The Admission Process Made Simple

RedCliff Ascent has been helping troubled teenagers for over two decades. We understand the process of finding the right help for your teen can feel overwhelming – especially during difficult and stressful times.

Parents can find compassion, vision, and comfort in the knowledge that RedCliff Ascent offers a streamlined, supportive admissions process. Our wilderness program operates year-round, which means teens can enter the program at the right time without worries of deadlines or not getting help soon enough.

Sending your child to RedCliff Ascent is a very important decision, and we are here to provide you with the information you need to make the best choice for your teen. We want to discuss your teen and their needs as we care deeply about you finding the right solution.

In This Article We’ll Discuss:
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    You have questions, we have answers. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at

    801-921-8488

    The Admissions Process

    RedCliff Ascent is committed to supporting teens and their families when they need it the most. Families that choose RedCliff Ascent will be provided with direction, discussion, and a clear path to success. You can expect to hear from our admissions team throughout the admission process, as well as on the day of admission.

    Step 1: Connect

    The first step is to contact us. It is highly recommended parents speak with us directly to better discuss their teens and understand more about their needs. As part of our initial call, we will discuss important information to help us better understand and support your teen, including:

    • Diagnoses
    • Behaviors
    • Age
    • Treatment History
    • Family Dynamics
    • Other Factors

    Call us to speak with our Admissions team at 801-921-8488

    Not sure if your teen needs treatment?

    Our patented, free assessment called the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ) will help us understand your family's needs and how we can help your teen.

    START THE ASSESSMENT

    We respect your privacy. We will not share your information.

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    Step 2: Review Your Unique Needs

    Once you have supplied an application, our Admissions team will call you to discuss if RedCliff Ascent is the right program for your teen. Factors of suitability include academic needs, clinical needs, and medical needs. This conversion will help us to build a personalized treatment plan designed specially to give your teen the support they need. If you feel confident and give us approval, we provide admissions documents for review and signatures.

    Step 3: Transition

    The final step is creating a transition plan for your teen. You will have help from one of our admission team members to figure out the best way to get your teen safely to our facility.

    We know this can be a challenging season for both parents and adolescents. Our research-backed program has a history of healing success and we strive to ensure families feel connected throughout the process.

    wilderness therapy session out in nature

    Admissions Policies

    Your teen is the top priority at RedCliff Ascent. Thus, we want to determine if our services can serve you appropriately. Due to the nature of the program, there are certain criteria we look for, as well as physical and mental conditions that could prohibit a student's enrollment.

    A student may be admitted for treatment if they meet the following criteria:

    • The student must pass a complete physical evaluation with our pediatrician. This evaluation is geared toward the rigors of the wilderness program. The Medical Director must approve students that are on psychotropic medication. The student’s psychological or mental state must be at a level that their safety will not compromise the safety of other students or staff.

    • The student must speak English in order to effectively communicate with the therapist, peers, and counselors. The inability to speak English will result in treatment barriers that will affect the treatment outcome.

    • The student must be 13 to 17 years of age.

    • Students with communicable diseases may be denied.

    • Students that are pregnant will be denied.

    Conditions that could prohibit a student’s enrollment include:

    • Diabetes
    • Epilepsy/seizures
    • Hypoglycemia
    • Severe asthma
    • Severe allergies
    • Active hallucinations
    • Conduct Disorders
    • Psychosis
    • Schizophrenia, or Schizoaffective Disorder
    • Students with a history of violence or sexual assault
    • IQ lower than 80

    *All medications are cleared during the pre-admission process. If there are special circumstances with your child's health, let us know.

    Take the First Step - Contact Us to Request an Application.
    801-921-8488

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Call us at 801-921-8488 or contact us online to request an application and connect with us about how RedCliff Ascent might be a fit for your teen’s unique needs.

    You can also start the process by completing our no-obligation assessment called the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ), which will help us understand your family’s needs.

    Start The Assessment

    It’s important that parents feel comforted and helped through this difficult process. Families that choose RedCliff Ascent will be provided with direction, discussion, and a clear path to success. You can expect to hear from our admissions team throughout the admission process, as well as on the day of admission. Updates will be provided to you about your teen and report how the student is adapting to RedCliff Ascent and treatment.

    Parents may worry about being alone during this process. That is a big misconception, as we work with hundreds of families every year. Parents are not alone in their struggles, and neither are their teens.

    You are never obligated to send your teen to RedCliff Ascent. Choosing the right care for your teen is an important decision and we are here to provide you with the information you need to make the best choice for your teen. You are never bound to our organization, and we respect your decisions based on what you think is best for your family and teen. We work hard to never make you feel pressured. We aren't salespeople--merely people who are passionate about our program and the work we do. We may realize that a teen would benefit more from a different program, at which point we will help you find those resources and gather information.

    RedCliff Ascent works actively with insurance companies during and after treatment to help families receive reimbursement for program expenses. We understand the financial burden of treatment, and even if those resources may not be available during a teen’s time at RedCliff Ascent, they can help later on if continued treatment is needed. We want to help families with their entire treatment experience.

    The Admissions Team

    Darcy Holt

    Darcy Holt

    Director of Outreach and Admissions
    Corey Hickman

    Corey Hickman

    Director of Admissions and Outreach

    Darcy Holt

    Director of Outreach and Admissions

    Darcy has been a member of the RedCliff team for over 6 years. She came to us from the public school system where she taught preschool and then moved to an administrative position at the local elementary where she was for 8 years. Working with kids and families has been Darcy’s passion and focus for many years. Having struggled herself as a teen and now a mother of 2 teenage boys she brings a unique perspective to RedCliff and our families. “Sending your child away to treatment has to be one of the hardest things a parent would have to do”, Darcy says. “I want our families to know we understand and are here to help heal their families!”Darcy has over 24 years of experience working as a mentor and sponsor with adolescents and young adults suffering from the disease of addiction. She spends many hours speaking at rehabilitation centers, treatment centers, and even local high schools to share her experience strength and hope with others. “To be able to combine my personal passion with my work is a dream job! I love that I get to give back to families what was so freely given to me when I was younger and hopeless!” explains Darcy. “RedCliff is my job but being a part of the healing in the wilderness is my joy!”Darcy grew up in Greenbrier, Arkansas where she graduated high school and attended Arkansas College in Batesville. After her parents retired, they moved to Enterprise, Utah and Darcy transferred to Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah.Darcy lives in Enterprise, UT with her husband and two boys ages 15 and 18. She has served on the Enterprise City Council for eight years and has run the local Easter Egg Hunt for 12 years. She feels that being of service to her community and being a part of RedCliff is her chance to pay it forward.

    Corey Hickman

    Director of Admissions and Outreach

    With two decades of leadership experience in adolescent behavioral health, Corey is deeply committed to helping tackle the youth mental health crisis. Corey is a people person and loves creating connections and forming relationships with everyone around him. He is deeply passionate about supporting youth and their families as they navigate the challenges of adolescence and young adulthood.

    Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Corey moved to Utah where he met his wife and pursued an undergraduate degree in therapeutic recreation from Brigham Young University. After several years of working as a recreation therapist and serving in leadership roles, Corey completed a master’s degree in human resources management from Utah State University. Corey’s training and background fuel his drive for collaboratively working with teammates to cultivate a culture of compassionate care for the students and families being served.

    Corey has spent the last decade in northern Montana, with his wife and four children. True to his profession as a recreational therapist, Corey lives to recreate! Corey’s hobbies include distance running, backpacking, snowboarding, coaching youth wrestling, and being out on the lake with family and friends.

    Start your search for answers. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at:
    801-921-8488