ACTION Academy, a sober school for Hart District students struggling with substance abuse who are committed to living clean and sober, has expanded its program this semester to create space for even more students in need.

The decision was made to expand the school’s capacity from 12 students to 18 starting Aug. 11 because of an ongoing waitlist last year, according to Kathy Hunter, director of student services for the William S. Hart Union High School District and one of the creators of the program.

“Last year was the first year that, throughout most of the year, we had anywhere from six to 10 kids on the waitlist,” Hunter said. “It’s something that we do not want to have happen, because students who are in need because there’s some kind of an issue with substance abuse (are) students that we don’t want sitting at home for a month or two, or the entire semester, waiting to get into a program.”

Cary Quashen, founder and CEO of Action Family Counseling, added that the increase in enrollment will allow academy officials to help even more kids.

Related: ACTION Academy Offers Safe, Sober School Environment For Hart District Students

“When you’ve got children — because they really are children — that are saying, ‘Hey, I need to come to your school, I need to be in a place where it’s safe, I need to get away from the negative influences,’ it’s sad when you don’t have the space,” Quashen said. “Now we made six more spaces, and it’s great. We can help more kids, and that’s the name of the game. The more kids we can help the better.”

Students usually spend only a semester or two at the academy before it’s determined that they can return to their home school, which is the ultimate goal of the program.

“There’s turnover because we only like the kids to stay there until they really feel like they’re sober and they can return to their home schools,” Hunter said. “So generally, they’re there for a semester, possibly two semesters.”

Quashen stressed that ACTION Academy students are good kids who have made bad choices.

“The ACTION Academy gives them a place to make better choices,” he said, “and gives them a reason to say no.”

For more information about ACTION Academy or how to make a referral, contact Kathy Hunter at (661)259-0033 ext. 210 or khunter@hartdistrict.org.

Action Family Counseling is a Santa Clarita drug and alcohol rehab center. Action Family Counselinghas drug and alcohol residential treatment locations in Santa Clarita, Piru and Bakersfield, as well as intensive drug and alcohol outpatient programs in Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Ventura, Pasadena and Bakersfield. Action Family Counseling supports and reinforces changes in behavior patterns so that adolescents and adults, or clients and their families, can fully indoctrinate the philosophies and principles needed to remain abstinent and stabilized for life.

Action Family Counseling

22722 Soledad Canyon Road

Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Office: 661-297-8691

24-Hour Helpline: 800-367-8336