FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions About Lakeland Grace.

• Is Lakeland Grace an Accredited School ?

Yes, our school is accredited with N.A.C.E. (National Association of Christian Education) and recognized nationally. Our students have transferred to other high schools and/or graduated and enthusiastically received in many colleges and universities around the nation. A Certificate of Accreditation may be faxed upon request.

• Can My Teen Walk Out When She Turns 17?

Many states have given the teens the option to withdraw themselves from a therapeutic program at 17, without parents acknowledgment or authority. However, in the state of Florida a teen is a minor until the age of 18 (or up to age 21 in some circumstances). 

• How Quickly Can I Enroll My Teen?

The minimum is 72 hours, sooner if medicals are within 6 weeks and other documentation is available. 

• What is the Duration and/or Mandatory Commitment of the Program?

Each student is unique and her program duration will depend on her ability to apply the concepts and principals in her interaction with her peers within the program. Her public display and the progress of the family will be taken into high consideration. 15 months is the required length of stay. Students with lower maturity level may have longer length of stay while students that are more mature seem to grasp quicker and excel through the program at a faster pace.

• How Close is the Facility to Public Services?

Our school is strategically located less than one mile from the police and fire station to increase the success of any emergency calls, discourage runaway attempts and heighten the safety and well being of our students.

• Why is Lakeland for Girls Only?

By eliminating the distractions of boys, we will have put a tremendous block on peer pressure. Many of today’s girl issues derive from what “MAN” dictates it ought to be. Her clothing, her demeanor, her weight, her image, etc. all distorted by a fallen world. When boys are not around, girls seem more free to share, less concerned about being the popular one, less concerned about how they weigh or if they are having a bad hair-day or a pimple parade on their forehead. Those things are just put in its right perspective.

• What Happens After Lakeland Grace Academy Ends?

Near the end of your daughter’s stay, her therapist will work with you, your family and/or your professional support team to help determine the best options for your family as a WHOLE. The “Big Exit” are boundaries that are set in agreement form all family members starting in her 12th month of going home on visit and family counseling. This part in the curriculum can take up to 3-month of discussion and perseverance as parents must be strong as daughter try to also set boundaries. Some students stay on in our Graduate House if they wish to complete their education and receive ongoing aftercare. 

• How Do I Get My Daughter to Lakeland?

Once you’ve let your daughter know, the next step is getting her here. You can travel with your daughter and bring her to Lakeland, Florida. However, if the idea of change intimidates your daughter she may react to your choice by increasing the level of hostility in the family. If this occurs you may want to consider hiring a youth transport & escort service to come to your residence and escort her to the program. If this is your only alternative, we can help you find one that we’ve had good success with.  Good youth transport services are often made up of Christian parents just like you who have had a teen in a similar program. A female is always a part of such transports for girls.  If your teen has run away, some transport services also specialize in searching for and rescuing teens from runaway situations.

• How Do I Tell My Daughter About My Decision?

We’ll help you with this aspect, but here are some general guidelines.  In most cases, it is better to tell them your decision than to involve them in it. As you begin to prepare for breaking the news of the final details to your teen, you should rely on us to help devise a strategy.  No one can predict your teen’s reaction. Some teens are willing to accept the reality (they see that they need a change), but other teens will become completely defiant, oppositional, and will fight for control of your decision (manipulate you to change your decision with “I’ll be better” promises or “I’ll kill myself” threats). Your actions should be sure and deliberate. Your teen needs to know that your decision is final. Do not do this without some help and our guidance. Do not give a lot of advance warning, for that will only give your girl time to devise plans of her own.

Look at the big picture. Keep in mind that there will be a time of healing in the near future. Regardless of their reaction, remember that you do not need your teen’s approval to make the decision. It is a decision you made so your family can heal, and you are not giving up on your teen. If you don’t have any outside professional help, you may want to try a “Wake-up Call” (some call it an “Intervention”). It  involves gathering a collection of people that your child has placed her trust in (youth pastor, an aunt, grandparents, uncle or a teacher) who will care enough to sit down with you and your child and confront her. During this intervention, the group should express their concern and compassion for your child, discuss what you have decided (not giving her options at this point) and that her actions and road to self-destruction are what led you to make that decision.

• Is Lakeland a Registered and Recognized Non-Public School in the State of Florida?

Yes, our school is registered as a non-public school. All school credits earned are fully transferable to other high schools, boarding schools, colleges and universities. 

• How Much School Work Will She Do?

Although we do facilitate a state-registered school, most young ladies who enter the program need to concentrate and confront their emotional behavior and thinking before academics will appear more appealing to them. Lakeland Grace Academy provides a computer-based award-winning curriculum that is second to none. We supplement that with our own teachers and provide tutoring as needed.  Recent government studies suggest that computer-based education provides better learning and recall than classroom education, and many public schools are moving toward it as well.  Our goal is to bring your daughter to one complete grade level in all subjects across the board in the first year, but she can also work ahead (most students do). Once a resident’s thinking is cleared up, we find that they want to succeed in school and their grades and motivation improve tremendously. 

