Frequently Asked Questions

As the owner and founder of Fresh Tracks, Mark travels year-round to visit and assess 50 to 100 programs and schools each year.

Families researching from the outside are often relying on websites and phone calls. That makes it difficult to know who a program really serves, how it operates day to day, and whether it is a good fit. It becomes even harder when it is your own child, especially when decisions need to be made quickly alongside work, family, and everything else at home.

Mark brings the information that is difficult to find from the outside: which therapist someone would actually work with, what the current group looks like, how a program handles risk, who owns it, whether it is financially stable, whether its model or client profile has changed, and who is currently in key leadership roles.

Programs and schools value this process too. They want students and clients who are a good fit, and an assessment from a consultant who knows their program helps everyone make a better-informed decision. Having an independent consultant involved also gives the family someone who can stay focused on the larger goals throughout the process.

Mark stays involved from the first conversation through completion of a placement. He keeps his caseload small, remains actively involved, and answers the phone himself.

Some families need frequent communication and support. Others need much less. Mark adjusts his involvement based on the family and the situation.

He also understands this work from several sides. He has experienced programs and boarding schools as a student, and later designed and led programs and schools himself.

His focus remains on the person, the family, and how the decisions being made now fit into the larger picture.

It depends on the program and what the family needs. In most cases, Mark stays involved until the program or school is complete, whether that is two months or more than a year.

Some families choose to continue working with Mark through parent or life coaching after the consulting work is complete.

Mark personally visits and assesses programs and schools to understand how they operate, who they serve well, and whether they meet the standards he expects for the families he works with. He travels throughout the country and internationally, visiting 50 to 100 programs and schools each year.

Independent means Mark works for the client. Fresh Tracks receives no referral fees, financial incentives, or other compensation from the programs or schools it recommends.

Recommendations are based on the needs of the individual and family, along with Mark’s firsthand knowledge and years of experience in the field.

No. Families hire Mark directly, and Fresh Tracks receives no compensation from any program or school it may recommend.

That independence is important. Mark’s recommendations need to be based entirely on what he believes is the best fit for the person and family.

No. Every recommendation begins with the strengths, circumstances, and needs of the individual and family. There is no single approach that works for everyone.

Outdoor and adventure-based programs can be an excellent fit for some people and the wrong fit for others. Depending on the situation, Mark may recommend a traditional boarding school, therapeutic school, residential treatment center, inpatient program, outpatient support, or another option along the continuum of care.

And sometimes the best recommendation is not a program at all.