Family Involvement

The success of the program in affecting permanent change is dependent, to a large degree, upon the level of involvement of the students' parents and families. While the student works in the field, parents and families at home are required to work through a special curriculum, which prepares them for the changes that are necessary to effectively communicate with their child. They complete a workbook entitled, Bringing Love Home and participate in weekly telephone meetings with a therapist. Parents and families are taught many of the same principles that the students learn in the wilderness, helping to establish a continuity of culture, language, and principles from Wilderness Quest to the home.

The family training culminates in a 3-day workshop called Family Enrichment, held at the Wilderness Quest headquarters in Monticello, Utah. During Family Enrichment, family members and students learn to accept responsibility for their behaviors, and everyone is given the opportunity to share how the behaviors of others have impacted them personally. The concept of "Family Circle" is introduced, learned, and practiced as a tool for effective communication and conflict resolution.