Frequently
Asked Questions
1. How long
do residents stay at Heartlight?
The average stay for young people at Heartlight is 9 to 12 months. Changes
of heart take time, and they require commitment on the part of the parents
to stick with the program, no matter how difficult it is to be away from
the child. The child will at first drag his or her heels and then
after 2-3 months will settle in, allowing the counseling and
the overall program to begin to spark a new way of thinking. The
9-12 month program also provides time for parents
to complete the series of three retreats required by the Heartlight program.
It is critically important for the student to see his or her parents
also making an effort to "change." The
Heartlight mission is to get kids back home as soon as possible after
a true "change
of heart"
has taken place. Heartlight staff never extend a child's time at Heartlight
beyond what is necessary for completion of the program, since there are
always more needy teens waiting to get in.
2. Do the
residents attend public school or do you offer schooling at Heartlight?
The
answer is "Yes" to both questions. For residents who can function
in public school and continue their growth process at Heartlight, we offer
the privilege of attending Hallsville High School, a 4-A school that excels
in academics, discipline, and activities. For boys and girls who find
it hard to work through issues and attend public school simultaneously,
we offer two separate programs, Heartlight East for boys and Heartlight
South for girls. This second option provides home-bound schooling that
is accredited through Texas Tech University and taught by our our own
certified teachers on the Heartlight staff, and overseen by our Academic
Director.
3. What does
a child's stay at Heartlight cost?
The
first month's fee is $5,250, and each subsequent month is $4,300. Heartlight
is not insurance qualified as a total program, but insurance companies
will sometimes reimburse for the counseling services. See
the
Cost
Comparison.
Quick financing available through
4. What role
do parents play in their child's stay at Heartlight?
Parents are asked to attend three
Family Retreats and a series of three Parent Retreats that do not involve
the residents. Parents are encouraged to particiapte in a 30-minute weekly
phone call with their child and also
communicate with staff and counselor on a regular basis for updates on
their child's progress. Parent
involvement will be based on the progress of the child and as the Level
System dictates. Parental visits to Heartlight are welcome, but time
with the child may be limited if the child is still on the lower levels
or is on restriction. Every connection with parents and family
is orchestrated to ensure progress in the student's way of thinking
and acting.
5. What does
the Counseling program at Heartlight involve?
Each
resident meets on a regular basis with a Heartlight counselor. In addition,
residents are involved in group therapy meetings twice a week. Whereas
the actual counseling program utilizes professional staff, much more
counseling
"simply happens" with our in-house residential staff members,
who take advantage of opportunities to deepen relationships with the residents.
Counseling for parents is offered by consulting staff on an "as needed"
basis. Family counseling involving Heartlight residents and their parents
is offered on a limited basis, yet parents are extensively involved in
the resident's counseling throughout a child's stay.
6.
What types of activities does Heartlight have for the residents?
Heartlight believes in the seriousness of counseling and dealing
with issues and struggles, and at the same time believes that activities
must be provided for fun and active involvement of the kids with our staff.
Heartlight's activities include water skiing, fishing, horseback riding,
a rappelling and rock climbing tower, swimming, waverunners, water skiing,
paintball, basketball, tennis, Frisbee golf, golf, softball, pottery,
photography, biking, aerobics, and weight-lifting, as well as other lake
activities. We work very hard on issues and problems...but we also play
hard.
7. How many
kids does Heartlight deal with at one time?
Heartlight
has a maximum capacity of 48 residents cared for by
over 40 staff.
8. Is Heartlight affiliated with any particular church?
Heartlight
is a non-denominational Christian ministry, and is not affiliated with
any one church. Heartlight utilizes a Biblical counseling model that
brings the message of Jesus Christ to the lives of residents in a non-threatening
way. We do not "force-feed" kids with the Gospel, and have
no requirements for their spiritual growth in order to progress through
the Level System. The staff's background in church ministry, Young
Life, Campus Life, Campus Crusade, camping ministries, and other residential
facilities, have all come together to develop the very best program
possible to meet the needs of our Heartlight residents. See our Statement
of Faith.
9.
Is Heartlight coed?
Yes, Heartlight has both boys and girls on campus in separate
housing units. However, since our
focus is on helping each child work through the emotional issues
that brought them to Heartlight, we
do not encourage nor facilitate interaction between the opposite sexes.
Students are under adult supervision at all times and are generally not
free to roam the campus nor allowed to enter each other's homes. Coed programs
are limited to group counseling sessions and supervised group outings and
activities. Meals are made
by staff and consumed in the student's home, not in a cafeteria setting,
and in the initial 4-6 months students work on self-paced high school courses
right in their home with the assistance of qualified teachers, so interaction
with students outside of their own home is very limited.
10.
How do you handle doctor or dentist appointments
and medicines?
The residential staff arranges for doctor visits
and transports
students wherever they may need to go. Heartlight has a number
of local medical and dental professionals who handle Heartlight
students during their stay. The
staff also distributes medicines according to prescription schedules
and generally keeps an eye on the health of each student, caring
for them in times of illness and ensuring they get medical attention
if needed. Parents are continually kept in the loop and must approve
of all medical procedures, prescriptions and expenses.
Heartlight
Requirements
For Students...
- Speak English
- Age 13 to 18
- No sexual offenses
- Christian background
- Not currently chemical
dependent - No schizophrenia, psychosis,
or
diagnosed personality
disorders - No violent criminal behavior
- Not out of school for more than 6 months
For Parents/Guardians...
- Commit to attending Parent Retreats
- Participate in brief weekly counselor updates.
- Commit to
Heartlight's 9-12
month program.
