I’m a troubled teen industry survivor.
Specifically, I survived a program run by Rite of Passage which is still open and one of the worst for sexual abuse of children in the state of Utah. I can provide the articles on this if you need further verification. I can also provide my own interview that I was forced to do as a resident of a Rite of Passage program, as a minor, in a Cincinnati based newspaper.
Rite of Pasaage ran hillcrest academy in Springfield Township up until 2023, when they were shut down after a female staff sexually abused a male child there.
Unfortunately, charges were dropped.
These kids weren’t even from Cincinnati. They were sent here from somewhere else. They only experienced our city while being tortured- and I do not use this word lightly. The TTI is known for illegal restraints that kill children, for starvation, sleep deprivation, isolation. I know this because I lived it in a Rite of Passage program, and yet I got off easy compared to what happened to my friends… all in the name of mental health care, of “fixing delinquent children.”
I have seen articles every year since about plans to reopen. I saw one a week ago with no mention of rite of passage (which had previously taken the entire blame in articles about the closure) and the discussion of the sexual abuse was very minimal.
As someone who knows how these programs work in multiple states, abusing children and getting away with literal torture, I am absolutely sickened at the thought of one being open less than a half hour from where I lay my head at night.
I also know first hand that unfortunately, one instance of sexual abuse is never enough to get a program shut down- falcon ridge ranch in Utah is still open after sending multiple staff members to prison. There is more to this story. If you know more, I am all ears.
For residents of Cincinnati, I want you to share my outrage and ask why the fuck are we reopening this? How do we have funding to torture kids in the name of mental health care while we cut grants to valuable programs provided by GCBH?
We’ve been planning it for 6 months and today it finally happened.
We binged HIMYM recently leading up to it, which unintentionally helped him build up excitement for it. This morning when I first saw him, there was just this giddiness that today is finally the day. And I said… “remember episode 1 of HIMYM? The first thing I’ll feel is how happy I am for you, then I’ll wonder what the fuck I’m doing with my life.” 😂
I’m really glad we both love the show and that it helped him feel confident about his plans. This show still informs the way I talk about love, and being able to relate through this at both the darkest moments and the brightest like this are truly a gift.
I had to visit various parts of Cleveland twice in the last week and had really positive experiences. Cincinnati sends a lot of hate your way, and I wanted to do the opposite with a shout out about the good I experienced.
I went to see drug church at The Roxy. Beforehand I stopped into two little shops nearby. First was an ice cream place called Frosty’s because I love ice cream. The cupcake I had with raspberry filling was the perfect post show treat. I also stopped into a shop whose name I can’t remember but I was drawn in by possum decor and a Guy Fieri doll. I could have lost HOURS in there. Super cool locally made stuff and super nice staff.
Shoutout to the Roxy for no barricade- my first time stage diving was genuinely transformative. The people I met were so kind. I was having flashbacks in the bathroom and crying yet strangers would come make sure I was okay, as well as the staff. It made me feel safe enough to do it again. I also liked the bathroom layout, having spent a lot of time in it lol. The bands were absolutely amazing too. Genuinely my best concert experience in the last two years.
I went to a TSA global entry interview yesterday. For whatever reason Cleveland was the closest opening so my dad and I took a little road trip. Interview was over in five minutes and I talked about the concert I went to as well as the ice cream shop. The agent asked if I’d ever tried Mitchell’s and told me it was on the way back. I hadn’t eaten much so I thought two scoops would be easy to finish. I got the Geauga maple walnut with pralines and cream. It was delicious and my eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach.
I know these were all in the suburbs but I grew up where JD Vance is from so I know how suburban towns can seem a little hostile from the outside. Thanks for being the opposite. I’m definitely keeping an eye out for more shows at the Roxy, so if there’s any stuff you think I should check out next time I’m in town please let me know!