New Leaf Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for girls 10 - 14 upon admission, is pleased to announce that Craig and Christy Christiansen will be resuming ownership of the program. The Christiansen's were the founders of New Leaf Academy in 1997. They have reached agreement with Aspen Education Group to re-acquire the program as of July 1, 2011.
"We are very excited to once again be a part of the New Leaf Academy community," said Craig Christiansen. "The top quality therapeutic program that has developed in our absence since 2007 has some of the strongest outcomes for young girls in the country. The excellent reputation of the program and the quality of the staff were certainly some of the key factors in our decision to resume leadership of the program going forward."
New Leaf Academy was acquired by Aspen Education Group in 2004. New Leaf remained part of the Aspen group until the announcement in March of 2011 that Aspen intended to close the program.
"We were extremely sad to hear about the plans to close the school," Christiansen said. "We really believe that middle school girls need the New Leaf Academy option to effectively address their specific social and emotional needs."
Christiansen has been involved in youth and family services and education more than 35 years. He has been the founder and director of a number of youth programs, both residential and outpatient, community-based care. His experience in youth advocacy in the northwest and Washington, D.C., has contributed to his passion for the middle school population.
New Leaf Academy began as an emotional growth school for younger girls and expanded its services in 2010 to include a strong individual and family therapy program. Services are provided by master's level, licensed clinicians. New Leaf Academy is one of the only programs in the country that specializes in addressing the needs of the pre-adolescent and immature adolescent girl.
"I am very impressed with the level of therapeutic services and care provided to the students and families at New Leaf," said Christiansen. "Our intention is to retain and enhance those services to continue providing the best quality of care for young girls and their families."