NC - 12-year-old dies at Trails Carolina wilderness therapy camp, Lake Toxaway, February 2024

[cujenn81]

‘It’s beyond cruel’: Inside an N.C. wilderness therapy program for teens

Trails Carolina, a wilderness therapy camp in the mountains of North Carolina, advertises itself as a place to help children. But interviews with former participants, staff and parents who have sent their children to the camp suggest it may do the opposite.

www.wbtv.com

For Reilly, most of their time was spent with their group of eight to 12 students, living in tents in the woods.

The participants are accompanied by three staff members, who are not trained as therapists and work for minimum wage, who are responsible for their day-to-day activities.

“I had kids that were vocally suicidal. I had kids that tried running away. I had kids that would try and fight you,” Hyde said.

“One of the issues of the place is that the people that spend the majority of the time with them are not trained therapists.”

Hyde was given three days of training before being sent to into the woods with participants.

Inspection reports from N.C. DHHS show Trails Carolina was cited for fifty deficiencies between 2010 and 2019, the last time an inspection was conducted.

Among the violations were ten citations for improper medication handling and administration. Trails Carolina was cited four times for violating regulations surrounding seclusion, physical restraint and isolation.

And on three different occasions, Trails Carolina was cited for failing to protect participants from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation.

 

[Cedars]

www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article285402692.html

Nine days after a 12-year-old camper at Trails Carolina was found dead, state regulators have ordered a North Carolina wilderness therapy program to stop taking new admissions — and to put measures in place immediately to keep children safe.

The letter also states that staff who were in the cabin where the boy died can’t return to the cabin or campsite.

The state’s letter said that local Department of Social Services staff were onsite the day after the child’s death but “were prevented access to the camp’s children” until Feb. 6.

The state said the program must allow unlimited and unannounced access by local county DSS staff, law enforcement and state investigators to the camp, its staff and its clients.

So, parents are still sending their kids there for 'intake'? And they haven't pulled their kids out, after the death of a camper?

JMO

 

[Lilibet]

OK. I will defer to your medical expertise, rather than try to explain my points further, except to say that I prefer to condemn the money-grubbing camps and empathize with both the traumatized kids and those parents who are well-meaning but desperate and misguided. While you and I would do research (as we should), not everyone realizes that they shouldn’t just take the recommendation of these camps. For that matter, I always research recommendations of my doctors.

But please tell me what the acronym SBMFF stands for. It’s not on the WS Lingo thread and Googling only takes me to stock quotes for…

Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited (SBMFF)​

SBMFF. That is inaccurate. All the services available for adults are available for children. There are entire medical fields, resources, hospitals, therapists, medication prescribers, and legitimate treatment centers dedicated to the mental health of children and adolescents.

The "seriously mentally ill" are not who these wilderness camps cater to, IME. They cater to rebellious kids and those with mild to moderate mental illness. The seriously mentally ill are generally in group homes or state hospitals if they can't be cared for at home.



If you are a parent, IMO you have an obligation to research the people who are turning over care of your children to. That means you should research what these programs are like, the lawsuits, the deaths, the transport, and even the legislative action that's been taken against them. Obviously, I don't know the circumstances of the parents in this particular case, but in general, my opinion is that parents should ALWAYS research any program they want to entrust with the care of their child.

There ARE alternatives available. These camps exist because they make money for the owners, IMO.

All of these are in NC, where this wilderness camp is.

https://www.uncmedicalcenter.org/uncmc/hospitals-locations/profile/unc-hospitals-youth-behavioral-health/

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Programs | Novant Health

Novant Health offers a range of child and adolescent mental health services, including inpatient and partial hospitalization programs.

www.novanthealth.org

https://hollyhillhospital.com/programs-and-services/inpatient-programs/child-and-adolescent/

Adolescent and Pediatric Behavioral Health Unit at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Dynamic renovations made to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Sticht Center made way for a complete relocation of their Adolescent and Pediatric Behavioral Health Unit.

cplteam.com

Child, Adolescent, and Family Behavioral Health

Duke child psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers provide personalized mental health care to children in a family-centered environment.

www.dukehealth.org

There are ALWAYS other options, in my professional opinion.

 

[cujenn81]

Wilderness camp where boy recently died is accused of ignoring sexual assault in new lawsuit

A former student is suing Trails Carolina, alleging the program for troubled youths dismissed her claims of sexual assault by another student and denied her medicine, clean water and other necessities.

www.nbcnews.com

A former student of a North Carolina wilderness camp where a 12-year-old boy recently died is suing the program, alleging staff members dismissed her claims of sexual assault by another camper and denied her basic necessities when she attended in 2016.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina over the weekend, accuses Trails Carolina of creating “an environment where troubled children have and do sexually assault other children” and of failing “to provide adequate medical care, food, and shelter for the children in its custody.”

