Well, it depends on the student. Each student has his/her own way of adjusting to the characteristics of the program. The average length of time spent at Ivy Ridge is 16-18 months.

The seminars are trainings that assist you and your child on the journey of creating a whole and healthy family. The child attends a series of seminars, needing to complete the previous to advance to the next. Discovery, Focus, Accountability, and Keys are the seminars held on campus for the students. Breakpoint seminar is training for students who are not quite ready to advance to the next seminar. If a child does not complete a seminar, then they attend Breakpoint; where he/she experience processes that get him/her working. Parent-Child seminar 1 is held at the facility also. This is where the parent and child come together for the first time throughout the program, to start building healthy relationships and preparing for the child’s reentering of the home. The last two seminars in the program are the children are Parent- Child Seminar 2 and Parent- Child Seminar 3. These seminars are not located at the facility on campus.

There are also seminars offered to parents consisting of: Discovery, Focus and Visions. In order to be invited to Parent- Child Seminar 1, parents will need to complete Discovery. For every seminar completed the better prepared the parent will be for when the child comes home. Useful tools can be learned to assist the family in achieving a whole and healthy family throughout the program and after graduation. The parent seminars are located at different locations around the United States..

There are six levels to the program. A new student begins at level 1 and graduates at level 6. Students can advance to the next level by earning points and receiving support from their peers and staff members. The program is based upon a demerit and merit system. Students have the opportunity to gain points by an evaluation process of themselves, completing academic work, and completing the Discovery and Focus seminars. Points can be lost when the student commits a rule violation.

There are two different college sized rooms in the dorms at Ivy Ridge. One room has one bunk and sleeps two students. The larger of the two rooms has two bunks and sleeps 4. Cabinets and dressers are in every room for the student to keep his/her belongings. Pictures of the rooms can be found on the Academy at Ivy Ridge website.