River View Christian Academy
| River View Christian Academy | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
6019 County Road Lexington , Lee County , Texas 78947 | |
| Coordinates | 30°25′3.63″N 97°10′35″W / 30.4176750°N 97.17639°W |
| Information | |
| Former name | Julian Youth Academy |
| Founded | 1993[1] |
| Founder | Phil Ludwig |
| Website | riverviewchristianacademy |
River View Christian Academy (RVCA), formerly known as Julian Youth Academy, is a private Christian boarding school for girls that has operated in Texas and California. Founded in 1993 by Phil Ludwig, the school has been affiliated with Teen Rescue, Inc. and has offered residential education and behavioral programs for adolescents.
Over its history, the academy and its predecessor have been the subject of government investigations and media Investigations including inquiries into student treatment practices and regulatory compliance. These issues contributed to legal actions and heightened oversight of the school in the late 2000s and 2010s.
History
In 2003, a fire destroyed the campus,[2] after which the owners became involved in legal disputes with San Diego County while seeking to rebuild.[3]
The school was mentioned in an October 2007 hearing conducted by the United States Government Accountability Office.[4][5]
In 2009, the program relocated to the former Cascade School campus in Shasta County under a lease agreement.[6]
In 2011 a mummified baby was found on the campus in Shasta County. It belonged to a staff member, who told the police that she had not fed the baby when it was born.[7][8]
Julian Youth Academy now operates as River View Christian Academy.[9]
In 2016, California enacted the Community Care Facilities Act, which required certain residential programs, including River View Christian Academy, to obtain a Community Care License from the state. The school had previously operated under an exemption. After the owner, Phil Ludwig, declined to pay accumulating daily fines of $200 for noncompliance, a warrant was issued on January 8, 2019.[10]
The facility has been said to provide conversion therapy to children who are gay, lesbian or bisexual.[11] It has been alleged that the facility has punished these children.[10] Californian authorities were investigating the school for these reasons in 2019, and considering closing it.[12][13]
References
- ^ "Boarding School for Teen Girls". River View Christian Academy. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Marshack, Megan (October 31, 2003). "Teens homeless from Cedar fire". Archived from the original on June 27, 2004.
- ^ Julian Youth Academy Fire Recovery, Teen Rescue homepage
- ^ I support the bill to End Institutionalized Abuse Against Children Act of 2005, a statement from a survivor of the facility
- ^ 111th Congress (2009) (February 9, 2009). "H.R. 911". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Mendez, Mat (November 11, 2011). "Update: Shasta County Woman Arrested For Killing Secret Baby; Infant Found Mummified". KRCR. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
The academy has leased a 250-acre ranch formerly known as Shepherd's Ranch and the Cascade School, east of Whitmore, since 2009.
- ^ Shasta County Woman Arrested in Death of Newborn Archived 2012-06-12 at the Wayback Machine, by: Alan Marsden, KHSL TV, November 8, 2011
- ^ Woman held in death of baby found hidden at Christian school, by Robert J. Lopez, LA Times blog, November 9, 2011
- ^ Palma, Bethania (June 17, 2019). "Did Calif. Authorities Raid Christian School and Order It to Change Its Beliefs on Sex?". Snopes. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
In the story, the women quoted recalled policies at the facility, formerly known as Julian Youth Academy, that barred them from talking to each other, touching or being touched by anyone.
- ^ a b Mackey, Meaghan (June 14, 2019). "A faith-based school in Whitmore is being accused of punishing students for being gay". KTVL. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
The Department of Social Services has determined that because the staff controlled every aspect of the children's lives on campus, it needs to have a community care license.
- ^ Sobel, Arial (September 12, 2018). "California Christian School Alleged to Be Conversion Therapy Nightmare". Advocate. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ Kingkade, Tyler (June 12, 2019). "California Wants To Shut Down A Christian School Accused Of Punishing Students For Being Gay". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ Palma, Bethania (June 17, 2019). "Did Calif. Authorities Raid Christian School and Order It to Change Its Beliefs on Sex?". Snopes News. Retrieved April 9, 2024.