1. Limited Enrollment. CERTS schools and programs carefully limit enrollment to ensure the greatest amount of individual attention.
    
2. Specialty Programs. CERTS facilities specialize in no more than three specific therapeutic areas to maximize therapeutic effectiveness.
    
3. A Campus that is a Classroom. While each program is somewhat different depending on its specialty, all CERTS facilities are intentionally chosen for their ability to use “the larger campus.”
    
4. “Change-from-within” Philosophy. CERTS therapy is designed to be highly effective at helping teens discover “why” as well as “how” to change. This important emphasis is what allows us to successfully “invite” students to make better choices.
    
5. Outstanding Therapists. CERTS carefully screens and evaluates their therapists to ensure that those selected are effective at changing lives.
    
6. Skilled Experiential and Recreational Therapy. CERTS programs are strong proponents of activities designed to teach life-lessons. Specialties include licensed equine therapy, rock climbing, ropes courses and more.
    
7. Broad Elective Class Offerings. CERTS programs offer a broad, fully accredited enrichment program based on highly successful private-school model. Classes include French, Physical Education, Drama, Music, and Art, in addition to the traditional core academic subjects.
    
8. Specialist Teachers. CERTS chooses specialist teachers to teach generally two, and never more than three academic subjects. The result of this “educational team” approach is that our teachers can concentrate on teaching students, not just another class, in a way that makes learning fun.
    
9. Outstanding Parent Communication. CERTS programs have primary therapists and student mentors call parents weekly. Education Directors hold monthly parent-teacher conferences. The CERTS chat room also gives parents the opportunity to ask questions and to learn from other parents each week.
    
10. Effective, Concurrent Parent Education. All CERTS programs have a specific parent-education program that corresponds directly with their child’s therapeutic education. All parent assignments must be completed for students to advance and graduate. Additionally, every eight weeks special Parent Weekends offer additional education and therapy on site.

Click here to view the CERTS Bill of Rights for Parents