This is a  staff list for Waterfall Canyon Academy in Ogden, UT

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

 

We advise current and/or former staff to report any abuses you may have witnessed while working at Waterfall Canyon 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 Waterfall Canyon Academy, you have the right to take action. 

 

If you were harmed (family or survivor) by Waterfall Canyon 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.

 

Waterfall Canyon Academy is reportedly abusive and we advise against placement in this program.

 

Name

Unit/Position

 Additional Information
Laura Kemper Admissions Director Kemper is not a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah (July, 2013).  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Karen Nickel Owner Nickel is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah (July, 2013).  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kathy Nickel Dimick Owner Nickel-Dimick is not a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Richard Dimick Owner Dimick is not a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah (July, 2013).  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Frank Nickel Chairman Nickel is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Ryan Richter Clinical Director Richter is a licensed clinical mentalhealth counselor in Utah and has been since 2007.  (Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html )  He "earned" his 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.
Felicia Fernandez Medication Coordinator Fernandez is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Danna Schow Nurse Schow is a licensed APRN in Utah and has been since 2005.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kate Lovatt Therapist Lovatt is not a licensed therapist.  Lovatt is a licensed clinical social worker in Utah and has been since 2009.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Dusty Edgerton Therapist Edgerton is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Travis Christensen Therapist Christensen is not a licensed therapist.  Christensen is a licensed clinical mental health counselor.  (Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html) He "earned" his 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.
Darlene Pinkston Therapist Pinkston is not a licensed therapist.  Pinkston is a licensed clinical social worker with pending disciplinary action against her by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.  Documents on the complaint(s) were not available online.  The Case Number assigned to the complaint is 2003-106. 
Name: DARLENE PINKSTON
City, State, Zip, Country: OGDEN, UT 84404, UNITED STATES
Profession: SOCIAL WORK
License Type: LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
License Number: 128062-3501
Obtained By: UNKNOWN
License Status: ACTIVE
Original Issue Date: 05/23/1996
Expiration Date: 09/30/2014
Agency and Disciplinary Action: Yes     View Actions
Docket Number: 2003-106


(Sources: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/detail.html?license_id=31985 and https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Emily Daughton Teacher Daughton is certified to teach secondary biological science in Utah.  Source: UT Office of Education.
Heidi Perry "School" Admin Perry is not a licensed/certified educator in Utah.  Source: e-mail from UT Office of Education.
Carson Ray S. Campus Coordinator Ray is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Bree Green N. Campus Coordinator Green is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Lanae Kimber Residential Director Kimber is licensed solely as an Assoc. Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Utah and has only been licensed since 2011.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Kenyon Bott Psychiatric Nurse Bott is a licensed registered nurse in UT and has been since 1999.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Mitch Tocher Therapist Tocher is not a licensed therapist.  Tocher is a licensed Assoc. Clinical Mental Health Counselor in UT and has only been licensed since 2012.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html . He "earned" his 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.
Kim Munford Program Director Munford is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
Martin Wilson Transition Coordinator Wilson is not  a licensed medical nor mental health professional in Utah.  Source: https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html
*(Waterfall Canyon 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.)
HEAL is in the process of reviewing the limited information (release and consent forms) provided to the public through the Waterfall Canyon Academy.  However, this review will not be complete and we require additional information to review for legitimacy and program efficacy. 
HEAL was asked by someone claiming to be the author to remove reference to the signed, dated, complaint of abuse against this facility we received in July, 2013.  We have tentatively removed the reference.  HEAL has received no other complaints regarding this facility at this time.  We are very concerned that very few staff are properly qualified and that at least one who is licensed has been discliplined for wrongdoing by the licensing agency.

 

 Last Updated: September 26th, 2013

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