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THE BEST OPTIONS FOR TROUBLED TEENS
Abundant Life Academy
Early-early Intervention Assessment Program [EEIAP] (3 to 6 Months):
Early-early Intervention Assessment Program – The EEIAP is a condensed program, combining our regular Trimester I, II, & III into a 3 to 6 month time period (minus the Mercy Ministry program [National or International Mercy Ministry programming is optional to qualified candidates]). The EEIAP is Abundant Life Academy’s version of a “boot camp” for troubled teens. The Early-early Intervention Program has an intense (accelerated) focus on Leadership, Bible (Christian discipleship), and Academics. There is not a lot of down time, and the pace is greatly accelerated (when compared to the 9 month base-leadership program). Essentially, we have condensed Trimester I, II, and III into a three-month program because we wanted to provide another alternative for students who have not traveled too far down the road of rebellion.
The Early-early Intervention program is intense, highly structured, and very accelerated. The EEIAP is meant to be an “intervention” and an “assessment”. We provide intervention, turning the student around (restoration), and at the same time we make a thorough assessment of the nature of his/her problem. We work very closely with the parents in fostering a dynamic change in the family, not just the child. Once we know what is going on, we can effectively coach the child and the parents into full restoration.
Additionally, with many “early-intervention” students no one is quite sure what is going on inside the mind and heart of the child. With the emotionally immature child the “real” problem can go undetected. The parents know something is wrong, and things in the home are not good. But why? This child is tearing apart the family with their aggressive rebellion, but no one is really sure why. We get to the bottom of the problem fast. The earlier a parent intervenes into the rebellion the better prospect of full restoration. Sometimes, parents wait way too long, and it take years for the child to overcome the problems he/she has caused.
The EEIAP candidate, in the early stages of rebellion, can be turned around in a shorter period of time. Therefore, the EEIAP program is 3 to 6 months long. We believe that an emotionally mature child can make decisions in their best interest. Therefore, our goal is to focus a great deal of our attention on developing the student’s “emotional intelligence” (emotional maturity). Our EEIAP does not waste any time. They are engaged all day, every day. The student entering the program realizes that the length of time they are at ALA totally depends on their ability to “grow up”, take responsibility, and be accountable. “Growing up” means that the ALA EEIAP student-graduate returns home as a “caring” and “giving” person. They are much more thankful for what they have, and grateful for all that their parents have provided. This emotionally mature student knows that submission to authority is powerful, and why. The emotionally intelligent child readily submits to his/her parental authority, makes good decisions, and is therefore granted liberty, especially when “trust” abounds.
The EEIAP is identical to the ALA “Base Leadership Program”. Moreover, the EEIAP student will cover the exact curriculum that the Base Leadership Program provides. The only difference is the speed of delivery of the curriculum. We believe that the more emotionally mature a student is the faster he/she can move through curriculum and make a real “heart change”. We realize that not all students are the same, and some grow at faster rates than others. Generally, those students who have not traveled down the deep rut of rebellion are usually more “emotionally mature”, and can rebound (be redirected) much quicker. In these cases, we feel that it is in the best interest of the student and the family to return home as quickly as possible (3 to 6 months). Even though the EEIAP is accelerated, it is not watered down or made easier. Students, to be successful, must work hard and apply themselves 110%. In three to six months these students must accomplish what others students do in nine months. They must become motivated soon after enrollment to be successful. These students, upon enrollment, engage and get down to business. They see an opportunity to make their stay at ALA a short one, and they don’t waste time. Usually, their motivation is to get back home and get back on track with their lives. They begin to see where they were headed (the wrong way), and are appreciative that the turn can be made quickly.
The Early-early Intervention Assessment Program is not open to all prospective students and their families. Student candidates for the EEIAP must be assessed and accepted by the ALA Admissions Team into the EEIAP accelerated program. The typical EEIP student candidate is a selfish and self-centered child, making poor choices (poor selection of friends and boy/girl friends), but has not yet experimented with drugs/alcohol**, does not sneak out, is not sexually active**, and is not in total defiance. This student still may be doing well academically. The typical EEIAP student candidate is primarily on a downward spiral, becoming more and more disrespectful and demanding, and is rebelling openly toward parental authority. This student may also be questioning their faith, and is basically really confused, angry, and “entitled”. This student needs a wake up call, intense coaching, and learn to deal with “structure” (authority, rules, policies, procedures, etc.).
