SUWS Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are your safety practices?

A. We consider safety our number one priority. A full list of our comprehensive safety practices can be found here.

Q. What level of supervision will my child receive?

A. Your child will be supervised as outlined in our program manual by our qualified and caring staff. The level of supervision our students receive is in direct correlation to the level of severity of their behavioral issues and as required by applicable laws and regulations.

Q. What are the qualifications of the staff caring for my child?

A. Staff biographies can be found here. In addition, we conduct background checks on all employees prior to hiring to ensure that we hire quality individuals and in compliance with all state regulations. At least one staff member who is First Aid and CPR certified will be available to your child at all times. Our staff also receives ongoing training to enhance our quality of care.

Q. What happens if there is an emergency?

A. As a program of Aspen Education Group, we have established best practices and risk management procedures which include emergency preparedness training and response. Should there be an emergency situation, such as a natural disaster, you will be notified by someone within our organization with as much detail as possible, as soon as possible. Your child's safety is our number one priority, and we will do everything it takes to keep our students out of harm's way.

Q. May I speak with another parent who sent their child to your program?

A. Of course! We appreciate the fact that you are doing your due diligence when it comes to selecting the right program for your child and, as such, will provide you with a list of references. Just contact us by clicking here. Or, listen and read what some of our program graduates and parents have said here.

Q. What is your success rate?

A. Your child's success is dependent on many factors, the most important being the level at which you and your family choose to participate throughout the therapeutic process and your child's willingness to make positive changes. Our parent company, Aspen Education Group, has voluntarily participated in independent research studies to determine outcome success rates and behaviors. These study results can be found here. Aspen programs have over two decades of experience helping youth and families get their lives back on track.

Q. What does SUWS stand for?

A. In its formative years, SUWS was known as The School of Urban and Wilderness Survival, with the focus on a basic survivalist approach. It gradually grew into a more comprehensive treatment program with an emphasis on combining the undeniable impact of the wilderness with an emotional growth-oriented curriculum. Today, you might say SUWS stands for Structure, Unconditional support, Wilderness impact, and Success – plus a whole lot more!

Q. Why do kids with ADHD seem to thrive at SUWS?

A. Location, location, location! The unique SUWS environment, with its high level of structure, small group sizes, "cause and effect" curriculum, and emphasis on relationships and positive  reinforcement makes for an ideal setting to begin building healthier coping behaviors and interpersonal skills. Our model affords much-needed structure and consistency regarding the treatment team, peer group dynamics, and provides a sense of completion.

Q. Why are words like "field supervisors" and "field instructors" used to describe the SUWS staff instead of "therapists" and "counselors"?

A. Many students participated in therapy or counseling prior to coming to SUWS. If they learn that they will be working with a counselor or therapist, they may be tempted to approach the program using the words, stories, and (perhaps) manipulations they used in the past. We use words like "student," "supervisor," and "instructor" to differentiate SUWS from other, more familiar and predictable approaches to treatment, and this unpredictability is crucial in the initial work we do.

Q. Why does the field supervisor wait five days before beginning individual and group work with the students?

A. The reason SUWS reaches adolescents faster and more intensely than any other program is because we have mastered the art of pattern work. We allow plenty of time for the students' maladaptive coping patterns to emerge and eventually become a problem for them. This process takes patience and time and a great deal of skill and finesse on the part of the instructors. If field supervisors were to begin their work earlier, students would still be in their patterns of control and not nearly as eager or motivated to accept support and guidance. Also, if the students think they will be "doing therapy" when they start the program, they may be tempted to act or talk a certain way to meet perceived criteria. Not knowing what's ahead for a week or so is a powerful tool.

Q. Why do SUWS field supervisors spend so much time in the field?

A. SUWS field supervisors don't simply do outpatient therapy in a wilderness setting. Some programs have the therapists conduct a set number of individual and group sessions per week. SUWS field supervisors play an integral role in the entire therapeutic process and are available to their students at any time. Seizing the moment is crucial in the work of the field supervisor, and some of those "moments" occur outside of a typical 9-to-5, five-days-a-week schedule. This level of commitment and availability enables the students to experience guided emotional growth work when they are ready to receive it.

SUWS employees are guided by the core values: Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Responsibility, and Excellence.

Q. Where is your program located?

A. SUWS is based in Shoshone, Idaho, and our wilderness programs operate in the rugged, beautiful Bennett Hills area in the southern part of the state.

