If your teenage girl is defiant, doing poorly in school, making bad decisions and becoming violent, it may be time to send her to a teen help facility. When you are looking at a youth ranch for your teenage girl to attend, it’s a good idea to do some research into what makes a good facility and what you need to look for to ensure that it would be a good match for your daughter’s needs.

Girls ranches, therapeutic boarding schools, rehabilitation centers and similar teen help facilities are designed to help teenagers overcome behavioral issues using therapy, behavior modification, recreation and academics. These facilities aren’t all the same, so do your research and check out different places. Here are four factors to consider when checking out girls ranches.

First, look at youth ranches that have experience and available references. Avoid ranches that haven’t been operating long or that is brand new. It doesn’t mean that these facilities aren’t good, it just means that they are untried and they won’t have many references to check out. It’s important to talk to graduates of the program as well as parents to get real insight into their actual experiences.

Second, check out the credentials of staff and faculty of the ranch. You want to see people with licensing and credentials appropriate to their position. A typical ranch should employ therapists, social workers, nurses and other staff that contribute to the facility. It’s also nice to see that there are those with plenty of experience working with troubled teen girls. There are many facilities that are run by well meaning people who don’t have the credentials you want to see in someone taking care of your child.

Third, check out the state and local laws that pertain to teen help facilities. Some states are very lax when it comes to monitoring such places, while others set extremely high standards for operation. If the girls ranch is located in a state that strictly regulates operations, you will feel better knowing that your daughter is in a place that meets those high standards. Of course there are excellent facilities in states that have looser regulatory measures, but you should know exactly what those standards are and then see how that facility exceeds them.

Fourth, you must take a serious look at the cost of each girls ranch you are considering. Some programs offer financial aid, scholarships and other supplements to tuition that may help if you are on a tighter budget. Other programs are quite affordable on their own, while some carry a pretty hefty tuition cost. In making your decision about the best place for your child, you must look at what you can afford, what help you can get and any other financial factors.

There are many options for girls ranches that help troubled teenage girls get professional help for a range of issues. When you’ve decided that your teenage girl isn’t doing well in a traditional environment, you may find that a girls ranch is just what they need. To chose what ranch for troubled girls is best for your daughter, you must take the time to research each of these four factors. When you do, you’ll feel comforted that you’ve made the best choice in helping your daughter heal.