The state of Utah has revoked the license for a Provo Canyon School campus located in Springlyville, stating the facility failed to provide applicable health and safety services for its clients. The action, which took effect on a Monday, follows multiple noncompliance issues including failure to increase staff-to-client ratios, engaging in unnecessary restraint, and neglecting care.
The citations against the Springville campus date back to 2025 and include failures to verify employee information or submit background checks in a timely manner. State health officials had previously imposed temporary restrictions on the school in May after staff failed to seek immediate medical care for a student with serious injuries.
Paris Hilton, who stated she was abused at the school as a teenager, released a statement saying the state's action confirmed what survivors have known regarding the facility's failure to protect children. Hilton, who spent nearly a year at the school in the late 1990s, has testified before Congress and state legislatures to help pass laws protecting teens in Utah and other states.
Provo Canyon School expressed disagreement with the decision to revoke the license and stated they are evaluating legal and administrative options, including an appeal. The school's administration noted that it cannot comment on matters occurring prior to its change in ownership.
The state has mandated that all services at the Springville campus must be terminated by August 6. Shannon Toman Black, the Director of Licensing and Background Checks, stated that officials will work with Provo Canyon to move children to their home states or other appropriate placements, noting that a youth's guardian determines the next steps.
Industry professional Cheryl Bennett raised concerns regarding where the displaced children will be placed and emphasized the need for more oversight in such facilities to prevent issues from remaining caught in litigation for years.