• What is Your Success Rate?

University studies and national surveys concluded that the Teen Challenge success rate for the last 30 years has been 86% for residents who graduate (less for those who are taken out early). In other words, nearly 9 out of 10 residents have a lifelong change in behavior toward more positive thinking and motivations. We are happy to provide names and numbers of parents who have recently had a teen in our program.

• Can My Teen Run Away?

We have had few instances of girls running away, since we have taken every precaution.  Every window and door with outside access is secured with a monitored alarm system to discourage runaways and any head starts. Our staff and peer leaders are always on lookout for runaway potential, especially in the first few weeks of a new resident’s stay. New residents are not allowed to go anywhere on campus without an escort, and are not allowed off-campus visits until we are assured that they are not considering running away.

• What About Birthdays?

If your daughter’s birthday occurs during her stay at Lakeland Grace Academy, we ask that you choose gifts that are helpful for her progress. Please keep in mind that she will need her gift to be small enough to fit in her storage bin under her bed. Our Parent/Student Handbook will give details to the cost limit of these gifts.

• How Can I Contact My Daughter On Emergencies?

Our Program Manager will provide you with the appropriate addresses, phone numbers and emails so you can contact us immediately in case of an emergency. It is up to you and the administration of Lakeland Grace Academy and her therapist to conclude whether your daughter is stable enough to encounter the emergency at home. 

• What About Phone Reports?

You are welcome and encouraged to call our Acacdemy’s Office any time with any concerns or questions. Letters During this crucial time, we ask that you contact your daughter once a week through letters and/or cards. Thoughtful responses and non-judgmental feedback can be achieved through the carefull annotation of your words. Topics for your daughter’s letters and phone calls will be derived from issues she has exposed with the help of her therapist and also with the curriculum that Lakeland Grace Academy will have her face.  To help your daughter gain the most from her letters home and phone calls, her therapist will assign, read, then approve discussion prior to your daughter sharing and discussing them with her family. We encourage your daughter to write back to every letter that comes from the immediate family on her family-approved correspondence list. PLEASE NOTE: Writing is a form of communication we use to build broken relationships with parents and immediate family members. Mail is NOT used for keeping up-to-date on current events.

• Doctor Visits

Prior to a doctor visit, all initial request are called in to parents to inform them of visitation. Calls from the doctor’s office may be necessary to ensure an accurate history to the physician. After your daughter’s appointment you will receive a follow-up phone call.

• My Daughter Never Exercises… Is that a problem?

Exercise is essential to good mental heath. It’s not unusual for girls to claim they can not workout or exercise when they arrive at Lakeland Grace Academy. It sure is wonderful to see our girls win championships and a new respect for themselves knowing that they can be just as active as any other athlete. Because of our small size and high staff/student ratio, we are able to incrementally increase your daughter’s progress and endurance level, whatever that may be, and advance to longer or more rigorous training & outings. We do not believe in using grueling physical regimens to “brake her down”! We want our recreation to “build her up” and to be a part of her lifestyle and ongoing healing once she leave the the academy.

• My Daughter is Currently Taking Medication. Will She be Able to Continue?

Mood-altering medications (psychotropic) are not allowed, or we will work on helping your teen ween off of them. We allow and administer medicine prescribe by your daughter’s physician. Other required over-the-counter medicines are allowed as needed and as administered by our staff.

• How is Misbehavior Handled at Lakeland Grace Academy?

All correction is done in an orderly and respectful manner. Our staff is trained in using biblical standards in positively addressing negative behavior. We do not use negative punishment (food deprivation, sleep deprivation, corporal punishment, scare tactics or a point system). Privileges may be taken away for a time or chores added. Our goal is to help your daughter see and tear down her own destructive and distorted patterns of thinking and behaviors and using positive peer pressure — her sisters in the academy hold her to these standards. All this is done with the staff closely monitoring, facilitating, and intervening to show appropriate instruction and counseling.

• Will Lakeland Grace Academy Help Me Regain My Lost Daughter?

It’s important for parents to realize our program is not a cure-all, but a good starting block for a strong foundation.. Teens at Lakeland Grace Academy have deep-rooted conditioned thinking that does not subside within the program. However if your daughter chooses to engage whole heartedly the change in her empathy and emotional intelligence will be evident. Her ability to place herself in someone else’s shoes will help her to think first before reacting impulsively.

• Where will the Lakeland Grace Academy Welcoming Team Meet Her?

Depending on the mode of transportation the Lakeland welcoming team will meet you and/or your daughter at different locations. If you are arriving by plane, we will meet you at either Orlando or Tampa International Airport. If you are driving here, you will be asked to bring your daughter to the academy in Lakeland. We will provide detailed directions to either location. Our staff will welcome you and your daughter to make certain a timely transition from your care to ours takes place upon arrival.

