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The Troubled Teen Industry / Re: Can Wilderness Camps Kill Your Kid?
« on: March 21, 2010, 04:12:13 PM »
The answer is yes, but so can walking across the street or sending your kid to school. The key is as a parent reducing the risks of harm need to be looked at.
Some programs are poorly designed and dangerous, wonder why more kids don't die. However, there are excellent programs out there that work well also. A parent should not be making the choice alone, they should be getting recommendations from a therapist and MD for what is best for your kid. Most deaths have been the result of staff not understanding the history and medical needs of the youth. You do not send a kid who was high on drugs the previous month on a forced hike in 90 degree heat, it is a death wish. Many programs are forcing kids to do things that they physically cannot do because of past drug problems. A good program will know the physical limitations of each kid and not push those limitations. Many kids should never be put into a wilderness program.
Some kids do extremely well and have fond memories, that is usually a kid that was sent to a program that met their needs both physically and mentally. Research is important and just because a place is licensed does not mean they are qualified. Don't knock the entire industry because of the bad programs, it denies the help that some really need. Educate parents so they know what to look for and stay away from the bad programs.
Changing the laws and regulations would help. Make it so every program must have well trained staff in the wilderness including a therapist and medical staff. Requiring owners and key staff to be therapist will also help. Most bad programs rely on cheap untrained staff. Restricting failed programs from re-opening under a different name and same ownership would make a difference. Creating a certification and ethics requirement standard.
Some programs are poorly designed and dangerous, wonder why more kids don't die. However, there are excellent programs out there that work well also. A parent should not be making the choice alone, they should be getting recommendations from a therapist and MD for what is best for your kid. Most deaths have been the result of staff not understanding the history and medical needs of the youth. You do not send a kid who was high on drugs the previous month on a forced hike in 90 degree heat, it is a death wish. Many programs are forcing kids to do things that they physically cannot do because of past drug problems. A good program will know the physical limitations of each kid and not push those limitations. Many kids should never be put into a wilderness program.
Some kids do extremely well and have fond memories, that is usually a kid that was sent to a program that met their needs both physically and mentally. Research is important and just because a place is licensed does not mean they are qualified. Don't knock the entire industry because of the bad programs, it denies the help that some really need. Educate parents so they know what to look for and stay away from the bad programs.
Changing the laws and regulations would help. Make it so every program must have well trained staff in the wilderness including a therapist and medical staff. Requiring owners and key staff to be therapist will also help. Most bad programs rely on cheap untrained staff. Restricting failed programs from re-opening under a different name and same ownership would make a difference. Creating a certification and ethics requirement standard.