Talisman Programs considers your child’s safety to be of primary importance.  As a member of the nation’s most comprehensive network of behavioral health programs for youth, Aspen Education Group, we proudly abide by the following safety guidelines:

• Required medical exams within 30 days prior to arrival, followed by a screening within 24 hours of arrival by our nurse. 
• All direct care staff trained in professional level CPR and minimum Basic First Aid; on trips at least one staff trained in Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder.
• Hydration requirements - require students to drink 3 quarts of water per day when on outdoor activities.
• Medication management - overseen by nurse; administered by direct care staff who are trained and approved by the nurse.  Current meds kept in locked backpack which stays on staff back.
• Ongoing health checks and physical assessments - staff assess basic student health daily.  Nurse does a thorough physical check once a week.  During outdoor outings, students are checked daily for foot and hygiene issues.
• Additional precautions in inclement weather - field staff is aware of any changes in weather and adjusts the group’s agenda accordingly; if the temperature reaches 90 degrees in summer, the groups stop hiking; if the temperature dips below 20 degrees in winter, the groups move indoors
• Weather- and activity-appropriate clothing, gear and equipment
• Evacuation plans for fire, flood, tornado
• Well-established, research-backed therapies
• Accessible communication - groups in the field are in regular contact with base via multiple forms of communication, including SPOT transponders and cell phones.
• Attention is paid to student nutrition; interventions are created for very picky eaters, to increase their balance.