An innovative school and therapeutic mental health facility, Traverse Academy, is poised to open its doors on October 23rd, marking a significant step forward in addressing the mental health needs of students within the Cherry Creek School District.
This unique institution is set to serve students who have often struggled to secure day treatment placements elsewhere, with around 30 students already eagerly awaiting enrollment, as reported by school officials.
In 2020, the district’s voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of Traverse Academy with a resounding 70% approval rate. This visionary initiative arose from the pressing need to support a growing number of children grappling with mental health crises.
The construction of this state-of-the-art facility came at a cost of $19 million. Resembling a vast mountain cabin, Traverse Academy boasts an abundance of natural light, warm color schemes, and specially designed individual and group therapy rooms. Additionally, classrooms are strategically located adjacent to therapy spaces to ensure that students engaged in intensive therapy also make educational progress.
Tony Poole, Assistant Superintendent for Special Populations in Cherry Creek Schools, reflected on the early conversations that laid the foundation for this innovative school, saying, “If you could build the perfect day treatment facility, what would it look like and how would it work?”
Furthermore, Poole highlighted the importance of creating a welcoming environment, stating, “When you talk about de-institutionalizing mental health, it starts right when you walk through the door and how you feel.”
The groundbreaking approach at Traverse Academy combines intensive outpatient therapy with a personalized school curriculum, a collaboration with the University of Colorado Department of Psychiatry.
Superintendent Christopher Smith emphasized the transformative potential of Traverse Academy, remarking that the school aims to save lives by reshaping students’ mindsets. He explained, “I’m part of a community, and while I might be thinking something harmful, I’m better than that and I’m bigger than that. I want to be around because I’m going to do something special in this world.”
Jacob Eggleston, a para-professional at Traverse, shared his own experiences with suicidal ideation during his middle school years within the district. Now, he sees his role as an opportunity to serve as a positive example for students, telling them, “If I got through it, so can you.”
Traverse Academy’s core mission is to help students understand their mental health needs, preparing them for a successful transition back to their homeschools.
Math teacher Sarah Higuchi, who previously worked in a traditional school setting, expressed her excitement about the prospect of teaching at Traverse Academy. She looks forward to working with small groups of students and being surrounded by mental health professionals, aiming to make mathematics meaningful and build students’ confidence. Higuchi explained, “What do they need? How can I make math meaningful to them, how can I build their confidence while they’re here?”
While the University of Colorado Psychiatry Department will bill insurance for day treatment when possible, Cherry Creek Schools has taken additional steps by hiring its own clinicians. This ensures that students can receive services at Traverse Academy for as long as necessary until they are ready to return to their home school, regardless of their insurance coverage or ability to pay.
Tony Poole underlined this commitment, stating, “No kid will be turned away because of insurance or the inability to pay; we will take care of their care.”
Traverse Academy is geared to serve students between the ages of 10 and 18, with an expected enrollment of 40 to 60 students at a time. The typical treatment plan spans 8 to 12 weeks, and the school’s name reflects the challenging journey of overcoming obstacles, much like the traverses in Colorado mountain climbing, symbolizing progress from one peak to the next.
