Project Patch Youth Program – Garden Valley

If you love your child and are genuinely seeking care and healing, please DO NOT send your child to Project Patch. Find ANY other placement available. If I could give it a zero star review - I would. Based on my… family's experience, I cannot recommend this facility under any circumstances whatsoever. Entrusting my 12-year-old son to Project Patch is one of the greatest regrets of my life. I believed I was placing him in a facility that would provide intensive psychiatric treatment, medication stabilization, and therapy. Instead, he returned home in a far worse mental condition than when he arrived. During approximately six weeks at Project Patch, my son's psychiatric medication regimen was changed TEN TIMES. Those changes occurred without my knowledge or consent, despite my repeated requests to be kept informed and involved in decisions regarding his care. Throughout his admission, I expressed my concerns regarding his medication regimen on at least 18 separate occasions, yet every one of those concerns was ignored. Approximately two weeks after beginning individual therapy, his assigned therapist told me she no longer believed she could help him. I made more than 7 separate requests for another therapist to be assigned, but despite those repeated requests, he was never provided one. He was left without meaningful therapeutic continuity while significant psychiatric medication changes continued. Project Patch then decided to discharge my son before the medication regimen THEY had initiated had stabilized. They determined he was too dysregulated for their program—despite the fact that THEY caused his severe dysregulation. Rather than continuing the stabilization process they had initiated, they discharged him in an extremely unstable and unsafe condition that had developed under their care. After his discharge, he returned home profoundly psychiatrically unstable, with severe emotional dysregulation, significant short-term memory impairment, difficulty maintaining attention long enough to complete even the simplest tasks, and a dramatic decline in his ability to function. These changes followed the extensive psychiatric medication changes made over a 35 day period without continuity of therapeutic care during the stabilization process. His long-time primary care physician expressed serious concern about the condition in which he was discharged and was appalled by the extensive medication changes made in such a short period of time without continuing to treat and stabilize him through those changes. She was not comfortable assuming responsibility for the substantial psychiatric medication regimen Project Patch created and advised that he required a higher level of psychiatric care for stabilization. When I questioned the safety of discharging my son in such an unstable condition and requested documentation of his treatment before bringing him home, Project Patch’s administration reported me to authorities for abandonment. This occurred despite my consistent involvement in his care and my repeated requests for information, documentation, and communication throughout his admission. Project Patch accepted responsibility for treating and stabilizing my son. Instead of returning home stabilized, he came home in the worst psychiatric condition I had ever seen. I ultimately had to admit him to an acute psychiatric hospital, where he remained for 10 days while they discontinued the medication Project Patch had placed him on and worked to undo the damage caused by Project Patch’s failure to properly monitor and stabilize him. This facility's practices should be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate accountability should follow. I cannot undo what happened to my son. I can only share our experience in the hope that it helps another family make an informed decision. If telling our story prevents even ONE CHILD from experiencing what my son has endured, then sharing it has been more than worth it.

Do not send your child into the troubled teen industry!!! They are not forthcoming and transparent at all. Which is the first thing they will label you with during intake- lying. It is a SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST… organization which is heavily implemented into this program. If you don’t know what that means, please look into this denomination. “Christian” is a very big umbrella term. My experience demonized the idea of Christianity and therapy. I am in intense therapy currently with C-PTSD because of this place (it has been 8 years) and intense night terrors. I have developed OCD tendencies due to constantly being in fear of getting graded and having all of my “privileges” taken away (ie no speaking, no sitting on furniture, carrying my items in a milk crate). My mother regrets the decision and has cried over this experience. They get the parents through the churches. All the same rhetoric “(I/we) thought you were going to die”. She attempted to pull me out in December 2016, but could not since it is a 12 month contract where the parents write away their rights of their child. I have PCOS and endometriosis and was taken off of birth control by staff because “(i) was not going to be sexually active during my stay”. I have what I believe now to have had ovarian cysts rupture during wilderness. No medical attention was provided. Only moved into the cabin until I was not throwing up and fainting anymore. I have moved multiple times and still get their flyer no matter where I move. A constant reminder of my horrific stay. “Simple compliance” sounds great and dandy on the outside but if you are a teen entering adulthood, that mindset will get you into very dangerous and destructive situations. - “just say “OKAY” ”. The DBT is very cult derived and not accurate as I have gone through my “handbook” and “DBT binder” with a psychiatrist and therapist. It’s been a lot of unprogramming and much more to undo. If you are graduating high school that is what they will use to manipulate you to comply with the program. These “recreational activities” of camping happen for level 2 and only one trip planned a year. It’s not every weekend. Theres NO HORSEBACK RIDING. I say it all caps because we all were under the impression there was before we arrived big LOL. Watch “the program on Netflix” educate yourself before putting your child through more trauma. Which 9/10 is why you are seeking help. Your child has trauma. This place will only make it worse.

