Should you really send your "struggling teen" to a boot camp or a boarding school?
If you are experiencing trouble with your teenaged daughter or son you may think that it's a viable solution to send them to military school or boot camp. These are some of the solutions to the problem of "troubled teens" that you will find as you search through various other websites.
Below, you can find our list of schools for troubled teens or programs including 'boot camps' for troubled teens.
You can also find a military school or boarding school for your troubled teen, by consulting our private school search.
Solutions such as wilderness camps or military training can work but they are a radical solution, really. There is a wide spectrum of help available and you need to take a good look at all the options available to you - including family counseling, help with parenting skills and self help books. Have you tried these potential solutions?
"Troubled teens" is an industry that is not without some controversy. After a 2007 Congressional hearing, the US government worked to enact legislation to reduce abuses and negligence at "troubled teen boot camps." Today, the industry has moved toward a more successful model that focuses on changing behaviours and improving coping mechanisms. There is much evidence to show the benefits of structured therapy plus the radical break camps and schools offer teens from troubling environments or negative peer influences. In a 2010 study, The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs followed the progress of over a thousand teen graduates for over a year after their graduation from therapeutic programs. They found that the great majority remained consistent with behavioral changes they had made in the treatment programs.
Troubled teens in Canada
Here in Canada, there is a history of close regulation and scrutiny of schools, camps and programs that might deal with these troubled teens. Government regulations cover numerous accountabilities, requirements and restrictions when it comes to any long-term secured settings.There is little regulation, however, for programs that are not in a secured facility.
Beyond this, the fact remains that parents need to do all they can to reach out to their teens and show them the proper way to deal with teen problems related to drugs and sex. Changing schools or sending your child to a private school, boarding school, military school or teen camp should only be part of the solution to your teen's troubles. The rest of the solution should come from you as parents.
The following private schools and institutions specialize in programs to help troubled teens.
