Valley View School
North Brookfield, MA

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Valley View Response To Aspen Closure

It is with both distress and a sense of bewilderment that once again and too often we experience a withdrawal of much needed services fostering the emotional well being of our youth. Having both observed and been a part of the process for over forty years, the evolution of change has been dramatic.

When a few of us hatched Valley View School in 1970, there were no computers nor internet nor Facebook. There were neither cell phones nor instant messaging. However, perhaps most significant was that no one spoke of facilities working with troubled youth as an "Industry" nor was marketing an important component of one's existence. I remember the time when we were criticized by referral sources for being full all of the time with the question of "How do you get a child into Valley View?"

Well, obviously times have changed. Unavoidably, the massive growth of technology in some ways has made life more complicated. Along with this there has been the proliferation of a multitude of varied therapeutic programs, economic constrains driven by the increased expense of running them and pressures facing families in being able to afford appropriate help for their children. In short, the interaction of some of these factors have has created a mess. Sadly the net product is that too often the youngsters themselves and the committed staff working to help them end up as the losers.

While I believe that in spite of the reality that the complexities of running a program today are significantly more complex than ever, we have been blessed with a certain quality of resiliency which needs to be nurtured so that failure to succeed can never be an option in today's arena. It is a mentality which must be shared by all who believe in their competency.

Phil Spiva, Ph.D.
Director
Valley View School

Valley View School is a therapeutic boarding school welcoming boys ages 10-15 upon admission. For more information and all admissions inquiries, please contact Dr. Phil Spiva or Rick Bulger at admissions@valleyviewschool.org or 508-867-6505.