Independent. Founded by a psychologist and Ed Con who financed the creation of the industry association NATSAP. The assoc has opposed legislation that wasn?t program friendly.
Considered by some to be the cream ?o the crop. They have made significant effort to distinguish themselves from the used car salesmen (WWASP) of the industry, but similar abuses have been reported to occur there. They are CEDU (west coast) based- an ex CEDU devotee set it up. That same person moved on to set up Academy at Swift River, another east coast program that also refused to succumb to state regulations.
They opened their own wilderness program in 2001. The wilderness program was eventually required to become licensed but HLA remains unlicensed. They claimed to be a boarding school and that the term ?therapeutic? was used for marketing purposes. The regulatory agency refuses to evaluate the services provided and properly classify them.
The program has levels called elements. All kids move through the elements in order to graduate. The program length is 20-24 months, although some kids were there longer. Parents must enroll their kid in a boarding school of HLAs choice if they are interested in the program guarantee.
That?s the short answer. There?s much more if you?re interested, just pick a thread.
