  Researching these programs and schools can be a daunting experience.  Glowing websites and slick sales reps at many toll free numbers - how do you know who to trust? I can't answer that except to say to remember, your child is not for sale. You will know in your gut if someone is being sincere or simply doing their job. I am considered a disgruntled parent by WWASPS, and I will accept th...

This week I have received numerous emails from parents, grandparents, relatives and others about the closing of Magnolia Christian Academy, formerly Carolina Springs Academy in Due West, SC. Whether is was pressure from the Attorney Generals office or the bad economy, it is my opinion this has been a long time coming and thankfully kids will not be subjected to what my daughter endured there.  It is all well documented in Wit's End , as well as trial transcripts.  Those sales reps (marketing arms) such as Help my teen or Teens in Crisis - (Lisa Irvin or Jane Hawley and the sales people that work for them) will continue to say I am a disgruntled parent - yes, I am, they abused my daughter - or they tell parents I own - operate - manage - my own schools (I don't) to  excuse my experiences. Now they have a few others programs to market - and I understand that Red River Academy or Horizon Academy is the latest one that people are sharing with me.  Are you considerin...

Are you considering residential therapy for your teenager?  Do you have a good teen making bad choices? Are you surfing the Internet, totally confused by all those toll free numbers, marketing arms, and sales reps? Are you totally at your wit's end ??? As  responsible parent, we need to get our teen help, however we also need to stop, think, research and consider what is best for your individual teen.  Many years ago, I struggled with my own teen daughter and her unacceptable behavior and needed outside help.  My story has made headlines - and also lead to a book - Wit's End ! that has helped many parents when they are about to make a major decision. I was sucked in by a group that told me all I "needed" to hear - and delivered on just about zero of it. Learn from my mistakes - gain from my knowledge .  If you are considering any of the above referenced "teen-help" programs (in the title) or marketing arms - take your time - do your research ...

Are you a parent with an at risk teen, considering a residential treatment center? Maybe a therapeutic boarding school? Do you have a good kid that is making some not so good choices? Are you at your wit's end? Please read my earlier post on a variety of programs including CrossCreekAcademy . ALERT for parents - especially at your wit's end.

Are you a parent with an at risk teen, considering a residential treatment center? Maybe a therapeutic boarding school? Do you have a good kid that is making some not so good choices? Are you at your wit's end? Please read my earlier post on a variety of programs including RedRiverAcademy . ALERT for parents - especially at your wit's end.

Are you a parent with an at risk teen, considering a residential treatment center? Maybe a therapeutic boarding school? Do you have a good kid that is making some not so good choices? Are you at your wit's end? Please read my earlier post on a variety of programs including Horizon Academy . ALERT for parents - especially at your wit's end.

Are you a parent and your teen is escalating in negative behavior ? Wanting to drop out of school? Using drugs ? Running away ? Defiant and disrepectful ? Struggling with peer pressure and simply not the child you raised? Are you at your wit’s end? Especially if your teen is nearing 17 years old, don’t waste time in finding help. For many that have read my book - Wit’s End ! (Published by Health Communications Inc .) - which give my experiences with WWASPS and my daughters experiences with Carolina Springs Academy , it is a wake up call for all parents that are at their wit’s end and desperately looking for help for their struggling teenager. Are you worried or concerned about your teens recent behavior? Do you believe it is time for outside help? Local therapy is not working? Visit my organization, Parents Universal Resource Experts, that I created to help educate you on researching for safe and quality alternatives for your family. Are you considering these p...

Are you considering any of the following programs for your child? Take a moment to read my experiences - http://www.aparentstruestory.com/ as well as my book where you can hear my daughter's experiences for the first time - order today at http://www.witsendbook.com/ . Choosing a program is not only a huge emotional decision, it is a major financial decision - do your homework! Learn from my mistakes - Gain from my knowledge! Academy of Ivy Ridge, NY (withdrew their affiliation with WWASPS) Ally Schools - Marketing Arm - Jane Hawley 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 Help My Teen, UT (Adolescent Services Adolescent Placement) Promotes and markets these programs. Gulf Coast Academy, MS Horizon Academy, NV Lisa Irvin (Helpmyteen) Lifelines Family Services, UT (Promotes and markets these programs) Jane Hawley Mark Peterson - Teen Help Marketing Arm Majestic Ranc...