Full Breakdown
Utah Revokes License of Provo Canyon School’s Springville Campus Amid Abuse Allegations
7/10/2026, 1:53:32 PM
Core Event
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) issued a notice on July 7, 2026 revoking the residential-treatment licence of Provo Canyon School’s Springville campus. All services must cease by August 6, 2026, and the owners are barred from re-applying for a new licence for five years. The school has 15 days to request a hearing.
Background & Context
Provo Canyon School, described on its website as a psychiatric residential treatment centre for girls ages 12-18, has operated in Utah for decades and is part of a broader “troubled-teen” industry of for-profit facilities. Ownership transferred to Universal Health Services (UHS) in 2000, the same year UHS paid $117 million to settle False Claims Act violations. The school has faced multiple lawsuits, including a 2022 New York Times-reported case in which 49 plaintiffs alleged sexual abuse by a former medical director.
Timeline of Regulatory Actions
- Feb 5 2025: License placed on conditional status after failure to protect a client from staff-inflicted physical mistreatment.
- May 5 2025: Conditional status extended following continued non-compliance.
- June 16 2026: The Disability Law Center filed a complaint citing numerous safety concerns.
- July 7 2026: DHHS revokes the Springville licence, citing chronic, ongoing violations dating back to 2025.
- Aug 6 2026: Deadline for termination of all services and cessation of new admissions.
Data & Statistics
The revocation notice lists several specific deficiencies:
- Unnecessary restraint and aggressive physical contact with a resident.
- Failure to protect children from harm, including a documented assault that left a minor with severe head and facial injuries.
- Inadequate staff-to-client ratios and delayed emergency medical response for a 13-year-old client.
- Failure to verify employee background checks in a timely manner.
Official Statements & Responses
- Shannon Toman-Black, director of the Division of Licensing and Background Checks, emphasized the state’s duty to ensure safe discharge: “It is actually incredibly unsafe if we were to go in and just stick a sign on the door and say, ‘Everybody out.’”
- Provo Canyon School said it is “evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal,” and reiterated its commitment to “safe, high-quality care.”
- Tim Marshall, CEO of UHS, echoed the school’s stance: “We disagree with the state's decision to revoke Provo Canyon School's Springville Campus license and are evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal.”
- The Disability Law Center of Utah welcomed the closure, urging the department to act earlier in future cases.
Criticism & Opposition
The school’s leadership argues that the revocation does not reflect current operations under new ownership and that an appeal will address alleged procedural shortcomings. No alternative corrective plan has been presented publicly.
On-the-Ground Reports
Paris Hilton, a former resident who attended the Springville campus in the late 1990s, has repeatedly described physical assaults, forced medication, solitary confinement for up to 20 hours, and invasive “medical exams” without a doctor present. She testified before Congress in 2024 and has advocated for a “bill of rights for teens” in such facilities.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
State officials have not disclosed the total number of children affected or the full count of complaints received. Ongoing investigations into the boys’ campus in Provo remain separate from the Springville revocation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “For more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma.” — Paris Hilton, statement
- “In her statement about the school’s license being revoked, Hilton added, “The little girl in me who was told she would never be believed feels so validated today.” — Paris Hilton, statement
- “At Provo Canyon School in Utah, I was given clothes with a number on the tag. I was no longer me, I was only number 127,” — Paris Hilton, congressional testimony
- “We disagree with the state's decision to revoke Provo Canyon School's Springville Campus license and are evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal,” — Tim Marshall, CEO, Universal Health Services
- “ "It is actually incredibly unsafe if we were to go in and just stick a sign on the door and say, 'Everybody out,'" Thoman-Black added.” — Shannon Toman-Black, DHHS
What’s Next
The school must cease operations by August 6, 2026, and will work with families and state agencies to transition current residents. A hearing on the revocation may be requested within 15 days, and any appeal will be reviewed under Utah’s licensing statutes.
