Student Safety

Does abuse in institutional settings still exist?

Some young people continue to emerge from therapeutic settings having had negative experiences.  Telos believes programs unable to treat youth safely should be corrected or closed.  All young people, especially those who are vulnerable, have a right to safe, humane mental health care.

How does the State of Utah assure programs are safe?

All therapeutic programs in Utah are licensed by the State Office of Licensing, a division of the Department of Human Services.  Programs follow stringent safety and effectiveness standards called Congregate Care Core and Categorical rules. Specially trained State licensors are assigned to inspect and oversee all Utah programs.  These licensors inspect each program four times per year.  Half of these inspections are planned, the other half are unannounced, assuring programs are evaluated as they “really are.”  Additionally, programs are required to report safety related incidents to the Office of Licensing, which investigates all critical incidents.  Programs that can’t maintain a track record of safety and effectiveness are sanctioned or shut down. The last five years of Telos’ State Inspection results can be found here.

Is Telos safe?

Yes. Telos was founded in 2004 by a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and four Masters-level mental health clinicians. Having witnessed the problems and limitations of programs in the 90s, Telos founders developed a treatment environment characterized by evidence-based best practices, clinical sophistication, and a philosophy that puts inspiring interpersonal relationships first. Telos doesn’t have a complex system of punishments and rewards designed to shape behavior. Instead, students are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. As they learn more about themselves, students are invited and inspired to experiment with new beliefs and behaviors that support greater happiness. Cutting edge therapeutic modalities are used to teach skills and build competencies, always with the best interest of the students in mind.

Telos staff are at the top of their profession. The clinicians, teachers, and administrators are professionally trained and fully licensed. Telos supervisory staff are composed of paraprofessionals who are:

• Certified in CPR and 1^stAid
• Cleared to work with youth by a national background check
• Trained in the latest de-escalation and safety techniques
• Enrolled in Clinical Deep Dive Training Levels 1, 2 and 3
• Engaged in ongoing weekly trainings on the 10 Pillars and Mentor Essentials
• Overseen by licensed clinicians

Telos goes above and beyond state-required minimums. Our organization is accredited by the Joint Commission and has maintained its highest Gold Status since 2004. Telos belongs to the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs and is a founding member of Choose Mental Health, a nonprofit network of programs providing a client-centered higher standard of care. Telos hosts politicians, legislators, and visiting dignitaries interested in learning what state of the art residential treatment looks like.

Telos has never had a known incident of abuse or neglect. The campus is watched over by active owner-operators who guard the safety of their students as they would their own children.

Is Telos effective?

Telos is one of 19 national programs that maintain NATSAP’s Research Designated Program Gold Status. Our outcome data is collected using standardized, valid scientific assessment tools handled by third-party researchers at the University of New Hampshire. With thousands of data points, an ongoing 17-year study demonstrates the effectiveness of our model.

In addition to the testimonials on Telos, we encourage you to visit the therapeutic program alumni movement www.thrivingnow.me to hear more success stories from those who have benefitted from therapeutic programs across the nation.