Schools and Programs We Recommend
- Liahona Academy
- White Rock Academy
- Distant Drums Wilderness program
- Abundant Life Academy
- White River Academy (Solstice)
- Integrity House
- Academy of Eastern Arizona
- Falcon Ridge Ranch
- Turning D Ranch
- Top Flight Academy
Why did we pick these schools?
We picked these schools based off the fact that each one has a different element to it that will work for individual needs for families. There are all girls, all boys, coed- wilderness programs, ranch style, Short term and long term. Each family is looking for a specific fit for their child. The programs We have chosen all have a safe history a great track record of healing and treating. These schools also specialize in reuniting families after the treatment process.
What makes these schools better than other schools?
We would not say that these school are particularly better than other programs that are out there. There are many good programs but we have chosen affordable boarding schools. There are some programs out there that charge between $8,000 to $12,000 a month and the treatment that is offered is the same as the ones that charge half the price. I don’t think you should price shop when looking for a program, but I do think it is important to be realistic in what most families can actually pay afford. This is treatment, not an expensive baby sitter.
Why are schools in remote areas like Utah such great locations for boarding schools?
A lot of the programs are located in Utah because of the way the state legislation is set up. In a lot of larger states, the laws are geared more towards the child having rights and not the parents. States such as Florida and California have laws that prevent the parents from forcing their children to get treatment after the age of 14. This is extremely difficult for parents to understand, but in states like Utah, you can force your child to get help up until the legal adult age of 18.
Are there any wilderness programs?
Distant Drums Wilderness Program is the one we like best. They are an entry level program and they are a great program to use as pre-entry into longer specialized treatment. A wilderness program is primarily designed to change the mindset of the child before entering treatment in a residential setting. Some programs actually require that the child finish a wilderness program prior to entering the Boarding school.
School and Program Details
As a residential treatment center for troubled teen boys, we believe that love and discipline in a controlled environment is the key to changing destructive behavior. We understand the adolescent years are a trying time for parents, teens, and siblings of troubled teens. We help families deal with this difficult time by taking the teen out of their current situation and giving them a fresh start in a refreshing and stimulating environment where positive structure is provided and inappropriate behaviors have definite consequences and good behavior is rewarded. Our program’s design is based on academics, therapy, behavior modification, positive peer culture, recreation, and vocational training. We feel that this combination is an effective formula for bringing out the best in your child.
White Rock Academy provides a variety of activities for your child to participate on a daily and weekly basis. Daily activities in the gymnasium develop teamwork and individual talents. Your child will also have the opportunity to participate in various team sports such as softball, basketball and tennis. Although we recognize that not all young children enjoy team sports, we encourage team activities to promote cohesive and healthy relationships. It has been proven that service to others increases self-esteem and provides opportunity for personal growth and satisfaction. Your child will participate in many service activities such as shoveling snow for the elderly, delivering Meals on Wheels, participating in the annual Threshing Bee in Mankato, Kansas, organizing and managing activities during the annual Esbon Fall Celebration, and many other community projects throughout the year.
Abundant Life Academy is a Christian boarding school. We serve good kids [good hearted kids who already have a solid foundation but are beginning to stray from the truth] from good families. What makes us different? Like other powerful Christian programs we offer a fully accredited academic program [many of our students graduate from ALA earning high school diplomas and enroll directly into college], team sports [football, basketball, baseball/softball], and most importantly, we offer Mercy Ministries. Mercy Ministries are evangelical-based outreach projects presented to our local community. Moreover, our students serve on mercy ministry mission’s trips throughout the United States. Furthermore, our students participate in international mercy ministries mission’s trips [Abundant Life Academy students participate in mercy ministry trips to Mexico, Thailand, Russia, and more…] before they graduate from the program.
Integrity House is a Residential Treatment Center for girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who are experiencing problems within their homes, schools, or society, as well as girls experiencing difficulties with emotional, behavioral, or substance abuse issues. Integrity House maintains a staff of fully trained and licensed professionals to meet the educational and therapeutic needs of each resident. Integrity House is located in Cedar City, Utah, in the picturesque “Color Country” of Southern Utah. Our facility is limited to the housing and treatment of a maximum of 29 girls. Resident activities are supervised and monitored 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Academy of Eastern Arizona Boarding School
The Academy of Eastern Arizona Boarding School is a Therapeutic Boarding School with Equine Therapy,Located in beautiful Arizona, for Troubled Teen girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who are experiencing problems within their homes, schools, or society, as well as teen girls experiencing difficulties with emotional, behavioral, or substance abuse issues. Academy of Eastern Arizona-Boarding School maintains a staff of fully trained and licensed professionals to meet the educational and therapeutic needs of each resident. Staff ratio is one staff per six residents. The Academy of Eastern Arizona-Boarding School provides supervision 24 hours per day; 7 days per week. The facility is locked and doors are alarmed at all times to ensure safety.
Falcon Ridge Ranch is a state-licensed residential treatment facility for female adolescents, ages twelve to seventeen, who are experiencing behavioral and emotional problems that require a level of structure and care beyond that which is available in traditional outpatient clinics, but that does not require inpatient psychiatric care. We are a “staff-secured” environment, meaning that our students are under direct supervision by the staff continuously for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
The Top Flight Academy is a licensed residential treatment center (specialized boarding school) for troubled teens ages 12 to 17 that are unmotivated, yet very capable of being successful. The program combines intensive, consistent therapeutic sessions (individual and group) with a structured positive peer culture setting and a self-esteem boosting aviation therapy component to form a powerful and effective environment that produces long term results for troubled teens. Upon enrollment, an individually tailored personal education plan is designed and implemented for each student, ensuring their academic progression requirements are met (and in many cases, exceeded).