While catching up on life, your child won't fall behind in school.

Alpine Academy strives to meet the educational goals of each girl and her family. Alpine Academy is accredited as a Special Purpose School and is also a certified non-public school in the state of California.

Alpine Academy offers core curriculum with appropriate age/grade level classes for each youth. Each class is taught by an experienced teacher and is individualized to meet the youth's needs. The emphasis of schooling at Alpine Academy is directed toward students who are not motivated academically, those who have self-defeating behavioral deficiencies, chronic absenteeism, and truancy problems. The program provides students with the opportunity to receive a high school diploma while working on therapeutic concerns and issues.

"Our goal is that our students leave our program empowered with the skills they need to live happily and productively within their own families. We prepare both the student and the family for a stable transition from our structured treatment setting to their home environment- equipped with skills that will help them do well at home, in school, at work, and as a contributing member of their community."

Problems don't occur in a vacuum, neither do solutions

Intensive therapeutic services begin the day that a student is admitted to Alpine Academy. A primary therapist is assigned to each student prior to admission; this clinician conducts an interview with the student and her parents, as well as gathering information from other professionals that have been involved.

The therapist uses this information to complete a comprehensive psycho-social assessment. An initial psychiatric assessment is also completed by our board-certified psychiatrists. Academic assessments are also administered within the first month of treatment. The treatment parents and their supervisor are responsible for behavioral observation and assessment during the first month of treatment in order to determine the appropriate skills-based motivation system placement.

This cumulative information is reviewed by the multi-disciplinary treatment team in order to create the initial treatment plan. This plan becomes the blue print for all therapeutic interventions with the student throughout her placement.

Additionally, quarterly reviews are utilized to review the initial plan, discuss adjustments, and reinforce the student's progress. This information is shared with the parents and the referring professionals involved.

Individual Therapy
Intensive individual therapy sessions are conducted by the primary therapist at least weekly with each student. Additional therapy sessions or specialty therapy work is employed when the student's needs require more individual intervention. The therapists at Alpine Academy use a variety of approaches in their individual work with each student (i.e. cognitive-behavioral, systemic, experiential, rational emotive, etc.) based on the personality and specific needs of the student.

Group Therapy
Group therapy is held 2-3 times per week by the primary therapist and other therapists. Process group therapy, various theme groups, and psycho-educational groups are conducted according to the students' needs. The group therapy sessions are a powerful arena for gaining insight about how each student's behaviors affect others. Peer reinforcement, as well as peer feedback, provide motivation and support for positive change.

Family Therapy
Family therapy sessions are conducted weekly by the primary therapist either on site or via conference calls with each student's parents or guardians. More frequent sessions are held when necessary. These sessions provide opportunities for the family to rehearse new behaviors, to give and receive feedback, and to improve relationships, as well as intensive focus on strategies for disrupting previously dysfunctional patterns.

Additionally, family therapy is offered as part of monthly parent weekend trainings. Workshops and a variety of parent support services are offered at no charge to every student's family as part of our treatment approach. More intensive transition support services are available to families for an additional fee.

Equine Therapy
Alpine Academy uses EAGALA-certified specialists to provide therapeutic intervention with the horses. The student meets co-jointly with their therapist and the recreational specialist for individual or group sessions. The frequency of this intervention technique will be determined the student's primary therapist. These sessions drive insight toward change in a non-threatening environment. The students will learn more about themselves, their family dynamics, and the world around them by working with the horses. The feedback the student receives from their treatment with the horses and their therapist creates a powerful medium for drawing conclusions from situations that they have in their everyday life.

Medical Treatment
The student's psychiatric needs are addressed by a board-certified psychiatrist who conducts an initial psychiatric assessment and thereafter meets with the student at a minimum of once per month for medication management. More frequent psychiatric services are utilized when necessary. The milieu staff and primary therapist assists the psychiatrist in monitoring the student's physical health, behavioral and emotional changes, and in overseeing the student's medication management. A registered nurse monitors immediate medical needs and makes referrals to local physicians as needed. Local physicians and hospitals are accessed when necessary for physical health needs, illness, and accidents.

Psycho-educational Treatment
Behavioral treatment is provided continuously throughout the day by the residential staff under the supervision of psycho-educational experts. The milieu staff are highly trained and closely monitored. The use of a highly sophisticated level system and token economy assist the staff in modifying behaviors by using of rationales that kids will understand, as well as pointing to the direct consequences of their behavior. Teaching interactions, role-plays, and positive correction activities help the student replace inappropriate behavior with socially appropriate behavior. The behavioral treatment staff members work closely with the therapists to ensure that treatment goals are addressed each day in the milieu. The residential staff members are also responsible for skills development activities that assist the students in learning social and life skills. Some of the skills that are actively taught and reinforced are following instructions and rules, accepting decisions of others, accepting feedback, appropriately disagreeing, peer relations, expressing feelings, recognizing and reducing thinking errors, rational problem solving, accepting responsibility for behavior, positive and effective communication, empathy for others, meal planning and preparation, care of physical and dental health, appropriate boundaries, positive attention seeking, and so on.

Multi-disciplinary Treatment Team
The multi-disciplinary team is composed of a psychiatrist, health services coordinator, registered nurse, licensed counselor, primary treatment parents, recreation specialist, school teachers, principal, and cognitive-behavioral consultants. These professionals work together to coordinate structured treatment interventions that address the specific needs of each student. This team meets regularly to review each student's progress on treatment plan goals. Team members have daily contact with each other regarding the students. Members of the treatment team will conduct regular treatment reviews with the student's parents or guardian, as they are an important part of the treatment team. At least one of these team members can be reached at all times via phone or email as needed or when critical issues arise.

At first glance, you'll know Alpine Academy is different. Our campus is located in a rural farming community at the base of a spectacular mountain range with views of the Great Salt Lake. We believe our peaceful location is part of what makes our healing process work - the open spaces, clean air, and beautiful mountains help create a calm and safe environment where change can occur.

Although Alpine Academy is a private school, it doesn't look like one. It doesn't look like a treatment facility either, although it is one. What Alpine Academy looks like is a community of homes. Research shows that children learn best in a family-like environment. They eat meals together in the dining room, work together on daily chores, and are expected to participate in group activities, much as they would in everyday life.

Five beautiful homes surround our academic and administrative building, an outdoor sports field, community garden, and large riding pastures. The Gary and Ann Crocker Education Center, which opened in November 2007, is a multi-million dollar building that houses our private school, therapists' offices, and administrative offices.

Additional Campus Features:
This pristine 30-acre campus has a variety of amenities. We have horse facilities that include a large hay barn, stables, round pen, and large riding arena, used for recreational riding and equine therapy. Indoor recreational facilities are provided in our renovated barn; this barn has a basketball court, rock climbing wall and weight room for the girls' enjoyment. Outdoor recreational facilities include a soccer field, basketball court, and volleyball pit. Additionally, there is a walking track provided for additional exercise opportunities. There are several seating areas throughout the campus, including a calming water feature, that were created to provide quiet spots for reflection and relaxation.

$285/day for private-paying families (about $8700 per month).
Scholarships for discounted monthly tuition can be applied for.
California students with an IEP may be eligible for funding that Alpine Academy is eligible to receive.