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Pathway to Change and Recovery Pathway are two unique educational programs within the Chisago Lakes School District. Both are located in the lower level of the Fairview Lakes building. Pathway to Change is a Federal Level IV program for students with specific individual needs in the area of social behavior. Recovery Pathway is a recovery school for students who have successfully completed treatment and are continuing to work on their sobriety.

The Pathway to Change school is in its sixth year in the district. The students are individually working on a long range goal of transitioning back into a mainstream school setting. Pathway to Change staff assists students in raising their academic performance while gaining appropriate decision making skills necessary for daily living.

Recovery Pathway, a program in its first year, incorporates interactive online aftercare support and online learning at the school site. Many of the students are currently in the process of transitioning back into a mainstream school setting such as Chisago Lakes High School or Wolf Creek Charter School.

Both programs are fortunate to participate in the community mentoring program, Friends Make a Difference, sponsored by Fairview Health Service. We are able to report that an incredible 100 percent of our students participate voluntarily in this program. Our mentors join us for Friends Make a Difference twice per month during their lunch hour to share pizza and their friendship with out students.

The program coordinator has been actively involved with the Chisago County Juvenile Drug Court team for the past several years. As a result of many agencies working together, young people in Chisago County have benefited greatly and have been successful in school and in the community.

Pathway to Change and Recovery Pathway are able to offer many special events and programs due to our small size. We have been able to offer an After-School Outdoor Science program, which has made excursions to North Carolina, Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the St. Croix River, to our students. The program involves public speaking at school board, Rotary and Lion’s Club meetings, public service projects and studying the unique characteristics of the areas the students have visited.

We host many events for mentors throughout the year including a “sit down” Thanksgiving dinner and a winter holiday party. We also have a Baby-Think-It-Over program, which many of our students have voluntarily participated in and enjoyed. The “life like” programmable babies were provided by the Chisago County Health Services as a result of a grant.

We are very proud of the accomplishments of our students and our programs.

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