All correction at Boise Girls Academy is handled in a structured, respectful, and safe manner, with a clear commitment to the dignity and well-being of every student. Staff members are trained to address behavioral challenges using biblically grounded principles and proven, positive methods that guide rather than harm. The program strictly prohibits any form of corporal punishment, as well as practices such as food deprivation, sleep deprivation, or scare tactics. Instead, when correction is needed, it is carried out through appropriate consequences such as the temporary loss of privileges or the addition of constructive responsibilities, always within a controlled and supportive environment.

Our goal is not simply to manage behavior, but to help each girl recognize and change the underlying patterns that have led to poor decisions. Through consistent guidance, counseling, and positive peer influence, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and develop healthier ways of thinking and responding. Staff members remain actively involved at all times, carefully monitoring situations, providing instruction, and stepping in when needed to ensure that every interaction is handled safely, appropriately, and with the intent of fostering lasting personal growth.

Boise Girls Academy is a program for the whole family. A pivotal and critical aspect of the program is the mandatory participation of parents at certain times. Parents are expected to participate in program curriculum and attend Parent Weekends every other month. A student’s success is dependent on the parent’s willingness to support the mentoring process of the program. 

Students are encouraged to write parents regularly and may do so immediately upon arrival. 

During this critical time in your daughter’s life, we request that you contact her frequently through letters and/or cards. Carefully chosen words can be of great value in achieving insightful responses and non-judgmental feedback. We will derive topics for your daughter’s phone calls and letters to you from issues she has revealed and also from the personal growth curriculum that she will be assigned.   

Phone calls every week to parents are 15 minutes in duration and are scheduled in advance by staff. Since much can be learned in regard to a resident’s progress by their interactions with parents on the phone, these phone calls are monitored and evaluated by staff.

Visits are during Parent Weekends, which are held every other month for two days (Friday evening until Saturday evening).

Parents and staff are in regular and weekly communication. Keeping families informed and involved in the process is a priority.

Before being hired, all Boise Girls Academy staff members undergo a thorough and carefully structured screening process that meets and exceeds the requirements set forth by the State of Idaho. This includes multiple interviews, detailed evaluations, and mandatory full nationwide FBI background checks, as required by state law, to ensure that every individual is appropriate and qualified to work with the students in our care. In addition, we conduct extensive reference checks and verify prior employment history and educational credentials, providing an added layer of accountability and confidence for families.

Our staff members come from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds, yet they share key qualities that define the culture of Boise Girls Academy, including a strong faith foundation, genuine compassion for struggling teen girls, and appropriate education and experience. Beyond initial hiring, staff are continually supported through ongoing in-service education, regular staff meetings, in-house training seminars, and professional development conferences. This commitment to continued training ensures that our team remains well-equipped to provide safe, effective, and consistent care in a structured and supportive environment.

Boise Girls Academy is designed to serve students who can benefit from a structured, supportive, and family-like environment. For the safety and well-being of all students and staff, we are not able to enroll applicants whose needs require a higher level of supervision, clinical care, or security than our program is equipped to provide. In these cases, families are encouraged to seek programs that specialize in more intensive or medically supervised care to ensure their daughter receives the most appropriate support. We do not enroll girls who:

• Are pregnant, or who are already the parent of a child
• Have a serious mental illness that is not manageable without psychiatric medication
• Have demonstrated sexual predatory behaviors
• Have significant developmental delay or brain damage
• Have dangerous fits of anger and physical aggression
• Are violent, or who have been convicted of violent behavior or arson
• Have a significant or communicable health condition or illness requiring ongoing care.

All medications prescribed by your daughter’s physician are carefully administered by trained staff according to strict guidelines to ensure safety and proper use. Approved over-the-counter medications are also provided as needed, with close supervision and attention to each student’s health and well-being.

Boise Girls Academy places a strong emphasis on medical safety and access to care, maintaining an on-call relationship with a local registered nurse to address health concerns promptly. When additional care is needed, the program utilizes trusted off-campus medical professionals, including local physicians and psychiatrists, ensuring that each student has access to appropriate medical support within the surrounding community.

All Boise Girls Academy staff are trained in CPR and First Aid certification, with a strong emphasis on maintaining a safe and prepared environment at all times. Staff members also receive ongoing training in emergency preparedness, including response protocols for fires, severe weather such as tornadoes, medical emergencies, and potential security threats. These procedures are practiced and reinforced to ensure that staff can respond quickly, calmly, and effectively in any situation.

Safety is always the top priority, and when a situation requires care beyond on-site response, Boise Girls Academy promptly involves appropriate medical professionals. This may include coordination with local physicians, urgent care providers, or immediate transport to a nearby emergency room when necessary. By combining trained staff, clear emergency protocols, and access to local medical resources, the program ensures that every student receives timely and appropriate care in a secure and closely monitored environment.

Boise Girls Academy maintains a high level of supervision, with staff providing attentive oversight 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure the safety and accountability of every student. Daily structure, close staff interaction, and a secure, well-managed environment are all designed to minimize the likelihood of a student leaving the program without permission. Every effort is made to keep students engaged, supported, and appropriately supervised at all times, creating a setting where safety is consistently prioritized.

In the unlikely event that a student does attempt to leave without authorization, immediate action is taken. Local law enforcement is contacted right away, and parents are promptly notified so that all parties are informed and involved. These procedures are in place to respond quickly and responsibly, reinforcing the program’s commitment to student safety while working in coordination with families and local authorities to address the situation appropriately.

Teen Challenge schools for adolescents are part of a long-established network of faith-based programs that began in 1958 when David Wilkerson first reached out to troubled youth in New York City. Over the decades, Teen Challenge has grown into an international organization known for helping individuals overcome life-controlling behaviors through a structured, Christ-centered approach. Its adolescent programs are specifically designed to support teenagers who are struggling with defiance, poor decision-making, emotional instability, and unhealthy influences, offering a stable residential environment where they can step away from negative patterns and begin rebuilding their lives. These schools emphasize long-term change rather than short-term therapy, typically providing year-long programs that allow students to develop new habits, restore relationships, and grow in personal responsibility.

Within this framework, Boise Girls Academy stands as a well-established Teen Challenge program that applies these principles in a focused, girls-only setting. The program integrates academics, mentoring, life skills, and spiritual growth into a structured daily routine that encourages lasting transformation rather than temporary improvement. As with other Teen Challenge programs, there is a strong emphasis on accountability, character development, and consistent guidance, all within a safe and supportive environment. By combining the proven Teen Challenge model with a smaller, family-like atmosphere, Boise Girls Academy provides a setting where girls can work through behavioral challenges, rebuild confidence, and move toward a more stable and purpose-driven future.

The age of majority in Idaho is 18. At this age, individuals are considered adults in the eyes of the law.

Boise Girls Academy is a licensed boarding school in the state of Idaho and operates in full compliance with all applicable state laws and regulations. The program adheres to established standards for safety, supervision, and care, ensuring that students are supported in a secure and structured environment. As part of this commitment, Boise Girls Academy is subject to periodic oversight and site visits by appropriate authorities to verify that all Idaho laws, policies, and safety practices are consistently being followed and maintained.