Aspen News - Aspen Achievement Academy earns JCAHO Accreditation

ASPEN ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY EARNS JCAHO ACCREDITATION

01/28/04

Contact Lisa Freeman, Kevin/Ross Public Relations
818-597-8453

Aspen Only One of Three Wilderness Programs Nationally to Earn JCAHO Designation

(LOA, UTAH – January 28, 2004) — Aspen Achievement Academy, a Utah-based wilderness therapy program for teens in crisis and a member of Aspen Education Group, has earned the Gold Seal of Approval by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), becoming one of only three wilderness therapy programs nationally to earn the designation. JCAHO accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain quality and performance standards.

“Our JCAHO designation sets Aspen Achievement Academy apart from other wilderness programs because it demonstrates our strong commitment to achieving the nation’s highest standards for quality and safety of care for our students,” said Program Director Gil Hallows.

“JCAHO sets the standards by which all healthcare quality is measured in the U.S. and around the world,” said Sue Crowell, senior vice president of Outdoor Programs at Aspen Education Group.

“To earn a three-year accreditation, organizations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of JCAHO health professionals at least once every three years. Aspen Achievement Academy earned high marks on its review and will continue to improve through the years, combining the best in therapeutic care, experiential activities, counseling, education and group therapy.”

“Our goal is to assist families in helping to improve the quality of life for their troubled children, so that means we must be the best at what we do,” said Aspen Education Group’s CEO Elliot Sainer. “By taking a leadership position in achieving JCAHO accreditation, we are raising the bar nationwide on outdoor therapy programs, challenging them to commit to the highest quality and safety standards.”

Aspen Achievement Academy is licensed as an outdoor youth program and is recognized as a special needs school by the Utah State Department of Education. The goal of the academy is to provide struggling or troubled adolescents with experiences that promote the development of self-discipline, confidence, problem solving skills and a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit their Web site at www.aspenacademy.com.

Aspen Education Group is the nation’s leader in providing educational opportunities that improve the quality of life for troubled children, teenagers and young adults and their families. Recognizing that every at-risk child is unique and challenged in different ways, AEG offers a wide diversity of programs, settings and solutions that match youths’ needs with the right learning environment. Through Aspen’s 49 programs in 13 states, parents can choose from long-term residential treatment to community-based outpatient services with a variety of therapeutic interventions that include boarding schools, special education day schools, outdoor therapy and wilderness programs. While each Aspen program operates independently, AEG provides professional oversight based on two decades of experience facilitating the recovery, turnaround and education of tens of thousands of youths. AEG was named among the top 100 education companies in 2003 by Eduventures, a leading independent research firm dedicated to learning markets. Further information on AEG may be obtained at www.aspeneducation.com or by calling (888) 972-7736.

An independent, not-for-profit organization, JCAHO is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. The joint commission evaluates and accredits more than 16,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. For more information visit www.jcaho.org.