ADMISSIONS

Our average length of stay is generally a full school year.  We have a minimum stay of 6 months.  

Yes, Mountain Springs is SEVIS approved by the Dept. of Homeland Security to take international students on a student visa. All students are welcome whether they are from the United States or live in another country.

New students are admitted as beds become available. While historically Mountain Springs runs full with a waiting list, there is also a seasonal element as well, with certain times of the year when beds are available without delay. These beds are always first-come, first-serve as long as all criteria for admission is met.

While the process varies from family to family, there are certain things we always recommend to families to help them make an informed decision:

1. Call our Admissions Director at 435-592-3220. She can help you understand not only what type of teen does best at a residential treatment center, but just as importantly, who is not appropriate for one of our programs.
2. Your student will undergo a screening process, including a review of their psychological evaluation, IEP/504 Plan, medical records, and conversations with previous therapists, to assess their suitability for our treatment program.
3. If your child is approved to enroll, we would then encourage you to come tour our campus and meet our team in person. If you are unable to travel to meet us in person, we are happy to accommodate a tour virtually via video chat.
4. Many of our alumni families have waived their right to confidentiality and will discuss their experience with you. You will find their stories inspiring and insightful into what their journey was like for them.
5. If you decide that Mountain Springs is appropriate for your situation, we will ask you to fill out the application, you will need to receive a link from our admissions team.
6. You will be provided with a packing list and our admission checklist that includes items and documentation required by the state of Utah.
7. You will be provided with service agreements to review and sign.  

As a private school we are not able to developed Individualized Education Plans (IEP), as these are only developed by a public school.  If your student has an IEP, we will ask for a copy so we can follow it. For students who might have specialized academic needs, but do not have an IEP, our Special Education Coordinator will establish an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) to meet specialized needs.  If your student has a 504 plan, we will ask for a copy so that we can follow the accommodations outlined.  We can also develop a 504 plan if it is determined that it is needed.  

At an additional cost, we provide tutoring for students who might need extra assistance.  Tutoring is available from individuals in the community who are qualified in specific subject areas. Tutors will come to the school after school hours and work with a student one-on-one. Parents can also hire a tutor to work on SAT/ACT prep with their student. Additionally, there is ACT prep available through an on-line support option.

We provide a proctored study hall for all students.  Depending on a student's grades, they might be assigned to a required study hall period after school has completed for the day.  Teachers can receive assistance in study hall.  They can also meet individually with their teachers if assistance is needed.  

At Mountain Springs, our goal is to create a supportive environment where parents and students can grow together, ensuring a cohesive and proactive approach to overcoming challenges and achieving success. We believe in a collaborative approach that involves parents directly in their child's journey, contrasting with the more detached roles found in residential treatment centers or wilderness programs. Our unique environment is designed to facilitate a seamless transition for both parents and students, empowering parents to reclaim their pivotal role in the parenting process and decision-making.

• Home Visit Flexibility
  Students must complete a one-month stay before their first home visit. After this initial period, parents, in collaboration with the school and their therapist, decide the timing and duration of subsequent visits.
• Active Participation in Solutions and Consequences
  Parents are deeply involved in resolving issues and setting consequences when their child encounters challenges. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and work with their parents to find solutions, supported by their Advisor and Therapist.
• Enhanced Family Communication
  We prepare families for the future by fostering increased communication. This includes more frequent social calls and the gradual introduction of cell phones and other electronic devices, ensuring parents stay connected with their child’s progress.
• Frequent Visits and Parent Weekends
  Parents are welcome to visit the school as often as they wish. Additionally, we host formal Parent Weekends once per semester. These events allow parents to engage with administrators and teachers, review their child’s academic and personal development, and participate in workshops led by local therapists and school administrators on enhancing parenting skills.
• Access to Online Webinars
  Parents can benefit from regular online webinars provided by our parent company, CERTS. These webinars cover a range of topics and are delivered by experienced therapists and administrators, offering valuable insights and support.

One of the primary goals of therapeutic boarding is to help the student increase awareness of thoughts, feelings, body sensations and external triggers leading to ineffective coping strategies and effectively use skills at these times of stress rather than high-risk coping strategies. These challenges usually arise in the milieu as students are moving through their day. It is at those stress points that the residential team and the advisor teams work together to help the student practice new skills.       The role of the residential team is to help move the student successfully through the day’s activities, encouraging the student to fully participate and helping the student work through obstacles to completion of daily living tasks and full participation in programming. The residential staff are not therapists. They receive training in helping students learn to regulate emotions in the moment so the student can continue daily functioning.

Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy will provide transportation for students to activities, appointments and the airport for visits. Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy has all staff who drive vehicles engage in annual driver training. Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy also checks all employees driving records annually to ensure their license is valid and they have maintained safe driving practices.

Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy will make every effort to provide a balanced meal plan with a variety of foods and as much choice as possible. Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy will provide meals prepared on site with quality ingredients as much as possible.       Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy will work to meet the dietary needs of students with special requirements as determined by a medical professional. Due to the change in eating habits and types of foods eaten at the program, students may gain or lose weight. Mountain Springs has a chef that prepares all lunches and dinners.

Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy will provide psychiatric nurse practitioner or an adolescent psychiatrist for initial evaluation and medication management for each student. Parents and students are able to choose from our list of medication providers.  The practitioner will coordinate with the student’s team in providing medication management. Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy works directly with Township Pharmacy to package medications in a safe and consistent manner.

The Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy nurse supports students through administration of medications as prescribed, triage of injury, coordination of emergency care, hospitalization, physician services that allow for the proper medical and dental care.   The nurse will not handle medical situations that are outside her scope of practice and will refer the student for outside evaluation and care as necessary.

Every student at Mountain Springs is assigned an Advisor who also serves as their academic MAPP advisor. The Advisor meets weekly with the entire academic teaching staff, during which time they discuss the student's needs and areas of improvement as well as discuss strategies for strengthening the student's educational proficiency. Each Advisor brings unique qualifications and expertise in guiding students to reach their full potential. Upon admission, every student is paired with an Advisor who becomes their personal advocate and support system throughout their stay.