New Hope Academy is a private school set up specifically to meet the needs of challenging kids. The majority of our students have been diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). The goal of New Hope Academy is to create a consistent and safe environment that allows a child to have the best opportunity to gain the skills necessary to be a contributing member to their family, to learn and to have a positive impact on society.
We provide boundaries and structure that help children learn the importance of their choices and the impact they have. Children have the chance to enhance their processing skills and become stronger in their ability to follow rules and instructions given. Negative behaviors are targeted and positive behaviors are identified to replace them. The desire is to build a foundation of trust and respect, which then allows them to have the skills needed to interact with others in a public school and at home with their family.
Our program doesn't just focus on the child, but on the entire family. While working with the child we help parents provide a structure at home where trust can be built, followed by respect, and then hopefully love will grow from that foundation. We love to see parents as they grow and gain confidence and find that ties directly in with their ability to accept their child's choices and still remain loving, kind and logical in their parenting. Our desire is for New Hope to be a support system for parents as we work on regulating the child's behavior and help them progress.
We hope to be able to work with schools in the area and provide an alternate placement for children who are not progressing in a regular school setting. We've had the opportunity to work with several schools and have enjoyed being a resource to meet the specific needs of the child. We have been used as an alternate setting for suspensions, children who are not safe in the general education classroom or student's that just need a low-stimulating environment to help keep them regulated and able to take in learning.
Typically these students can be described as:- Having no response to consequences or reward systems
- Disrupt the learning of others
- Don't follow school rules
- Bully others
- Need frequent re-direction
- Are a liability concern
Whether for one day or longer, a certified Special Education Director creates an individualized plan to meet the specific needs of each student and follows through with any services the school is required to provide. Also, we provide free training for school staff and/or parents.