Ethan Allen School

Ethan Allen School provides individualized culturally sensitive programming based upon the uniqueness of each youth, utilizes the concepts of restorative justice, affirms that staff are key to successful programming and positive treatment outcomes, provides a safe environment for staff and youth, and maintains partnerships with families, counties and community agencies.

In April, 1959, the State TB Sanitarium was converted to the Wisconsin School for Boys. Four of the original sanitarium buildings remain in use. Ethan Allen School, designed as a State Historical District, nestles against the Lapham Peak State Park just north of Wales, Wisconsin. Ethan Allen School is located on 216-site acreage, 72 acres within the perimeter fence.

In July, 2004 EAS began offering the Short-Term Re-entry Program for Juvenile Males as an additional dispositional option for adjudicated delinquent boys. The program is described in detail in an Administrators Memo to Counties and an Overview and Timeline.

EAS offers an extensive range of programs as described under Type 1 Secured Juvenile Correctional Facilities as well as the unique programs described below.

The Choices Program is an outreach program that provides youth an opportunity to contribute to their community. Youth are accepted in the program by referral or successful completion of the Rites of Passage program. The goals of the program are to motivate young people to make good choices, understand the realities of incarcerated life (if they are placed in prison in the future), and discuss with other youth similarities in their life experiences even though they may come from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds.

The EAS Victim Impact Program, Self and Community, offers a 12 week educational curriculum with 14 lessons covered in 90 minute classes for 5 days a week. It emphasizes victim’s rights and creates an awareness of the harmful effects of crime. The program, taught by certified staff, teaches youth that all crime negatively affects the lives of individuals physically, emotionally, psychologically, and/or financially.

As an outgrowth of victim impact awareness, youth at Ethan Allen School have a special Restorative Justice project which was featured in the December 2003 issue of National Gardening.   You can also learn more about the concept of  restorative justice from the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking.