Universal Health Services: Montana Halts Youth Referrals to Provo Canyon School after Teen Suffers Brain Injury

June 25, 2026

Montana officials have suspended new referrals to a Utah residential treatment facility after a 13-year-old Montana boy allegedly suffered a traumatic brain injury during an assault by another resident, prompting a lawsuit that raises new questions about the safety of out-of-state behavioral treatment programs.

The lawsuit, filed by the boy's mother, Aleah Corona, alleges that staff at Provo Canyon School in Utah failed to protect her son despite repeated warnings that he feared another resident. According to the complaint, the conflict escalated on May 14 when the boy was allegedly slammed to the floor, leaving him with a fractured jaw and bleeding in his brain. The lawsuit claims the facility's negligence allowed the assault to occur after staff ignored ongoing safety concerns.

Corona said her son had been enrolled at the residential psychiatric treatment program for only about two months but repeatedly told her he felt threatened by other boys at the facility. She said she shared those concerns with staff, who she believes failed to take appropriate action. Looking back, she said the warning signs should have been taken more seriously before the incident occurred.

The alleged assault has triggered responses from multiple state agencies. Montana's Youth Court Services immediately stopped sending children to Provo Canyon School, while the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services said it is closely monitoring developments. The action followed an emergency order by Utah health regulators that temporarily suspended new admissions to the facility and placed it under heightened state oversight. At the time of the suspension, several Montana youths remained in the program, with officials working to relocate them to other facilities.

Montana relies on out-of-state residential treatment centers when in-state programs cannot accommodate children with severe emotional or behavioral needs. State officials said 15 Montana youths are currently receiving court-ordered treatment in facilities located across several states, including Utah, Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, Nevada and Arkansas. Only two residential programs within Montana provide comparable services, limiting placement options when those facilities reach capacity or cannot meet a child's specific treatment needs.

 The case has also drawn attention to the financial relationship between Montana and Provo Canyon School. State records indicate Montana's health department has paid the facility more than $26 million over the past decade through Medicaid-funded placements, including more than $4 million during the past year alone. While state officials emphasized that safeguards exist for children placed in out-of-state programs, they declined to provide additional details regarding those oversight procedures.

 According to the lawsuit, staff initially attempted to manage the boy's injuries inside the facility instead of immediately contacting emergency responders or law enforcement. The complaint alleges that only after staff were unable to control his bleeding was he transported to a local hospital. Attorneys representing the family contend approximately 90 minutes passed between the injury and his arrival at the emergency room. The emergency physician later reported the injuries to law enforcement. Corona also said she was not informed which hospital her son had been taken to, leaving her to search for him after flying from Montana to Utah.

The lawsuit also points to what attorneys describe as a history of safety problems at Provo Canyon School, including prior reports involving violence, sexual assaults, drug incidents, and runaways. State inspection records cited in the complaint note that a staff member was previously found to have struck a resident, resulting in a state fine. Attorneys argue the latest incident reflects broader systemic problems within the residential treatment industry rather than an isolated event.

The case has attracted national attention, with advocates—including Paris Hilton, who has campaigned for reform of the troubled-teen industry—joining Corona at a news conference in Utah. Montana state Sen. Laura Smith also expressed concern, saying the lawsuit highlights the need for stronger oversight of children placed in residential treatment facilities outside the state. As investigations continue, Corona said she hopes the case leads to lasting reforms that better protect vulnerable youth.

Source: Seaborn Larson, "Montana suspends referrals to Utah 'troubled teen' program after Belgrade boy suffers TBI," Billings Gazette, June 18, 2026.