For Parents Who Were Misled by a Utah Program

How were so many parents misled?

You were likely in crisis. Your child may have been struggling with depression, substance use, self-harm or school refusal. Someone you trusted, an educational consultant, a therapist or another parent, recommended a program.

The program's materials probably showed red rock canyons near St. George or mountain views over the Wasatch Front. You were told about licensed therapists, small groups and individualized care. Then you were told that your child's complaints were "manipulation" and part of the process.

Many parents only learn what really happened years later, when their adult child finally tells them.

Do parents have their own legal claims?

Possibly. Depending on the facts, a parent may have claims based on:

• Misrepresentations about staffing, licensing, therapy or safety
• Charges for services that were not provided as promised
• Hiding injuries, restraints or incidents from the family
• Contract terms that were unfair or misleading

Under Utah Code 78B-2-305, many claims for relief on the ground of fraud or mistake have a three-year limitation period. When that period starts can depend on the facts. Other claims have different deadlines.

A parent's claims and a child's claims are separate. They may be brought together or on their own, depending on what makes sense.

What has Utah changed about how programs deal with parents?

Utah has tightened its rules in recent years. In summary:

• S.B. 127 (2021) requires programs, when not prohibited by law, to facilitate weekly confidential contact between a child and family, and bars using that contact as a reward or punishment.
• S.B. 297 (2025) requires programs to report "critical incidents," including restraint and seclusion, to the parent or guardian within one business day. It also bars admitting a child the program knows, or should know, it cannot safely serve, and restricts accepting payment unless the child meets approved admissions criteria.

If your child attended before these laws, they still show what Utah now expects programs to tell families.

How can I support my adult child's case?

Your adult child decides whether to pursue a case. But you may hold important pieces of the puzzle:

1. 1.Contracts and invoices. Enrollment agreements, payment records and insurance claims.
2. 2.Program communications. Emails, weekly therapist call notes, parent newsletters and progress reports.
3. 3.Marketing materials. Brochures, website printouts and anything a consultant gave you.
4. 4.Your own notes. Calendars, journals or texts from that time.
5. 5.Transport records. Who took your child to the program, and how.

Please don't throw anything away, and don't edit or reorganize old files. Keep them as they are.

What if my child is angry with me?

That is common, and it can be painful. Many families find that learning together how a program misled them helps repair trust.

You can also simply tell your child: "I believe you, and I'll help however you want."