ASPEN HIRES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
(September 1, 1999) Brad Gerrard, formerly with Pine Crest Hospital in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was hired as Director of Business Development by Aspen Youth Services. For the time being, Gerrard will be working out of Coeur d’Alene, but will be moving his office to Salt Lake City by March.

JUDSON SCHOOL TO CLOSE
(November 30, 1999) Headmaster Dennis P. Gray, Judson School, Scottsdale, Arizona, 602-948-7731, and the Board of Directors announced that after 70 years of operation, Judson School will close at the conclusion of this school year. The reason given was that the market for a school like Judson has changed. The school’s Alpine Summer Programs will operate “at full strength in the summer of 2000 and beyond.” For the full Press Release, check the News Section of the web site Places for Struggling Teens.

WOODFIN EXHIBITS PAINTINGS
(December 3, 1999) Christie Theriot Woodfin, IECA member and a Certified Educational Planner, Houston, Texas, 713-942-0345, along with Caroline Graham, have their paintings on Exhibit from December 1, 1999 to January 2, 2000 at The Cloister Gallery, Christ Church Cathedral, Texas at Fannin, Houston, Texas.

HIDDEN LAKE ACADEMY ACCREDITATION
(December 7, 1999) Rusty Ray, Director of Academics at Hidden Lake Academy (HLA), Dahlonega, Georgia, 706-864-4730, a structured residential school, announced the school has been accepted as a Candidate for Accreditation with the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). SACS has stringent requirements, and a school must be in existence for at least five years before it can even begin the process of applying for accreditation. In the negotiations, Ray reported, the representatives of SACS were so impressed with what HLA was doing that they recommended they apply for accreditation as a Traditional Private School, which has higher academic requirements than the category the school started the application with as a Special Purpose school.

ASPEN YOUTH SERVICES ACQUIRES YOUTH CARE, INC.
(December 9, 1999) Elliot A. Sainer, CEO of Aspen Youth Services, 562-467-5507, announced the purchase of Youth Care, Inc., that operates educational and treatment services at two JCAHO accredited residential treatment centers for adolescents in the Salt Lake City, Utah area under the names of Pine Ridge Academy and Youth Care. Aspen Youth Services provides education, treatment and rehabilitation services to at-risk youth and their families in 38 programs in eight states.

ADMISSIONS CHANGE AT KING GEORGE SCHOOL
(December 7, 1999) Rebecca Plona, Director of Admissions at King George School, Sutton, Vermont, 800-218-5122, announced Sarah Creel-Hake has joined the department as Rebecca’s new assistant, replacing Joyce Gammell who will be returning to her former position as the administrative assistant for the school’s founder, Linda Houghton.

WILDERNESS RISK ASSESSMENT BY COOLEY
(December 10, 1999) Rob Cooley, Ph.D., founder of Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions, Albany, Oregon, 541-926-7252, made available his research on risk assessment comparing the risks of wilderness therapy with other common adolescent activities. The summary concluded “Incident rates for four wilderness treatment programs compared to rates for other activities indicate that the fatality risk of wilderness treatment is about on a par with cross-country skiing; a little safer than canoeing, somewhat less risky than going on a summer adventure camp for adolescents; half as risky as overnight backpacking in general; considerably safer than downhill skiing; about 18 times less likely to result to injury than are high school football practices, and less than half as risky for fatal accident as motor vehicles for 15 to 19 year olds.” The full report can be found on Woodbury Reports web site.

SBSA 2000 MARCH 9-11 AT LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT
(December 13, 1999) The Small Boarding Schools Association (SBSA) announced their annual conference will be hosted by The Forman School in Litchfield, Connecticut, March 9-11, 2000. Registration packets will be mailed in January.

CORRECTION
(December 14, 1999) The review in the New Perspectives for Olympus View Hospital, reviewed in the December, 1999 issue of Woodbury Reports Places for Struggling Teens, issue # 64, was inadvertently printed. As several people have advised us lately, the hospital no longer treats juveniles. In our defense, their brochure must have been sitting in my intake pile for some time, and somehow got mixed in with the new mail. Our apologies, and we will institute a policy of double checking on resources when we don’t have personal, regular contact with their staff. The egg on our faces should be gone by the next edition.