I’m a prior resident, the most abusive, cruel, inhumane treatment possible! Watch a movie called program on Netflix and you’ll see what your kids will go through! Noah

Went when I was a kid it was pretty hard at one point I wasn't allowed to talk for months at a time I even took a weed whacker to the face while I was there because we were forced to do manual labor till we dropped I… broke my wrist while I was there it wasn't until my wrist was the size of a softball and a week and a half later they finally took me to the hospital I watched two girls try to run away barefoot in the snow trying to get away from the staff members who were beating them just to be tackled by full grown men and dragged away they couldn't have been more than 14 at the time I watched a kid named cylus drink bleach a week in because of how bad it was its a 12 month program I was there for 19 months I missed 2 birthdays 2 Christmas's and the death of my aunt do not ever send your kids here just send them to juvy straight up they get treated better in there anyways

I graduated the program in 2018, and I did exceptionally well in the program according to the standards set by Patch, but I did not heal in any way shape or form while I was there. I am now a well-adjusted, healthy… adult, making my way in the world. All of this is *despite* my time at Patch, not because of it. Don't send your children to places like this. Get them real, person-centred help.

I enrolled my daughter here a few months ago. It is located in a beautiful location in the mountains w a nice river that flows by it. The facilities are nice and it is well run. Had a good staff to child ratio. The… staff are caring and nice and the program is very well thought out. The counselor she has is very good and they are teaching valuable skills. My daughter seems to like it there and we couldn’t be happier.

If it had not been for this amazing organization, I don't think my son would be alive today. I am so very grateful!

I attended Patch for 6 months and it really changed my life! The staff at Patch are very caring and they work hard to make sure that the mistakes and issues you have had and done in the past do not define who you can… become! They do test you and push your buttons sometimes, but it helps you to not have thin skin when somebody tries to push your buttons to annoy you. The DBT skills I learned there have helped me to deal with things now in a better way, rather than just lying or getting into useless arguments about things that end up not even mattering within a few minutes. The food at Patch was great, they supplied healthy food that got us through the day, and they made sure that it was made with love! I am now a senior in high-school and captain of my JV basketball team! I still today keep in touch with the Patch staff by calling the boys dorm and whenever I feel like I need to vent or just tell them about my day, they are always there to answer and listen!

Working with Wynter has been a great experience. Very responsive and on top of things!

I witnessed a Project Patch outing on the Payette River last Summer and was very impressed with the safety measures the staff took while working with the youth.

I have had almost a year out of patch to process what happened there. The staff there I believe truly want to help and have a love for kids. But some of the things that I went through I still think about how invalidated… I felt and still feel about it. I do not believe the people who worked there were out to get me or my friends. but I would like to mention that when I did something that I believe now was not wrong at all my anxiety would go through the roof wondering if the staff were just going to put me on consequence and not think it through. Some staff made haste decisions that resulted in resident instability. I did do bad things at patch and I wasn’t perfect and I did deserve some of the consequences that I got. But the big thing at patch that tricked my mind my friends minds to this day is that the residents are ALWAYS WRONG and the staff always make the best decisions. Patch always taught the residents about manipulation but I believe now after a year that sometimes patch was the one doing the manipulating. The therapy was okay I believe it did help and bring my family and I closer together. I don’t feel like therapy is what made me change. It’s one year later and I’m not doing the best I do thank patch for trying to keep me safe and giving me a place to stay I do appreciate the staff and their dedication. But I do not believe patch is the best place to send your kid. The food there is not healthy at all I don’t care what anyone says about it being healthy because it’s not I went from 120 to 148 I hated my body I am now back down to 120 after leaving patch. I had the hardest time feeling right in my body and patch told me it was my parents putting in my head. No that is not true my parents validated me telling me what I needed to hear which was that yes I gained and yes it sucks and they helped calm me down. Patch made me feel like I was making a big deal but trust me the stretch marks the pictures I saw of myself when I was smaller I did gain weight and anyone could tell and them making it seem like it was not a big deal hurt me even more I needed that validation I needed someone to tell me that I can lose that weight instead of making excuses for what it could be. That experience with my body at patch still effects me to this day I am the same weight I was before patch so the food there is UNHEALTHY. Anyways I just wanted to give my view point in the most accurate way I could. I graduated august 19th 2022 it’s august 10th 2023. I have processed and thought through my whole experience and I hope patch makes some changes to give the new residents the best experience they can have. Lastly I do give a shout-out to John in the boys dorm and rechelle and Christy!!! These staff right here are amazing and always have a special place in my heart

Project Patch made me feel miserable. They claim to rebuild families but my life was just the same when I got back. Patch ripped me from my connection and communication with my parents by ensuring no more than 2 phone… calls a week, 10 minutes each. They isolate you, make you feel horrible for every move you make and force you to talk about things that hurt you because it's "therapeutical" and they threaten to keep you longer and not let you go home if you dont talk about your pain or trauma. They are closed minded. Thank God I was Canadian and legally had to be on Canadian soil after my year was up. They couldn't accept that I had moved on from the things in my past. They just needed something to make them feel successful when they had they're morning staff meeting, even if it meant tearing apart the lives and security of young girls. I can honestly say that we all experienced ulcers eating out our stomachs at every staff meeting. Doesnt make a difference if we followed all the rules or held our peers accountable, they found some tiny reason to make you feel belittled. Just to look for a cause to give you a zero on the daily overview. Project Patch is not about rebuilding and helping teens, it's about isolation. It's very clear to see, especially when they divide half the girls in the dorm to separate groups to "reduce drama". What if there was someone in the other group that made you feel safe, some girl that you really connected to? Maybe someone that could become a life long friend? Well forget about that because you're not allowed to talk to the other group, make eye contact with the other group and God forbid you laugh at a joke told by the other group...cause it's considered "communication". Anxiety and stress, constant fast heart beating 24/7. Thinking about every move, "what if I get a zero?" ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT LONG! As a woman, we have bodily functions and if it grosses you out skip a few lines. Never in my life have I felt so much pressure and anxiety, hard core stress pumping through my veins! I didn't have my period for the first 4 months of being at Project Patch until my body finally adjusted to the stress. I had so much stress that my period stopped coming for 4 months after my arrival. Patch was a waste of my time, a year of my life gone that I can never get back and a waste of my parents hard earned money! Claiming to rebuild families when all they really do is drain the parents financially, and the teens emotionally and mentally! Please, I'm begging you, do not send ur kid here. PP is the place where anxiety and corruption lays.

Wynter at Project Patch has been great to work with and is very detail oriented!

This place really changed my outlook on life. i graduated on level two, but before that i was not doing very well at all. alot of the people who leave bad reviews on this place are the people who never cooperated with… the program, because i didn't cooperate for the longest time. but after you start to engage in it and start trying to change yourself, things will start to get a lot better. when you first get there you have to earn your way up to the fun things and privileges. and if you are a kid that is going to go here and reading the reviews, dont get on work crew please. it. sucks. but if you do, just know that its never to late to change your attitude. goodbye

Awesome experience working with Project Patch!

Wonderful experience I have had. There are consequences but they are way better than the consequences in real life.If you do get to go do change.

I had a great talk with Wynter. I could tell that she cared and put my mind at ease. I highly recommend Project Patch. Thank you.

