Over the years of working in this industry, we have worked with numerous educational consultants and listened to their feedback regarding their wants and needs in a program. Prior to starting Equine Journeys we were not able to implement many of the suggestions we had received due to being governed by a corporate structure which did not always support the changes educational consultants requested.
As Equine Journeys was designed, we have implemented the suggestions or requests from Educational Consultants into our program structure and will continue to make adjustments as we receive future input. Below is an outline of some of the educational consultant suggestions or requests which have been built into our program:
Educational Consultant Input #1:
Programs owned by large corporations are not preferred because the corporate structure does not permit their programs to have the autonomy to meet the individual needs of students, parents, and referral sources.
Equine Journeys’ Response:
Equine Journeys is owned by three individuals who personally manage the day to day affairs of the program, oversee all operations, and work in key roles within the program. We have the ability to personalize and customize treatment services for our clientele and the willingness to do so.
Additionally, Equine Journeys does not have, nor will we ever have, investors. We will not relinquish our ability to make key decisions and control the direction of the program to those whose priorities are based in making profits. Our goal is to be able to meet our expenses while providing excellent care and treatment services to our clientele.
Educational Consultant Input #2:
Programs with large student numbers are less able to provide individualized and personalized services to students and have an ”institutionalized” feel and appearance.
Equine Journeys’ Response:
Our program has a maximum capacity of 20 adolescent and 8 young adult students. Therapist caseloads do not exceed seven students. The program directors, in concert with other staff, are present for activities and personally provide treatment services throughout the day. Our program design and structure is based on the philosophy of personal attention for our students by those who hold the vision for the program.
Additionally, our program is designed to have a family-like feel. Our students are involved in planning and preparing all of their meals and dine in “family” style. We have dress standards but no uniforms. Our students are not easily identified by their dress or appearance as program residents and command less scrutiny while in public situations. Students live in bedrooms with one other student. Some rooms share a bathroom with another room and some have their own bathrooms. Another unique feature is that our students are allowed to work, earn money, and budget for expenses such as purchase of personal items, clothing, or other objects. Some of our students are working to purchase their horses.
Educational Consultant Input #3:
Telephone family therapy sessions are not very effective because so much is lost in absence of being able to observe non-verbal cues and behaviors.
Equine Journeys’ Response:
We have purchased the technology and hardware necessary to have video conference calls with our families. Our therapists conduct family therapy phone calls on video telephones which permit both the student and the family members to see each other during the call. At no additional cost to families, we send parents a video equipped telephone to use during their involvement with our program. These telephones are capable of three-way calls and all participants can be seen on the screen. For those who desire a larger screen view, the phones can be connected to monitors, television screens, or projectors.
Educational Consultant Input #4:
Program costs are usually so high that parents cannot afford to utilize the services of an educational consultant and also pay for the program’s tuition.
Equine Journeys’ Response:
We recognize the importance and value of educational consultant services to families and recommend to our families the use of educational consultant services. In order to facilitate this process, we offer a tuition discount of 10% per month to those families who use the services of an educational consultant while participating in our program.
Educational Consultant Input #5:
Programs oftentimes will admit students without adequate assessment and testing.
Equine Journeys’ Response:
All adolescent students, and adult students as necessary, admitted to Equine Journeys are required to have psychological testing prior to, or within three weeks of, admission.
Educational Consultant Input #6:
Programs owned by corporations are layered with bureaucracy, and, as a result, educational consultants and families typically do not have personal access to the owners.
Equine Journeys’ Response:
Educational consultants and families have access to all of the owners and managers of our program. Our telephone numbers are posted on the website. Our availability and personal involvement in all aspects of the program make us unique in this area. We are “hands on” and available on the spot to provide information and to resolve problems as they arise.
