Committed To My CHilds Success              Reply to this Comment

---

I wanted to acknowledge you for your commitment to my child, JJ, and my entire family. You cannot imagine the respect I have for each of you. You are there whenever I email or call, you know why I am calling before the phone rings. This can only happen if you are as concerned for JJ as I am. You make so much available to us parents, and to me, that my life and my family are changing while you are helping JJ with his own changes. Finally I asked you just a few days ago to make my child a program child. And true to form, as with all my requests, you did that via Discovery.

Biggest things he learned were structure, discipline and accountability              Reply to this Comment

---

Bill and I thought we should follow up with another letter about Carl. At this point, he is doing great! We did have some trouble the first couple of days, but as we calmly stood our ground with our rules as spelled out in the exit plan, he just fell into line. He is a very different child from when he left Red River. One of the biggest changes we notice is that he takes responsibility for his wrongs instead of blaming others. I called him out last week concerning his room, and a few rules he had broken. He apologized and told me it wouldn’t happen again and it hasn’t. He has been driving since he got home and he is responsible and drives safely and he tells us where he is at all times. He wants to have a relationship with us at this point, so we have had some good times going out to breakfast and hanging out together. He took the Navy Seals test at the local recruiting office and has to do a couple more pushups and he will be admitted into the Seals program. The recruiters commented on how much he has changed since they worked with him a few months ago. If he makes it through the Seals program, he gets approx $38,000 for college and another $40,000 for passing seals training. For now, he is working out every day, but starts a full-time warehouse position next week after he turns 18. He is paying us for his car and taking care of his own extra financial needs. He is going to attend his graduation at Westerville North and will go into basic training August 7th. Carl now admits that Red River was good for him. He says the biggest things he learned were structure, discipline and accountability. He wants to keep the discipline in his life and part of the reason he wants to go in to the Navy is that he is not sure he can maintain a necessary level of self discipline on his own. For him to come up with these ideas on his own is a pretty big maturity jump!

Redriver              Reply to this Comment

---

I did a lot of research before sending my daughter to Red River Academy, through visits both actual and virtual. I came across one internet reference describing boarding schools as "prisons". The prison was actually our home before my daughter went to Red River Academy, and our family, the prisoners. I literally tried everything, short of quitting my job and home-schooling my daughter, before making the very difficult decision to place her in the hands of strangers. I chose Red River because it was close enough for me to visit, which I have done frequently, I was impressed with the physical building and the staff, and I felt confident that my daughter could continue her education in a safe environment. It wasn't long before my daughter began to make steady progress. Even though we aren't in the same location every day, we are having far more "conversation" than we have had for a long time. I believe we are listening to each other and building the foundation for a healthy relationship.

Red River Academy was essential to healthy,loving,happy family              Reply to this Comment

---

I knew my teen-aged daughter wasn’t “broken.” She didn’t need to be “torn down and rebuilt” in boot camp as some friends and family suggested. But she had fallen into a pattern of destructive attitudes and choices. I did my best to help her. I tried everything I could but nothing worked. And the deeper my daughter got into her unhealthy life, the more our family’s life disintegrated until we had no life at all. I knew I had to try something else. I wasn’t about to give up on my daughter. Enrolling my daughter in this program was both the most difficult and best decision I’ve ever made. Aside from financial considerations, placing my daughter in the hands of strangers miles away from me didn’t feel natural. But I soon came to know the staff at Red River Academy as family and their hands became an extension of mine. At Red River Academy my daughter worked daily on stripping away the destructive image she’d created for herself so that the smart, kind and funny person she is could shine through again. She also worked on accepting consequences for her actions and learning to make better decision to shape the outcome. And as her sense of self-worth and confidence grew, she became such a profound leader that she even surprised herself. But none of this came easily. She really had to work on herself. And in this program, parents are encouraged to work their own program of self-exploration and growth to coincide with their child’s. This wasn’t easy either, but I feel more capable as a parent than I ever have. For my daughter and family, Red River Academy was essential to enabling us to reconnect and get on with our lives as a healthy, loving, happy family. And I encourage other struggling families to consider this school and it’s program as well.

fuck red river              Reply to this Comment

---

i was there from april 13th-december 14th 2007. the place is complete bullshit and doesn't help anyone there. don't send your kid. i'm nineteen years old now, and i didn't change untill i decided to change for myself, myself. fuck everyone at that place, i should sue for all the bullshit i saw go on there. mr dusky or whatever the fuck your name is, you're a evil piece of shit. i hope you get caught one day for all the bullshit that goes on there, that you know about. you manipulate parents into sending there kids there, making them think it's a boarding school. haha, boarding school my ass, more like a kid prison. treating kids like dogs is not a good way to make them act better.

