Caitlin Forcier joined the Alpine Academy team in 2014 as the full-time Aftercare Coordinator. Caitlin spent several years working for Alpine’s parent company, Utah Youth Village as a Families First Specialist and Coordinator. In this capacity, Caitlin was trained and certified in the Teaching-Family Model to work in homes with at-risk youth to teach skills to the youth and parents to prevent the need for out-of-home placement. This created an excellent framework for Caitlin’s work in aftercare at Alpine.
Caitlin has really grown the aftercare program at Alpine Academy. She has taken what was more of an alumni student tracking system and created a powerful resource for parents and students.
Caitlin begins her work 2-3 months prior to a student’s planned departure from Alpine. She will join treatment team meetings and start having meetings with parents and the student to begin the planning stages of the aftercare plan. As the departure gets closer, Caitlin continues to work with the students and parents (as well as any referring professionals involved) to finalize the plan. Caitlin’s role is less about deciding what the next steps will be (that is left to the family and consultant) and more about how the steps will be accomplished and what resources will be needed for a successful transition.
Once the student has left Alpine, Caitlin follows an established check-in schedule with the student and family. This entails a weekly call for the first 8 weeks after graduation. After that, the calls go to every other week for several months. Beyond that, the schedule is individualized to the family’s specific needs, whether that be to continue the bi-weekly calls or to move to a monthly check-in. Caitlin continues to be a resource for the student and families indefinitely, as she is always available to take and call and assist in a crisis. Alpine Academy is especially happy to be able to offer this service without charging families.
Caitlin is extremely dedicated to the work that she does. Her love and concern for the students really embodies the belief at Alpine that once a family enters Alpine, they become part of the Alpine Academy Family.
About Alpine AcademyAlpine Academy is a licensed Residential Treatment Center for girls ages 12-18 located in Utah. Students struggle with emotional disturbances that are severe enough to prevent them from going to school successfully. Alpine is a fully accredited school with dual-endorsed teachers at the front of every classroom. Therapy is built into the school day. It is a nationally certified Teaching Family Model treatment program. The students live in homes with married couples, Family Teachers.