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World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
WWASP founder Robert Lichfield and former President of WWASP Karr Farnsworth met while working at Provo Canyon Boys School.
According to news reports, authorities closed Provo Canyon in the late 1970's due to abuse, neglect and mistreatment of children. Robert Lichfield had been the director of residential living at the school. The facility did reopen and is still in operation today.
Lichfield then moved to La Verkin, Utah where he and partner Brent Facer opened Cross Creek Manor, Inc., (now Cross Creek Manor, LLC) an all-girls facility, in 1990.
In 1991, Robert Lichfield created Teen Help, Inc. (now Teen Help, LLC) to market the school.
After associates of Lichfield began opening more schools around the country and abroad, the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools was incorporated in 1998.
Robert Lichfield is now a consultant and director for WWASP.
Brent Facer is a trustee.
The current president is Ken Kay.
ISAC Note: During sworn testimony in the August 2004 case of WWASPS vs PURE, Ken Kay stated that in his opinion, sexual activity between
staff members and students is "not necessarily" abuse.
Ken Kay met Lichfield while working at Brightway Adolescent Hospital, in St. George, Utah.
Brightway was a WWASP/Teen Help facility that closed after authorities discovered many of the patient care plans were identical and the staff had failed to report a case of abuse.
WWASP operates as an "umbrella organization," and appears to only endorse facilities that operate according to its guidelines.
Promotional packets obtained by ISAC describe each school as offering "all of the services and components required to be a member of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools."
According to the Utah Department of Commerce, WWASP is listed as a "grantmaking and giving service."
The web site for the organization states, "All the Programs and Schools are independently owned and operated, yet follow the same successful Program model that has been developed and refined over numerous years of experience."
Robert Lichfield and J. Ralph Atkin, along with business associates and various members of their families, are very involved in the operations of WWASP.
The accounting firm for WWASP, the property managers, referral agencies, "escort" services (companies who physically remove children from their homes and deliver them to the "schools,"), real estate agencies, and the individual programs -
which claim to be independently owned and operated - are also easily connected by family ties.
Teen Help
Teen Help, LLC is a principal component of the WWASP organization. They raise funds, promote the individual schools, process tuition payments and admissions paperwork, and make political contributions.
Robert Lichfield of Utah, brother of Narvin Lichfield (Dundee Ranch director) is the founder and partner.
J. Ralph Atkin of Utah (Owner of Skywest Airlines, Eurosky Airlines and Jet Acquisitions Group in Arizona) is also a partner.
Former director of Dundee Ranch, Joe Atkin, is his son.
Brent Facer of Utah is a partner and former vice president of Teen Help.
Teen Help was the top contributor during Utah state elections in 2001-2002 with donations totaling $215,290.
Teen Help was the third leading "soft money" donor during Utah state elections in 2001-2002 with donations totaling $175,500.
Source: www.opensecrets.org
The internet has been flooded with web sites that promote WWASP/Teen Help programs.
Many of the sites are operated by parents of children in WWASP facilities who earn a free months tuition for each child they refer to WWASPS facilities.
ISAC has found 110 such web sites to date.
Resource Realizations/Premier Education
Resource Realizations/Premier Education conducts seminars for WWASP parents and children.
ISAC has received complaints describing these seminars as "brainwashing," "humiliating," and "destructive."
Several parents have reported that Resource Realizations staff members encouraged them to leave their spouse because he/she did not approve of the seminars.
David Gilcrease, Founder and President of Resource Realizations/Premier Education, is a former Lifespring trainer.
Lifespring has been classified as a cult.
Discovery Seminar Exposed
WWASPS Seminars: Warm Embrace or Pyscho Cry Fest?
Definition of a Cult
Rick Ross
University of Virginia
FACTNet
Lifespring Article from Redbook Magazine
Lifespring Article from Self Magazine
The Pathology of Lifespring, from the journal Psychiatry
Facilities Known or Thought to be Affiliated with WWASPS
- Red River Academy, Louisiana.
- Sky View Christian Academy, Nevada.
- Horizon Academy, Nevada - Jade Robinson is the director. Robinson was previously an administrator/owner of Bell Academy and Casa by the Sea.
- Gulf Coast Academy, Mississippi - Formerly known as Pine View Academy, Cambridge Academy, Eagle Point Christian Academy and Bethel Boys Academy. The facility is owned by the Fountain family. Abuse allegations at Fountain-owned programs date back more than 20 years.
- Woodland Hills Maternity Home, Utah
- Darrington Academy, Georgia - Directors Dusky and Dace Goulding, and Richard Darrington previously supervised Casa by the Sea.
- Majestic Ranch Academy, LLC, Utah - Dan Peart, brother-in-law of Robert Lichfield, is the owner.
