How to Choose the Best Schools for Troubled Teens
Trying to raise a troubled teen can be very hard on the mental stability and relationship of the parent or parents. And it becomes even harder when the parent decides it is time to start searching for schools for troubled teens. The up and down attitude of your troubled child can cause multiple arguments throughout the day. Getting through each day and finding help in diagnosing and treating your child’s problems is the key to maintaining a healthy relationship with not only your child, but other people in the immediate family as well.
Deciding on your Top Schools for Troubled Teens
When deciding on a school for the child, alternative schools will more than likely be on the table, so to speak. As a parent, it’s important to remain open minded and also understand that because you are at this point, the point in which you are looking into an alternative school, your child is more than likely beyond the simple parenting advice and help. This may be hard to accept, but if you are not willing to receive the help you are looking for, no school will be up to your standards.
Alternative schools, and boarding schools alike, act as a guiding phase for your child. These institutions are put in place to help steer your child in the right direction. There are, however, instances where a troubled teen has real, medical issues that need to be addressed. There are red flags that you can discuss with the family doctor or therapist.
Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens
Alternative and boarding institutions can be costly. When making a list of possible schools for your child, keep in mind what kind of budget you are working with. Check with your local social service department to see if there is any help that you may qualify for. Some boarding schools in the U.S. can cost upwards of $10,000 per month. Obviously there will be school that will run you a lot cheaper, but this is to show that this decision should not be taken lightly.
Making a List of Core Problems Affecting your Child
An important step when deciding on a school for your troubled teen is to compose a list of the core problems you see affecting your child. If drugs or alcohol are a constant problem for your teen, make sure that the school you choose has programs that can work specifically on this issue. Again, alternative schools and boarding homes are not like regular schools. They are here to guide your teen away from things like drugs and alcohol, so this will be something that most schools you look at should cover.
Plan a visit where you and your teen can go and see the school staff in person. This normally will not be an issue with the school, but call in advance to set up a date and time. Make sure that the school you are visiting is up to par with what you want for your child. Confirm that the school is accredited as it is not recommended to deal with alternative schools that are not accredited by any agency at all. Lastly, check the drop-out to success ratio and other related aspects of the school.
Make sure that your child has every chance to succeed before placing him or her in the school.