SCAR/Jasper Mountain

SCAR/Jasper Mountain is a non-profit agency with a mission to help stop child abuse in all its forms and promote the physical, emotional and spiritual health of severely abused children and their families. A big job to be sure! But not out of reach for a community that believes in its children.

This unique agency is a social service program, the realization of a dream, and a vision for the future.

The agency's focus is on children. The residential program, Jasper Mountain Center, began accepting severely abused children in 1982. SCAR, with the specific focus of preventing abuse through community education and training, began in 1983. In response to community needs, an out-patient mental health program began serving children and their families in 1984. Jasper Mountain Schools has provided on-site schooling for children in residence since 1989 and has become a valuable community resource as well. Each of these expansions has extended the continuum of services offered by the agency.

Jasper Mountain Center

Jasper Mountain Center is home for some of the most severely abused and emotionally disturbed young children in Oregon. There is a particular focus on sexual abuse. The center is unique in that it provides a family environment where children can begin the long process of healing from the trauma and abuse they have experienced. The program philosophy stresses a holistic approach, healing the body, mind and spirit.

When it was time to build a new residence, the children chose the theme-a Disneyland type castle. Situated on a mountainside overlooking the Willamette River and its scenic valley, the castle helps the children regain some of the adventure, fantasy and dreams that were robbed from their childhood. The castle is surrounded by eight acres of magnificent forest, streams and wildlife. Although secluded, Jasper Mountain is only minutes away from Springfield and Eugene, Oregon.

The Center accepts both boys and girls between the ages of three and eleven, the most frequently admitted children being between the ages of five or ten. The average length of stay is two years and children may stay at Jasper Mountain up to age thirteen.

Treatment modalities include:  environmental, psychotherapeutic, behavioral and self-esteem approaches. Children participate in a variety of innovative components such as biofeedback and self-mastery training, video feedback, an equestrian program and gardening as well as art therapy and strong outdoor recreation program.

Jasper Mountain Center is licensed and certified as residential treatment facility by the State of Oregon.

The SCAR Program

The SCAR program has a specific yet expansive mission to help heal the scars of child abuse. The methods utilized are diverse: community training, public information, prevention programs, support groups, children's treatment groups and a mental health program for emotionally, physically and sexually abused children and their families. The program also sponsors annual special projects including "The Week-of-Our-Children" and the SCAR Symposium.

The program is housed in the Brattain Community Center in Springfield, Oregon and uses five other community counseling offices throughout Lane County.

SCAR was started by the community and continues to be community directed. It is an excellent example of the collective power of concerned citizens.

The SCAR Mental Health Program is certified by the Oregon Mental Health Division.

SCAR Symposium

Each fall counselors, teachers, law enforcement officers, caseworkers and parents from around the western United States come to the SCAR Symposium held in Eugene, Oregon to hear information from national experts on the topic of child abuse and to share information with each other. The Western Regional Symposium on Child Abuse and Sexual Assault-the SCAR symposium-has been acclaimed as one of the finest conferences of its kind in the nation.

A broad spectrum of presenters address topics such as: physical and sexual abuse, healing the trauma of abuse, adult and juvenile sex offenders, drugs and abuse and other related issues.

Jasper Mountain School

Jasper Mountain School has been carefully designed to accommodate the learning styles and modalities of emotionally disturbed children. All children have an individualized course of study. Patience and support enable the children to experience academic success - sometimes for the first time. The school is located on the grounds of Jasper Mountain Center.

Jasper Mountain School provides regular and full education to boys and girls from pre-school to seventh grade. Caring, dedicated counselors and educators help children become involved in the process of learning. Computer literacy, arts and crafts, outdoor education and special projects supplement innovative approaches to reading, math and language, maintaining high student energy and interest. Students are actively engaged in choosing their academic focus and very positive results have been achieved by nearly all students.

Jasper Mountain School is a state registered private school for regular and special education and is an alternative education program registered with the Oregon Department of Education.