I can't begin to express my heartfelt thanks to the entire organization of Project Patch. My son attended this year -2021. From admissions, school, all staff and exceptional therapy - each member of the team put forth… extreme effort, care, safety and genuine concern for my son and even after discharge, was eager to be there for continued support and help in any way they could. The campus is breathtaking and the surroundings is therapeutic in itself! Finding Project Patch was a true blessing for my son and my family. We will always remember such a welcoming and enriching program in understanding my son's needs. You all are angels from above!! - The Johnson's

I want to go back and live there again. Made me feel like I was actually a cool person to be around.

Our family owes so much to the good people at Project Patch and the program! Our son graduated from their program in 2002. It truly changed his life and the life of our family. I honestly do not think my son would be… alive today if not for God blessing us with the amazing opportunity to be part of the program at Project Patch. We are still in contact with some of the staff and other students who attended. What a blessing to so many families!

My mom loves me enough to seek help when she was at her end. I had a lot of issues as a teen. I was at Patch for a couple years and graduated when I was 17. The experience was much more difficult for me until I wanted… to change. Most of my progress happened in the last 8-10 months. I made many genuine relationships with the staff whom I felt actually had my best interests in mind. No, it wasn’t always “fun”, I wasn’t there for extended summer camp. The diet was different than I have ever had but I was probably my most healthy on it. It’s amazing how healing the body can aide in mental health. I did a lot of dumb stuff and went out of my way to not conform. I learned accountability, kindness, how to express myself healthily, common thinking errors and most importantly... I developed a relationship with our almighty Father. I was able to catch up in schooling curriculum so that I could finish high school in a public school before I turned 18. The recipe for wellbeing is three part: spiritual, mental and physical. I found all three ingredients at Patch. I now have a wife and kids, own my home and served my county proudly. Yes, I had to do the work and make the decision to change but without that opportunity... my life would have been completely different today. Much thanks to God, mom and the staff at Patch!

I recommend project patch because when their is nothing else you can do for your child, a place to let them grow and be faced with their issues surrounded by people who care for them and support them to trust and love… again. Also It’s a great place for youth to be known and that is key to a lot of healing.

Project Patch is a place nestled in the heart of God’s majestic wilderness where troubled teens can recover from struggles, addictions and heartache in a safe, loving Christian environment. Sometimes in this troubled ,… fast paced world, kids need a safe place to step back, get away from technology, and find themselves - Patch offers this and so much more - I wish every teen had the opportunity to learn the skills taught at Patch - I highly recommend Project Patch to anyone searching for answers for their family.

I couldn't begin to write a detailed enough description on my feelings about project patch, it would take a book! I graduated, after 19 long months in the program, all the way back in 2004 at 14 years old. 15 years… later and I still have their support. The staff here are incredible, I know a lot has changed over the years but I can say without a doubt that Stephanie and Colleen (who are still there) are 2 of the greatest women I know and I have to credit them, as well as Bob, Marge and Sharon for who I am today. I was certainly not the easiest child to care for and I'm sure I made their job much harder for them at times but these people never gave up on me. In hindsight I think that's what saved me. The program is great too but it's the love these staff show, unconditionally, that turns our scars into stars! I couldn't thank them enough for all they did for me and continue to do for so many other struggling teens. No child will be thrilled to come to the ranch lol but I can honestly say as an adult, that I'm extremely grateful for my time spent there. I still use a lot of what I learned at patch, i'm a mom now and find myself teaching my own children these lessons too so it was definitely worth it for me to attend ❤️ Oh! Huge plus. .. The campus is gorgeous right on the river surrounded by beautiful mountains, they do a ton of outdoor activities, I even got to go on a 7 day backpacking trip with patch! We went rafting a lot and would take day trips to the Indian potholes or to go to Idaho city, they are always finding a good time to reward the kids with!

Without a doubt changed my daughters life forever. When there was nothing else we could do we were miraculously sent information on Project Patch. They are thorough & safety minded and that is for the sake of the child… AND the parents. They set realistic goals for each child and have a detailed plan of action. It absolutely works. My daughter thinks differently before she acts now. She had made life long friends and has been back to patch to visit and check in with everyone. Her life and ours changed the day she entered Project Patch. We still donate yearly because we think so highly of the staff and what they are doing for our future generations. Saying Thank you is so inadequate for saving the life of your child but THANK YOU PROJECT PATCH for all you do!

Don’t not send your kids here! Very traumatic!