Moonridge Academy recognizes the need and responsibility to conduct appropriate research to ensure that our students are receiving the best possible treatment.  Moonridge Academy is proud to be a designated research based program through NATSAP (National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs). Currently we are actively participating in the NATSAP Outcome Research Project.   As part of this project, we ask students and parents to complete the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (YOQ).  

 The YOQ uses a series of questions to measure the effectiveness of therapeutic treatment.  Questions include information about a teen's decision making skills, interpersonal relationships, clinical issues, emotional regulation and mental health history. We ask both parents and their teens to complete the YOQ upon admission to Moonridge.  While a teen is enrolled at Moonridge Academy, they will complete the YOQ on a monthly basis. We then ask both parents and teens to complete it upon discharge/graduation, at 6 months post graduation and again at 12 months post graduation.  Finally, we ask parents and students to continue with the questionnaire up to 5 years post graduation.  

   

WHAT DO THESE OUTCOME GRAPHS MEAN?

 

These graphs show a compliation of data from the last 7 years.  The first graph shows how the students themselves have responded to the outcome questionnaire.  Students tend to view themselves more favorably.  The second graph shows how the parents have responded to the same outcome questionnaire.  The dotted line that runs through the graph is indicative of a "typical teenager" who is not receiving any type of treatment or therapy.  The first bar of the graph shows how teens are scoring upon admission, meaning that parents view their children experiencing significant clinical issues including a high degree of behavioral issues, mental health issues and relationship issues.  Scoring high on the questionnaire is an indicator that the student is experiencing more struggles.  

The second bar illustrates how teens and parents are scoring the teen upon discharge.  There is tremendous progress made from admission to discharge.  We expect this to happen because a teen has completed extensive treatment in they are at Moonridge Academy.  The third bar shows how parents and teens feel the teen is doing 6 months post treatment.  We actually expect an increase to occur because the "glow" of treatment is over.  At a year following treatment, we see that the majority of students level out, scoring slightly higher than the "typical teenager", but with dramatically decreased clinical struggles. Our data then shows the majority of students who have attended Moonridge Academy maintain this same level for the next 5 years.