Hillcrest's four campuses are nestled in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts with no more than a 45-minute drive between the farthest campuses. This location offers Hillcrest students and programs many varied benefits:

• The safe, tranquil campus settings provide easy access to urban and cultural centers within the multi-state region.
• Although the campus settings are private and pastoral, this year round tourist region is steeped in a variety of rich historical, artistic, cultural and recreational resources which help to broaden and enrich students' experience, knowledge and view of the world.
• Local resources include museums, theaters, centers for the performing arts, professional sports venues, galleries, and historic sites, as well as ski centers, bowling allies, golf and miniature golf courses.
• The four season climate allows students to explore nature's wonders while participating in year round activities such as hiking, camping, biking, swimming, fishing, gardening and landscaping, skating and skiing.
• Students and staff also participate in volunteer and community service activities such as Scouting, the Adopt-A-Highway Program and the local Housatonic River Cleanup.

Accreditation, Licensing, Certification, and Oversight

Each Hillcrest program is accredited in Behavioral Healthcare by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). As part of its responsibility to set and monitor standards for healthcare organizations across the U.S., Canada and Europe, JCAHO audits Hillcrest services on a regular basis and periodically conducts unscheduled and unannounced program reviews. Hillcrest is licensed by the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, and Hillcrest education programs are private 766 programs fully approved by the Massachusetts Department of Education. Both of these agencies provide periodic, in depth reviews of Hillcrest's programs. Hillcrest also coordinates with Departments of Social Services, Mental Health, Education and Probation Departments in all of the states from which our students come. In order to insure that our services are state of the art in approach, safe, efficient and effective, Hillcrest works closely and cooperatively with national, state and local licensing, oversight and advocacy agencies.

Professional Affiliations

Hillcrest Educational Centers actively participates in the following organizations:

• Association of Experiential Education
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Department
• Children's League of Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools
• Massachusetts Adolescent Sexual Offender Coalition (member and conference sponsor)
• Massachusetts Juvenile Fire Setter Coalition
• Pittsfield Juvenile Fire Setter Coalition
• Project Adventure

Family Support, Visitation and Contact

Clinicians keep in close contact with parents/guardians, as well as with related service agencies, providing progress reports and notice about treatment review meetings in which parents/guardians are encouraged to participate. Parents/guardians are also offered a variety of opportunities to learn how to help their children and support treatment efforts. Visitation and contact with family members and guardians is encouraged and facilitated by Hillcrest both on campus and at the student's home. Supervised visitation is provided until the student and family are comfortable and ready for safe, unsupervised visits. During six vacation periods each year the academic program is suspended while the residential and other programs continue. Although some students go home for some or all of the vacation periods, many students remain at the program and participate in holiday celebrations, ongoing campus activities and community recreation.