Liahona Academy, also known as “Liahona Treatment Center” (unaffiliated with Liahona Preparatory Academy) is a part of the troubled teen industry, and is a boarding school and treatment center located in Southern Utah. The program claims to be non-denominational,[2] but its name is derived from a purported artifact described in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) scripture The Book of Mormon that is said to function as a compass.[8]
| Liahona Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
East campus: 325 West 600 North, Hurricane, UT 84737[1] West Campus: 385 East 600 North, Hurricane, UT 84737[1] Corporate Offices/HR Department: 144 East 2580 South Cir, St. George, UT 84790[1] Washington County , Utah United States | |
| Information | |
| School type | Private residential youth treatment center |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Non-denominational[2] |
| Opened | 2001[3] |
| Founder | Clayton AhQuin Sr., Joe AhQuin.[4] |
| Status | Open |
| Director | Clayton AhQuin Sr.[5] |
| Grades | 8-12 |
| Gender | Male |
| Enrollment | 45 (2024)[6] |
| Language | English |
| Campuses | 2 |
| Accreditations | Cognia (formerly AdvancED)[7] |
| Website | Official website |
History
editLiahona Academy was founded in 2001 by Clayton AhQuin Sr., Joe AhQuin, and other family members. The academy operates two campuses in Hurricane, Utah, with corporate offices in St. George, and serves as a treatment center for "troubled teens." [4]
Clayton AhQuin Sr., the founder of Liahona Academy, also started Maximum Life Skills Academy in Cedar City, UT. He also reportedly worked at various WWASP facilities before co-founding Liahona Academy. He passed away on September 10, 2013. His son, Clayton AhQuin Jr., is the current Executive Director of Liahona Academy and previously worked at Second Chances in Southern Utah. Joe AhQuin, another creator of Liahona Academy, founded Key Point in 2006 and Olympus Academy in 2013. Adam AhQuin, another son of Clayton AhQuin Sr., founded Second Chances, and worked at Olympus Academy, and Horizon Academy, all of which are WWASP facilities. [4]
Program
editThe purported average stay at Liahona Academy lasts between 6 and 9 months.[9] Although the program claims to be therapeutic in nature,[10] Liahona Academy's alleged tactics include a level system with five levels and a punitive "White Shirt" level, used as a punishment with additional restrictions.
Suspension at Liahona Academy is an alleged disciplinary measure involving isolating teens in a chair for over 10 hours a day, providing them with restricted food, and subjecting them to public shaming. Other alleged punishments include communication blockouts (where teens are forbidden from speaking to others), excessive cardio (e.g., carrying rocks, running), and lengthy essays (up to 20,000 words). Daily activities include a 6 a.m. exercise routine and frequent therapy sessions, with purported severe penalties for non-compliance.[4] These purported tactics are similar to those used in WWASP programs but Liahona claims no direct affiliation with them.[11]
Liahona Academy claims to provide an accredited educational program designed to help students meet academic standards and progress towards graduation. The program claims their curriculum is structured to accommodate individual learning needs and integrates therapeutic support.[7]
Controversy
editTaylor Mangham’s Death: On January 19, 2010, 15-year-old Taylor Mangham died from a brain aneurysm at Liahona Academy, where he had been since November 2009 for drug and alcohol issues. Witnesses allege that staff refused to call 911 despite Taylor's severe pain, opting to transport him by van to avoid an investigation. Conflicting accounts exist about the medical care he received. Doctors informed Taylor’s mother that even immediate intervention might not have saved him, Taylor’s mother does not blame the school. However, some former residents allege his frequent complaints of headaches in the weeks prior to the fatal aneurysm were ignored and discounted. Taylor's final letter, written a day before his death, expressed newfound peace and happiness, contrasting with previous letters where he detailed his struggles. The school's liability in his death remains a subject of debate.[12] [13]
The Ross-Jones Incident: In August 2019, Antonio Montav Ross-Jones, an employee at Liahona Academy, was charged with felony child abuse after a physical altercation with a 16-year-old student. Surveillance footage showed Ross-Jones throwing the student to the ground twice while holding him in a chokehold. He also slammed the boy against a countertop, causing a head injury that required 11 staples to close, Ross-Jones is awaiting conviction. [14][15] The academy stated that his actions did not align with their training protocols.[16]
Corrective Action Plan: Liahona Academy received a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) from the Utah Office of Licensing on August 29, 2019, detailing eight administrative rule violations. These violations included failure to report critical incidents, inadequate staff-to-student ratios, abusive behavior by staff, improper use of physical restraints, incomplete background screenings, and missing signatures on required forms. The academy was required to submit a plan to address and correct these issues, with specific actions and timelines for compliance, to avoid potential penalties.[17]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Contact Us". Liahona Academy. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "F.A.Q." Liahona Academy. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "About Us". Liahona Academy. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Code Silence". Breaking Code Silence. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Our Staff". Liahona Academy. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Liahona Academy". Private School Review. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Accreditation". Liahona Academy. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Liahona". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Boarding Schools For Boys FAQ's". Liahona Academy. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Therapeutic Programs For Troubled Boys". Liahona Academy. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Restraint and Seclusion". WWASP Survivors. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "2011 Taylor Mangham News". Google Drive. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Liahona Academy". Breaking Code Silence. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Staffer at Liahona Academy charged with child abuse". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Employee at treatment center in Southern Utah facing felony child abuse charge". Fox 13 News. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Client Injury Incident Report". Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Corrective Action Plan for Liahona Academy". Retrieved June 22, 2024.