- Cross Creek Manor/Center/Academy LLC, Utah - J. Ralph Atkin is the registered agent. Karr Farnsworth is the former director.
- Carolina Springs Academy, South Carolina - Narvin Lichfield is the owner.
- Academy at Ivy Ridge, New York - In 2005, the Attorney General of New York branded the facility as "one of the largest cases of educational fraud in New York history."
- Midwest Academy, Iowa - Brian Viafanua is the Director. Viafanua was also the director of Paradise Cove when the facility closed under allegations of abuse.
- Pillars of Hope, Costa Rica - Narvin Lichield, owner of Carolina Springs Academy and brother of Robert Lichfield, is the owner.
- Sea Coast Academy, Mexico - Facility was called Casa by the Sea when Mexican authorities closed it in 2004.
- Oceanside Academy, Mexico - Jason Finlinson is reported to be the Director. He is the brother-in-law of Robert Lichfield. Finlinson was the Director of Academy at Ivy Ridge when the Attorney General of New York ordered the facility to refund over $1 million in tuition for issuing worthless diplomas.
Facilities Affiliated with WWASPS/Teen Help (and/or persons known to be involved with WWASPS/Teen Help) that Have Closed
- Spring Creek Lodge Academy, Montana - Cameron Pullan is the Director. Dan Peart, brother-in-law of Robert Lichfield, is the Vice President. Closed in January, 2009.
- Tranquility Bay, Jamaica - Jay Kay, son of WWASP President Ken Kay, is the owner and director. Closed in January, 2009.
- Royal Gorge Academy, Colorado - Randall Hinton, who admitted to repeatedly pepper-spraying a teen at Tranquility Bay, was an administrator at the facility. Royal Gorge closed in 2008 after Hinton was convicted of abusing a student.
- Bethel Girls Academy, Mississippi - closed following an investigation into abuse in February 2005.
- Casa by the Sea, Ensenada, Mexico - raided and closed on September 10, 2004. Dace Goulding was the Director. Goulding was also employed at Paradise Cove.
- Dundee Ranch Academy, Costa Rica - raided and closed on May 22, 2003 after authorities confirmed child abuse. Director Narvin Lichfield and his wife were arrested. Many of the children were transferred to Tranquility Bay.
- Brightway Hospital, Utah - closed by authorities in 2002 for providing inadequate care and abuse of teenagers. To the best of our knowledge, children "evaluated" at Brightway were placed ONLY at WWASPS/Teen Help facilities.
- Morava Academy, Czech Republic - closed in 1998 after authorities confirmed abuse and arrested the directors Glenda (aka Glenn) and Steve Roach. Many of the children were transferred to Carolina Springs Academy in South Carolina. Was owned by J. Ralph Atkin.
- Sunrise Beach, Cancun Mexico - closed in 1996 after authorities alleged abuse. Glenda (aka Glenn) and Steve Roach were directors.
- High Impact, Mexico - closed after an investigation into abuse. Mexican police videotaped children being held in dog cages. The facility housed children who would not comply at Casa by the Sea.
- Paradise Cove, Samoa - closed after an investigation into abuse. Many children were transferred to Cross Creek Manor/Center/Academy.
- Bell Academy, California - closed after state officials demanded that it comply with state laws. Although WWASPS claims this facility was not "theirs," children were transferred to Midwest Academy and Academy at Ivy Ridge. Owners were Karr Farnsworth, Dace Goulding and Jade Robinson. Bell Academy was also discussed on the private WWASPS message board. The phone number for the "school" was identical to that of Casa by the Sea.
Some promotional web sites and materials for WWASP also mention Browning Academy.
During our investigation
into WWASP, we determined that Browning Academy does not physically exist even though WWASPS/Teen Help instructs
parents to list Browning Academy on educational loan applications.
Loan applications obtained by ISAC show that these children were in fact enrolled in other WWASP facilities.
