Mountain Youth Academy - Mountain City, Tennessee

Aiden R.

Loved being there there was good and caring staff that I will never forget. The drama was crazy but that was because of the patients. I made great friends and memories there. That will be a memory for the books. Thank you mountain youth academy and Mrs Elizabeth I am truly grateful.

Jada S.

So if I am being honest I struggled the first few weeks to a month but every one is going to. I was there for around 3 months and I made amazing improvements to the point where I an proud of myself and the staff are amazing and always put my needs first I am so grateful for then because without them I would not have been able to make it out if there. There is only a few things that are not great and that is the fact that there is favoritism and it sucks but it's gonna happen so honestly I'm glad my mom sent me there to get the help I need because if I did not have that push I would be on the wrong path going into juvenile. So shout out to: Mrs. Kaylia, Mr. Fudge, Mr. D, Mr. Troop, and Mrs. Perkins without you all I would have not made it through my program so thank you for everything I would recommend this program to anyone who is struggling with trauma and behavioral issues because it has made a huge impact in me and how I act

Lee

as someone who has been here in 2021 i was 10 and it SUCKED i am not christian and have religious trauma the staff there WHILE I WAS HAVING A PANIC ATACK sitting in the floor crying started blasting christian music on the tv even though he knew i wasnt christian, also after i was crying and finally opened up about the rape i inured as a 4-5 year old the therapist there didnt care she was on her phone and when i was done she told me to immediately tell my mother.

also not about me but about another person there they were very sick and had seizors often and it was mostly the kids that helped hold them up so they didnt hit their head and not once were they sent to the nurse.

and there were two 6 year olds there who would act out a lot(i mean who wouldnt, being put in there at a young age.) and they would just lock them in their rooms if they were acting up. a bunch of times they hit their heads really hard on the walls and the staff didnt care. they would complain for days even weeks after about their heads hurting, they probably got a concussion or something of the sort. they would hit their heads hard.

Casslyn L.

Long overdue review I was here in 2020 when I was 16 was here bc of dhs custody and it is heartbreaking bc we can’t get out so there’s no point they overmedicated me misdiagnosed me on purpose put me on meds that made me feel insane. They have good intentions but I don’t think they knew how to help people with heavy repeated trauma diagnosed dissociative identity disorder like myself autism etc. I got so much more trauma bc of this place it was sad. Screaming a lot fights kids openly crying for help. but I will say the staff that were there for money you could tell I could tell. but the good ones who really truly want to help these kids will do absolutely anything to help them. The restraints were excessive at times the place was dirty and disgusting. Kids would attempt a lot. But I will say the staff that actually cared and helped the kids made it worth while and I’ll forever be grateful for them idk how it is now. I doubt it changed.
I give it 3 stars bc the people who were there as staff at the time deserve that Mr dugger mr stout mr heath ms Brittany ms ecker the walls’ were the only once who seemed to make it some type of safe place and really wanted to help me for that I’ll give it 3 but it was a terrifying place and I can’t imagine how it would be with staff who don’t care.

Angelica L.

I also was facilitated here when I was a teenager back when it was called Mountain City Youth Center, was not a great place at all. Very few of the staff were genuine and cared about helping the kids, but for the most part, this place did not help any of the kids. I watched a boy get chased down through the parking lot, slammed face first into the pavement and forcefully restrained by multiple huge guy staff and they broke his arm doing so as well as tore up his face pushing his face scooting it down the pavement. Also I myself was restrained by some of these huge guy staff, and hurt every time. One time they face slammed me into the concrete floor, smeared my face in my own blood and literally broke my braces off my from teeth and knocked some of my teeth loose. Not a good place for anyone to send a child the are trying to help. They confiscated all of my worldly possessions and when I left the facility, I never got any of my belongs, they kept everything. So they don't allow the kids to have much, don't take anything you don't want to loose. And the timeout room downstairs was previously the morgue... something they don't tell people. Weird. Hope they have made this a better facility since I've been there.... Mr. Dunn was the overseer of the place then.

Cynthia G. H.

This place does not care about children and should not be open for any child. It's in a bad place to begin with and my granddaughter has a medical issue that can be life threatening and they don't care!

Paula F.

My 14 year old son has suffered from anxiety, depression and psychosis for multiple years now. He had attempted suicide 3 times in less than a 6 month period. Multiple hospitalizations, therapist appointments, medication increases, medication changes and nothing was working, he just seemed to get better for a week or so and then worse than before the changes. It was frustrating and disheartening. With his last hospitalization they suggested residential treatment. Which is scary for everyone involved. Him, his siblings, his friends and definitely me. Staff was amazing, ALL OF THEM, from janitors/housekeeping to teachers, principals, nurses and counselors! They communicated with me at every turn but not just with me with him too. They also heard what we were saying and took it into consideration for his treatment. When I left my son there I was literally at my last option and didn’t know what else to do but I knew I had to try it because I missed my boy, his laugh and his smile. To watch how he changed during his 60 day stay there was overall beautiful, at times it was heart wrenching and I questioned my decision to take him there but in the end it was the best decision I have made for him and our family. By the time he discharged he was smiling, laughing and being him again. Mountain Youth Academy didn’t just save my son, they saved me too.

Katrina W.

LWhat they do to these children is horrifying! I can't speak about our situation bc things are getting looked into but Omg it's very heartbreaking and sad what these kids have endured. Then you have disabiles kids in there that don't belong which I my adds to their trauma. It's a nitemare and wouldn't wish this on any child. They do anything to keep the kids and lie and other things I won't mention. Beware if your children end up here and fight as hard as you possibly can to get them home and don't give up! Change definitely needs to happen. Our family is trying for a change. I know obviously some so news this place bc of very extreme crimes but the minor things they're being punished like they have murdered someone and it's nothing that extreme. Also look over all paperwork make sure signatures are yours and also look over everything every bit of paperwork for things the facility doesn't follow and they're supposed too. I'm praying for all these children and their families. They need it more then you know. 🙏