At first glance, you'll know Alpine Academy is different. Our campus is located in a rural farming community at the base of a spectacular mountain range with views of the Great Salt Lake. We believe our peaceful location is part of what makes our healing process work - the open spaces, clean air, and beautiful mountains help create a calm and safe environment where change can occur.

Although Alpine Academy is a private school, it doesn't look like one. It doesn't look like a treatment facility either, although it is one. What Alpine Academy looks like is a community of homes. Research shows that children learn best in a family-like environment. They eat meals together in the dining room, work together on daily chores, and are expected to participate in group activities, much as they would in everyday life.

We don't label our girls according to the problems they bring in the door. To us, they are all unique individuals. We know our students have learned to survive to this point. Our hope is to focus their strengths and talents in new ways to help them live successfully in many settings - at home, in school, with friends, as a part of their community.

Our programs utilize a cognitive-behavioral approach, including the following elements: LIFE (Learning in a Family Environment) skills teaching, individual, group, and family therapy, psychiatric services, and therapeutic family weekends. We are able to make remarkable changes in troubled children because we've been doing it for over 37 years...

Our parent company, Utah Youth Village, is one of the largest and oldest charities in Utah helping troubled children. It is the only organization in Utah certified to use the Teaching-Family Model, perhaps the most thoroughly researched treatment method for troubled children and families in use today. Those trained in the Teaching-Family Model provide security and love while teaching consistency and respect.

Using this method, 82% of our girls are successful at implementing their new skills and stabilizing back at home, or in a step down placement.