Author Topic: Almost 18, where can he go?
zap
Junior Member
Member # 2830
posted February 05, 2006 09:16 AM
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Are there any Wilderness/TBS/or RTCs that will take unwilling 17 year olds (he will be 18 at the end of May) and keep them past the age of 18 if they are still uncooperative? We had finally settled on a school but they told us they would not accept him after the 17 1/2 cut-off date. Now we don't know where to turn and matters are getting increasingingly bad.
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Posts: 6 | From: metro ny/nj | Registered: May 2002 | Logged: 69.141.115.1 |
Dadrod
Member
Member # 4316
posted February 05, 2006 03:28 PM
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There are wilderness programs and therapeutic schools that will take him, and some (fewer) that will allow him to stay past 18, but none that I know of can keep him there past 18 if he wishes to leave. They don't have to make it easy to leave, but the law generally applicable doesn't let them make him stay.
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Rod
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Posts: 154 | From: New York | Registered: Jul 2004 | Logged: 205.188.116.132 |
heleneb
Member
Member # 4818
posted February 05, 2006 03:36 PM
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zap,
AS long as they are under 18, most wilderness programs should take him. I see that you are from NJ. We live in PA and sent our son to a wilderness program in NY (names are not allowed in this section). There are many people who sent their teens to wilderness where they turned 18 at camp. Most chose not to walk out on their b-day IF the parents make it clear that if they leave before the end of the program they will have to walk home and that they would not support them financially. Since you have until May, you have a little bit of time (a month or two) to send him. I am sorry that the TBS you mentioned would not take him because of his age. Our son is at that TBS (in MA). He will turn 18 the beginning of Oct. He is scheduled to graduate from that school the end of Aug. Do not be discouraged. Your EC will help you find a program for him after wilderness. This is not uncommon to take teens your son's age. Especially if your son seems to be in agreement with your plans. There are parents who take their teens to visit schools that you are considering. For our son, wilderness was a surprise and going on to TBS was even more of a shock. E-mail me privately if you need the name of the wilderness. If you end up needing escorts,we used a company out of Maryland who treated our son like he was their own. We also used the same escorts from wilderness to TBS. You are right to intervene NOW..... Helene
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Posts: 74 | From: home | Registered: Jun 2005 | Logged: 68.162.152.149 |
