Wellspring Directors and Behavioral Coaches are often asked: “How long should my child remain enrolled at Wellspring Academies?”

Our answer is always the same: regardless of how much weight your child has lost or the date on the calendar, he or she should transition home from Wellspring once he or she demonstrates the skills and commitment required for successful long-term weight control.

At Wellspring Academies, we believe that losing weight is only a secondary goal. The primary goal is developing those behaviors that enable long-term weight control. The behavioral change required for successful long-term weight control is tracked through our Summit system, where weight control skills such as self-monitoring, journaling and activity are measured alongside commitment, overall attitude, and fulfilling academic expectations.

Our approach is that once students have reached the level of Ascender (the third level of the Summit system) or higher and maintained that level for 60 consecutive days without setbacks (Stumble or Long Fall), they almost always have the clinical recommendation of Wellspring to transition.

(Nevertheless, oftentimes, students reach this level at the same time they return to a healthy weight. Research shows that those who return to a healthy weight are less likely to regain a clinically significant amount of weight.)

Throughout your child’s stay at Wellspring, you will be in communication with your child’s Behavioral Coach and the Directors in order to evaluate and determine when the right time to transition is for your child.

Once students have received Wellspring’s clinical recommendation to transition, Wellspring will stand behind their success not only in terms of the after-care program, in which all students participate, but also if students regain a clinically significant level of weight. Wellspring is invested in the long-term weight control success of these students and will work with families to bring a student back to Wellspring at a tuition level commensurate with the family's ability to pay.