Provo Canyon School, on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. There are more kids sent to Utah for treatment than to any other state — and it’s not even close. How did Utah become the place entrusted to help so many struggling young people?This story was produced as part of “Sent Away,” an investigative podcast from The Salt Lake Tribune, KUER and APM Reports that examines Utah’s teen treatment industry.
So, how did Utah become the place entrusted to help so many struggling young people? It’s a complex combination of history, culture and Utah’s rules and regulations.started leading wilderness outings with his classmates. One program in particular that started around that time remains one of the most prominent: Provo Canyon School.
“You had all these offshoots that started,” Stettler said, “and most of them were people that worked there. So they were locals. They wanted to start their own program. They don’t want to go to some other state.”Utah is considered a “parent’s rights state,” which means that parents get to make medical decisions on behalf of their children. So if a child is in Utah for treatment, they aren’t able to leave the facility unless their parents agree to it.
in business despite regulators finding that a facility violated state rules or that a worker harmed children in their care.