The Facts About Intensive Residential Treatment Programs

Sadly today many teens today go off the rails and tragically some of those get into serious trouble. It may be that they harm themselves, threaten others, fail badly at school, are promiscuous, take drugs, run wild with criminal gangs, are seriously depressed, trash property or any one of a number of serious behavioral problems. Of course there are many different types of camps for troubled teens but for those who are seriously troubled often the best chance of recovery is found in a residential treatment facility.

These are not prisons but rather places where the teens are shown respect and given all sorts of help to get them back into society as healthy and happy young people. But security wise, in terms of escape from the facility, they are almost a prison. The residential treatment facilities are highly secure and it is very rare for a resident to break out.

The staff members in these facilities are specialists. They are professionals trained in the area of helping troubled teens and are used to the antics, excuses and attitudes displayed by many young offenders. There is very little the staff will not have seen when it comes to troubled teens.

One important aspect is a close working relationship the facility develops with the family or adoptive family of each resident. The teen will not remain in the facility indefinitely although time spent will depend on the progress of each young person. But sooner or later they will return to the outside world and to their family. This means it is important for both the teen and their family to work harmoniously together.

It is obvious that the cost of treatment in this type of facility is not cheap. The teen is not only getting full board, they are getting counseling, teaching and therapy and are being guarded and monitored 24/7. Any parent considering such a program for their teen should take out appropriate insurance.

A residential intensive treatment facility is not a school or a camp although it has some of the characteristics of these places. But because the facility deals only with seriously damaged or in-danger teens, there needs to be two types of assessment. One type occurs before the teen is accepted. Everything about their behavior, their background and problems needs to be fully disclosed. The professionals working with the residents cannot give the best help possible unless and until they know the problems.

Then there is the second type of assessment or monitoring once the troubled teen has begun their treatment. This monitoring is almost constant. Staff need to know what progress, if any, has been made almost on a daily basis. The overall goal to repair the teen and send them back into society equipped to live a good and positive life will only be achieved with careful and patient attention to the needs of the young person.

Obviously success is unlikely to happen overnight and parents should be prepared for months of treatment for their child. But the time spent and the cost involved is all worthwhile when the troubled teen is troubled no more.