Thank you for visiting www.isaccorp.org, the website of the International Survivors Action Committee (ISAC), a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

We believe that every child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Our mission is to expose abuse, civil rights violations, and fraud perpetuated through privately-owned facilities for juveniles.

Your tax-deductible donation will help us continue assisting parents in making safe and effective decisions for the future of their children.

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

WWASPS/Teen Help Affiliated Facilities

• Horizon Academy, Nevada - Jade Robinson is the director. Robinson was previously an administrator/owner of Bell Academy and Casa by the Sea.



• Respect Camp, Mississippi - Formerly known as 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 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.



• Tranquility Bay, Jamaica - Jay Kay, son of WWASP President Ken Kay, is the owner and director.



• Academy at Ivy Ridge, New York - Jason Finlinson is the Director. He is thought to be the brother-in-law of Robert Lichfield.



• Midwest Academy, Iowa -Brian Viafanua is the Director. Viafanua was also the director of Paradise Cove when the facility closed under allegations of abuse.



• Spring Creek Lodge Academy, Montana - Cameron Pullan is the Director. Dan Peart, brother-in-law of Robert Lichfield, is the Vice President.



• Pillars of Hope, Costa Rica - Narvin Lichield, owner of Carolina Springs Academy and brother of Robert Lichfield, is the owner.

Facilities Affiliated with WWASPS/Teen Help (and/or persons known to be involved with WWASPS/Teen Help) that Have Closed

• 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

Academy at Ivy Ridge, WWASPS, Robert Lichfield Sued for $100 Million 

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

Lawsuit Filed Against WWASPS and Robert Lichfield

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.

Parents

Please read our list of Warning Signs and compare them to the rules and policies of any facility you are considering for your child.

To anyone considering placing a child in a facility of any kind - The following general statement is relevant to contracts:

So-called "contracts" based on fraudulent misrepresentations of material facts, deceptive advertising, and the failure to disclose pertinent facts could be found void by a court of law.

Parents and third parties can never 'contract away' the right of children to be free from abuse and neglect.

Children are not pieces of property that can be rented, bought, or sold by parents or treatment programs of any nature.

Parents are always free to remove a child when there is any suspicion of abusive treatment or neglect.

In fact, a parent's failure to remove a child, or a relative's failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect, may leave the adult open for possible liability.

A relative may be able to petition for a writ of habeas corpus (Latin for 'bring the body forth').

This information is general in nature, and a lawyer should always be contacted for advice in any particular situation.