Frequently Asked Questions
| Question |
| Q: Do I need chains on my tires to visit Montana Academy in the winter? A: The road (all the way) to Montana Academy is plowed regularly all winter long, although this fact will not console you during a blizzard. It is recommened that you drive a vehicle with snow tires, and something that is 4WD or AWD will definitely help in adverse conditions. Under normal circumstances, i.e., when it is not snowy, icy or worn to wash-board, the road is in good condition. |
| Q: Many parents wonder if we require a prior wilderness program A: The answer is that we have a strong preference for students to attend a wilderness program before starting at Montana Academy. We believe that a good wilderness evaluation helps to determine the "fit" between students and program. Of equal importance is the fact that successful completion of a wilderness program sets students up for success. Students then arrive having faced up to some difficult challenges and accepted some responsibility for their part in their difficulties and have generally begun to experience participating in treatment both with peers and with a sound therapist whom they have found helpful. This "jump start" generally helps to make acceptance of the first stage of the Montana Academy program more likely, as well as to shorten the overall course of treatment. |
| Q: How often do I speak to, and visit, my child? A: Students in the first two clans (earth and moon) make a brief phone call home once a week in the presence of their therapist. This period lasts around 6 months, but could last longer depending on the student's progress. In Sun clan students have an independent 20 minute phone call home each week. Parents are encouraged to visit the campus approximately every two months. During earth clan students must stay on campus. At Moon clan they may have one initial overnight visit and subsequently two nights off campus with their parents. Staff help to structure these visits for maximum success through detailed pass agreements worked out between students and their families. Students in Sun clan enjoy a three night visit with their families in and around the area and towards the end of Sun clan they are eligible for their first weekend visit home. This generally takes place some 10-12 months after the initial placement. |
| Q: Why does Montana Academy encourage potential applicants to make use of the services of educational consultants? A: Educational consultants who are experienced in making "special needs" placements are an invaluable resource for parents who are seeking the right school or treatment facility for their child. They start by making a thorough assessment of the child's needs before proceeding to any recommendations. Most consultants spend as much as one third of their time on the road visiting programs and making sure that they understand which students are likely to do well in which settings, who owns and operates the facilities, what type and quality of therapy is offered at each setting and keeping up with changes in various programs. They bring a level of sophistication and experience to the question of "fit" between student and program which is likely to ensure that parents do not make a mistake in assessing the level and quality of care needed for a particular student and, thereby, help to maximize the chance for successful treatment and outcome. Well meaning parents sometimes think that they can ferret out suitable programs from web sites and by visiting prospective programs but they are rarely in a position to replace the experience of a knowledgeable consultant and do so at the risk of missing important information. Our admissions staff are always willing to recommend known consultants in your geographic area. |
| Q: What happens when a student turns 18? A: We prefer to have at least a year before arriving at the threshold of a student's 18th birthday. At this point students must make the decision to stay voluntarily. Generally this is not a problem when parents make it perfectly clear that they will not be supporting any decision other than completing the program and graduating from Montana Academy. We have many students who stay past their 18th, and sometimes, past their 19th birthdays. Since we do not enroll students whose parents are not committed to full completion of our program we aks all parents of students who enroll at age 17 to think ahead about this decision. |
| Q: How long does the program last? A: Most students remain at the Academy about 18 months. However the program is individualized, and the length of stay depends upon how long it takes a student to successfully: a) complete all the clans - Earth, Moon, Sun, Star and Sky; b) establish with parents are clear post-graduation plan; and c) earn a recommendation for graduation from the Clinical Supervisor and Treatment Team. While this typically requires 18 months, some students complete this in less time, while others need considerably more time. Students will not receive a high school graduation diploma unless they have successfully completed all clan work. |
| Q: What happens on the weekends? A: Weekends are designed to be both fun and to offer students the opportunity to learn new leisure and recreational skills. Some trips are integral to the emotional growth program and are also intended to keep students fit. Most activities take advantage of our wilderness setting and are physical in nature. While purposely less structured than the weekly schedule, student participation in activities is required. |
| Q: What is the nature of group therapy at Montana Academy? A: Students participate in group therapy several days a week. Groups include team meetings, clan workshops and specialty groups. Members of each team and clan group are expected to create a safe environment for each other, a place to do meaningful therapeutic work. This means maintaining confidentiality, listening, giving honest and respectful feedback and sharing personal problems. Successful groups depend on the full participation of all members. For this reason, a student cannot progress in the Clan system until participating consistently and meaningfully in group therapy. |
| Q: Does Montana Academy take insurance? A: Montana Academy does not deal with insurance companies. We are a therapeutic residential school, not a medical facility. Our approach to global adolescent problems is comprehensive, involving academic, psychodynamic, family systems, substance abuse, behavioral, psycho-educational, pharmacological, medical and milieu interventions. Our students do not benefit merely from an hour of psychotherapy, but from a complex culture in which various therapies are embedded. Accordingly, as a matter of policy, the Academy bundles common costs, shared by all students, and charges a monthly tuition. As a courtesy to our parents we provide a formal letter which allocates tuition among: a) therapeutic program, including milieu; b) room, board and basic supervision; and c) education. That letter provides coding for the DSM-IV diagnoses each student arrives with. On the strength of this description, some parents have negotiated partial reimbursement from medical insurance. Others use it to document claims for tax deductions. We turn down all other requests for medical "reports" or further "documentation" of services for insurance companies. You may read our explanation of this decision in the policy statement included in our application packet. |
| Q: Does Montana Academy provide a spiritual component to its treatment program? A: Montana Academy has no spiritual or religious agenda. We are a community which takes the teaching of ethical values seriously. |
| Q: How does Montana Academy handle prescription medication? A: All prescribed medications are reviewed and authorized by our medical director, Dr. Dennis Malinak, and our nurse, Cindy Freeman RN, prior to distribution. In order to insure accuracy, all prescribed medications are filled locally by a pharmacy in Kalispell. Our arrangement with this pharmacy includes providing pre-packaged medication boxes for each student, filled by a pharmacist and sorted by a distribution time (breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime). At the ranch, authorized staff members give students their prescribed medications from a locked medication cart and watch students take them. Dr. Malinak holds medication rounds for prescribed medication weekly, and students are scheduled for regular review. He generally does not make any changes in medications until new students have settled into their routines and consults with both the student and parents before making any changes. Montana Academy bills medication management fees separately. Medical Arts Pharmacy (406-752-2492) will bill insurance carriers, if asked to do so. |
| Q: How do parents schedule visits for prospective students? A: Montana Academy requires that all parents of prospective students make a campus visit. Generally such visits do not take place until there has been a thorough review of all available information provided by an educational consultant, wilderness therapist, previous therapists and by application. Once we have determined the likelihood of a possible "fit" we encourage parents to call our admissions office at (406) 755-3149 to schedule a campus visit. These visits almost always take place on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning between the hours of 9.00 - 1.00 p.m. to ensure that parents have the best opportunity to meet with key staff and to have lunch with our students. This schedule generally requires that parents arrive in Kalispell on the evening prior to the visit, but are free to return home on the following afternoon. Directions to the campus (45 minutes west of Kalispell) and information about local lodging is provided in our application packet. |