Red River Commute              Reply to this Comment

---

Yea, I went to red river from April 11th , 2007 to Jan 9th 2009 Around 21 Months Because i was 2 months behind in school, My dad had actually tricked me into coming so i could catch up, I was behind for 21 months, Therefore he never withdrew me, I was a pretty perfect student. Towards me turning 18, I Told my father, I was going to walk out and never talk to him again i had 2 months till i was 18, and then he would never hear from me again, I was in a Kid Prison as some say for 2 years due to being 2 months behind in school. Ill admit Red river was fun Sometimes, around 1% of the time, but other than that, Lack of sleep, lack of communication with parents, wishing everynight for 2 years they would call or pick me up, wishing for 2 years that someone would kill me or i would kill myself, Before this point i never thought a suicidal though or an act of running, But this place was Extremely stressful, I thought of death rather than prison like this, I wish i could go back there just to let the people in their know that what their doing is Fake. When i enrolled i was a Mear 5'6, Now i am 6'7 and I am enraged at the fact they took my size for granite and Pushed me around, If you have ever had one of those Bully's at a regular high school, Red river was my bully, I want to punish them, but what can i do, Say things like This cool is bad its fake, Well it isn't fake, Its sugar coated with lies, If you want to have a real experience of someone from that program don't go their and ask, because when i was questioned by parents i was forced to say what the Administration told me to do, or else i was severely punished Lack of food, Lack of sleep, Lack of SLeeping space, I swear to god, If i see a chaperone on the outside of this place I don't know what i would do. I would probably Get really pissed really quickly. This place not only ruined my Social years as a high schooler, but also ruined my relationship with my parents, This program works for 10% of the participants not 100% So be aware of what you do when you spend 3000$ a month for this place. Its not what you think, if its to good to be true, then it is. The only fix on your child, is fixing your parenting skills. not sending him to prison, Cut the Accountability shit, Thats just a cop out. for a real excuse. Learn to be a parent, then teach your child, If he messes up, then let him learn from it. Not you send him away. This is a new generation. Live, love, Learn. If you have problems or questions, ask me on facebook at Moped_39@hotmail.com SKype = Stackindoh Msn is Moped_3939@hotmail.com

Disappointment              Reply to this Comment

---

I applied to work at Red River Academy thinking that I will be making a difference in their lives and help them change while nurturing them. They are already away from home, so I thought why not, I am a good mother, I will show these kids that its not a punishment to be there, its a second chance. When I got there I was surely mistaken, one incident in particularly really opened my eyes, a kid a very small kid named Alex Wilcox, who has mental problems was there at the time, he did not need to be there, he needed special attention and different kind of love, but he was very different, the adults there picked on him, and one time the supervisor Justin Jarrod, broke the camera and beat the poor guy to the ground. The beatings went on and on, I have had kids come up to me and ask for help. Lots of kids needed it, seriously there is so much stuff that goes on there that parents do not see, it's suppose to be a a safe environment but I have never felt safe, if my son/daughter was there and I was by her for a week, I would have pulled her out of that place, and sued the crap out of Red River Academy, some of the things that I have seen still haunt me to this day, and when I called the police, well they canned me, the police came, but the kid was too scared to cooperate because he knew that once the police is gone, he will be back in intervention locked in a "cell" and will be one peep away from severely beaten. Parents its not what it seems, if you really need help, they do offer good seminars but the seminars can be done from home! No need to send the child away! None! Whatsoever. With love, Concerned parent and former employee.

