What Is Shelterwood?

Shelterwood is a therapeutic boarding school, licensed by the state of Missouri. It believes that it can change the motivations and behaviors of troubled teenagers to become better persons, which can contribute immensely not only to their families but to their communities as well. It accepts youths who have problems with self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, and depression; anger, anxiety, oppositional defiance, and abuse; alcohol and drug use, and other risky behaviors; school suspensions, learning difficulties, or academic challenges; poor peer choices, manipulation, or low motivation; discord and family conflict; and ADHD or ADD. Situated in Independence, Missouri, Shelterwood provides a beautiful facility conducive to educational training and therapeutic interactions.

Founded in 1980, Shelterwood has been helping teenagers and their families build brighter, stronger, and better lives. A troubled teenager can address his/her own needs safely while in the facility while helping him/her reconnect with his/her family. Shelterwood offers experience and safety for teenagers to resolve school failure, family discord, substance abuse, anger, risky behavior, and depression.

The Shelterwood Program

Shelterwood is founded on four primary building blocks: influential mentorship, masterful therapy, academic excellence, and Christian values. The facility has at least 20 mentors who work and live with the troubled teens. The men and women mentors, whose motivation comes from love, connect and show love of Jesus by living and sharing their lives with the teenagers. They share chores, prepare dinner, help with study hall, and go on off campus and camping trips with the youths. While the teens are attending their classes, the mentors also learn innovative methods of working with troubled teenagers, deepening their connection and understanding with Jesus, and working on their relationships with each other.

The facility has Master’s degree level counselors who are assigned to directly care for every teenager. It has a low counselor-to-participants ratio, which ensures each therapist has time with each teen under his/her watch. The counselors join their group in spiritual retreats, camping trips, on shooting hoops, on the dinner table, and even on long walks. Shelterwood also ensures that each teenager has access to the best educational opportunities. The on-site school is fully accredited and offers classes at different grade levels. Teachers nurture, and provide discussion and classroom interaction. Shelterwood is a faith-based facility wherein the staff demonstrates the love of Jesus by helping the hurting youths. The teenagers, however, are not forced to share the Christian beliefs.

House staff, mentors, counselors and teachers work together for a unified treatment approach, which includes family, group, and individual counseling, life skills work, family retreat on weekends, individual treatment plans, outdoor therapy, spiritual retreats, and academic plans.

Disclaimer

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Most of the programs listed on this website are not regulated by the federal government, and many are not subject to state licensing or monitoring as mental health or educational facilities, either. A 2007 Report to Congress by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found cases involving serious abuse and neglect at some of these programs. Many programs advertise on the Internet and through other media, making claims about staff credentials, the level of treatment a participant will receive, program accreditation, education credit transfers, success rates, and endorsements by educational consultants. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, cautions that before you enroll a youngster in a private residential treatment program, check it out: ask questions; ask for proof or support for claims about staff credentials, program accreditation, and endorsements; do a site visit; and get all policies and promises in writing. Click here for questions to ask before you enroll your child in any program.