Boot Camps Don't Work and ALL The Research Proves They Don't
The Teen Discovery Intensive program does what Boot Camps attempt to do but the research has time and time again shown they don't do.
The Associated Press, October 16th, 2004 reported in it's article 'Experts Debunk Tough Treatment for At-Risk Youths' "The 13-member panel of experts, convened by the National Institutes of Health, concluded in its report, "Boot camps and other 'get tough' programs for adolescents do not prevent criminal behavior and may make the problem worse." They further concluded, "'Scare tactics' don't work."
"All the evaluations have shown they don't work," said the panel's chairman, Dr. Robert Johnson of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "Many communities are wasting a great deal of money on those types of programs."
So why do parents look to these types of programs for help? They are tired of the pain and fighting. They are desperate and will do anything they can to help their children. They will pay for hope which seldom delivers because they want their children to succeed and live good lives.
That is where The Teen Discovery Intensive works. It is based on the principles that have been shown to work. We are not perfect; we don't always succeed, but we do succeed more often than not.
Read on to find out what makes us different and what makes what we do work!
What Makes The Discovery Program Unique?
We base our approach and programs on a Strengths and Capacity Model. That means we believe that in virtually every situation the approach should be focused on understanding and connecting a teen to their God-Given Design. Trying to correct bad and harmful behaviors by means of avoidance seldom if ever works long-term. We do not see your teen as sick or diseased. We don’t diagnose deficit, illness or disease, but Strength, Capacity and Ability.
If you wish to see resistance and anger send your teen to therapy. Ask the therapist to ‘fix’ your teen. Ask the therapist why your teen is messed up. It seldom works.
Most of our families have been to therapists; sent their teens to boot-camps, therapeutic boarding schools, out-patient facilities, in-patient programs and or drug and alcohol diversion programs. We are often contacted when all other options have failed to work.
We change the focus. We believe that when people are not connected to their unique design and strengths they live out their weaknesses. They are impulsive and reckless and live out destructive behaviors.
Drugs are a prime example. When your teen does not feel happy and emotionally in control, it is because they are not doing the things that result in their bodies producing the endorphins and chemicals that result from doing good, healthy and productive things they were designed and have the capacity to do.
Drugs are often a substitute for a lack of direction and connection. Teens actively seek excitement. When we identify and connect them to their design and strengths and focus their lives on Maximizing their Strengths, the result is their Weaknesses are Minimized. It is a simple formula but it works!
Do We Get Tough With Teens?
We get very tough when we need to. Often we need to use 'Shock and Awe' methods to get the teen's attention when we first start. In order to get the teen back under control we will use many of the methods employed by Boot-Camps. We do it in-house or at home with the parents involved.
We get in teen's faces when we need to. We will file legal 'At-Risk Petitions' which can result in them going to juvenile detention if they don't cooperate and if they do dangerous or harmful things to themselves and others.
We do this as only one necessary part of the Teen Discovery process. Simply gaining compliance or getting them to avoid is temporary. We must get them looking at and discovering what they are designed to do in life. That is where we find our success or rather your teen will find their ultimate success.
How Are Parents Part Of The Process?
The family is where change is best made and maintained, not in an expert’s office or in a program away from the home environment. We believe that God has given parents everything they need to parent and deal with the children they have been given. Parents are essential to the process. They are the ‘Experts’.
Parents are central to the Discovery process. You know your teen better than anyone else. You are ultimately responsible for your children. We will work with you and be with you throughout the process, meeting with you, being available virtually around the clock, encouraging, seeking strategies that work, developing discipline that is effective and watching as your teen grows and develops into a more mature responsible young adult.
You will be given books, articles, videos/dvd's, websites, etc to look at and read. We will provide resources for you beyond what we do. You will be invited to attend local seminars and if you need be connected with other parents who are dealing with tough teen situations.
Not only do we want your input and involvement we need it. You are key to the process!
