Seen 'n Heard, 4/1997 - Short news clips about Special Schools & Programs

BAKER OF AL. 3 SPRINGS RECEIVES STATE AWARD
Penny Baker, Special Services Coordinator for Three Springs Outdoor Therapeutic Program, was awarded the Flora Boyd award. The nomination was made by child care workers throughout the state of Alabama.

SCOTT CANTER JOINS ASPEN HEALTH SERVICES
As of February 18, 1997, Scott Canter, 800-283-8334, started as an Admissions Consultant for both Aspen Ranch and Aspen Achievement Academy. Scott most recently was the Director of Admissions for Hidden Lake Academy in Georgia, and several years before that was counselor at CEDU High School for a year.

CENTER FOR REUNITING FAMILIES CLOSES
Peter Huber Ph.D., 909- 794-3800, Director of Admissions for Center for Reuniting Families in Angelus Oaks, California announced early in February that he had decided to close down the Center. The Center has been in operation for approximately a year as a residential program for teens with behavioral/emotional problems.

CATHERINE FREER WHITEWATER CAMP ANNOUNCED
Brooke Anderson, 541- 926-7252, announced Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions is establishing a Whitewater Camp for this summer. “This program is intended for adolescents, 13 to 17, who are experiencing low self-esteem, poor motivation and a lack of direction. It is designed for adolescents who are not in need of the clinical intensity of a Freer Expedition but would benefit from a structured summer program. We will accept adolescents who have some behavioral or emotional problems such that they are not suited for a standard summer camp, as well as graduates of the Freer program.” The length will be 16 days.

RESEARCH IN WILDERNESS THERAPY PUBLISHED
The Wilderness Research Center at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho has published a compendium which is the result of compiling and annotating much of the research-based literature available describing the use of wilderness for personal growth for the past twenty-five years. Titled Studies of the Use of Wilderness for Personal Growth, Therapy, Education, and Leadership Development: an Annotation and Evaluation, it has descriptions of 187 pieces of research-based literature pertinent to an enhanced understanding of the use of wilderness and the outdoors for personal growth, healing, and enrichment. This compendium can be purchased from the University of Idaho Wilderness Research Center, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences, Room 18-A, Moscow, ID 83844-1144 or call 208- 885-2267 or e-mail wrc@uidaho.edu.

J BAR J DIRECTOR RESIGNS
It was announced in the Bend, Oregon Bulletin on February 9th, 1997 that Craig Christiansen, Executive Director of J Bar J Youth Services, resigned earlier this month. The interim director will be Stephanie Alstead. The article explains that J Bar J Youth Services “provides a wide variety of services to help 12,000 at-risk youths annually from throughout the state.” Programs include the Big Brother/Big Sister of Central Oregon, J Bar J Boys Ranch, and the Academy at Sisters. The last two are residential programs with the Academy at Sisters being a private pay program for girls. “The organization receives most of its funding from public sources. In the 1993-94 fiscal year, just over $1 million of the $1,191,832 J Bar J received in revenue came from federal, state and local governments.”

HAMPSHIRE COUNTRY SCHOOL
William Dickerman, Interim Headmaster (apparently permanently interim), 603-899-3325, reports the school, as of January, had 22 students, and could probably handle three more. They especially would like more girls. Their youngest is 8 and their oldest is 18, though most are between 10 and 15 years old. Dickerman considers this a transition year while they modified some of their operations and introduced a number of new faculty members. He reports the year is going well. Most classes have about four students. “Our goal is to be a school that is informal but structured, relaxed but productive, and traditional but able to adapt to bright students who may have certain quirks or idiosyncracies.”

THE FIVE DEFINITIONS OF A.D.D
Attention Deficit Disorder Anxiety Depression Disorder Agitated Depressive Disorder Angry Demanding Disorder Awful Doctor Disorder -name withheld by request.