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 Posted March 7, 2003 

HIPAA PRIVACY ACT
(Summer 2002) The Summer edition of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) contains an informative article by Gene Thorne of Discovery Academy. He discusses the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), see 45 CFR Part 142, outlining requirements governing health care providers use and disclosure of “protected health care information (PHI)." Focused on the privacy rights of individuals, this complicated act, still in its regulatory evolution process, has serious penalties for non-compliance. According to Dr. Thorne, most if not all members of NATSAP fall under this regulation, and will need to take aggressive steps to be sure they comply. This article is not on the NATSAP's web site, but it’s likely the NATSAP offices at 727-442-7667, can provide you with a copy.

LAST-CHANCE CAMPS
(August 22, 2002) The Salt Lake City Weekly, in an article titled "Last-Chance Camps: Teen Wilderness Programs: Outdoor Therapy or Boot Camp?" gave a good review of what wilderness programs are about, how they are vastly different than Boot Camps, and gave good positive exposure to Aspen Achievement Academy.

VILLA SANTA MARIA SCHOOL PROGRAM RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
(October 2003) Villa Santa Maria, Cedar Crest, New Mexico, 505-281-3609, recently became fully accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and the New Mexico State Department of Education. They feel this enabled them to achieve their goal of shifting their public education program to a private education program that would fully incorporate their Attachment Model.

NEW CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT LOGAN RIVER ACADEMY
(January 2003) Logan River Academy, Logan, Utah, 866-755-8400
a therapeutic residential treatment center, is pleased to announce the construction of their new academic building. It will add 18 offices, 11 classrooms, a computer lab, locker rooms, an indoor gymnasium, with a climbing wall and fitness room, and a new “development Area” for students needing increased supervision and attention. Completion is scheduled for late summer of next year.

RIDGE CREEK ACHIEVES JCAHO ACCREDITATION
(January 2003) Ridge Creek, a wilderness leadership program in Dahlonega, GA, 706-867-1720, reports they have achieved accreditation by the Joint commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) as a residential child/adolescent mental health service provider. 50% of their staff have received military training, which they feel promotes the highest safety environment that can be achieved, in fact “no student has experienced a major illness or injury since the beginning of the program.” All of their staff receive extensive training in counseling techniques, as well.

SOAR ENTERS 26TH YEAR, EXPANDS ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES
(January 3, 2003) Success Oriented Achievement Realized (SOAR), Balsam, North Carolina, 828-456-3435, enters its 26th year, featuring “success-oriented, high adventure programs for preteens, teens and adults with Learning Disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (AD/HD). They have expanded their Adventure Opportunities, with a new catalogue featuring: a continuation of all North Carolina, Wyoming and Florida programs, specialty course offerings in the Canadian Rockies and Belize, plus two sessions of the Florida SCUBA Course.

CARLBROOK NOW COLLABORATING WITH TWO PSYCHIATRISTS
(January 4, 2003) Jason L. Merritt, M.D., advisor to the Board, Carlbrook School, Halifax, Virginia, 434-476-2406, is “pleased to announce that two psychiatrists on faculty at Duke University Medical Center, Veerainder Goli, M.D. and Floyd C. Wiseman, M.D. have agreed to work collaboratively with our faculty and staff and will begin seeing students regularly on the Carlbrook School campus. This relationship has been developed to assure the best possible care for students who are in need of medication management.”

GREG GILLMAN NEW DIRECTOR OF SUNHAWK ACADEMY
(Jan 6, 2003) Aspen Education Group, 562-467-5500, Cerritos, California, is proud to announce that SunHawk Academy, 800-214-3878, is now under the direction of Kreg Gillman, PhD, St. George, UT. SunHawk combines wilderness, residential and family treatment, with weekly individual and family therapy, having a strong clinical focus on peer culture and group work. Rounding out Kreg’s management team at SunHawk are: Sarah Weston, Academic Director, Jade Bringhurst, Clinical Dirctor, and Kelly Bawden, Program Director.

CATHERINE FREER IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF NATION’S TOP TEEN DRUG TREATMENT PROVIDERS
(January 14, 2003) Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions, Albany, Oregon, 541-926-7252, was recently selected as one of the nation’s top teen drug treatment providers according to Drug Strategies, a Washington, DC-based non-profit research institute. The ranking was published in the first-ever comprehensive guide to drug treatment programs for teens, Treating Teens: A Guide to Adolescent Drug Programs, a book supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

NEW “TRANSITION PROGRAM” AT THE ACADEMY AT SWIFT RIVER
(Jan 21, 2003) The Academy at Swift River, Cummington, MA, 800-258-1770, announced Jeremy McGeorge, who has returned to campus as a science teacher, will also spearhead their new Transition Program. Students will begin this new three-week program directly after completion of the Passages wilderness phase, which is required upon enrollment. The new Transition Program will then take place during the first three blocks of the academic day, to evaluate, re-orient and re-connect students with academics and life on the new campus. ASR will also now allow students to stay after graduation in a step-down or Post Graduate program, if they have awkward graduation dates, a need for more credits or if students aren’t yet ready for regular boarding school.

KORI BROWN JOINS ASPEN ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY ADMISSIONS
(Jan 22, 2003) Penni Torgerson, Director of Admissions, Aspen Achievement Academy, Loa, Utah, 800-283-8334 announced:
“Kori Brown has accepted the position of Admissions Counselor. She has been with Aspen Achievement Academy since 1995, and we are confident that her years of experience and commitment to the Academy will make her a great Admissions
Counselor.

CORRECTION OF SALT CENTER LINK
(Jan 24, 2003) Woodbury Reports, Inc., Bonners Ferry, Idaho, 208-267-5550, apologizes for, and wishes to correct our previously published, incorrect information about the University of Arizona’s S.A.L.T. Center. The correction is that the SALT Center’s director is Diane Perreira, Ed.D., who can be reached at 520-621-1427.

NEW ADMISSIONS/MARKETING DIRECTOR AT BRIDGES ACADEMY
(Jan 24, 2003) Bridges Academy, Bend, Oregon, 888-283-7362, , announced: “Sara Engum, has joined the Executive Management Team to head up their admissions and marketing department. Formerly with New Leaf Academy, Sara brings her sincerity and enthusiasm to Bridges.”

NAROPA OFFERS WILDERNESS THERAPY SYMPOSIUM SEPT 26-28, 2003
(January 25, 2003) Rob Meltzer, 303-245-4764, announced that Naropa University Wilderness Therapy Program, is holding a Wilderness Therapy Symposium on September 26-28, 2003. Keynote speaker is Gary Ferguson, author of Shouting at the Sky. The symposium also includes featured speakers, presenters and facilitators who are involved with many wilderness therapy programs in our network. The event is for individuals working in the field, considering a career in Wilderness Therapy, or who wish to integrate wilderness into their current work as educator, therapist, or health service professional. Continuing education credits and fun are available.

OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
(Jan. 30, 2003) The Jason William Hunt Foundation, Supporting At-Risk Youth Through Outdoor Experiential Education, was founded to support outdoor experiential education for at-risk youth through scholarships, grants and general support.  The foundation was named after outdoor educator Jason William Hunt, who died in October 2001 while climbing in British Columbia.

NEW REFERRAL WEB SITE
(Jan. 30, 2003) We found a new web site operated by Earl & Cheryl Spaniol. The site says they found help for their own teen, stating: "I will help you choose the best program/school for your child. Ages 7-22." The programs described on the site are all associated with the World Wide Association of Schools and Programs (WWASP). To view the site, click here.

