This is a  staff list for Cottonwood Youth Academy in Salt Lake City, UT

(a.k.a. Cottonwood Treatment Center, Universal Health Services (UHS))

(we are working to acquire the complete records for ALL years)

 

THIS PROGRAM IS CLOSED.

 

We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at Cottonwood Youth Academy.  For information on your rights and how to take action, visit www.heal-online.org/blowthewhistle.htm.  If you were fired or forced to resign because you opposed any illegal and/or unethical practices at Cottonwood Youth Academy, you have the right to take action. 

 

If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Cottonwood Youth Academy, please contact [email protected] if you remember the long-term employees and from which years.  This will help!   Also, if you recognize any of these staff as having worked at another program, please send in any information about their past or present employment at other facilities and/or cults.

 

Please don’t place your loved one in Cottonwood Youth Academy and rescue them if they are there now.

 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Brad Gerrard CEO Formerly (possibly current)  COO of notoriously abusive Provo Canyon School.  And, owner of Academy at Canyon Creek.  Gerrard is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jennifer Moorhead Clinical Director Moorhead is licensed solely as a mental health counselor in UT.  She has been licensed in UT since 2006.  Source:  https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Damon Garner Human Resources Garner is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Zoe Robbins Nurse Robbins is a licensed nurse in Utah and has been since 2008.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Dale Keller Nurse Keller is a licensed nurse in Utah and has been since 2005.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Signe Evans Risk Manager Evans is licensed solely as a Recreational Therapist and has been since 1989.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ross Poore Principal Poore is a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education E-mail Message.
Shanna James Records James is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tiffany James Payroll James is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Alicia Wallenberg Billing HEAL does not verify professional licensure for office, janitorial, nor food preparation staff.
Jennifer Dees Billing Dees no longer appears to be working for this facility.  HEAL does not verify professional licensure for office, janitorial, nor food preparation staff.
Steve Alonge Business Development Alonge is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Angela Webb Referral Development HEAL requires Webb's full legal name (first, middle, and last) to verify whether or not Webb holds any professional licenses in Utah.
Jessica VanDenBerghe Admissions VanDenBerghe is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Steve Havertz Interim CEO Havertz is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jill Spencer Exec. Asst. HEAL does not verify professional licensure for office, janitorial, nor food preparation staff.
Terrance "TJ" O'Reilly Director of Nursing O'Reilly is a licensed registered nurse in Utah and has been since April, 2013.  Being licensed only for such a short time brings into question his qualifications to be director of nursing.  In addition, his license is only valid in Utah and not recognized by other States.  This is a red flag. 

Name: TERRANCE JOSEPH O'REILLY
City, State, Zip, Country: CASPER, WY 82609, UNITED STATES
Profession: NURSE
License Type: REGISTERED NURSE
  VALID IN UTAH ONLY
License Number: 8612681-3102
Obtained By: ENDORSEMENT
License Status: ACTIVE
Original Issue Date: 04/15/2013
Expiration Date: 01/31/2015
Agency and Disciplinary Action*: NONE
Docket Number: N/A

Education:

School Name Major Graduation Date Degree
CASPER COLLEGE NURSING 2011-05-13 ASSOCIATE DEGREE


Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Naomia M. Bell Director of Intake Bell is a licensed counselor in UT.  But, earned her degree from the University of Phoenix.  She has been licensed since 2002. 

"The Justice Department announced today that the University of Phoenix has agreed to pay the United States $67.5 million to resolve allegations that its student recruitment policies violated the False Claims Act.  This case began as a whistleblower action filed in the Eastern District of California under the False Claims Act, which permits private citizens to bring lawsuits for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Whistleblowers Mary Hendow and Julie Behn, two former University of Phoenix employees, alleged that the university accepted federal student financial aid while in violation of statutory and regulatory provisions prohibiting post-secondary schools from paying admissions counselors certain forms of incentive-based compensation tied to the number of students recruited. Though the United States did not intervene in this action, the Government provided support and assistance to the whistleblowers at many stages of the case, including filing friend-of-the-court briefs when the case was on appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The two whistleblowers will receive $19 million from the settlement."

The University of Phoenix does not have the specialized accreditation necessary for degrees in psychology.  (Source: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx)   It is accredited for teaching and nursing degrees.
William Shields Education Director Shields is a licensed educator in UT.  Source: Utah State Office of Education E-mail Message.
Candace Lopez Clinical Marketing Lopez is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Patricia Martinez Dir. of Bus. Dev. HEAL requires Martinez's full name (first, middle, and last) in order to verify whether or not Martinez holds any professional licenses in Utah.
Sean Ponce Executive Medical Director Ponce is a licensed medical doctor and has been since 2001 in Utah. Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Dr. Gerald Lazar Psychiatrist Lazar is a licensed medical doctor and has been since 1986 in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tracey M. Tranter Nurse Tranter is a licensed nurse who has been licensed only since May 16th, 2014.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Jeri L. Melton Nurse Melton is a licensed nurse who has been licensed only since May 12th, 2014.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Maren Ernstrom Counselor Ernstrom is a licensed clinical mental health counselor.  However, Ernstrom has only been licensed since February, 2014 and earned her degree from the University of Phoenix.

