Be Fully Informed
Convictions for, or reports to authorities of, abuse or fraud at residential programs for teens do not prohibit program operators from opening new facilities under different names or in different states. Check with state regulators and conduct your own independent research before placing your child.
In the News
Arizona's troubled teens: At risk, and overlooked in abusive facilities
An Arizona Republic investigation finds some of Arizona's most severely troubled youth have reportedly been sexually and physically abused in residential treatment centers amid lax oversight by the state agencies that license, monitor, fund and assign children to the facilities. Read more
How Effective Are Tactics Used on TV Shows to Treat Troubled Teens?
TIME reports extreme measures used to confront "troubled teens" on TV reality shows like A&E Beyond Scared Straight and Lifetime's Teen Trouble are at best ineffective, and potentially harmful. Read more
Troubled teen teacher charged with assault after punching female student
February 2, 2012--A Pennsylvania teacher who has been charged with punching a 14-year-old female student in the face hard enough to draw blood claimed he was provoked by her throwing chalk at him, police said. Richard B. Little, 41, was charged with simple assault, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another, harassment, and disorderly conduct, in relation to the Jan. 23 incident at Presbyterian Children's Village in Rosemont, Pa., the Daily Times reported Wednesday. Read more
APA: Residential Programs Often Make Teen Problems Worse
December, 2011 — More than 160,000 American youth each year are referred by juvenile courts to residential placements, according to a 2011 Social Policy Report by the Society for Research in Child Development. However, the report finds that such settings often do more harm than good, causing depression, thoughts of suicide, acting-out behaviors and recidivism among these youth. Recognizing this problem, many states have enacted a variety of community-based "diversion" programs aimed at keeping offending youth out of the court system, particularly those who have committed nonviolent crimes or "status" offenses such as truancy, running away from home or defying parents or other authority figures. Read more
New Lawsuit Targets Mount Bachelor Academy
November 10, 2011. Portland, OR — Fourteen more former students of one of Oregon's most notorious "tough love" boarding schools, the now-shut Mt. Bachelor Academy east of Prineville, filed a lawsuit against the school Thursday, alleging emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Meanwhile, a judge in Portland ruled Thursday that an initial lawsuit, filed earlier by 17 other former students, should be tried in Crook County. The new 98-page lawsuit (link to full suit below) alleges systematic humiliation, physical and sexual abuse over a 15-year period and seeks $23 million in damages. Read more
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Last updated 6/8/12