Q. What types of students is your program prepared to serve?

A. We specialize in treating boys and girls ages 11 to 17 who need professional help to identify and work through internal conflicts and emotional obstacles that have kept them from responding to parental efforts, schools, and treatment.

SUWS students often come to us with a history of anger, defiance, grief, rebellion impulsivity, substance abuse and/or academic failure. Common symptoms and diagnoses among SUWS students include low self-esteem, ADD/ADHD, mood disorders and anxiety disorders.

Q. Do any disorders or issues disqualify a student from enrolling in your program?

A. Certain psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral conditions – such as antisocial personality disorder, severe eating disorders and extreme suicide risk – may preclude admission, and will warrant additional evaluation by our treatment team. For more information about potential disqualifying criteria, visit our Admissions page.

Q. How much will treatment cost?

A. Because we offer comprehensive and highly individualized services and varying lengths of stay (from 28 days to nine weeks), costs associated with enrolling in SUWS depend upon a number of personal factors.

Our admissions advisors will be happy to work with you to develop a detailed financial picture based upon your family’s unique needs.

Q. Does your program accept insurance or provide financing options?

A. If you have health insurance and would like a statement of your child's SUWS placement, we will be happy to provide you with it. However, SUWS is unable to directly bill insurance companies and therefore requires parents to assume this responsibility independent of tuition payment.

Financing is available through our partnership with Clark Behavioral Health Financing.
CBHF features multiple loan products with competitive rates, and a possible deferral of interest for up to 6 months with no prepayment penalties or cancellation fees. For more detailed information visit our Tuition & Financial Assistance page.

Q. Who will be supervising and working with my child?

A. In addition to being supremely talented, dedicated and experienced, the members of our academic, clinical and administrative teams hold a range of credentials, licenses and certifications.

For more specific information about the professionals who make SUWS such a powerful and effective program, visit our Staff page.

Q. Is your program licensed?

A. Yes. SUWS is proud to be the first licensed outdoor program in the state of Idaho.

Q. How long will my child need to remain in your program?

We offer flexible lengths of stay, depending upon the unique history and specific needs of each student. The average length of stay at SUWS is four to nine weeks – though in certain circumstances students are able to make significant strides in enrollment periods as short as 28 days.

Q. Does your program have an academic component?

A. Yes. Students receive a new portion of their academic curriculum at the start of each phase of their wilderness experience. The completed curriculum contains philosophy, outdoor skills instruction, history and science lessons, journal assignments, and stories.

When your child completes our program we will provide you with a grade sheet that documents hours spent in specific subjects. You can forward this information to your child’s home school, which will make the ultimate determination regarding approved transferrable credits. Many SUWS families have been successful in obtaining credit in this manner.

Q.  What types of therapeutic/clinical support will my child receive?

A. Your child will work with a team of treatment professionals, including a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Director, Field Supervisors/Therapists and Field Instructors.

At SUWS we believe that successful treatment is best accomplished through small groups and individual attention. For this reason the typical group size is seven students, led by the core treatment team of one field supervisor/therapist and two field instructors. With this low staff-to-student ratio, students receive the personal attention and care they need to ensure a positive, self-affirming experience.

For details visit our Treatment Team page.

Q. What is a typical day like for a student in your program?

A. SUWS is an innovative, dynamic program that focuses on the unique needs of the specific students with whom we are working. As a result, every day at SUWS is unique. However, all of the activities that our students complete have been designed to bring them closer to both interim and long-term goals. For a closer look at the phased progression of student life at SUWS, visit our Search and Rescue page.

Q. How much involvement will I have in my child’s experience at SUWS?

A. We recognize the importance of the family in the growth process, and we are proud to provide a range of wonderful tools and resources for the parents and families of our students. For more detailed information visit our Family Support page and read about our Family Camps.

Q. How do you prepare students (and families) for life after they complete your program?

A. The SUWS Troubled Teen Treatment Program supports your child's long-term success by offering support with aftercare placement. A case manager works with the field supervisor/therapist and can provide information about educational consultants and program s that may be appropriate for your child upon completion of the SUWS experience. Learn more about our transition support services.

Q. How can I learn more about your program?

A. Call (888) 879-7897 or visit our Contact page. We look forward to having the opportunity to discuss the many benefits of our program and to answer all of your questions about SUWS!

 

 

 

SUWS Adolescent and Youth Programs are programs of Aspen Education Group, a member of CRC Health Group.