FAQ

Yes, our accreditations are accepted across the nation. A student may earn a high school diploma from our school. Occasionally we have a student who is years behind in school and the parents and student together decide to pursue a G.E.D. and afterwards start taking college courses. Here at our boys and girls boarding schools, students have earned up to 20 college credits, which is almost a full year of college.

Yes, we have teachers who are certified through the state of Montana. Our teachers come from diverse backgrounds and are able to relate to and provide the best academic guidance to the students they teach.

Yes, our therapists are licensed by the state of Montana or are currently pursuing their license. Residents at our girls and boys boarding schools receive regular one-on-one counseling with one of our licensed therapists throughout their stay with us. Regular family counseling is another important component of our therapeutic services.

Yes, we are licensed by the state of Montana. As part of our licensure Turning Winds must go through regular rigorous site visits and adhere to high licensing standards.

Turning Winds employs a registered nurse to oversee the students general health needs as well as to oversee and manage administration of medication for those students who take medication. In addition, we also have a psychiatrist who attends to the needs of those taking medication on a monthly basis.

Turning Winds enrolls up to 45 students. This is not much bigger than most public school classrooms. Part of the reason we are one of the most successful private boarding schools is that our program is organized in a way that allows our professional staff adequate time to focus on each individual. We know that each one of our students is in desperate need of help and are committed to providing the necessary assistance to each teenager in our care.

Turning Winds enrolls students on a “first come, first serve” basis. We typically have beds available but are full at times. The best thing to do is to download and fill out our application immediately. Once the application has been completed and faxed back to us and the child is accepted into our school we will guarantee a place for your son or daughter. We are here to help you through the entire admissions process. Call now, or contact us to secure your child’s place at Turning Winds - (800) 845-1380.

Because we know human behavior so well we know that once a path is chosen it is usually followed unless an intervention is made. In a way we can be likened to a tree. When the tree is young it is very pliable. It can be moved in any direction. The older and bigger it gets, the less malleable it becomes. People are similar. The longer we hold onto behaviors the more attached they become and the more difficult it becomes to rid ourselves of them. The key is getting your son or daughter to us as soon as possible so that we have the best chance to help him or her change. Turning Winds is able to work with almost any teen in any stage of life. Call now to speak to an admissions counselor or contact us to consider your child’s need for placement at (800) 845-1380.

The probability your child will change is very great. We are very good at working with teens and providing an environment where struggling teens can have an optimal chance for success. While it is ultimately up to the child to make the decision to change, our program does provide a significant pull through our strong peer culture and experienced staff who excel in influencing teens to change as quickly as possible. Turning Winds has a very good success rate.

There may certainly be resentment at first but in most cases it will dissipate rather quickly. We have never had a student who has not let go of negative feelings being held as a result of being sent to Turning Winds. In almost every case, when a teen graduates from the orientation phase of our program there are wet eyes as they see their parents for the first time. Also, it is very common to see our students, as they are addressing their parents during their commencement, look at their parents with tear filled eyes and thank them for saving their life. That is a moment that every parent can look forward to with great anticipation.

Our staff is among the best in the industry. We do thorough background checks on all of our employees. Our staff must go through extensive training each year to retain employment at Turning Winds.

Turning Winds is a “well-oiled” machine. We have been in the teen business long enough to know what works and what does not work. Our main areas of focus are: behavior transformation, emotional stability, and academic achievement. We are very good at what we do. Below are a few key points that could set us apart from other programs.

• Environmentally friendly as we generate most of our power through solar technology; we are conservation minded and teach principles of “Leave No Trace” while in the outdoors.
• We have a time tested program that has been around for over a decade.
• An international school providing a rich cultural experience.
• World Class Chef for preparing some of the finest foods.
• Approved GED, SAT, ACT and CLEP Testing Center.
• First-class experienced clinical team.
• Assist parents in working with insurance reimbursement.
• One-on-one regular therapy sessions.
• Focus on character education.
• Families and Value’s Based Program
• Certified teachers coming from a variety of backgrounds in education, affording them the necessary tools to cultivate success with each student.
• Small program design, which allows us to focus on the individual (Helps to prevent any child from “slipping through the cracks”).
• Intensive parent support through webinars, regular family counseling sessions, parent workshops and an effective aftercare program available.
• Approved Venturing Program for youth.
• Turning Winds employees are among the best in the industry.
• Serene setting -located in Northwestern Montana on 150 acres with a beautiful trout river flowing through the property.
• Fully accredited academic institute accredited by Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC).
• Utilize the outdoors to help facilitate change.
• We have successfully helped hundreds of teens in crisis.

The average length of stay is approximately 12 months, with a six month minimum commitment. Although that is the average, the length of stay will vary for each teen we help. Some of our students are ready to go home after 12 months while occasionally others may need to stay a little longer in order to go home and be successful.

Turning Winds is located in beautiful Northwestern Montana. Our facilities are nestled in the Purcell Mountains on 150+ acres. The south fork of the Yaak River runs through the entire property and is a great location for fishing and swimming in the summer. Outdoor activities are easily accessible right from our back door.

A person with chronic cancer is not going to go to the hospital around the corner for treatment. They will go to a specialty hospital where they have the best chance of getting the help they need to get better. Turning Winds is a Specialty Boarding School. We are unique in the family oriented and values based approach we take in helping our teens make a change for the better. Families from all over the world have chosen our private school to help provide the necessary healing for their teen to overcome self-destructive behaviors. We are the best at what we do!

The most important thing that should be considered when looking to place a teen out of the home is what the program has to offer in terms of helping the child, not necessarily the program location. We accept students from all over the United States as well as internationally. Turning Winds is designed to successfully work with families in many different geographic locations. Over the past decade we have enrolled students from every major continent in the world (Click here for foreign enrollment information).

To understand the financial commitment for our programs, please contact an admissions counselor today at 800-845-1380 to discuss payment options.