Columbus Girls Academy

Columbus Girls Academy has been a huge blessing to our family in a journey of hope, faith, and healing. No program just like no person is perfect. I think if that is the expectation from a program, no parent will ever be pleased. However, it is a true partnership between a family, your daughter, and your daughter's team at GCA. I felt this from the initial admissions process and still feel this way just one year into our 15-month journey. We never felt judged and I never felt like they judged my daughter which allowed honesty important for healing. GCA is responsive and has ongoing communication with families from both the school staff and the other program staff. I know that this program helped my 17-year-old daughter save her own life with the help, support, and guidance of trusted adults. This includes all the staff at GCA from the discernment counselors to the kitchen staff. Everyone takes their work seriously and for each one of them, it is a calling. If you choose to do all of the work it is hard both for the families and the girls. You get out of it what you put in. If you read what your daughter is reading, watch what she is watching, attend services virtually where she attends services, work on improving your skills, etc., you will be part of the journey. The journey is also not a straight line and I know this journey will continue after my daughter graduates from GCA in August. We are all leaving this experience and entering into the next chapter filled with gratitude, the grace of God, new and refined skills, respect for one another, and healing. At almost the year mark my daughter started her equine therapy portion of the program which was nothing short of amazing! GCA was also able to facilitate the beginnings of developing healthy attachments for my daughter who struggled in this area as an older adoptee. One of the things that I also love about GCA is that there is a balance. The work of healing, maintaining or getting the school back on track, and being away from family is hard and so they play hard too. They go on trips, and outings and have festivities for special events and holidays. These always seem to come at the right times when my daughter needs a break and fuel for the journey ahead of her. We had been in touch with GCA and had a planned admission but when things abruptly became beyond crisis and unsafe they helped us mobilize quickly. Thank you, GCA for loving our girl, keeping her safe, being part of our village, and taking care of her when we are not there!

One of the toughest days of my life is when we took our daughter to be dropped off at Columbus Girls Academy on April 6, 2018. My daughter was 17 years old at the time. I truly believe if we had not taken this step of faith our daughter would not be alive today! The Academy`s grounds, facilities are extremely nice and there was a great sense of peace in the atmosphere when we arrived that initial day for intake date. My daughter had been struggling for years with depression, anxiety, self-harm, & drug use. She was in a very dark place spiritually. Throughout this 15 month program yes, there were many ups and downs starting out. It takes time, perseverance, and faith to believe a breakthrough is coming! In my dealings with the staff, they are dedicated and determined in seeing these girls lives transformed in and through Jesus Christ! He is the only answer! They show love, compassion, and hold each one accountable for their actions (which is so important)! This is a safe haven for our daughters to come face to face with whatever issues they`ve been battling, realize that their true identity lies in Jesus (not in how others view them or lies the enemy tries to destroy them with). Through counseling (my daughter`s counselor was awesome, I love her!) and day to day guidance they can develop healthy boundaries, coping mechanisms, and have victory! Another wonderful asset this program offers is a private school setting on campus site. The teachers are available to oversee the students, provide assistance, and see goals accomplished for whatever grade level your daughter is in. Upon my daughter completing Teen Challenge/ Columbus Girls Academy she was 18 years old and graduated there with her High School Diploma!!! Her counselor made a reference and helped us get started with the process of applying for college. My daughter started her first year of college this past September 2018 for Fall Semester with Atlanta Leadership College. Obviously, I cannot say enough about how grateful my entire family is to the The Lord for leading us to Columbus Girls Academy!!! He will make a way when there seems like there is no way!

The most difficult day of my life was leaving my daughter at CGA. I own and operate facilities similar to CGA except for young adults, not adolescents. However, the same way that my clients can not "hear" their parents, my daughter could not "hear" me. From working in the industry, I am always critical of those who do this for a living and not as their calling. CGA is the most loving and enveloping program for these young girls that I have ever found. To give them five stars would be an injustice, they deserve the moon AND the stars! My will be graduating the program in two weeks. while I have missed her greatly, I have seen and heard an almost unbelievable transformation. My daughter now has a relationship with our Lord and Father, a solid faith based foundation that she can build on the rest of her life. Bob & Carla are the "real deal". They love and care for these girls as their own. I have recommended CGA to EVERY single parent who has called me looking for a place for their adolescent daughter and I will continue to do so for as long as I am in the same industry. To Ivy, Sophia's counselor - only the Lord could have placed you in our lives, and we want you to know that you are and always will be considered family. If you are seeking the perfect place - you have found it at CGA!

Our family will be forever grateful for the support that was offered while our daughter attended CGA. Although we were initially apprehensive, it was evident as the months unfolded that our daughter was in a safe, nurturing and faith filled environment. The students are kept engaged with a sound academic program, commitment to their church, community outreach projects, conferences and field trips. Academically, our daughter made significant gains while at CGA. We noted an improvement in her reading and writing ability and also her understanding of mathematical concepts. She has met with significant success in these areas since returning home. The caring and committed staff make every effort to guide the students through their life controlling struggles. Our daughter's discerning counselor was a true God send! Above all, there is a higher purpose to this program. ALL staff encourage the students to have a personal relationship with God allowing them to discover the person that He intended them to be and recognize what they are able to accomplish through Him.

It has been over 2 years since I dropped my belligerant daughter off at Columbus Girl's Academy. She would not give me a hug goodby and was intent on going through the motions to just 'get through'. But God!!She graduated almost a year ago and has been home since then and is currently in her senior year of high school planning for her college entrance next Fall. The biggest victory/celebration, however, can be related in what occurred last night and has been an ongoing pattern -- Sitting at my home desk, my daughter came up to tell me good night and with a hug and I love you, Dad! Thank you God and staff at CGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finding the Columbus Girls Academy and making the decision by prayer we soon realized that the Lord led us here. It was thru Grace and the great staff in place that our daughters transformation began and soon her new beginnings and shed her old ways. I will never forget the look on my wifes face after returning from a fact finding trip to the school. It is the right place for our daughter and we had visited several, but none were like this place nor the staff.

Columbus Girls Academy was the perfect solution for our daughter. We wanted a program where she could get the "help" she needed and at the same time continue to be a teenager. Not a wilderness camp or boot camp. CGA provides an excellent staff and a beautiful facility where our daughter was loved and safe. Best decision we could have made.

Columbus Girls Academy helped our daughter through a crisis point in her life. The admissions staff worked quickly to identify his/her need and get through the enrollment process, so she got the help she needed right away. Columbus Girls Academy knows teenagers. They are equipped to give professional, effective care. They loved our daughter like their own. I don't know what we would have done without them.

I can't believe it's been 10 years since I graduated from Columbus Girls Academy. I'm married to a wonderful man who loves the Lord, and we have two small children of our own. The lessons I learned at Columbus Girls Academy help me every day in my relationships, in my marriage and with friends and parents and even in-laws. I wouldn't be where I am today without all of you.

I have just returned home from placing my daughter in the care of Columbus Girls Academy. My heart is full, but I am at peace. She is in good hands, and Columbus Girls Academy is the best care possible for her. This is the beginning of a brand new chapter in our lives.

I am graduate from Columbus Girls Academy. I went in in April of 2012, a seemingly lost and hopeless teenager. CGA helped me realize not only what I was needing help with, but that God could and would gladly help me. I would have not had a relationship with the Lord, if it were not for CGA.

It was so hard to send my daughter away, but I knew it was the best thing to do. Columbus Girls Academy held my hand through the whole thing. They always told me what was going on. They even gave me other parents to talk to who had been through it before. And most of all, I knew they were loving my daughter and taking excellent care of her.