The Family Foundation School

In my life before The Family School I was extremely self-centered. I hurt everyone around me to get what I wanted and got a lot of negative attention by acting like a psycho. I had no interest in God because he probably didn't want me to steal, lie, cheat, or use substances.

My life became unmanageable early on. I was kicked out of 8th grade for drinking and drugging, and a year later was thrown out of 9th grade for the same reasons. I also owed thousands of dollars in gambling debt and spent my life running from those I owed money to.

Before FFS, my life was unmanageable and out of control. I was shooting heroin, selling drugs, stealing, and lying to my parents. I did anything to blind me from reality because I hated who I had become.

At home I was an overeater and extremely overweight. Going to school was the last thing on my mind. I stayed home and slept all day, then got up and stayed out all night. I was rude and disrespectful and had fits of temper.

At home I perfected the art of quitting. My attempts at sports, school, and relationships amounted to nothing but pathetic stories because I never followed through. I did not like myself and wanted to escape the judgment of others.

My life at home was full of lies and deceit. I became part of the tough crowd in middle school, and in high school I was in and out of detention, got into bad relationships, ran away and was sent to a psych ward.

To put it bluntly, I was a drunk. I didn't care about my family, or God, just drinking and smoking. I was drug-tested for the first time at 12, at 13 I was in outpatient rehab, and at 15 I was sent to wilderness and then to The Family School.

I was 15 and my mother was driving me to the hospital. She was crying, but all I could think of was what a good job I had done not eating. I felt no remorse, only the desire to leave and continue killing myself.

I am an alcoholic and a drug addict who couldn't live life on life's terms, so I drank. When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I was introduced to heavier drugs and started stealing and selling his pain medication.

I was empty, angry, miserable, and lonely at home, and used any means possible to numb my feelings. I dropped out of school. Nothing really mattered, and I was quickly using up my friends and family.

Who We Are

The Family Foundation School is a private, therapeutic boarding school for teens at risk, serving grades 9 through 12.

We are a long-term program with a minimum stay of three semesters (18 months) and an average successful stay of two years. We are accredited by The Joint Commission, and offer a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum that is registered by New York State Board of Regents and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Our students have gotten into trouble at home, at school, and sometimes with the law. Most of our students are academic underachievers. Many have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), depression, or drug or alcohol abuse. Behavioral disorders include self-mutilation (cutting), promiscuity, eating disorders, and compulsive use of computers through either pornography or fantasy games.

A desire to help teens unites our staff and, regardless of position, every staff member is directly involved with students during part of the work week. Many of our staff members are in recovery and regularly share their experience, strength and hope with the students.

For more than 20 years, The Family Foundation School has guided thousands of troubled teens toward responsible adulthood, healing their families and restoring the hopes and dreams of their parents.