At New Leaf Academy, we believe that a significant factor in the success of our students is family involvement in the program. It would be difficult for a child to maintain the growth she experiences at New Leaf without the support and collaboration of her parents.

Our goals through The Family Experience program are to:

Support and educate parents through the process of their daughter's placement at New Leaf Academy;

Improve parent/child communication and interactions;

Restore parents' authority;

Help parents understand their daughter's specific challenges and needs;

Educate parents and child about patterns of relating that have become damaging;

Develop strategies to intervene on negative patterns so that positive interactions
can emerge.

The Family Experience at New Leaf Academy includes:

Parent Coaching: Parents have four telephone sessions with a certified Parent Coach to support them through the initial transition of placing their daughter at New Leaf.

Pre-Visit Family Counseling: Families meet with the counselor prior to all visits with their child to discuss goals, concerns and strategies for successful family time.

Parent Seminar #1, #2 and #3: Parents are encouraged to attend three seminars in which they will work with their daughters on recognizing, interrupting and redirecting family patterns using art therapy and other therapeutic interventions.

Family Workshop: Parents will attend a two-day Family Workshop where they work to redirect family patterns through equine family therapy, art therapy and family sculpting.

Teleclasses: Parents are encouraged to attend one-hour educational teleclasses on a variety of subjects such as How to Prepare for the First Home Visit, Parenting the Adopted Child, Factors to Consider in Post-New Leaf Placement, and many others.

Parent Aftercare Support Group: This teleconference takes place approximately every other week after graduation to provide support for parents.

What parents are saying about the New Leaf Family Program:

The Equine Therapy:

"The horse gave me feedback about when to communicate and when to step back and wait. This is something I need to work on with my daughter."

"The horse trusted me and this helped me to open up. I was probably the most open I've ever been with my family."

The Parent Seminars:

"This whole process helped us get closer to each other and I feel more comfortable with my daughter."

"It was great to work together with my daughter as a team."

"It opened my eyes to both my daughter and myself. I can see that my daughter has a very long path ahead of her but I'm hopeful."