Ten Top Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing a Residential Camp for their Teen
Mistake Number 2: We cannot really afford this, so the home better be cheap, or at least what we can afford
What can you not afford? Can you afford your teenager ending up in trouble with the law, in prison, in hospital, on the streets? What is the true price of your teen not recovering from their current situation? How much has the emotional cost been so far, to you, your partner and the rest of the family?
That is not to say there are not some serious cases of genuine financial hardship in families with troubled teens. In those situations there are programs that recognize this, and can offer help, and the state will offer help as part of a prevention program; your first step there is your teen's school, and your social support network.
Remember, if your teen is happy and adjusted, the whole family benefits. There are some extremely expensive residential camps out there and they are not necessarily the best for your teen. What is required is a camp that is good value, and meets your teens' needs. If your teen has just started acting out and becoming defiant, but it is early days, a teen boarding school with an endowment, or fund raising program may offer them a place. These, quality, lost cost schools are often Christian in nature, but rarely take on the more difficult teens.
Consider the following areas, when assessing for value rather than choosing based on absolute cost.
- What is the ratio of staff to residents? Too few staff and your teen will not receive the care they need
- What are the qualifications of staff? Highly qualified means higher charges, but better treatment
- Think about enrolling your teen into a summer or vacation program to try out a facility
- Teen boot camps that focus on discipline rather than therapy, if appropriate may be less expensive
- Camps that focus on treatment rather than fancy surroundings may be better value
- Check what your health insurance covers, will they allow you to do a "top-up"?
- If your teen is in trouble with the law, will the state refer them as part of their sentencing?
- Does the residential school or teen camp have a financing program, allowing a spread of the cost over a longer period?
- Are you a member of a credit union? They offer lower interest loans than most banks
Helping your teenager back from the brink of self-destruction is rarely an easy undertaking, but if you feel that a residential school or teen camp is the answer, then you should be prepared to spend a reasonable sum. A happy, well adjusted teenager will repay your investment ten times over.