Description
This event is open to Parents, Educators and Mental Health Professionals (CEU’s provided) ~
Fusion Community Event in collaboration with 360 to 180 Therapeutic & Educational Consultants
The Teaching-Family Model – A relational, brain-based learning approach proven to heal trauma and effect lasting change
Learning Objectives
- Provide overview of the Teaching-Family Model
- Understand the goals and characteristics of the Model
- Discuss implementation of the Model at Alpine Academy
- Know the benefits of creating normalcy in residential treatment
- Connect with tools and resources for implementing this evidence-based model at home, school, and other settings
Feeling safe, experiencing teen life, gaining self-confidence, building healthy relationships, trying new activities, and increasing resilience are benefits that students at Alpine Academy experience through a treatment model that is research-born, evidence-based, and trauma-informed.
Wanting to have a “normal” life is a phrase often used to describe the hope that youth and families have when considering residential treatment. Unfortunately, youth who experience severe anxiety, depression, trauma, and other extreme challenges feel that “normal” life is outside of their grasp. They and their families often operate in survival mode and are desperate for a life of growth, healthy relationships, and enjoyment. Alpine Academy Therapeutic Schools is devoted to providing the environment and opportunities that students and families strive for.”
Creating healthy teen life experiences is a priority at Alpine Academy. The unique family-style setting, in homes rather than dorms, creates a non-institutional environment that is ideal for youth to feel safe while they develop new routines, build relationships, heal, and grow. Preparing and eating meals together, doing homework, performing household chores, and participating in group activities are opportunities for students to learn new skills and create new thinking and behavioral patterns.
Youth discover abilities they didn’t know they had in the academic programs of each campus. Small class sizes, individualized academic plans, and robust curricula contribute to students’ educational success.
Youth have the freedom of self-expression in their dress and appearance as well as preferred names and pronouns. While gender identity and exploration are not the primary reasons to be in treatment, both the Mountain View Campus, serving up to 70 students assigned female at birth (AFAB), and the Lakeview Campus serving 20 students assigned male at birth (AMAB) are gender-supportive. The culture on each campus creates a safe space for self-determination and inclusion.
Students create peer relationships that are safe and meaningful to them by participating in a variety of social experiences. These experiences are typical of the social activities that occur in other middle school and high school settings. Alpine’s two campuses are located just three miles apart which provides the opportunity to combine both campuses for highly supervised get-togethers such as dances, combined group therapy sessions, parties, clubs, and service projects. This makes for a more normalized teen experience. Other times, activities are conducted with those students from just their campus, such as intramurals, camping trips, weekend excursions, and movie nights.
Understanding and learning how appropriate behavior changes in different settings was a recent growing experience when students from both campuses traveled to Salt Lake City and enjoyed a semi-formal holiday party that included dressing up, learning and using proper etiquette during a formal dinner, and enjoying a musical performance. Exposing students to different activities provide choices for them to then determine what is most enjoyable to them as they learn and grow in life.
Speakers:
Christian Egan, Director of Programs, CMHC
Donna Jenkins, Academic Director and former SPED Director
Jill McIntyre, Business Development Director
About Alpine Academy Therapeutic Schools
Alpine Academy Therapeutic Schools, state-licensed as residential treatment for adolescents, ages 12-18, includes two campuses – one for birth-assigned males and one for birth-assigned females. The 30+ acre, Utah campuses are just three miles apart and are only 30 minutes west of the Salt Lake City International Airport. Both campuses serve students experiencing severe emotional challenges. Alpine is a fully accredited nonpublic school with dual-endorsed teachers at the front of every classroom. Therapy, with master’s level clinicians, is built into the school day. Alpine’s evidence-based model and therapeutic, family-style setting is a strength-based, trauma-informed, individualized approach that allows students to learn healthy behaviors in a setting that best replicates home, school, and community life. Contact: Jill McIntyre 801-815-4683 or jmcintyre@alpineacademy.org.
This presentation will be repeated on the same day at our sister campuses in DFW. If you cannot attend the Plano event, please contact Kasey Evans, Director of Outreach to RSVP for the presentation at the Fusion Southlake Campus and/or the presentation at the Fusion Dallas Campus. Email kevans@fusionacademy.com
Event Location
Fusion Academy Plano
2400 Dallas Pkwy Suite 180, Plano, TX 75093
