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Specialty Boarding School for Troubled Teens, Montana

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Turning Winds Academic Institute (TWAI):
Located in northwestern Montana, Turning Winds Academic Institute (TWAI) is an accredited, family-run, therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens (boys and girls) ages 13-18. We welcome students from Montana, across the United States, and from around the world (TWAI is authorized to issue 1-20's for international students). In our beautiful, peaceful, and safe location, we combine the benefits of a therapeutic boarding school, a wilderness program, and a residential treatment center (RTC).

Email: Contact us here 

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High Quality Therapeutic Education:

Photo of Specialty Boarding School for Troubled Teens, MontanaTWAI has been serving struggling teens and their families since 2002, with an exceptional degree of success.

We provide an extremely high standard of therapeutic treatment to our students, and offer help for the following presenting issues: poor academic performance, behavioral problems, addictions, low self-worth, spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, and attachment disorders among others.

We are a small program (40 students) which means that we are able to provide a truly unique and customized approach for every student. We embrace a clinically driven, multi-disciplinary and individualized therapeutic approach.

Aftercare services are also provided.

Accreditation:

We are a fully accredited academic institute, accredited by National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPPSA), and Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC).

Our program is also accredited by PAARP (Private Alternative Adolescent Residential Program), NATSAP (National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs), AdvancED, AEE (Association for Experiential Education), and Character.org.

Our Mission:

Image of Specialty Boarding School for Troubled Teens, MontanaAt TWAI, our mission is to
- Rescue teens from crisis
- Renew their belief in their own potential
- Reunite them with their families and a sustainable path of success

We challenge each student to achieve personal excellence in academics, communication, and critical thinking skills, in order to become a self directed, confident pupil.

TWAI is a "well oiled machine." We have been working with youth long enough to know what works and what does not work. Our school is a catalyst for positive change in the lives of all who come in contact with our services.


Why Choose TWAI for your Troubled Teen?

- Outstanding Staff:
With a genuine passion for helping young people in crisis, our clinical, educational, and operations staff are among the best in the country. 

Typically our on site student to staff ratio is 5:1. Employees are CPR, First Aid, and CPI certified.

- Affordable Treatment:
We accept insurance which ultimately allows parents the affordability of treatment.

- Minimum of 3 month stay:
We provide a customized treatment approach that does not require 18- 24 months like other programs; however, we do require a 3 months commitment. In our experience, the best results for lasting success is realized through a time period of 6 + months of treatment.  The average stay at our residential treatment center is 12 months.

- Support for Parents:
We offer intensive parent support through parent workshops, regular family counseling sessions, webinars, and an effective aftercare program.

- Beautiful Location:
Located in Troy, 76 miles northwest of Kalispell in northwestern Montana, we provide an exceptional serene, safe and healing environment on a 150 acre campus. 

- Therapeutic Recreational Programs offered:
Through our outdoor recreation program, our students experience the therapeutic effect of the great outdoors. TWAI utilizes the outdoors to combine adventure therapy, experiential education and psycho-educational therapy. 

When we are not on our baseball diamond, soccer field, Frisbee golf course, or our mountain bikes, you might find us on the ski mountain, out on the lake, or backpacking in the backcountry.

Exceptional Academic Programs:

Photos of Turning Winds Academic Institute (TWAI)- Middle School Program
- High School Program
- Credit Recovery
- Accelerated Learning
- College Preparation / AP Classes
- SAT/ACT Testing Center
- Anti-Bullying Program
- GED Program
- College-level Courses

TWAI graduates average a 3.5 GPA. It is common for a student to complete 1.5 years of course work in 1 year.

98% of our high school graduates go on to attend trade school or college.  Some of our students have gone on to attend some of the top Universities and Ivy League schools.


Focus on Health and Wellness:
Our holistic focus on health and wellness includes health, fitness and nutrition as part of our treatment regimen. Through the use of our nutritionist, nurse and physical trainer, our students receive a healthy diet and fitness program. 

Our students receive routine health evaluations by our nurse, and have the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have to our medical staff in a timely manner. 

It is our philosophy that as our students become physically healthy, they invest more in themselves emotionally therefore engaging more fully in the therapeutic process.

Parent Testimonials:

Picture of Specialty Boarding School for Troubled Teens, Montana"I feel that her life path has been corrected and that is a relief. I can’t thank you enough for the love you have shown to my family."
- Mike

"I am so glad I found Turning Winds. You are all very special and are excellent at what you do for these teens. I will definitely refer other families to TW. Again, thank you for everything.”
- Gabrielle

"I have been impressed with the staff members that I have spoken or corresponded with and feel that we found the perfect place for Jonathan to deal with his many issues. Almost every question that I have asked has been answered in a comprehensive manner. I feel confident that my son is safe and in capable and experienced hands."
- Jennifer

"Thank you for developing your program and for hiring such caring and dedicated people for the program! They all seem to work beautifully together! They have made a real difference in the life of our son and in our family!"
- Ann

Student Testimonials:

Images of Turning Winds Academic Institute (TWAI)"I would like to express my unconditional gratitude for every single one of you! My life is a lot brighter than I ever thought it could be! There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Turning Winds. My family and I discuss it quite often with laughter and tears as to all the wonderful memories I have made there.

That place is holy ground in my eyes, a place of love, change, hardship, struggle, and strength. Thank you all for the roles you have played in my life for me to finally see a greater potential then I could possibly imagine. Life is wonderful and has its moments of pure bliss… all because of that place… that place that changed me… Turning Winds Academic Institute… my home away from home."
- Abby

"Thank you for everything you have given me. I am very lucky for all of the care you have given me. You have helped me to find a better reason for living. You put up with all of my behavior and helped me tremendously.”
- Joe

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Address: Troy, Lincoln County, Montana , USA
Some interested visitors submitting program inquiries to our school up to 2023-12-30 were from:

Mill Creek, WA; Lake Worth, FL; Fort Lee, NJ; Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina; Mcdonough; PRAIRIEVILLE; Bunker Hill, WV; Newyork; CA; Great Falls; and more.