Northstar is a transitional program for adults ages 17.6 to 24, which helps young adults move from a primary care stetting, such as a wilderness program or therapeutic boarding school, to the challenges of the real world. Northstar provides the structure and support that young people just out of primary care need to continue developing a base of sobriety, while allowing for a gradual expansion of freedom and responsibility on an individual basis, as each student demonstrates readiness.

Students at Northstar receive instruction in two core areas:

1. Continuing substance abuse recovery programming
2. Academic and life skills programming

At Northstar, we aim to:

• Help students complete a high school diploma and prepare academically for a college program (or earn college credits)
• Continue building on the skills learned during a primary care stay, while emphasizing the life skills needed for real world success
• Show young adults how much fun a sober life can be
• Let students practice independent living, with gradually increasing responsibilities and freedom
• Help parents learn how to set appropriate boundaries and expectations for their in transition children
  

We give students freedom to explore (as they are ready) while helping them to understand the responsibilities that partner with the increasing freedoms of adulthood.

Students coming to Northstar must commit to at least 6 months in residence; the normal length of stay is one year. A lengthy period of treatment is necessary to ready students for college and real world life success, allowing them the opportunity to gradually earn increasing freedoms and responsibilities, as they are ready, while still living in a safe and sober environment.

Therapeutic Program Elements

The therapeutic program at Northstar builds on the gains made during a stay at a primary care rehab, therapeutic boarding school or wilderness program to help young adults build and maintain a newly won sobriety.

Every student will meet frequently with their assigned case manager to develop and modify a recovery plan as needed. Treatment is individualized and based on the unique needs of each young adult.

Program elements include:

• 12 steps group meeting participation and 12 steps study
• Group therapy
• Individual therapy
• Educational lectures (on topics pertaining to addiction, mental health, etc.)
• Psycho education groups
• Learning mindfulness and putting this into practice on a daily basis
• Emotional growth workshops
• Family retreat workshops

Academics at Northstar

The academic program at Northstar begins with a comprehensive battery of assessment testing. We believe that students are empowered through an accurate and comprehensive awareness of their strengths and weaknesses, and so strive to provide a thorough and honest assessment for their benefit and use.

All students will participate in refresher and remedial classes as needed. Many students come into Northstar after years of semi academic neglect and are missing some key aspects of a high school curriculum. This remedial and tutoring period makes up for times of previous inattention and builds a solid base for collegiate achievement.

Students needing to complete high school will work through a GED program while at Northstar, and high school graduates will have an opportunity to earn college credits at the Central Oregon Community College – some students take as many as 12 college credits while in residence with us.

Since many students come to us demonstrating higher than average intelligence but non traditional learning styles (or with learning difficulties) we offer instruction in areas such as study strategies, emotional regulation and career success.

Life Skills

Students come to Northstar to prepare themselves for college success, to gain the continuing support they'll need to maintain sobriety and to learn the kinds of skills they'll need to transition into successful independent living adults.

Some of the life skills taught and emphasized at Northstar include:

• Meal planning and cooking
• Money management
• Task prioritization
• Healthy conflict resolution
• Asking for help appropriately
• Self care and hygiene
• Laundry
• Maintaining a clean and tidy environment

Fun!

The years of young adulthood should be enjoyable ones, and for those newly in recovery, learning how to have fun without the use of alcohol or drugs is of utmost importance. Students at Northstar will participate in leisure activities that include:

• Fly fishing
• Rock climbing
• Mountain biking
• Artistic pursuits
• Playing music
• Dramatic activities
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Snowshoeing
• Cooking lessons
• Many more

Living Environment

Students at Northstar begin their studies in one of 3 very comfortable student living homes in Bend Oregon. Once students prove their readiness for stage 2 of the program, they move into independent living apartments. This second phase of living provides young adults with the environment of freedom and responsibility needed to practice independent living skills while truly on their own, while still receiving regular visits from case managers and still participating in a full day of therapeutic and academic activities.

Bend Oregon is a city in central Oregon of 70 000 people. The city boasts almost year-round sunshine and is nestled against the Cascade Mountains. People come to Bend to partake in the fantastic skiing and snowboarding, golfing, hiking, and rock climbing, and students at Northstar will have ample opportunity to enjoy Bend's beautiful natural surroundings.

Tuition and Financial Assistance

Payment options for the year long Northstar Center experience include private payment, treatment financing, and in some cases, reduced tuition payment as a part of a financial assistance package.

Treatment financing can defer the full cost of a year's tuition to a monthly loan installment, roughly the size of a normal car payment.