March 27, 2008 15:31 ET

Turning Winds Academic Institute Uses Three-Step Process to Help Struggling Teens

TROY, MT--(Marketwire - March 27, 2008) - Turning Winds Academic Institute, a therapeutic boarding school located in northwestern Montana, is taking a unique approach to helping at-risk teens who suffer from substance abuse, behavioral disorders and other related issues. The school is currently implementing its program in a three-step "phasing" process, which includes orientation, transition and aftercare.

The school provides assistance to both boys and girls, ages 12 to 18, and is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools and National Independent Private Schools Association. The school's secluded location allows for a distraction-free education, while offering students the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. The phasing program also gets parents and counselors involved after students leave school and integrate back into their home environments.

"Our proven program helps teens find the potential that is within all of them," said Owen Baisden, vice president of operations for Turning Winds Academic Institute.

"We feel all three phases are extremely important, including the Aftercare phase, which is implemented once a student leaves our facility," he added.

When a student arrives at Turning Winds Academic Institute, he or she begins the Orientation phase, which can last anywhere from four to six months. Also known as the stabilization phase, students participate in individual and group counseling sessions, life skills classes, team-building activities and outdoor adventures to cultivate personal growth and internal change.

The second step, or Transition phase, prepares students for transition back into the home environment. During this phase, emphasis is placed on emotional, behavioral and academic stability. Teens start the transitioning process back home, which includes a series of visits from family members and short home visits for each child.

Lastly, after arriving home, students work with an assigned therapist for weekly counseling sessions and continued support during the critical Aftercare phase. A brief return visit back to Turning Winds Academic Institute within three months of departure is recommended.

The entire program averages approximately 12 months per child. With enrollment capacity of only 40 students, the school's small environment allows for intensive focus on each individual, allowing no child to slip through the cracks.

For more information, visit www.turningwinds.com or call 1-800-845-1380.