Consumer Protection

Wilderness Therapy Treatment Programs

A free listing of wilderness programs, consumer protection resources, and 
referral assistance for parents with teenagers and youth at risk who may have 
emotional, psychological, learning, drug and substance abuse, academic and behavioral problems. 
This web site is not affiliated with any wilderness programs.

Comprehensive Information: www.Wilderness-Programs.Org

Consumer and Professional Based Information On Wilderness Therapy Treatment Programs

The following is a list of questions and criteria that can be used to document, contrast, discuss and evaluate wilderness programs. The purpose of these questions is to raise the awareness of parents and professionals to issues that pertain to health, safety, standards of practice and ethics and responsibilities for therapeutic activities within wilderness programs. These criteria cannot replace or substitute for professional consultation and referral assistance. Your responses may be used to help us research, evaluate and rate wilderness programs in the United States. 

Your individual responses to this questionnaire will be kept private. This web site is not affiliated with any wilderness therapy treatment programs. 

 

Wilderness Therapy Program Name: 

Your full name: (required)

Your e-mail address: (required) Please be sure your address is correct.

Estimated length or range of program in days: (required)

Is the program open-ended?   Yes      No

The cost of the program to you (estimated in dollars) 

Please tell us what aspect of the program you are you considering?

May we contact you by e-mail to verify your responses?   Yes     No

Please check the following that apply

I am placing or enrolling a child in this program I have enrolled/placed a child in this program who is no longer enrolled I am considering this program
I have a child or placed a child who is currently enrolled I have not enrolled or placed a child in this program I am adult who is considering enrolling in this program

Have you visited this program Yes    No

What is your relationship to this program?

Parent of enrolled child Treatment professional Employee 
Family member of enrolled child Referral agency or  professional Educational consultant
Other relationship: Former employee

What attracted you to this program?

Cost Recommendation The clinical and counseling staff
Personal friend recommendation Size of program Program structure and phases
Professional recommendation Information provided How long the program has been in operation
Location Their web site Program philosophy

Please describe any other factors that you found attractive about this program.

Yes No Planned Question
1.

Program License. The program is licensed to provide mental health or drug and alcohol treatment by the state where they operate . 
 2.

Licensed Professional Oversight. Program oversight is provided by a licensed mental health professional who is responsible and accountable for the program's policies, procedures and activities that pertain to health, safety, standards of practice, ethics and therapeutic activities.

If No, please explain who has oversight of your program's  therapeutic activities and their qualifications
 3.

Clinical Director. The program has a clinical director specifically responsible for health and medical policies, procedures and the well-being of students. 
 4.

Policy & Procedures. Parents may request and review copies of the program's policies, procedures, staff background summaries, organizational structure and staff job descriptions.
 5.

Licensed Therapists & Counselors. All therapy, counseling and evaluation services are provided by licensed professionals with appropriate training. 
Yes No Planned Question
 6.

Mental Health Staff Longevity. All mental health staff in this particular program have more than 6 months professional experience. (not counting interns)

How many mental health staff have more than 6 months .
The  total number of mental health staff are

7. Staff Program Experience. The mental health staff who will be working with a child will have at least one year's experience working in this particular wilderness program. 
8. Staff Education. Administrative and supervisory staff who supervise the field guides and wilderness instructors have graduated from college with a bachelor's degree. 
 9.

Number of Staff. The staffing to student ratio in the field is no more than 4 students/participants per staff person. 

What is the supervisory staff to student ratio (Staff : Participant)

 10.

Parent Support. Parents receive a weekly phone call and update from the student's therapist or counselor in the program. 
 11.

Parent Support. Parent's receive a regularly scheduled phone call from a field staff person or instructor who worked directly with the student that week. 
 12.

Admissions. The admissions and screening procedure is directly supervised or conducted by a licensed mental health professional. 
 13.

Second Opinion. The program was recommended by a qualified and licensed mental health professional who has experience referring to this the particular program. 
 14.

Third Opinion. The program was recommended by a qualified educational consultant who has experience with this particular program. 
Yes No Planned Question
 15.

Student Progress. Parents and approved referral sources may find out the routine status of a child on a daily basis.
 16.

Program Maturity. The program has been in existence for at least 2 years. 

How long has this program been in existence

 17.

Ownership. The program owned at least in part by a licensed mental health professional or the programs board on directors has a licensed mental health professional

If No, please identify the position, qualifications and authority of the person who is responsible to insure that professional and ethical standards of practice are followed. This applies to program field and therapeutic activities that affect the health, safety, well being and treatment of students.
 18.

Staff Training. All field staff are trained in first-aide and CPR. 

Please describe other training required of staff that applies to health and safety.
 19.

Advanced Staff Training. There is a group of staff available who are trained as Wilderness First Responders or in Search and Rescue. 
Yes No Planned Question
 20. Follow-up Program. The program provides an after-care plan and follow-up monitoring of graduates.

Please describe your after care or follow-up program.
 21. Evaluation Services. The program offers optional or routine record reviews, psychological or achievement evaluations. 

Please describe the evaluation services available
 22. Student Education. The program offers school credit course work (more than just physical education).

If yes, please describe your educational program, certification and degree, etc..
 23. Teacher Qualifications. The program has qualified licensed teachers who work with students in the field.
24. Program Stability. The program has been redesigned or taken over by new ownership within the past year. [A "yes" means the program has been substantially redesigned or taken over in the past year]
Yes No Planned Last Question
25 Referral Incentives. The program offers financial incentives to consultants for the referrals they make to their program, or the program offers discounts to parents to help pay for the cost of a consultant. [A "yes" means the program offers discounts or it offers some form of incentive to help compensate the cost of using a consultant.]

If yes, please describe the incentive to consultants or referral sources.

Please give us your opinion, comments or questions about the program or your experience with this particular program. Your opinion and comments will be kept private.

 

                   

If you know of a program, or would like your program listed on our site, please send the internet address to  Webmaster@Wilderness-Programs.Org or you may submit your program on line at www.Wilderness-Programs.Org/SubmitProgram.html. We reserve the right to not list a program.