Rawhide, a residential care and outpatient counseling services provider, has officially acquired CHAPS Academy in Shiocton.
CHAPS Academy was a state licensed mental health clinic that operated since 2004. In January, CHAPS announced that it would be discontinuing operations at the end of that month due to financial challenges.
Rawhide entered negotiations with the CHAPS board of directors and came to an agreement for the transfer of ownership, which was formally approved by both boards. State licensing has been submitted for approval with a goal to re-open doors to the CHAPS facility May 1. Outpatient counseling services, including use of equine-assisted therapy, will continue to be provided at this location with a primary focus on continuing to serve girls and their families.
“Rawhide is actively seeking input from area mental health providers to tailor services at the CHAPS facility to serve the vital needs of the community,” stated Becky Heldt, Rawhide Clinic administrator. “Because Rawhide has a long history of using horses in treatment programs with at-risk youth, there will be a lot of parallels in the services Rawhide intends to operate at the CHAPS facility.”