The girl, who is identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, began making sexual comments to Gertie, the suit says. Gertie expressed her discomfort to staff members, who, instead of protecting her, placed her bed next to the alleged abuser’s, according to the lawsuit. The suit says that the girl then sexually assaulted Gertie and that when Gertie told her therapist at Trails Carolina, her therapist “did not disclose the sexual assault to the authorities.”

“Rather,” the suit says, “she made Gertie promise not to tell anyone else about the assault and told Gertie she was equally at fault.”

The lawsuit describes other alarming events that allegedly occurred during the rest of Gertie’s time. It says that when the group was camping, water filters the group used to drink water from a nearby stream broke and the group members were forced to filter water through a dirty bandanna while they waited about three weeks for Trails Carolina to get new filters. Some students allegedly developed pinworms.

 

[angelainwi]

There ARE alternatives available. These camps exist because they make money for the owners, IMO.

All of these are in NC, where this wilderness camp is.

https://www.uncmedicalcenter.org/uncmc/hospitals-locations/profile/unc-hospitals-youth-behavioral-health/

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Programs | Novant Health

Novant Health offers a range of child and adolescent mental health services, including inpatient and partial hospitalization programs.

www.novanthealth.org

https://hollyhillhospital.com/programs-and-services/inpatient-programs/child-and-adolescent/

Adolescent and Pediatric Behavioral Health Unit at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Dynamic renovations made to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Sticht Center made way for a complete relocation of their Adolescent and Pediatric Behavioral Health Unit.

cplteam.com

Child, Adolescent, and Family Behavioral Health

Duke child psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers provide personalized mental health care to children in a family-centered environment.

www.dukehealth.org

There are ALWAYS other options, in my professional opinion.

I believe these programs are all short term stabilization programs, you will be lucky if insurance will cover 7-14 days.

 

[Jenesaisquoi]

With regard to staff being on min wage. In my experience of disordered young children, it takes a relatively large resource to keep everyone safe from harm. Someone to teach the group, someone for first aid support/form filling, one or more for runners who leave the group, then people to escalate to, people to cover while situations are being reported.
It is expensive to deal with people. I guess a lot of wilderness camps works as a dissuader from running off too far.
I also think that it is difficult for children to learn to get along in society if they are not exposed to group situations.

 

[cujenn81]

More information about the letter sent by NCDHH today.

NC regulators order wilderness camp to stop accepting new participants

WBTV Investigates: Order comes after 12-year-old boy died at Transylvania County camp

www.wbtv.com

The warrants said the boy was lying on the ground with his knees bent upwards when first responders arrived. Rigor mortis had set in, according to the warrants.

The letter to Trails Carolina outlined a list of actions the camp must implement in order to continue operating during the investigation:

• Cease new admissions until NCDHSR completes its investigation;
• Discontinue use of bivy bags for any purpose for all children or adults at the camp through the conclusion of all investigations in this matter;
• Require at least one staff member to remain awake while one or more children are asleep;

In addition to the list of action items, the letter reminds Trails Carolina of other reporting requirements.

“Further, we want to remind you that the use of restrictive interventions must be reported as outlined in the IRIS manual for which Trails Carolina is subject and must adhere to,” the letter said.



What is a bivy bag?

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I believe these programs are all short term stabilization programs, you will be lucky if insurance will cover 7-14 days.

There's nothing wrong with short-term stabilization programs. Children who need mental health services should be stabilized and sent out. They should not be forced to live forever at a camp or any other facility, IMO.

 

[ifindedout]

Seems to have an impressive staff. Many licensed SW, Behavioral Health, recreational therapist, PHD, heading up education, an local MD, UNC grad and many more.

Trails Carolina - Leading Wilderness Therapy For Teens and Adolescents

Trails Carolina is a wilderness therapy program helping teens and adolescents ages 10-17 who struggle with mental health challenges. Learn more.

trailscarolina.com

I suspect that the "muscle" employed at (and also used outside) the camp is not listed on the site.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

OK. I will defer to your medical expertise, rather than try to explain my points further, except to say that I prefer to condemn the money-grubbing camps and empathize with both the traumatized kids and those parents who are well-meaning but desperate and misguided. While you and I would do research (as we should), not everyone realizes that they shouldn’t just take the recommendation of these camps. For that matter, I always research recommendations of my doctors.

But please tell me what the acronym SBMFF stands for. It’s not on the WS Lingo thread and Googling only takes me to stock quotes for…

Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited (SBMFF)​

SBMFF: snipped by me for focus, meaning I'm not quoting your entire post because I'm only replying to this part of it.

 

[Cartie]

So, parents are still sending their kids there for 'intake'? And they haven't pulled their kids out, after the death of a camper?

JMO

Out of sight, out of mind for some parents

 

[SpicyFruit]

So, parents are still sending their kids there for 'intake'? And they haven't pulled their kids out, after the death of a camper?

