Turning Winds Academic Institute, Troy, Montana

A private, therapeutic boarding school nestled south of the Purcell Mountains in Montana, Turning Winds Academic Institute is a remedial retreat for troubled teenagers in need of guidance. In the last eight years of its operation, Turning Winds has redirected the lives of hundreds of troubled youth. The 150-acre property provides expansive spaces where students can learn and explore.

Turning Winds Academic Institute accepts children with behavioral issues of ages ranging from 12 to 18 years old. Staffed by faculty experienced in handling difficult children, Turning Winds is equipped to treat children struggling with learning difficulties, depression, hyperactivity, laziness, weight problems, poor family relationships, and more. To elicit a child’s maximum potential, Turning Winds pairs outdoor activity with quality instruction.

The activity component of Turning Winds’ curriculum includes field trips, service projects, physical training, and recreational sports. More traditional instruction offered by Turning Winds involves standardized course material at middle and high school levels in core subject matter, such as math, reading, science, and social studies. Turning Winds also provides courses geared toward college preparation and receiving college credit. To allow for balanced distribution of educational attention on each student, Turning Winds Academic Institute limits enrollment to 50 students at a time. The curriculum was developed by certified Montana educators.

Troubled youth who enroll in Turning Winds Academic Institute’s 12-month program can expect to move through through three phases. The first is the orientation phase, typically lasting four to six months, during which Turning Winds’ licensed staff assesses the child’s behavior, emotional, and academic needs. The second is the transition phase, when Turning Winds begins preparing teens for their return home. The third and final phase is the aftercare phase, when a Turning Winds therapist is assigned directly to the child and his or her family to check on their progress and provide further support when needed.

Turning Winds Academic Institute is among the nation’s most successful therapeutic boarding schools. Accepting troubled teens from both home and abroad, Turning Winds is a part of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.



Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

Many of the students at Turning Winds Academic Institute Residential Care Facility suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children who are diagnosed with the disorder show signs of general inattention and hyperactivity more frequently than is typically observed in their peers. Some possible signs that your child may benefit from treatment for ADHD are forgetfulness of daily activities, organizational difficulties, an inability to follow instructions, and failure to listen when given a task. Children with ADHD are often fidgety, interrupt others, talk excessively, and lack the ability to remain seated for extended periods of time. The specialists at Turning Winds Academic Institute receive significant training on how to diagnose and treat ADHD, ensuring that your child gains the increased focus and concentration needed to excel academically. Students at our school are also often diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder, which is marked by disobedience and direct argumentativeness toward authority figures. These teens often exhibit uncontrollable tempers, quickness to anger, and frequent annoyance. Other students receive treatment for conduct disorder, which is characterized by difficulty in understanding the rights of others and the failure to respect societal norms. These children may be aggressive, deceitful, or even violent. In addition to these behavioral disorders, the specialists at the Turning Winds Academic Institute are also trained to treat substance abuse disorders, including alcohol and drug abuse; mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder; anxiety disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder; and eating disorders.