LANDMARK SCHOOL OFFERS SUMMER SCHOOL & PREPARATORY PROGRAM
(February 2003) Landmark School, Prides Crossing, Massachusetts, 978-236-3000, announces their six-week Summer Program, July 6 – August 15 that will provide children and young adults with a review of basic language arts and study skills. It includes a full day academic program as well as combination programs featuring: Seamanship, Marine Science, and an Adventure Ropes Course. Half-day academic programs also offered for elementary and middle school students. Additionally, they have a Preparatory Program that emphasizes advocacy, organizational and study skills development that is available during the academic year for college-bound students, grades 9-12, who don’t need the intensive level of remediation offered in their standard program.

3RD INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE THERAPY CONFERENCE
(February 02, 2003) The 3rd International Adventure Therapy Conference which will be the first North American conference, is coming to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on April 20-24, 2003. This conference has attracted professionals from around the world, and this years’ conference presenters include health professionals, adventurers, and recreational therapists from Western Europe, Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, and the Balkans, with a majority of representatives from Canada and the United States. Programs represented work with adjudicated youth, people with disabilities, and people with life-threatening illnesses. For information about attending this event click here or e-mail Tara.

NEW HORIZONS WILDERNESS HAS NEW, IMPROVED WEBSITE
(February 03) Audrey Peavey, New Horizons Wilderness Program, Orrington, Main, 800-916-9755, would like to announce the launch of their new and improved website, with hopes that it is easier to read and navigate. They've added parent testimonials, more pictures and new information.

YOUTH CARE TRAINS IN DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY (DBT)
(February 2003) Randie Riegler, Director of Admissions, Youth Care, Draper, Utah, 800-786-4924, announced they are pleased that Youth Care therapists have recently gained training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the “treatment of choice for Borderline Personality Disorder, that has the utility to treat a wide range of psychiatric and behavioral conditions. DBT is an empirically based treatment model that has proven effective in treating multi-problem patients. One of their three homes will be implementing a full DBT milieu, enabling the DBT program to be seamless 24 hours per day.”

ROBIN STEPHENS PROMOTED TO ASPEN’S REGIONAL DIRECTOR
(February 5, 2003) Susan M. Burden, St. Vice-President, Residential Schools & Programs, Aspen Education Group, Inc 562-467-5500, Cerritos, California, , is “pleased to announce the promotion of Robin Stephens to the position of Regional Director, Residential Schools and Programs.” Robin will oversee the operations of the Utah facilities within the residential schools and programs of Aspen Education Group, bringing her extensive experience as the Executive Director and co-founder of YouthCare in l999.

NAWA 15TH ANNUAL SWIFT SPRING TRAINING
(February 12, 2003) NAWA, French Gulch, CA, 800-358-NAWA, is offering an intensive five day training on April 12-17, 2003. Physically demanding and open to the public, it will focus on: vertical Rescue I, Cave Rescue, Swift Water Rescue I, and Basic Wilderness First Aid. No prior experience is needed and NAWA will provide all safety gear and equipment for the training, except wetsuits for swift water rescue, which can be rented locally. Call 800-358-6292 for registration.

CRATER LAKE STAFF RE-CERTIFIES, TEAMS UP WITH BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT CENTER
(February 14, 2003) Steven D. Long, Director of Crater Lake School, a Therapeutic Boarding school, Sprague River, Oregon, 541-533-2279, reports their staff members have been recently re-certified in First Aid & CPR through the American Red Cross. Program Director, Rick Snyder, will be training as a Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (CPI) instructor, which will allow them to train their staff in CPI. They also have teamed up with the Behavioral Management Center in Boise, ID, and are “experiencing wonderful results over the past two years using the objective information received from their CEEG and Evoked Potential testing. We have witnessed a quicker rate of success with our students who battle with Neuropsychological issues.”

2003 TREKS IN THE ALPS: A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
(February 17, 2003) David Denman, Sausalito, CA, 415-332-1831, former master teacher and consultant for the national organization of Quaker schools and colleges, is leading two “rite-of-passage” treks in the Haute Route, in the heart of the Alps. Each trek is limited to 12 participants ages 16-19, with a 1:4 ratio of adults to young people that will include Denman, a co-leader, and a Swiss guide. The boy’s trek is July 6-19, and the girls is July 20-August2, 2003. Last summer the boys on Denman’s trek hiked 120 miles in two weeks “through the most glorious scenery in Switzerland.”

