Coral Reef Academy is the number one off-shore treatment program for teenage boys between age 15 to 21.

At Coral Reef Academy in Samoa our goal is to provide first-class individualized treatment for the students and families we serve. We recognize that not all of our students have the same needs or the same goals which is why we have developed a new, creative and dynamic program structure that allows each student and family to help create their own journey.

A unique aspect of CRA is that we recognize that each student has their own journey, their individual destination based upon what they need to accomplish in order to be successful. It is obvious that a 15 year old who is still in high school and will be returning to live with their family after discharge will have very different issues than one who is 17, 18 or older who will be completing high school, starting college courses and preparing for independent living. At CRA, each student and family will have the opportunity, with staff support, to create their own treatment plan identifying therapeutic, academic and life skills goals that will allow them to successfully reach their desired destination . More..

When a student arrives at our Vaitele campus in Samoa, there will be a one week evaluation and “mapping” period. Clinical, academic and residential staff will work with the student and family to identify the relevant issues and develop a treatment plan.

When starting a new journey, one of the first items you need is a map, a guide that will lead you to your destination. The CRA Vaitele Campus is the starting point where the student and family will be asked to take stock of:

• Where you are and where you want to be
• What are your goals
• What do you need to accomplish in the areas of family, academics and life skills in order to move on to your next destination? Initial milestones or objectives will be identified in the six areas of our program:
• Individual
• Life skills development
• Family
• Academics
• Social Responsibility
• Cultural Immersion

At the end of the first week, 3-5 milestones will be identified for each of the six areas. A student’s progress through the program will be measured by how quickly they achieve their milestones. Once a student has completed a majority of these milestones, they will advance to the next stage of the program and new objectives will be created.

Each milestone is designed to move the student closer to “home life” in terms of responsibilities, freedoms and privileges. With these new freedoms and responsibilities, students are given opportunities to make mistakes within a safe and supportive community. Eventually, near the end of their stay, they will be working in the Samoan community throughout the day with opportunities to get themselves to and from work, take care of their own money for transport and lunches, maintain a job, and participate in community events and social activities. With this trial, they will be challenged to address many of the same issues they will face when home – getting a job, keeping a regular schedule, budgeting, and maintaining sobriety in a unregulated environment.

The journey each student embarks on will vary, as will their length of stay, but on average students will take approximately 12 – 15 months to complete their program.