Proven Results, Positive Change
Trails Carolina has developed a 5-year outcome study to allow us to better understand the efficacy of our program. This study was done in coordination with the University of Arkansas and the results were collected independently from Trails Carolina’s involvement. One of the more impactful portions of the outcome study was reviewing the way we do family work and what the impact of our program looks like a year after a family has graduated from Trails Carolina. The independence of the study along with the transitional model used by Trails Carolina helps to legitimize the work done in the wilderness and provide evidence-based results for our methods.
Anxiety
86% of students showed improvement in anxiety symptoms, 12 months after graduation.
Depression
93% of students showed improvement in depression symptoms, 12 months after graduation.
Suicidal Thoughts
98% of students reported experiencing a decrease in suicidal thoughts, 12 months after graduation.
Substance Use
96% of students reported experiencing a decrease in substance use, 12 months after graduation.
ADHD
97% of students reported a decrease in symptoms associated with ADHD, 12 months after graduation.
Does Wilderness Therapy Work?
Trails Carolina has partnered with the Center for Research, Assessment, and Treatment Efficacy (CReATE; Asheville, NC) and the Arkansas Institute of Developmental Science to develop a research initiative, exploring the clinical presentation, therapeutic outcomes, and impact for youth and families involved in wilderness therapy programming.
Both students and parents reported significant changes in behavior and symptoms–in both the youth and the family–from enrollment at Trails to one full year after graduation.
12 months after graduation, 93% of students showed a decrease in rule-breaking behaviors
93%
96%
12 months after graduation, 96% of students showed a decrease in externalizing behaviors.
Externalizing
96% of students reported experiencing a decrease in externalizing behaviors, 12 months after graduation.
Rule Breaking
93% of students reported experiencing a decrease in rule breaking behaviors, 12 months after graduation.
Disruptive Behavior
Only 1% of students showed signs of disruptive behaviors, 12 months after graduation.
Aggression
98% of students reported experiencing a decrease in aggressive behaviors, 12 months after graduation.
Pre-Teen Student Data (Ages 9-13)
Many of our students are struggling with internal issues that lead them to acting out and breaking rules. With dedicated clinicians and an individualized treatment plan, we help these students understand the consequences of their actions and work toward more positive behaviors. We find that teaching students healthy coping mechanisms helps shift their responses away from externalizing and toward more appropriate responses.
Academics
School Functioning
12 months after graduation, only 17% of students showed school functioning issues.
Felt Excited
12 months after graduation, 87% of students felt excited about school.
School Refusal
12 months after graduation, only 4% of students showed signs of school refusal.
Adopted Students
Anxiety
12 months after graduation, 93% of adopted students showed a decrease in anxious symptoms
Depression
12 months after graduation, 97% of adopted students showed a decrease in depressed symptoms
Aggression
12 months after graduation, 98% of adopted students showed a decrease in aggressive behaviors
Rule Breaking
12 months after graduation, 97% of adopted students showed a decrease in rule-breaking behaviors
This ongoing research initiative is assessing youth, parents, and families about a wealth of issues, including mental health symptoms, syndromes, and behavioral problems observed at four specific time periods:
- Upon admission to Trails Carolina
- At graduation from Trails Carolina
- Three months after graduation from Trails
- One year after graduation from Trails
The research initiative utilizes a variety of assessment tools, including the Treatment Outcome Package (TOP), the gold standard for measuring response to therapeutic interventions, and the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessments.
