What makes Silverado Academy unique?
What kinds of students are admitted to the academy?
How long is the program at Silverado Academy ?
When can I expect to talk and visit with my child?
How are behavioral issues addressed?
Do you work with educational consultants?
Where are you located and how do I get there?
Are you a licensed facility?
What are the qualifications of the therapists?
How often will my child receive therapy?
How often will my child be involved in outdoor activities?
How are parents involved?
Will my child receive school credit for his classes?
What kind of communication can I expect regarding my childs progress?
What is the cost and what does it include?
What will my child need to bring?
Does the academy accept insurance?
What happens when my child turns 18?
What is the program philosophy?
How does the academy handle prescription medication?
What kinds of students are admitted to the academy?
What can I do to support my child, the staff, and the program?

What makes Silverado Academy unique?

1. Owner-operated program with a “hands on” management team.
2. Management team with long tenure of behavioral health care experience.
3. Challenging and rigorous academic curriculum.
4. Unique modern ranch/lodge setting on 200 acres.
5. Daily experiential therapy and activities.
6. Relationship-based model utilizing work, love, and play philosophy.
7. Parent and family workshops.
8. Positive peer environment.
9. Close proximity to numerous national parks and recreational areas.
10. Year-round school with open enrollment.
11. Small class size.
12. Comparatively low monthly rate with multiple payment options

What kinds of students are admitted to the  Academy?

Students come to Silverado Academy with a wide range of emotional, social, and academic challenges. Many of our students struggle with lack of confidence and/or low self-esteem. Often these challenges are manifested through negative behaviors and deteriorating family relationships.These are good kids that come from good families but are making unhealthy decisions and poor choices.

How long is the program at Silverado Academy?
The average length of stay is 9 to 12 months. Program length will vary depending on a student's individual progress.Successful program completion occurs when a student has achieved all levels and has spent time (two to four months, typically) as a transition student. if a student completes all levels, including transition, he/she will be honored with a completion ceremony.

When can I expect to talk and visit with my child?
Within the first week of treatment, the therapist will call the family to arrange family telephone sessions and will set up a convenient time for all parties to talk. All telephone calls will be conducted through the assigned therapist. When a student achieves level T2 (tenacity) he/she may have unsupervised telephone calls to his family on the weekends.

When a student makes T(truthful) level, he/she may have family visits on campus. All visits must be approved, scheduled, and coordinated with the therapist. While we strongly support active family involvement, we strongly encourage all families to reserve their visiting times until they have attended their first parent/Family workshop. Workshops are held at the end of each semester, April, August, and December. This time allows the student to settle into the structure and schedule of the program.

How are behavioral issues addressed?
We believe that natural, logical, and non-punitive consequences are the best motivators to produce long-lasting change. Students are immersed in a positive peer culture in which staff and peers are both supportive and confrontive of inappropriate behavior. This approach compliments our program philosophy and encourages solution-oriented outcomes.

Do you work with educational consultants?
We work with educational consultants from all across the country. Educational consultants are professionals who assist students and families with high school and college planning. They provide experience and knowledge to formulate placement decisions during a time that is confusing and stressful. They have experience with a wide variety of schools and programs and can assist in maximizing the chance for a successful treatment outcome. Many consultants will assist the family with the discharge planning and aftercare services following program completion at Silverado.We are able to recommend an educational consultant in your geographical area if you do not already have one.

Where are you located and how do I get there?
We are located in Southern Utah, six miles from the town of Panguitch. Our campus is on 200 acres and in close proximity to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. We are four hours from Salt Lake City or Las Vegas. Some families may wish to utilize the smaller regional airport in St. George.

Are you a licensed facility?
We are licensed with the Utah Department of Human Services as a Therapeutic Boarding School for boys ages 13 through the age of 18. We are accredited with the Utah State Office of Education and Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS)

What are the qualifications of the therapists?
Therapists at the academy are doctoral and master’s level clinicians. They have extensive experience working with adolescents in a variety of treatment settings and are committed to providing high quality services to students and their families.

How often will my child receive therapy?
Each student at the academy will receive individual and group therapy with the assigned therapist on a weekly basis. Family therapy will occur either weekly or bi-monthly depending on the needs of the individual family. We also provide daily cabin meetings, weekly Big Group meetings, 16-step meetings, and weekly team group therapy.

We are a relationship-driven model utilizing experiential therapy; we believe that when working with adolescents, some of the best therapy takes place in the Silverdome, on the trail, or on the ball field. We recognize that great therapeutic moments and breakthroughs occur most often when students are actively and physically engaged.