"The Justice Department announced today that the University of Phoenix has agreed to pay the United States $67.5 million to resolve allegations that its student recruitment policies violated the False Claims Act.  This case began as a whistleblower action filed in the Eastern District of California under the False Claims Act, which permits private citizens to bring lawsuits for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Whistleblowers Mary Hendow and Julie Behn, two former University of Phoenix employees, alleged that the university accepted federal student financial aid while in violation of statutory and regulatory provisions prohibiting post-secondary schools from paying admissions counselors certain forms of incentive-based compensation tied to the number of students recruited. Though the United States did not intervene in this action, the Government provided support and assistance to the whistleblowers at many stages of the case, including filing friend-of-the-court briefs when the case was on appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The two whistleblowers will receive $19 million from the settlement."

The University of Phoenix does not have the specialized accreditation necessary for degrees in psychology.  (Source: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx)   It is accredited for teaching and nursing degrees.


Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Tami Eller Counselor Eller is a licensed counselor in UT, but, has only been a licensed counselor since October, 2013.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
M. Brian Anderson Social Worker There is a Mark Brian Anderson (may be a different person) that is a licensed social worker in UT.  This person has only been licensed since May 17th, 2012.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Benson March Counselor March is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Amber Moldonado Counselor Moldonado is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Shameka Garner Clinical Trainer Garner is not a licensed mental health nor medical professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html   How is someone with no professional licenses at all in charge of training clinical service providers?
Jackie Rodat Therapist Rodat is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been in Utah since 1999.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kim Reade Counselor Kimberly Ann Reade (may be a different person) is a licensed counselor in UT and has been since October, 2007.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Wakely Chee Social Worker Chee is a licensed clinical social worker in UT and has been since 2008.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Natasha Eldridge Recreation Director Eldridge is a licensed recreational therapist in UT and has been since March, 2013.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Cindy Rogers Occupational Therapist HEAL requires Rogers' full name (first, middle, and last) to verify whether or not Rogers holds any professional licenses in UT.
Janice Gordon-White Counselor Gordon-White is a licensed counselor in UT and has been since 2004.  However, Gordon-White earned her degree from the University of Phoenix.  (Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html )

"The Justice Department announced today that the University of Phoenix has agreed to pay the United States $67.5 million to resolve allegations that its student recruitment policies violated the False Claims Act.  This case began as a whistleblower action filed in the Eastern District of California under the False Claims Act, which permits private citizens to bring lawsuits for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Whistleblowers Mary Hendow and Julie Behn, two former University of Phoenix employees, alleged that the university accepted federal student financial aid while in violation of statutory and regulatory provisions prohibiting post-secondary schools from paying admissions counselors certain forms of incentive-based compensation tied to the number of students recruited. Though the United States did not intervene in this action, the Government provided support and assistance to the whistleblowers at many stages of the case, including filing friend-of-the-court briefs when the case was on appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The two whistleblowers will receive $19 million from the settlement."

The University of Phoenix does not have the specialized accreditation necessary for degrees in psychology.  (Source: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx)   It is accredited for teaching and nursing degrees.
     
     
     
     
     

Teens in Custody Following Riot at Care Center::  A place for troubled teens is the focus of an investigation tonight, following a riot that broke out there over the weekend.  Six teens are now in police custody and there is a lot of damage to the facility.  The officers who were at the Cottonwood Youth Academy first at 11pm Saturday say it was a riot, and the situation was chaotic. South Salt Lake called for help from other police departments. We wanted to know if there was any indication of problems at the facility before this weekend, here's what we found out.  For complete story, click here.  (source: ksl.com, October 11th, 2005)
HEAL is in the process of reviewing the enrollment materials for Cottonwood Youth Academy.  We have already reviewed and have found problems with other UHS enrollment materials including the Boulder Creek Academy Application.
Article: Violations and Problems at UHS, Inc. Owned Facilities
Teens in Custody Following Riot at Care Center::  A place for troubled teens is the focus of an investigation tonight, following a riot that broke out there over the weekend.  Six teens are now in police custody and there is a lot of damage to the facility.  The officers who were at the Cottonwood Youth Academy first at 11pm Saturday say it was a riot, and the situation was chaotic. South Salt Lake called for help from other police departments. We wanted to know if there was any indication of problems at the facility before this weekend, here's what we found out.  For complete story, click here.
On November 26th, 2014, HEAL volunteers again contacted the Utah Department of Education in hopes of verifying whether or not the academic staff hold any professional qualifications/licensure. 

 *(Cottonwood Youth Academy, like many other programs in this industry, keeps a "tight lid" on any specific information regarding their staff, qualifications, and practices.  Please contact us with the names of any staff of which you have firsthand knowledge or experience.  Thank you for your help.)

 Last Updated: February 24th, 2020

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