SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center
St. George, UT

SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center, formerly SunHawk Academy, today officially announced its name change to more accurately reflect the program's primary focus: alcohol and substance abuse recovery for teens.

Located in St. George, Utah, SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center is licensed as an Adolescent Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Center for teens ages 13-17. Its comprehensive substance abuse recovery program is grounded in the 12 Step philosophies and combines an intense clinical intervention with individual and group therapy, accredited academics, and family development workshops to help teens address their substance use and learn to live a life of recovery.

"SunHawk has been specializing in substance abuse treatment for teens for some time now," says Ben Harris, Executive Director of the program. "Changing our name is merely a formality to better define what our focus has long been and what referring professionals have come to understand and appreciate about SunHawk."

SunHawk staff receive extensive addiction training and have years of experience in substance abuse treatment. Many staff are in their own personal recovery and utilize the 12 Steps in their own lives, providing a valuable role model and resource to help students practically apply the 12 Steps in their daily lives.

"Our adolescents actively work all 12 Steps and complete intensive work on steps one through five," says Harris. "They are involved in daily AA meetings in the local community as well as on site."

"The 12 Step principles of honesty, personal accountability, reliance on a higher power and service to others are the backbone of our program," he adds.

SunHawk integrates all aspects of the program into the recovery process. As the adolescents engage in recreational activities, academics, group work, service opportunities and physical exercise, they learn how the principles of the 12 Steps apply to every aspect of life. Concepts such as surrendering, taking a personal inventory and holding oneself accountable are applied to the ups and downs of their daily experience.

In addition, SunHawk adolescents experience spirituality as a daily reality in their lives, not as an abstract concept. Students learn the meaning of spirituality as they experience humility, empathy, and charity through regular service activities and in-depth study and practice of the 12 Steps.

Treatment is further enhanced with more than 30 hours of group work per week. During groups, adolescents identify the core issues which contributed to their substance abuse. SunHawk's unique peer culture creates a safe environment to openly experience and express feelings with one another, helping the students realize they are not alone in recovery.

Relapse prevention planning, a crucial element to the recovery process, begins at the time of enrollment. The student and family are involved in frequent experiential and education groups throughout the treatment process so that the adolescent and their "sober support systems" learn to identify and manage triggers and warning signs associated with their substance abuse. A family recovery program reinforces this "team" approach and includes parent workshops, family counseling, substance abuse education, 12 Step involvement, and specific family assignments to teach parents the necessary tools to develop a family recovery plan.

"SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center is a unique, cost-effective option for parents and professionals," says Harris. "By combining the intensive substance abuse treatment and education, 12 Step philosophies and holistic activities of a traditional rehabilitation program with the recovery time necessary for successful internalization of skills and lifelong sobriety, we are providing families with the best value."

SunHawk Adolescent Recovery Center is one of the few long-term primary intervention treatment centers for youth struggling with substance abuse issues. The program combines an intense clinical intervention with individual and group therapy, accredited academics, and family development workshops to help teens achieve and sustain sobriety. Grounded with a 12 Step philosophy, SunHawk provides an environment that encourages teens to improve communication skills, academic performance and family relationships while living a healthy, sober lifestyle.

SunHawk Academy is a program of Aspen Education Group, the nation's leading provider of therapeutic education programs for struggling or underachieving young people. Aspen's services range from short-term intervention programs to residential treatment, and include a variety of therapeutic settings such as boarding schools, outdoor behavioral health programs and special needs summer camps, allowing professionals and families the opportunity to choose the best setting to meet a student's unique academic and emotional needs. Aspen is a division of CRC Health Group, the nation's largest chemical dependency and related behavioral health organization. For over two decades, CRC Health has been achieving successful outcomes for individuals and families.

For more information, visit www.crchealth.com.