ST. GEORGE — The Utah Department of Health and Human Services has placed Hurricane-based Diamond Ranch Academy’s licensing on probationary status with an open investigation being performed as of Dec. 22. The action comes as a result of a 17-year-old girl’s death at the facility Dec. 20 after she complained of feeling sick and collapsed.
In a letter to the administration of the academy, the state department issued a notice of the agency’s action.
“This letter serves as notice that the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Licensing (the ‘Office’) is placing Diamond Ranch Academy (‘Licensee’) licenses on Conditional Status effective immediately until compliance with rules is fully investigated.”
Under conditional status licensing, the academy is subject to the following conditions:
- Licensee shall immediately notify clients and their legal guardians and state agencies that have clients placed in the program of this Notice of Agency Action (“NAA”) no later than 5 business days from receipt of this letter.
- Licensee shall accept no new clients while this NAA is in effect or until the Office has expressed in writing that admissions may resume.
- Licensee will be under increased monitoring inspections from the Office to make sure compliance with all rules is maintained.
The investigation is ongoing.
The academy is located at 433 Diamond Ranch Parkway in Hurricane. It is set up as a youth treatment center with a private school setting, including sports teams and school classes.
The academy averages 120-130 students enrolled, with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1, according to High-Schools.com.
The facility had no other violations within the last year and was not on conditional licensing status when the death occurred.
Several groups dedicated toward the prevention of abuse at teenage residential treatment facilities have made allegations against the private school. These include Breaking Code Silence and Unsilenced, amongst others.
Ephraim Hanks, clinical specialist for Diamond Ranch Academy, replied to the licensing status and accusations against the academy with the following statement:
We are cooperating fully and transparently with the State of Utah as they investigate this tragedy. The safety of the students is our number one priority and we are continually striving to provide the best care possible to our students and families.
The academy was featured on the television show, “Dr. Drew.” The episode featured troubled youth, and Diamond Ranch was one of the show’s primary recommended youth treatment facilities. It was officially endorsed by Dr. Drew Pinsky in 2012.
Ed. note: Information about an individual who Diamond Ranch Academy officials say never attended the facility has been removed from this report.
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