• Your Daughter’s Journal

During your daughter’s stay at Lakeland Grace Academy, she will be allowed to journal her experiences and feelings along with writing assignments that will be given to her by her therapist. It is up to your daughter when she feels comfortable enough to share her journal with her family. Please do not push your daughter to share any portion of her journal until she feels ready and her therapist & Director approves of such a vulnerable moment 

• The Big Exit and Staying in Touch

Aftercare is very important to Lakeland Grace Academy. Immediately after completing her program she will be required to send Directors & Counselors six (6) follow-through correspondence reports from her Pastor/Youth Pastor, Employer if applicable, Parents and from student. once a month from each for 6 month. Your daughter is encouraged to stay in contact with Lakeland Grace Academy either by letter or phone for support. follow-up phone calls will be conducted to talk about your daughters progress and to obtain general verbal feedback. The relationships that these phone calls form, naturally builds bonds of communications for years to come between Directors and Graduates.

• What Does She Need to Bring?

A list will be provided of basic necessities, upon acceptance.

• How Often Can I Communicate with My Daughter?

After the first two weeks of self-evaluation, students are encouraged to write to whomever parents authorize on their correspondence list once a week. This correspondence list will comprise of immediate family members (grandparents, parents, siblings) for the first ten months. As your daughter progresses through the program, the mailing list may increase with additional approved role models. Phone calls are allowed and encouraged, after a two week break at the beginning. Weekly phone calls, 15 minutes in duration, are scheduled in advance by staff, so family members can be present. Since much can be learned in regard to a resident’s progress by their interactions with parents on the phone, these phone calls are monitored and evaluated by counseling staff.

• How Soon May I Visit My Daughter?

On-campus visits, called Parent Weekends, begin after two full months.  They are on the third full weekend of every other month Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning. The Parent Weekend is also a time for parents to receive instruction from our staff. All home visits require the approval of Academy Directors.

• What is the Required Commitment Level of the Participating Parents?

Lakeland Grace Academy is a program for the whole family. A pivotal and critical aspect of the program is the mandatory participation of parents at certain times. Parents are expected to participate in family therapy sessions, program curriculum, and attend several Parent Weekends. A student’s success is dependent on the parent’s willingness to support the therapeutic process of the program.

• During my Daughter’s Stay, What Kind of Communication Can I Expect from Lakeland Grace Academy?

Parents are welcome to email and/or call us whenever they like to receive an update. They also receive scheduled written weekly progress reports. Keeping families informed and involved in the process is of the utmost priority.

• Is Physical Activity a Requirement?

Yes! Teens today are finding ways to entertain themselves in such a passive manner and rarely take any time to give their bodies the proper form of daily exercise. Everyday student are required to participate in physical activity. Aerobics, yoga, dance movements, resistance-band training, are but a few categories we use to increase the intent of maintaining a lifetime approach to conditioning and fitness long after she has graduated. This intense regiment has help us keep the Florida State Rugby Championship Title three years straight. Volleyball, basketball and softball will soon be the next competing sport we will pursue.

• Are Any Scholarships and/or Financial Assistance Programs Available?

Caring for a troubled teenager 24/7 and providing an education and housing is a costly venture.  At this present time there are no scholarships available, other than the fact that our tuition is already about one third the cost of the national average for therapeutic programs, so in essence we are already providing scholarships to every resident.  Even so there are financial institutions available that have helped our parents in the past. We can provide you with that information.  Since Lakeland is a part of Teen Challenge, donations help ensure our tuition is kept low.  

• How Often Do Residents Receive Counseling?

Our teens participate in weekly group and individual counseling.

• Must I Enroll My Girl on a Specific Date?

No, enrollment is year-round (and 24/7), except the week of December 21st through 27th for Christmas Break and 4th of July week.

• How Often Can Parents Visit?

Visits are allowed every other month on the third full weekend of that month for 3 days (Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning).

• How Many Residents Sleep in a Room?

Four teens are allowed per room.

• How Long Do the Teens Stay?

It is recommended that teens stay for 15 months, depending upon the teens progress and pace and whether the parent wants to the teen to stay to finish high school in our Graduate House. 

• How is the Whole Family Involved in Lakeland’s Program?

Each teen is assigned a series of monthly “Personal Studies.” Families are required to include, over their phone call, these assignments to help rebuild the communication missing in their relationship. Portions of these studies are also given to parents as homework. Parents and teens communicate by letter as often as they like. Families are encouraged to participate in family therapy sessions as soon as possible with our Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

• How Can I Get My Unwilling or Runaway Teen to Your Program?

Although most students do come of their own free will, some students need coaching and persuasion, or they may need to be found (they have run away) before they can come. Once we know about your situation, we will offer you recommendations to help you decide what is best for you and your child.