Our Admissions Process
It is our honor to serve you, minister to you, and to be a living example of God’s love to you. We want to start serving you by taking you through the enrollment process one step at a time. Please understand that you are not alone, that you are fighting for your daughter’s future, not willing to quit or give up finding the right solution.
Step 1. Request Information
The first step is to call us or fill in our Inquiry Form. That will register your interest with our Admissions Department.
Step 2. The Application
Soon after your request you will be emailed an application. Fill out the entire application and then fax or mail it back to us. Upon the submission of your application the Lakeland Grace Academy Admissions Team will be automatically notified . Within 24-hours, our goal will be to assess the application and get in touch with you. You will receive a phone call from the Admission Coordinator once the Admissions Team reviews your application. The Admissions Coordinator will provide you with a list of parent references, as well as an Enrollment Checklist if the team has given you a preliminary acceptance clearance for enrollment.
(Please note: The remainder of the enrollment process will be coordinated by the Admissions Coordinator to help walk you through the process for your convenience.)
Step 3. The Family Phone Interview
A member of the Executive Team will call the parent to conduct the interview. Any questions about Lakeland Grace Academy can be asked so that a well informed decision can be made. At the same time an Executive Team Member will be asking in-depth questions of the child and family life/beliefs so that we can have a better feel of what is going on within the family as a “whole.”
It is our desire to make sure that you are taken care of first, to minister to you and to spend the time necessary in order for you to feel our hearts so that you are comfortable and at peace knowing you found the right place.
Without your trust and commitment we cannot be successful with your child. We will answer your questions to the best of our ability. Remember this is the “Step” that we truly learn about each other, our commitments and build trust.
Admission Criteria
Our admissions criteria does not permit: Medically Unstable, Physically Violent Histories, Pregnancy, Sexual Abuse Perpetrators, Psychotic Disorders, or Parents who are unwilling to fully participate. Families frequently get stuck in how they solve problems and they keep doing the same things over and over expecting different results.
Lakeland Grace Academy is an early-intervention school for unmotivated teens who are emotionally immature and act as if you always “owe” them something. We are not set up to serve teens who are in need of mental health services (oppositional defiant, treatment for bipolar/depression, substance abuse treatment, or in need of help with “suicidal tendencies”), nor are we able to serve teens that have a violent criminal history (gang shootings, murder, violence/assault, drug trafficking, etc.).
Lakeland Grace insists on a selective admission policy to maintain the positive environment we believe is necessary for personal growth and change. As the girls are, basically, returning to the same environment they left, there have to be changes created and understood with not just the student but the whole family. Often troubled teens with negative behavior are unable to correct that behavior when entering residential programs that have high enrollments. Our enrollment of approx 31 at any given time allows for individualized and focused treatment of a variety of problems for struggling teen girls 12-18 years old. The Lakeland system includes the entire family and not just the student.
Common Length of Stay
Common length of stay for our residents runs approximately 15-months. We have no predetermined notions about how long any given student will be with us. Like so many things at Lakeland Grace Academy, length of stay is individualized to meet the needs of each student.
Pre-Admission Interview
We will conduct a pre-admission interview over the phone which includes:
A history of the student’s chemical use/abuse and a history of signs or symptoms of depression, anxiety, suicide attempts, self-harm, runaways, school problems, food issues/eating disorders and other behavioral problems. The information gathered identifies the immediate needs of the student, as well as the student’s history and characteristics.
Trying to make decision about enrolling your daughter or family member in residential treatment can be difficult and overwhelming. We would like to try and simplify the process for you. The interview is conducted to make certain that Lakeland can effectively address the student’s needs. Once we have received your information it usually takes no longer than 24 hours for an admissions decision. Talking to us and visiting will go a long way in helping you determine if this is the right place for your daughter. Making a decision about who will care for your daughter for 15+/- months is difficult enough. We want you to see first hand who we are and what we do. Most importantly we want you to meet the girls here at Lakeland Grace Academy.
Lakeland Grace Academy is not a lockdown facility. We believe the strongest deterrent is a program that makes a student feel positive and safe about herself and her opportunities in the world.
Funding Solutions
American HealthCare Lending
Lakeland Grace has partnered with American HealthCare Lending as a potential lender. American HealthCare Lending simplifies the process of paying for your treatment. Working with a national network of specialized lenders, our compassionate loan consultants will help you find the most suitable financing option while maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality. Contact for more information.
Church or Civic Organization
Sometimes the church or civic organization that a parent belongs to will assist with treatment costs. Discussing your situation with the Pastor of your church or President of your group may lead to financial assistance.
Community Support
Lakeland Grace Academy is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and can provide a tax-deductible receipt for friends, family members, companies, or anyone else that would like to make a contribution that could help provide for underwriting a scholarship for your child/teen. Please talk with us about this possibility if you have someone that would like to help in this way.
Insurance
Typically, insurance does not pay for residential treatment. However, it may depend on your personal benefit package and it does not hurt to ask. Sometimes part of the stay is covered. Please contact your insurance company so that they can make a determination.
DCF Caseworkers
If you are a DCF caseworker, please contact us for placement information.