Documents
Royal Gorge Academy Closes Following Hinton's Assault Conviction
Randall Hinton Will Spend 25 Days in Jail for Assaulting Children
Sky View Academy; Notice of License Suspension from State of Nevada
Parents Want Gulf Coast Academy Closed
Breaking News-October 1, 2007: Sky View Academy License Suspended Following Sexual Abuse
Robert Lichfield Asked to Leave Romney Campaign
Randall Hinton: GUILTY
Former Employee Testifies at Randall Hinton's Trial
Boy Testifies; Says Randall Hinton Slammed Him Against a Wall
Teenager Testifies at Randall Hinton's Trial; Allegations Mirror Tranquility Bay
Trial for Randall Hinton Begins Monday
Royal Gorge Academy Alleges Libel & Slander Following Arrest of Randall Hinton
Lawsuits Hit Romney Money-Man Robert Lichfield
Donations from WWASPS Founder Robert Lichfield Raise Doubts in Maine
Randall Hinton Permitted to go Home to Utah
Randall Hinton Wants to Leave Colorado for Utah
More Charges to be Filed Against Randall Hinton
WWASPS Owner Hosts Fundraiser for Mormon Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney
Randall Hinton Could Face More Charges on March 7
Randall Hinton Banned From Contact with School and Students
Randall Hinton Placed on Leave Following Arrest
Randall Hinton, Long Time WWASPS Employee, Arrested for Assaulting Student
Amended Lawsuit Against WWASPS
Another Lawsuit Filed Against WWASPS: October 11, 2006
WWASPS and Cross Creek Manor Sued for Abuse: August 25, 2006
$100 Million Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against WWASPS: July 25, 2006
The Trouble with Tough Love
Statement from William Boyles, Jr., Survivor of 3 WWASPS/Teen Help Programs
Alternet: No More Nightmares at Tranquility Bay?
Congressman Requests Federal Investigation of Unregulated Teen Programs
Congress Urged to Regulate Private Teen Facilities
WWASPS Facility Quietly Opens in Nevada
WWASPS Camps are Loved and Hated
Former "Student" of Paradise Cove Accused of Hiring Hitman to Kill Parents
WWASPS Loses Appeal in Defamation Suit Against Reporter
Questions Raised about Northwest Assoc. of Accredited Schools
New Bill Would Regulate Teen Facilities in the US and Abroad
Legislation Targets WWASPS
Boonville Rejects Offer from Lichfield
Tranquility Bay Survivor Speaks of Abuse at the Hands of Randall Hinton and Jay Kay
Testimony from Dr. Marcel Chappuis Disallowed at Trial (see page 5 of file)
California Congressman Urges Boonville to Beware of WWASP
Boonville Needs to Think Twice Before Getting Stung by WWASP
Protesters Greet Randall Hinton at Public Meeting
Public Meeting to Discuss Sale of Kemper Military Academy Draws a Crowd
Residents Skeptical of Lichfield and Hinton Proposal
Boonville Police Have Concerns and Questions Regarding Lichfield, Hinton, and WWASPS
Randall Hinton Admits to Using Pepper Spray on Children at Tranquility Bay
Some in Boonville Opposed to Kemper Purchase
ISAC Report: WWASPS Alleged Crimes (MS Word format)
ISAC Report: WWASPS Alleged Crimes (pdf format)
Video: 2003 Inside Edition Report on WWASPS
Randall Hinton* to Operate New Lichfield Facility
* For more information regarding Randall Hinton, please visit our Tranquility Bay page.
WWASPS Founder Robert Lichfield Trying to Buy Missouri Military School
Revised Utah Bill Would Regulate WWASPS Facilities
Utah Wants to Regulate Facilities, but NOT Those Affiliated with Robert Lichfield and WWASPS
New Attorney General May Consider Regulations for Private Teen Facilities
Congressman Makes Another Request for Investigation into WWASPS
Family Behind Schools with Checkered Record Calls in Political Favors
Court Document: Transcript of WWASPS v. Pure
WWASPS Request for a New Trial - DENIED
An Observers Thoughts on the Trial
Teen Escort Used by WWASPS Accused of Assault
Utah Escorts Charged with Beating Child Enroute to WWASPS Program
Teen Escort Used by WWASPS Has a History of Domestic Violence and Child Molestation
Desperate Measures, from the Rocky Mountain News
WWASPS Meets Criticism and Lawsuits
Utah Officials Forced to Play "Find the Owner"
WWASPS/Teen Help Sued by Mother of Abducted Boys
Teens Complain of Torture at Foreign Treatment Camps - 1999
Discovery Seminar Exposed
WWASPS Seminars: Warm Embrace or Pyscho Cry Fest?
Top Secret Sibling Stuff
A Collection of News Articles concerning WWASP
Atkin Airline Bid
WWASP/Teen Help Documents Obtained by ISAC:
Daily Admissions 1
Daily Admissions 2
Daily Admissions 3
Teen Help Rep with Most Admissions Wins a Free Meal 1
Teen Help Rep with Most Admissions Wins a Free Meal 2
Teen Help Meeting - The Fine Art of Sales
Teen Help Meeting 2 - Don't Talk About so Many Releases!
Teen Help Meeting 3 - Use the New Hand-Picked Parent Reference List
Teen Help Meeting 3 Cont.
Thank you for the referrals! Love, Intercept Escort Services
List of Teen Transporters
Census Report for All Teen Help Facilities
Former Students/Survivors of These Facilities
If you would like to submit a statement describing your experience with one of these programs, please use the form below and send it to us via email or fax.
 Federal Declaration Form
If you have program documents and are willing to release them to ISAC, please contact us immediately.
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