Onarga Academy
Holistic Care and Vocational Training for Boys with Unhealthy Sexual Behaviors and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

An individualized, trauma-sensitive, and holistic approach to addressing boys’ emotional and behavioral issues, and educational, recreational, and vocational goals.

History

Onarga Academy is located in the quaint community of Onarga, IL, on a former military academy campus. Onarga Academy opened in March 1990 as a residential treatment facility for boys. In 2008, a transitional living program home was added to the campus. In 2010, a group home was completed. In 2012, Onarga Academy celebrated the opening of its new Grand Prairie School. Shortly after, the school added a new vocational training building, offering woodworking areas, a bay for car detailing and oil changes, and furniture building. In 2013, Onarga Academy expanded its aftercare program by adding two therapeutic foster care homes, nearby.

Site

Onarga Academy is located approximately 90 miles south of Chicago, on a historic site in Onarga, IL. The main campus features an administrative building residential halls, group home, transitional living home, school, and auditorium. Additionally, two therapeutic foster homes are located just a block away. The school also operates the Cornerstone Café in downtown Onarga. Café work provides the boys with real-world experience in business operations and service industry. The beautiful and recently remodeled auditorium is home to the Onarga Professional Development Institute.

Innovative Programming

Onarga Academy offers boys, ages 10-20, a structured, homelike environment where they can safely address their unhealthy sexual behaviors and their emotional and behavioral issues. Programming also addresses any related underlying chemical abuse issues.

In addition to residential, educational, vocational, and foster care services for youth, Onarga Academy also operates a professional development institute that provides training to individuals and groups who work with youth.

Onarga Academy Programs

• Youth on the Gender Continuum
• Residential Treatment - Boys, ages 10-20
  • Emotional/Behavioral Programs
  • Unhealthy Sexual Behaviors Programs
• Group Home Living
• Transitional Living
• Independent Living
• Therapeutic Foster Care
• Grand Prairie School
• Autism Day School
• Cornerstone Café
• Onarga Academy Professional Development Institute

• Accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA)
• Licensed as a Child Care Institution by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
• Staff certified as Addiction Counselors through Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association
• Chemical Health Program licensed for Level I and II care through the Illinois Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and is Medicaid certified for Level I care.
• Grand Prairie School accredited by North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA-CASI)
• Medicaid eligible

Onarga Videos

• Meet Onarga Academy
• Onarga Academy Youth Practice Their Trade