UBH Denton Joins with Legends Academy to Offer Educational Opportunity to School-Age Patients
Dallas/Fort Worth Psychiatric hospital, UBH Denton, partners with charter school to ensure school-age patients receive quality education while receiving inpatient mental health care.
Online, November 2, 2010 (Newswire.com) - University Behavioral Health of Denton, the premier mental health facility in north Texas, has announced a partnership with Legends Academy charter school that will allow students who are being treated at UBH Denton to continue their education without interruption while they are away from their usual school.
Patients at all levels, from kindergarten through high school seniors, can take advantage of Legends Academy. The school is conveniently located adjacent to UBH Denton at 2026 West University Drive in Denton.
UBH Denton and Legends Academy are working together to assure that youngsters who are being treated at UBH Denton can attend a certified school, with certified teachers, during their inpatient treatment. That stay can range from several days to several weeks. By taking advantage of Legends Academy, which is certified through the State of Texas, students don't fall behind in their learning.
Not only does the educational arrangement keep UBH Denton's school-age patients current in their schoolwork, but it also addresses what can be a source of mental health problems for many of them.
"Whether it is some sort of learning challenge, or a bullying issue, school can be a trigger for our younger patients," explained Susan Young, CEO of University Behavioral Health Denton. "With an excellent teacher-to-pupil ratio and the presence of trained therapists, we can leverage the Legends Academy experience to help patients work through any school-related issues."
Legends Academy has more than 50 current students, and anticipates an enrollment of 80 by the end of this year. Not all of them are UBH patients, however, as the school is more than just a temporary option for patients. Several UBH patients have already enrolled in Legends Academy on a permanent basis, finding the school a better learning environment for them.
Chris Bennett, Principal at Legends Academy, emphasized that Legends Academy offers all core courses for kindergarten through 12th grade, along with a wide range of electives.
"Every teacher here at Legends Academy has prior treatment center experience, so we understand how to work with the children that are with us either permanently or on a temporary basis," Bennett said. "We are incredibly flexible in our ability to work with each student on an individual basis."
"This is a tremendously positive opportunity for the children we treat at UBH Denton," Young said. "It allows them to continue their education while they are with us and even to get caught up educationally in areas where they might have been having trouble before beginning treatment. It also serves as a viable alternative to continuing their schooling once their treatment is completed here."
University Behavioral Health, part of Ascend Health Corporation, has facilities in Denton and Carrollton. In addition to treating children, adolescents, adults, and mature adults, UBH Denton features specialty programs such as Breaking Free with Herschel Walker that treats patients with co-occurring issues such as depression and substance abuse; Freedom Care, serving active duty military members, as well as veterans, retirees, and their families; Exclusively Women, which helps women heal together and develop healthy lifestyles and coping skills to manage their emotional lives; and Minirth Adult Services, a faith-based program that merges professional counseling and Biblical principles.
In all its programs, University Behavioral Health relies on evidence-based mental health care, in which evidence gained from scientific methods is applied to medical decision making in order to deliver the most positive outcomes.
About University Behavioral Health
University Behavioral Health provides a supportive, compassionate, and innovative private healing environment of patient-centered care for patients and their families. It is part of Ascend Health Corporation, a national behavioral healthcare company providing a full range of psychiatric services through private hospitals. University Behavioral Health serves the north Texas-Oklahoma region through hospitals in Denton and Carrollton. Private and confidential assessments are provided at no charge. Visit www.ubhdenton.com for more information.