PARENT              Reply to this Comment

---

WHEN YOU PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN AN INSTITUTION LIKE THIS,IT DAMAGES CHILDREN EMOTIONALLY.IT'S JUST LIKE PRISON,CONSTANT PUNISHMENT AND BELITTLING.IT DAMAGED MY DAUGHTER EMOTIONALLY.SUICIDE WAS NEVER AN ISSUE FOR HER.IT DEPRIVED HER OF EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL STABILITY.WHAT I THOUGH WERE POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS,WERE REALLY THE RESULT OF STAFF EDITING THE LETTERS AND INTIMIDATING THE CHILDREN FROM SAYING"NON WORKING" INFORMATION.IF THE CHILD IS LABLED (NON-WORKING) THEY ARE NOT ALOUD TO RECIEVE EMAILS FROM THE PARENT OR PHONE CALLS,WHICH IS A REAL PRIVELEDGE.YOUR CHILDREN HAVE NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH TO YOU,WHEN ALL OF THE EMAILS ARE PRE-SCREENED AND EDITED.I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ABUSE MY CHILD SUFFERED UNTIL I SAW THE PARANOIA MY DAUGHTER HAD ON OUR FIRST VISIT.I WAS TERRIFIED FOR HER AND PULLED HER. WE HAVE HAD TO PUT HER IN THERAPY NOW TO HELP HER FEEL SOCIALLY CAPABLE AGAIN.IT WAS THE WORST DECISION ME AND MY HUSBAND EVER MADE. PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CHILDREN DON'T SEND THEM HERE.I ADVISE TALKING TO THEM NOT INSTITUTIALIZING THEM.

PARENT              Reply to this Comment

---

WHEN YOU PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN AN INSTITUTION LIKE THIS,IT DAMAGES CHILDREN EMOTIONALLY.IT'S JUST LIKE PRISON,CONSTANT PUNISHMENT AND BELITTLING.IT DAMAGED MY DAUGHTER EMOTIONALLY.SUICIDE WAS NEVER AN ISSUE FOR HER.IT DEPRIVED HER OF EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL STABILITY.WHAT I THOUGH WERE POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS,WERE REALLY THE RESULT OF STAFF EDITING THE LETTERS AND INTIMIDATING THE CHILDREN FROM SAYING"NON WORKING" INFORMATION.IF THE CHILD IS LABLED (NON-WORKING) THEY ARE NOT ALOUD TO RECIEVE EMAILS FROM THE PARENT OR PHONE CALLS,WHICH IS A REAL PRIVELEDGE.YOUR CHILDREN HAVE NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH TO YOU,WHEN ALL OF THE EMAILS ARE PRE-SCREENED AND EDITED.I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ABUSE MY CHILD SUFFERED UNTIL I SAW THE PARANOIA MY DAUGHTER HAD ON OUR FIRST VISIT.I WAS TERRIFIED FOR HER AND PULLED HER. WE HAVE HAD TO PUT HER IN THERAPY NOW TO HELP HER FEEL SOCIALLY CAPABLE AGAIN.IT WAS THE WORST DECISION ME AND MY HUSBAND EVER MADE. PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CHILDREN DON'T SEND THEM HERE.I ADVISE TALKING TO THEM NOT INSTITUTIALIZING THEM.

PARENT              Reply to this Comment

---

WHEN YOU PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN AN INSTITUTION LIKE THIS,IT DAMAGES CHILDREN EMOTIONALLY.IT'S JUST LIKE PRISON,CONSTANT PUNISHMENT AND BELITTLING.IT DAMAGED MY DAUGHTER EMOTIONALLY.SUICIDE WAS NEVER AN ISSUE FOR HER.IT DEPRIVED HER OF EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL STABILITY.WHAT I THOUGH WERE POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS,WERE REALLY THE RESULT OF STAFF EDITING THE LETTERS AND INTIMIDATING THE CHILDREN FROM SAYING"NON WORKING" INFORMATION.IF THE CHILD IS LABLED (NON-WORKING) THEY ARE NOT ALOUD TO RECIEVE EMAILS FROM THE PARENT OR PHONE CALLS,WHICH IS A REAL PRIVELEDGE.YOUR CHILDREN HAVE NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE THE TRUTH TO YOU,WHEN ALL OF THE EMAILS ARE PRE-SCREENED AND EDITED.I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ABUSE MY CHILD SUFFERED UNTIL I SAW THE PARANOIA MY DAUGHTER HAD ON OUR FIRST VISIT.I WAS TERRIFIED FOR HER AND PULLED HER. WE HAVE HAD TO PUT HER IN THERAPY NOW TO HELP HER FEEL SOCIALLY CAPABLE AGAIN.IT WAS THE WORST DECISION ME AND MY HUSBAND EVER MADE. PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CHILDREN DON'T SEND THEM HERE.I ADVISE TALKING TO THEM NOT INSTITUTIALIZING THEM.

ABUSE              Reply to this Comment

---

JUSTIN JARRED:TOUCHES THE GIRLS INNAPROPIATLY.

ABUSE              Reply to this Comment

---

JUSTIN JARRED:TOUCHES THE GIRLS INNAPROPIATLY.