Location Page

Boot Camps & Military Schools in Montana

If your teen has gone beyond your disciplinary help, you may have considered a military school or boot camp as a solution. Placing your child in full time care is an overwhelming decision and it is important to be aware of the differences and requirements of the variety of options available. At Help Your Teen Now, we inform parents just like you about your options and direct you toward the resources you need in order to make a confident decision regarding the care of your child. Call us today for a free consultation and assessment.

Boot Camps Are Not The Best Option for Troubled Teens from Montana

Military schools and boot camps might not be the best solution to correct bad behavior in your troubled teen. Although the rigid rules and strict structure of a military school seems ideal for an at-risk teen, these institutions are intended to prepare students for academic success and military service. Students who cannot accept authority will not be allowed to stay. Juvenile boot camps adopt a similar military style approach, but are only short term, remedial facilities designed to scare teens into better behavior. Boot camps are both non-academic and non-therapeutic and do very little to address the root of the problem, resulting in very statistically poor long term results. While a safe, well run boot camp program may be an effective first step in your child’s overall therapy, it should only be considered in conjunction with a long term plan, such as alternative or therapeutic boarding school. Contact us today to explore the troubled teen program options in your area.

Montana Regulatory Laws

Accreditation is not required, but may be requested by the superintendent of public instruction. Mont. Code Ann. §20-7-102. There are no official requirements for licensing, registration or approval, but a teaching certificate is required for all instructors at voluntarily accredited nonpublic schools. The curriculum for nonpublic schools must be the same as that provided at public schools. Mont. Code Ann.§20-5-109(4). The Administrative Rules of Montana 10-55, established by the Montana Board of Public Education sets the Program Foundation Standards of curriculum for accredited schools. Mont. Code Ann. §20-7-101.

The Department of Health and Environmental Sciences is responsible for overseeing regular sanitary inspections of private school facilities. Mont. Code Ann. §50-1-203. Nonpublic schools must hold a minimum of eight disaster drills a year based on the local hazard risks. Mont. Code Ann.§§20-10401, 20-10402, 20-1-404. The sale of drugs within 1,000 feet of a nonpublic school is a criminal offense under Montana codes. Mont. Code Ann.§45-9-109.

Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf

Request Free Admissions Information

Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Request Free Admissions Information

Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Montana Regulatory Laws

Accreditation is not required, but may be requested by the superintendent of public instruction. Mont. Code Ann. §20-7-102. There are no official requirements for licensing, registration or approval, but a teaching certificate is required for all instructors at voluntarily accredited nonpublic schools. The curriculum for nonpublic schools must be the same as that provided at public schools. Mont. Code Ann.§20-5-109(4). The Administrative Rules of Montana 10-55, established by the Montana Board of Public Education sets the Program Foundation Standards of curriculum for accredited schools. Mont. Code Ann. §20-7-101.

The Department of Health and Environmental Sciences is responsible for overseeing regular sanitary inspections of private school facilities. Mont. Code Ann. §50-1-203. Nonpublic schools must hold a minimum of eight disaster drills a year based on the local hazard risks. Mont. Code Ann.§§20-10401, 20-10402, 20-1-404. The sale of drugs within 1,000 feet of a nonpublic school is a criminal offense under Montana codes. Mont. Code Ann.§45-9-109.

Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf

Statistics for At-Risk Montana Teens

ADD/ADHD

  • 9.1%

9.1 percent of children in Montana, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9489617/

TEEN PREGNANCY 

  • 13.2%

The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Montana is 13.2 per 1,000 females in this age group, according to the World Population Review.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/teen-pregnancy-rates-by-state

TEEN SUICIDE

  • 36.3%

Montana ranks 47th with a suicide rate of 36.3 deaths per 100,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19, according to data from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death Files (2020–2022).

https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/teen_suicide/MT

DRUG USE

  • 11.63%

In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Montana, about 11.63% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.

https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#montana

ALCOHOL USE

  • 11.63%

Approximately 11.63% of teens in Montana suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).

https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#montana

TEEN VAPING

  • 30.2%

Montana ranks 9th among all states, with 30.2% of high school teens reported to have used vapes. (Drug Watch, 2024).

https://www.drugwatch.com/e-cigarettes/vape-stat-by-state/

TEEN PORNOGRAPHY

  • 57%

The porn industry experienced a 12.6% annual revenue increase from 2018 to 2023. Adolescent exposure to pornography has steadily risen, with the age of first exposure becoming increasingly younger. 57% of young adults ages 18-25 use porn monthly or more often.

https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/statistics/

TEEN BULLYING

  • 46%

According to Pew Research Center, 46% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 have experienced at least one of six types of cyberbullying behaviors. (Pew Research Center, 2022).

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/

 

Summary

We Can Help!

Contact us first if you are considering a military school or boot camp as a solution to help your troubled teen. There are a variety of program options available that may produce better results for your child’s long term healing. Along with providing a consistent education, alternative and therapeutic boarding school facilities are also staffed with trained therapists and a team dedicated to addressing the root of the your teen’s self destructive actions. Our free consultation and assessment allows us to guide you to the resources you need in order to make an informed decision about your child’s plan of care. Boot camp and military schools are not the only answer. Call us today to get started and put your family on the path to healing.