Making a Referral

The Center Point Day Program is designed as an option for avoiding residential placement. The program accepts youths under the following guidelines and circumstances:

• Delinquent and dependent youths in need of behavioral and educational intervention in a community-based setting
• Males ages 11 to 19
• Females in middle and high school (grades 6 through 12)
• Social misconduct
• Mental health/Drug and Alcohol – the program offers psycho-educational program along with trips to AA groups. All students will be drug-tested at least once a month
• Psychological evaluations can be conducted through Diakon Family Life Services as needed
• School misconduct/academic problems, including learning issues and truancy
• GED testing and acquisition when needed and appropriate
• Family Engagement – three family-development meetings are offered during a student’s full participation with Center Point; in addition, families are required to attend Family Days, parent workshops, and family-development meetings
• Accountability for probation violations and truancy

Medical clearance is a mandatory requirement because wilderness-based activities are physically challenging.

Transportation of students to and from the program site is provided by Center Point.

Please see our policies and procedures manual for more information. 

*Please note that students may be referred to start participation in Center Point through initial referral to the Weekend Alternative Program, or may be referred to start the program and have the Weekend Alternative Program be used as a sanction only.

The Referral Process

To make a referral ...

1. Contact the program’s referral coordinator at (717) 960-6700 or via email at wildernesscenter@diakon.org to initiate the referral process. The Center Point program will make every attempt to accept a youth for placement with the first referral call.
2. Send all information pertinent to the referred youth’s background including school records, medical history, psychological testing, diagnostic report, family/social history and recommendation (if available) for admissions staff review.
3. For your convenience, an updated referral packet for the fall of 2019 will be available shortly.

FAX: (717) 258-9408
Diakon Wilderness Center
P.O. Box 10
Boiling springs, PA 17007