Turning Winds is a co-ed program which is fully accredited by the National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance and The Accreditation Associates International, Inc. for alternative education. The program accepts children ages 12-17. The orientation period at Turning Winds is approximately four-six months; however, the length is determined by the progress of each student. During orientation, students participate in individual and group counseling sessions, life skills classes, team-building activities and outdoor adventures. After completing the orientation phase, adolescents prepare to transition back into their family environment, and when ready, they have an opportunity to attend college, gain work experience, and attend activities outside of the Turning Winds facilities. Turning Winds can accept enrollment for up to 25 students. The entire program averages approximately 12-months.

The program is based on eight years of refinement, and offers an "environment where students have the opportunity to change," while evaluating and building on their academic foundation and is based on the "whole child" concept. Turning Winds offers individualized instruction; on-going assessment; career counseling; and one-on-one teaching, because we believe this helps to "facilitate success, address learning difficulties, and enhance self esteem." The Turning Winds staff includes a licensed clinical psychologist to ensure that all activities are assisting in the growth of each individual student.

By integrating outdoor activities with innovative therapeutic techniques, Turning Winds "provides structure and understanding for the adolescents." Staff members email parents weekly with updates on their child. Turning Winds believes families are an integral part of the changing process, and parents are required to actively participate along with their child in making any necessary change to accomplish their goal." Participation can include, but are not limited to the following activities: parent work-shops, parent homework assignments and family counseling.

Turning Winds Therapeutic Program has three inter-related components: the residential milieu; the Turning Winds Academic Institute; and the Turning Winds Educational and Recreational Connection(TREC).

The residential milieu is the heart of our program; in this structured, home-like setting character is developed through routine interaction with staff and peers and other various activities such as: responsibility for assigned chores; regular staff feedback on treatment progress; writing assignments; physical conditioning; special outdoor projects; field trips and individualized and group counseling and therapy.

Our professional staff, include Professional School Administrator, School Psychologist in-training, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, certified school teachers, Treatment Clinicians, C.N.A. and Child Care Specialists who are trained in working with a vulnerable population. Turning Winds utilizes the Behavior Recycling Model to teach the resident desirable behaviors and patterns of interaction. Residents progress through three phases: two while at Turning Winds, the Orientation and transition phases; and one upon placement back with the family, Aftercare.

Unlike the level systems used in other programs, The Orientation, Transition and Aftercare phase each represents a different stage in the residents' journey toward breaking the cycle of hurt and undesirable behaviors and moving toward healing and wholeness. Upon placement into the Turning Winds program, a child will begin his/her journey in the Orientation Phase where he/she is rescued from crisis. This phase is the most challenging in that a child's resistance to change is the hurdle which must be overcome before a renewal of healthy behaviors can be re-developed. A child is prepared to enter into the Transition Phase once a pattern of healthy behaviors has been exhibited and the successful completion of the Turning Winds Recreation and Educational Connection (TREC) has been reached. Due to the unpredictable time-table for change, each child will complete this process at a different time interval. One child may complete this phase in a matter of 3 months while another may not complete this process for 6 months. Based upon past experience, the average length to completion of the orientation phase is approximately 4-6 months.