Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

Pile ... thank you once again!

Its all true.  There are lots of people who used drugs, ran around, did this or that, didn't get sent to "programs", and have turned out just fine.  There are folks who have gone to "programs" and can't seem to get past that.  And there are enough who did screw around when younger and haven't lived to see their 30th birthday.

There surely are many who get sent to a "program" because their parents don't want to be bothered with the harder side of parenting.  But not all.  For some, a new environment - and often a truly drug-free one - were critical to restoring opportunity to their life.  That, along with help in restoring their "vision".  Does it take 2 years? Rarely.  But it takes more than 2 weeks.

if they're legit I'm sure they'll be able to hold up to scrutiny, right?

 I'm sure Pile will fabricate something "from whole cloth" and demand that it be disproven.  It just isn't worth it.  It would be so much more equitable to prove abuse on anything like a current basis instead of citing 30-year old events and instead of ignoring any possibility of accidents or any possibility that the enrollees would be at greater risk  elsewhere - say, on the streets selling their bodies or committing robberies for drug money.

Sad ... as you can see, "Pile" is such a positive, helpful source of unbiased information.  Still, I hold to what I said before.  

To make your case for your local school paying for a placement other than from their state list, you should start with thte information/assessment and recommendations from the psychologist and/or licensed therapist who has spent time with her at the present wilderness program.  That likely will support something more intensive, and a better fit than what the state lists.  Also compile relevant facts, like space availability, program design/structure (including presence or absence of weekend therapeutic activities) for them as well as for other places you might prefer.  Finally, compile corresponding data for the type of student each place takes (including severity of problem) and average time to complete their program -- and I do mean complete, which is not the same as average stay.  Put all together, I think it a good chance that the better programs will have shorter stays, so would cost your local schools less in the long run.  (Actually, an average stay at one of the most expensive good girls facilities would cost less than an average stay at H.H.)  In the end, you may want to chip in some small percentage if that is what it would take to get the right thing, but making the case to your school ought not be too tough.  Worst case, a lawyer could help (though education lawyers working for parents are scarce in some areas).

See my response to "does residential work".  For wilderness, add the question of whether or not it is a good idea for a particular person at all.  Some therapeutic boarding schools require wilderness or something similar before enrolling a student, soem other good ones regard it as a waste of time and money.  Much has to do with the nature of the student's 'issues' and the nature of the school's program.  As another post indicates you are considering a particular school on Long Island, I'd guess wilderness would be unnecessary.