CORRECTION
(December 14, 1999) The item in the December, 1999, issue #64, Seen n’Heard, in Woodbury Reports Places for Struggling Teens regarding changes at Spring Ridge Academy, 520-632-4602, was incorrect. Mary Biewen, their new Admissions Director, has been with the school over ten months. Also, Bill Hickey, their new Community Director, is not married (and he did not suddenly acquire a wife), and his work integrating a ropes course curriculum is at an off campus facility. Apologies for the inaccuracies.

FUDGE PLANS YOUTH RANCH
(Dec. 17, 1999) Janet (Chris) Fudge, 435-826-4847, who had been Admissions Director for Turn-Around Ranch in southern Utah for eight years, informed Woodbury Reports she and her husband are planning to develop the Sun Mountain Youth Ranch near Orofino, Idaho. Using a group home model, they anticipate opening their doors in about six-seven months and are currently working with Clearwater County’s Planning and Zoning Board and making construction plans.

SORENSON RANCH SCHOOL GROWTH
(Dec. 17, 1999) Burnell Sorenson, Founder and Admissions Director for Sorenson Ranch School, 435-638-7318, reports they are in the process of constructing a building which will house a new library, conference rooms, staff lounge, and administrative offices, allowing them more classrooms and therapy rooms. High Top Academy, their program for 11 and 12 year olds located two miles from the main campus, has been having an average of nine students.

SPEAR GIVES KANSAS CITY PRESENTATION
(December 18, 1999) Rob Spear, Sagle, Idaho, 208-255-1200, founder of “Deliberate Directions,” designed to focus on personal and professional growth, received favorable Kansas City area newspaper coverage for a successful presentation to 300 eighth-graders on the importance of emphasizing respect for others.

MOUNT BACHELOR ACADEMY GRADUATION
(December 19, 1999) Mount Bachelor Academy, Bend Oregon, 800-462-3404, a structured boarding school, graduated 12 students.

LITTLE KESWICK GOLF TOURNAMENT
(December 22, 1999) Little Keswick School, Keswick, Virginia, 804-295-0457, a residential special education school for boys ages 7-18, announced their 8th Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be Monday, April 17, 2000.

TYLER BOYS RANCH EXPANDS SERVICES
(December 22, 1999) Jon Tyler, founder and director of Tyler Ranch, Spokane, Washington, 509-327- 6900, announced they have expanded the physical fitness component of their program by twice weekly attendance by the boys at a local teen center and a neighborhood gymnasium. They also have expanded their education support ability by an Educational Coordinator certified through Brigham Young University so boys short of credits can take classes at Tyler Ranch in addition to their public school classes.

LAWSUIT BY EX-CROSS CREEK EMPLOYEES
(December 23, 1999) The Spectrum Online, based in St. George, Utah reported some unnamed employees of Cross Creek Manor, LaVerkin, Utah, a structured residential school and behavior modification program for girls, 800-818-6228, was being sued by former employees who objected to working hours with the kids that they were not compensated for. The point of law seems to be based on differing interpretations of The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

ROYAL HAVEN TO CLOSE
(December 27, 1999) Steve and Karen Gage, founders of Royal Haven, in Bend, Oregon, 541-549-4362, a girls program that has been operating for eight years, announced they are closing their program. The basic reason was they felt they were getting too tired and needed a break. Their plans are to close down the program as soon as possible, and as soon as alternative places are found for all the girls currently with them, take a good restful vacation and perhaps move to a warm climate.

ALLDREDGE ACADEMY SUCCESSES
(December 29, 1999) Glenn Bender, Admissions Director for Alldredge Academy, Davis, West Virginia, 877-253-7334, alldredgeacademy@ibm.net, announced their “Semester Back” program has had 75 graduates since the academy opened last May. The short term program is designed for students who have failed in their school, and strives to impact their thinking enough to get them back in their old school ready to succeed.