How often will my child be involved in outdoor activities?
Every day! We believe students need fresh air, sunshine, and exercise on a daily basis. Some examples are outdoor work projects,  planting gardens, participating in trailrides/overnight camping, recreational therapy, hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding, skateboarding, tending to animals, fishing, boating, tubing, and four-wheeling.

How are parents involved?
We believe active family involvement is a critical component of treatment. Our experience indicates that a student will “work” only as hard as his/her family is “working”. This sometimes requires parents to seek therapy at home. We also engage families through Parent/Family Workshops which help facilitate long-lasting change for the entire family. Workshops are multi-family style groups that incorporate our core principles and focus on communication, honesty, and trust. We strongly suggest parents reserve their visits to coincide with Parent/Family Workshops.

Will my child receive school credit for his classes?
All credits are transferable. School at Silverado is year-round and allows us to offer an extra semester per year. This allows students an opportunity to either “catch up” or move ahead academically. The ranch offers open enrollment and the ability to graduate from high school. Silverado Academy is reflected on all transcripts and high school diplomas.

What kind of communication can I expect regarding my child's progress?
Once a quarter you will receive a report (Master Treatment Plan review) updating you on the progress your child is making in the program. Additionally, the therapist will be calling to conduct family therapy telephonically or to arrange an on-site visit and session.Each week your therapist will be giving you a brief overview of how things are going and will be able to give you two-week grade level information. Wehave a private photo and report section for current parents. You will be able to access pictures of your child and receive on going reports.

We encourage the students to write home frequently and request the same of families.  

What is the cost and what does it include?
We bill on a  monthly basis and the cost covers room& board, tutition, and therapy.There is a one time enrollment fee that covers the costs of preliminary assessments, psychiatric evaluation, initial clothing, initial amenities, and staffing for family workshops. We require first and last month's tuition, enrollment fee, and the student account fee at the time of enrollment. We request each parent establish a student account that will cover amenities (after the first month), weekly student allowance, outings & activities. Parents will be responsible for transportation costs to the facility, to and from the airport for visits, and for off-campus medical trips.

What will my chilldneed to bring?
In order to maintain a sense of focus and structure, the academy provides uniforms for all students. Please be aware any items not on the clothing list will be sent home at parent’s expense. Please refer to the clothing/personal needs list on the application.

Does the academy accept insurance?
Silverado Academy does not contract with insurance companies, third party payors, school districts, or government agencies.We are licensed as a Therapeutic Boarding School. As a courtesy to families, we have itemized our monthly invoices to reflect the cost breakdown of room & board, academics, and therapy charges. We will include the DSM-IV diagnostic code and the number of therapy sessions provided. On the strength of this invoice, some parents have negotiated partial reimbursement from their insurance carrier. We are not able to complete any requests for reports, documentation, or forms from insurance companies. We do not employ a Utilization Review Manager to assist with pre-certs, pre-determinations, or any other insurance applications or documentations. These types of requests are applicable to inpatient hospital stays and residential treatment centers, not therapeutic boarding schools.

What happens when my chid turns 18?
If a student turns 18 while enrolled at Silverado Boys Ranch, he/she must voluntarily sign himself/herself in and make the decision to stay and finish the program. Many of our students will stay and complete their high school education with us allowing them a fresh start in a new direction.

What is the program philosophy?
SilveradoAcademy has three core principles: work, love, and play. These principles are incorporated into all aspects of the program and lay the foundation of a value-based level system. These concepts are supported by a positive peer culture and a therapeutic approach based on the power of healthy relationships.

How does the academy handle prescription medication?
Our staff psychiatrist will complete an initial evaluation and medical history on each student. This initial workup is included in the enrollment fee. Specific Staff will oversee the administration of medications under the direction of the ranch’s medical staff.We ask that the family bring or send a 30 day supply of current medications upon enrollment. You have the option of continuing to provide your son's medication by mailing it to the facility, or to utilize Health Care Pharamaceuticals. Our nurse, medical assistant, or shift supervisor will oversee the administration of medications under the direction of the Ranch's Medical Staff.

What can I do to support my child, the staff, and the program?

The students at Silverado are good kids from good homes who are making poor choices. They come from families who love them~ sometimes to the point of not allowing their child to feel the pain  of having to be responsible for their inappropriate behavior. We want our parents to be supportive, but not bail out, or rescue the student in lieu of working the program. Please give your child/ the message in a supportive and loving way that you expect he/she will make it work, face his/her issues, and accept his/her consequences. Once your child gets a clear and consistant message from his/her family that they support Silverado and they have faith that he/she will choose to work the program and stop working you; we can then expect to start moving forward.