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In addition if you are still undecided about how to best find help in choosing a school or program for you problem teen, read the article below published October 24th, 2007 about determining a boarding school.

By Franko Mandato

Sending your child to boarding school is not an easy decision. The biggest obstacle of all is coming to the awareness that your child can no longer go on living in the same home that perhaps has been their home for all their lives. This does not erase the fact that often time spent in a highly functional, well staffed, educational boarding school can be the best move for your family and for your child’s life.

This is a very bold statement to make: Boarding Schools can improve the quality of your family and your child’s life. How can I make such a statement across the board? So many children are different you might say and each one cannot possibly benefit from enrolling in a boarding school? That is correct, not every single child will benefit from lock-down, behavioral, and educational boarding schools. There is a small percentage of kids that do not work even in the best facilities. But most kids whether receiving therapeutic treatment, physical boot-camp type training or basic or advanced education do well in boarding schools.

This brings up an important point. In all cases when I refer to the advantages of boarding schools I am at all times referring to certified accredited programs and schools. Please always take utmost care in selecting at minimum an accredited school. What about the variances between the accredited schools? Now we approach the specifics of your child’s issues. What are your reasons for needing your child or teen to live outside the home? When you have located the exact issue (Teen Education Problems, Behavior problems, Drug or Alcohol issues, Legal or Arrest problems, etc…), then you need to go one level deeper. You need to take the Drug or Alcohol issues for example and then look at your child’s development or arrival at this place. Ask yourself does my child need a total discipline approach void of education where they are simply locked down and told what to do and when. If your child is closer to the very small percentage I mentioned above that will not benefit from a boarding school, then perhaps teen boot camps may be a solution for you. More than likely you will find a solution somewhere in between the Military style boot camps and a Terrific Educational Facility where your child can blossom into a new and perhaps enlightened individual.

Now you may ask, how can I, a parent of a troubled teen, do this kind of analysis? I have problems raising these children and certainly I am no expert in placing a child in a boarding school. Unfortunately, you are correct. I am not suggesting you diagnose your child, your family, your situation yourself and end up with a misdiagnosis. I am simply laying out the facts for you to use as best as you are able. There are experts in this field and they are called Education Consultants. Please, again you must pay attention to credentials. Not every Education Consultant will have a Master’s degree and have worked in the industry for ten years but I certainly would want one closer to these credentials than someone who could produce none or very inadequate ones.

In summary, placing your child in a boarding school is a difficult decision. One that must be made with all the information you can possibly assemble. If you plan on doing the work yourself, be thorough. You will not be happy with results that are based on simply closing your eyes and spending money. This industry is not like wine, the most expensive products are not superior. Be careful with those precious beings that you were given responsibility for and who trust you despite their behavior or problems.