JMO

There is so much manipulation that goes to a lot of these parents from what I have heard/read. I am unsure what I can say or quote here since the stories were personal stories on SM. But I can only say, just deep dive into Social media on the Troubled Teen Industry and you can find so many stories.

So I do not doubt that the camp has reached out to the current kid's parents already and smoothed it over as best as they could likely blaming the out of control kids that are currently there.

 

[kaen]

I believe these programs are all short term stabilization programs, you will be lucky if insurance will cover 7-14 days.

Absolute truth. In my area, you are lucky if you need the help and they have a bed. Often, under 18 year olds are kept in a bed in the ER if no bed is available and discharged with meds and a referral. Insurance often keeps the stay to a minimum. And, these are kids who are in a mental health crisis. A runaway, drug user, firestarter, or burgeoning juvenile delinquent don't qualify for beds often in these places.

I will say that I had been looking for a qualified therapist for my child for months with no options that were great or took my insurance. The providers are not available in my personal or professional experience.

 

[angelainwi]

There's nothing wrong with short-term stabilization programs. Children who need mental health services should be stabilized and sent out. They should not be forced to live forever at a camp or any other facility, IMO.

Agree, they need the stabilization but then does the family have money to private pay for residential care. It is RARELY covered by insurance and a child living in a hospital setting for months is not a healing environment

 

[angelainwi]

There is so much manipulation that goes to a lot of these parents from what I have heard/read. I am unsure what I can say or quote here since the stories were personal stories on SM. But I can only say, just deep dive into Social media on the Troubled Teen Industry and you can find so many stories.

So I do not doubt that the camp has reached out to the current kid's parents already and smoothed it over as best as they could

There is so much manipulation that goes to a lot of these parents from what I have heard/read. I am unsure what I can say or quote here since the stories were personal stories on SM. But I can only say, just deep dive into Social media on the Troubled Teen Industry and you can find so many stories.

So I do not doubt that the camp has reached out to the current kid's parents already and smoothed it over as best as they could likely blaming the out of control kids that are currently there.

BINGO!

 

[Simply Southern]

I attended camp 10 yo, DD 12, and all the grandkids starting age 6.
Several years agos, my GD witnessed a camper breaking lights with a bat, having a meltdown. Councilors quickly removed him and other campers. LE was notified. The camp notified my DD immediately with details, she spoke to GS. They ask, if GS could speak with LE, if requested. Nope, not without her being present. Lucky, it was resolved without any camper being interviewed

I think most parents would be furious, if children were allowed to talk to LE without parental consent. LE knows this, parental consent is required by law.
All my opinion

Here's the camps response....
...
We can address the statement that Trails prevented children from speaking to investigators. Trails asked parents’ permission for any children involved to speak with law enforcement and state regulatory agencies, and we complied with each parent’s preference, as we are required by law to do. Children were moved from the area to protect them from seeing what was happening, not to avoid investigators. We are a mental health facility treating children with severe, complex mental health diagnoses. Not moving children from the area would have harmed their mental well-being.”

Warrant: 12-year-old boy found cold, stiff at NC wilderness camp

WBTV Investigates: FBI assisting Transylvania Co. Sheriff with investigation

www.wbtv.com

 

[DeDee]

I smell the aroma of arrests coming. Things happening at that camp sounds like the treatment of children has been abusive and inhumane beyond our own comprehension.

AUG 2021 - repeatedly cited
Child at age 14 dropped off by parents
New inspection finds more problems at wilderness therapy camp for kids, teens

 

[RickshawFan]

Seems to have an impressive staff. Many licensed SW, Behavioral Health, recreational therapist, PHD, heading up education, an local MD, UNC grad and many more.

Trails Carolina - Leading Wilderness Therapy For Teens and Adolescents

Trails Carolina is a wilderness therapy program helping teens and adolescents ages 10-17 who struggle with mental health challenges. Learn more.

trailscarolina.com

That's what their site says, but in testimony before the State congress, there was testimony to the lack of specialists, and how staff were generally at minimum wage and barely trained. Also, we don't know how many hours those licensed folks are spending on campus.

 

[Simply Southern]

I suspect that the "muscle" employed at (and also used outside) the camp is not listed on the site.

I don't believe this camp used "muscle".
Years of camping experience, I am huge advocate of camp built skills, especially self esteem. I read the entire website and think it's a really good camp. They limit the scope of campers, focus on life skills, coping, anxiety,/social, gaming addiction, refusing to go to school, defiance and more.

I think this is an unusual, unfortunate situation. I do believe the autopsy will answer many questions.
Moo

 

[Simply Southern]

That's what their site says, but in testimony before the State congress, there was testimony to the lack of specialists, and how staff were generally at minimum wage and barely trained. Also, we don't know how many hours those licensed folks are spending on campus.

I would be most interested to read about the Congressional investigation into this camp. Could you supply a link? Thanks