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A Recent Letter From Parents
Thank-you is not enough. You came into our lives and fixed us all! We thought our son was the only broken one (o.k., he was the biggest broken part) but the parenting skills we have learned as a result of your program have given us the tools necessary to be better parents and enjoy a healthy, happy family. We didn’t know anyone like you and your teen life coaches even existed. I can’t believe we even considered a military school! We needed help. Thank God we found you.
I loved the idea of you, André and Paul coming into our home and our lives. I truly believe that this is the key to helping teenagers through this difficult age. All the phone calls and visits, even the crisis visits, each and every time, made an immediate change that we are confident will last forever.
We can’t thank you enough for all your help, and knowledge with the court system. We were very frightened and are grateful you were here to help us through it and be by our sides in the courtrooms. Your continued follow-up support and calls are truly appreciated. When I hear your voice on the other end of the phone your confidence and compassion are unmatched and your ability to work with us seemed so easy.
The time we have spent with you has definitely been a life changing experience for our whole family and many others that touch our lives.
It is our hope that we persevere through these turbulent years and that the members of our family become productive members of society.
Sincerely, Ron & Kerri
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How Does The Cost Of The Teen Intensive Program Compare To Other Programs?
The Discovery Program (Cost is $9,500.00. or $79.00 per day) for Phase 1 (120 days) We understand that even our program costs a great deal, it is substantially less than other programs. We are always willing to do whatever we can to make the process work for you and your teen.
Make the call, we will find a way to help.
Other Options
There are other less drastic options which are less costly. These range from your teen meeting weekly with one of our Teen Life Coaches to the 120 day in-home intensive.
Call (425) 318-2044 today to discuss what options are available for your particular situation.
How Involved Are Your Coaches With The Teens and Parents?
We Use a ‘Coach’ or ‘Discipleship’ Model. We use coaches who model, guide, direct, challenge, support, involve, and make a difference in the lives of the teens. Our coaches get involved in every aspect of your teens life. We get to know your teen. We spend time in the home where the teen lives. (Both homes if and when the parents are divorced and cooperative)
We go to school, to juvenile court, to church, youth group, to meet friends, school meetings, counselors meetings, sports events, recreational events, etc. Our coaches engage the teen’s life where the teen lives. Counselors, therapists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists etc can’t and don’t. The mental health philosophy does not allow for that level or type of involvement.
Is Coaching The Same As Mentoring?
Coaching is more than mentoring. For the most part mentor programs believe it is simply the fact that someone spends time with a person that makes the difference. Though that can be true, the results are limited. Our coaching is directive. Our coaches plan and tell teens where they are going to go and what they are going to do.
We don’t believe that a teen who is out of control should have the ability or right to choose what to do. We don’t believe they know best or they wouldn’t be out of control. So our coaches simply go and pick the teens up and take them to healthy, productive places. They don’t ask them if they want to or would like to.
They do healthy and productive things with them. They connect them with good, productive teens. It is not about just spending time with teens, there is a goal behind each interaction and contact.
How Are Your Head Coaches Qualified or Selected?
Our Head Coaches are 'Experts' because:
How Are Your Teen Life Coaches Qualified or Selected?
They are central to the success of everything we do.
We only use the best leaders and coaches out there. Our coaches know how to relate to your teen because they know where your teen lives. The generation gap does not apply. That establishes credibility.
We find that the teens who come into our programs relate and respond to our coaches in powerful ways. The see them for the experts they are. Our Life Coaches:
Substance Abuse Evaluations
If your teen has a substance abuse problem we offer a special in-home evaluation process. Your teen will be required to undergo a substance abuse evaluation.
This evaluation will be performed by an evaluator/counselor who is state certified in Substance Abuse evaluations.
Because this is an in-house evaluation it will allow for the evaluator to gather more information about your teen and will also free you up from spending about three hours going to a facility to get the evaluation.
Teens who test positive for illegal substances will be required to take UA’s at the direction of the evaluator. These UA's will be done randomly also at your home. The results will be made available to the Program Director and to you.
We also provide for UA's at substance abuse facilities. Many of our clients are already under the supervision of a substance abuse counselor and we will continue to work with them.
Call (425) 318-2044 Today! You only have HOPE to gain!
