No kidding.
Hire a full time tutor who will pick your teen up at school and spend the afternoon with him/her until you get home. A lot cheaper than a program.
Better yet, hire several allies that possess a skill your teen is interested in. Each day could be spent with a different person. Monday afternoon- english/other tutor, Tuesday- a musician or vocalist, Wednesday- an art teacher- the more excentric the better, Thursday- a carpenter, Friday- a jock or trainer, a car mechanic, a martial arts class, a financial whiz (how many kids graduate and can't manage money and don't know what a check book looks like, much less how to balance one), a computer geek, an herbalist or naturalist, a chef or beautician in training, ....you get the idea. There is sooo much valuable resource available for the taking, and college students work cheap, a hell-of-a-lot cheaper than program staff. And they aren't going to break any bones or emotionally damage your teen. Go to your local community college and post your ads TOMORROW. That is-- after you've had the discussion with your teen in which you apologize for limiting their exposure to the real world which is abundant with resources or every variety, and have helped them create a list of interests.
If this culture had any sense or caring about teens, college students would receive credit for spending the afternoon mentoring a teen- not just the "honor students". Despite common belief, teens need as much or more guidance than toddlers. Maybe more. Toddlers are all about exploring and mastering their environment and need little guidance. That can be more difficult for teens. They are virtually invisible in this culture. And they are PISSED. Getting pissed doesn't help so they get hopeless. And hopelessness needs to be suppressed. Walla, drugs and any other activity that allows them to FEEL good, even if "good" is illegal.
If parents had any sense they'd be seeking out these resources for their teens before they bail due to hopelessness and BOREDOM. There is always SOMEthing that excites and interests a teen. Drugs and hanging out are defaults. There isn't a thing wrong with their brains- They don't need "legal" drugs. They need something to GET EXCITED about, something to spark their passion, something that allows them to feel important and a part of society. Help your teen figure out what that is for them. If they don't know, then it's time to experiment. LOTS of emperimentation. They need to try lots of things to start narrowing down their interests. Keep them busy and connected to ANYthing constructive.
Teens are on the verge of being adults and desperately need to test those waters and master some life skills. They really hunger for that. They will need those skills to be successful. They need constructive hobbies that meet their creative needs. They DON'T need a program.
Pay them to balance your checkbook- even if they don't get it right or you don't "need" that service. Employ them to help you balance the family budget.
Pay them to work with you in the afternoon if your employer will allow it.
Pay them to cook dinner for the family- could be better than Mickey D's. (My son could make an awesome stir-fry at 10- bring a tear to my eye, how proud he was. His brother was frying eggs at 6- start to finish.)
Pay them to do any service you currently pay someone else to do that is age and developmentally appropriate. Check with your accountant, many things you pay your teen to do can be written off.
Then teach them how to save for the car they will want when they are of age. DON'T pay for the driving classes. If they aren't motivated to work and save $200 buck, they probably aren't ready for the responsibility of driving. AND Don't give them a car. What does that teach? Matter of fact, don't GIVE them anything but the basic necessities (not talking about deprivation here) beyond the age they are capable of earning money to purchase those things. Don't condition your teen to feel entitled. Entitlement leads to boredom and teaches nothing about the REAL world. A program won't teach anything about the real world either. They will not learn to master their environment. They will learn how to lie and manipulate, and stuff their rage.
Move to a city that has a "School Without Walls". Look for an alternative high school that has passionate, lively teachers that can inspire.
Re-fi the homestead, cash out your IRA, borrow from the grandparents, but DON'T give it to a program. Invest it in your teen in a positive and constructive way. Find them some allies who will help them find their passion.
Want to motivate them to shift from destructive to constructive choices? Show them the WWASP video that aired recently, show them the list of teens who have died at programs, and be sure they know that their destructive choices could land them in such a place-- court ordered of course. Now that's the most appropriate use of a "program" that I can think of.
Stop blaming them. It's not their fault they have been left to fend for themselves. They have arrived at the best choice they could given the circumstances. Have some empathy for their boredom and help them figure out what the hell will bring them pleasure.
