|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs
(NATSAP) was created in 1999 to serve as a national resource for
programs and professionals assisting young people with emotional
or behavioral difficulties. Since its inception we have grown
from the 7 founding members to our current membership.
The Association is comprised of therapeutic schools, residential
treatment programs, wilderness programs, outdoor therapeutic
programs, young adult programs and home-based residential
programs.
NATSAP was founded to provide opportunities for private
therapeutic programs and schools to collaborate, share
information, exchange ideas and develop collegial relationships.
NATSAP is an organization comprised of professionals striving to
uphold ethical and best practice standards. NATSAP strives to
maintain a non-marketing, non-competitive environment within the
organization and at all organization events.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
NATSAP has much to offer for the dues paid by our member
programs. The following is a list of some of those benefits:
* We have a national conference each year to encourage
collegiality and learning. Our conferences continue to grow in
attendance, bringing representatives from our members together
to expand their awareness of this industry and to learn from one
another.
* Conferences are also held in the various regions across the
United States enabling more of our member’s staff to attend. As
we continue to support the regions with conferences, we
anticipate added focus to the regions working towards their
specific needs.
* We are building our member services by providing an
opportunity to reduce insurance costs through a discounted
program. Guidelines to assist programs in Critical Incidents is
offered as well as sample documents, policies and procedures as
guidelines and the committee, comprised of representatives from
our membership, has many more plans on the table.
* The NATSAP Public Policy Committee promotes federal policies
favorable to children and families needing the services of
therapeutic schools and programs. The Committee will assess
federal policy affecting therapeutic schools and communities,
identify the strengths and commonalities of members, set
realistic goals and create a practical strategy to attain those
goals. The Committee will serve as resource to state and
regional chapters and to the members of NATSAP.
* We publish a directory each year that goes out to over 10,000
professionals who are assisting parents in finding a solution
for their child’s difficulties..
* Our members are listed immediately upon admission to the
organization on our website. As you may have noted, the site has
a search engine with detailed information on each of our member
programs.
Our Board is comprised of individuals nominated and elected by
our members. Our committees consist of representatives from
every area of our membership.
We encourage you to give serious consideration to joining our
organization. Please feel free to contact the NATSAP office with
any questions you may have or to request an application for
membership.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN NATSAP
Effective May 1, 2007 all programs applying for membership in
NATSAP must
* be licensed by the appropriate state agency authorized to set
and oversee standards of therapeutic and/or behavioral
healthcare for youth and adolescents or accredited by a
nationally recognized behavioral health accreditation agency
* have therapeutic services with oversight by a qualified
clinician
* aspire to NATSAP Ethical Principles and NATSAP Principles of
Good Practice
A program with Full membership status will be required to be
open for more than two years. Those programs not meeting this
criteria will have Associate membership status.
To continue their commitment to providing assistance to new
programs, NATSAP provides Provisional status for those programs
that will open within six months of seeking membership in
NATSAP.
Clarification:
Licensure: The NATSAP Board of Directors reserves the right to
determine if the licensure meets the NATSAP membership
requirements.
Therapeutic services with oversight by a qualified clinician:
NATSAP members must have an independently state licensed mental
health professional that is openly accessible to the students
and has oversight responsibility for individual
treatment/service plans.
NOTE: Current members of NATSAP will be required to be in full
compliance with the new membership criteria by January 1, 2009.
DUES
Annual dues are $1,400 plus a Census Fee of your Average Daily
Census x $29. New members accepted after January 31st of each
year do not pay full annual dues, but a pro-rated amount from
the 1st of the month following their acceptance into membership.
|
|