CORRECTION: DR. DWANE ROBERTS IS MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT REDCLIFF ASCENT
(Feb 19, 2003) Loi Eberle, M.A, Educational Consultant and Editor-in-Chief, Woodbury Reports wishes to apologize to Redcliff Ascent Wilderness Experience 800-898-1244, Enterprise, Utah, for neglecting to identify Dwayne Roberts, MD, CCFP, CCFP (EM), CAQ Sports MED, Director, Utah Valley Sports Medicine Fellowship, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, also as the medical director at Redcliff Ascent. At the O.B.H.I.C. Meeting in January, a panel of medical experts discussed medical risk screening for wilderness program participants. Redcliff Ascent was instrumental in arranging Dr. Roberts’ role in this excellent discussion, which is summarized in both the online and print edition of the January 03 Woodbury Reports # 101, To view this article, click here.

PRAESIDIUM, INC OFFERS TO CONDUCT ON-SITE RISK ASSESSMENTS
(February 19, 2003) Asron Lundber, LMSW, Project Manager of Praesidium, Inc., Arlington, Texas, 800-743-6354, “the national leader in abuse risk management,” contacted NATSAP members to offer a wide range of services to help create safe environments to reduce the risk that a youth might be abused in a program. Their Safety Specialists can conduct on-site risk assessment, provide recommendations to help prevent abuse and false allegations, and provide certification once their standards are met. They offer a set of seminars either on-site or via the Internet regarding abuse prevention, response and investigation. They will also do policy review recommendations aimed at protecting youth from abuse and staff from false allegations.

SAGEWALK UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP, MOVES TO REDMOND, OREGON
(February 19, 2003) Sage Walk Wilderness School, Bend Oregon, 541-317-4910, welcomes Larry Solie as their new President of Wilderness Therapy Programs and Executive Director of SageWalk. They are working “in close harmony with Clinical Director, Dr. J. Huffine,” and have relocated their office to Redmond, Oregon. Their field operations are located in the Ochoco Mountains of Central Oregon, where they have permission to use 60,000 acres for therapeutic experiences to encourage growth and self-awareness in their students and to conduct parent workshops.

BROWN SCHOOLS SELLS SIX BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
(February 21, 2003) Marguerite Sallee, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Brown Schools reported they have signed a definitive agreement with Psychiatric Solutions Inc, a leading national provide of behavioral healthcare services, to purchase The Brown School’s six behavioral healthcare facilities. They are: the Brown Schools of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.; The Brown Schools of Oklahoma based in Tulsa, Ok.; Cedar Springs Behavioral Health System in Colorado Springs, Col.; Laurel Ridge Hospital in San Antonio, Tex.; San Marcos Treatment Center in San Marcos, Tex.; and The Oaks Treatment Center in Austin, Tex. Sallee states that PSI is highly regarded in the industry, and will strengthen these facilities. Likewise, the sale will enhance Brown School’s ability to create innovative practices in their emotional growth schools and programs as well as expand their program offerings to address unmet needs.

ANASAZI’S EZEKIEL AND PAULINE SANCHEZ HONORED
(Spring 2003) Ezekiel Sanchez, founder of ANASAZI Foundation, Mesa Arizona, and his wife, Pauline, were recognized as the 2002 National Parents of the Year, and are the first Native American couple to receive such an honor. “They have raised seven wonderful children of their own and help thousands of others through their work at ANASAZI”, said Sylvia Laughter, of Arizona State. The Award was presented by the National Parent’s Day Council and the Washington Times Foundation. Anasazi, 800-678-3445, is also pleased to welcome LuAnne Endres, as their new Director of Admission. She formerly taught students of all ages and also has extensive experience in the world of business.

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