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Boot Camps & Military Schools in Indiana
Parents raising troubled and at-risk teens may subscribe to the belief that military school or boot camp is the solution to behavioral issues. However, it is important to understand the requirements and differences between these programs in order to select one that will best help your child. At Help Your Teen Now, we are committed to helping you become informed about your options as well as gain access to the resources that will answer your many questions. We provide a free phone consultation and assessment to give you the knowledge you need to start getting your family back on track.
Boot Camps Are Not The Best Option for Troubled Teens from Indiana
Although the regimen of military schools and boot camp may seem ideal for your at-risk teen, there are several misconceptions regarding these programs. For instance, military schools are academic institutions that prepare students for a voluntary career in the armed forces, but do not provide leniency or room for troubled teens who will not respect authority. Boot camps are remedial, military-style, short-term remedial facilities with tough discipline and rigid schedules. While boot camp programs are designed to scare kids into respecting authority, the long term success rate has been proven to be very low. Aside from being non-academic, they are also non-therapeutic and will do very little to deal with the teen’s issues causing the behaviors. A good boot camp may be an effective first step toward a more long-term therapy program, however we urge parents to consider alternative or therapeutic boarding schools. Call us today to discuss the various options in your area.
Indiana Regulatory Laws
Adherence to the standards established by the State Board of Education is required for accreditation of non-public schools. Indiana Code §20-19-2-8 (5). Health and safety, curriculum and staff evaluation as well as a school improvement plan are also necessary for a nonpublic school to meet the state requirements. Indiana Code §20-31-4-6. Registration is mandatory and all non-schools are must register with the Indiana Department of Education. Indiana Code §20-33-2-21. Teachers at nonpublic schools are required to be properly licensed and certified under 511 IAC 10. 511 IAC 6.1-9-3. Nonpublic schools seeking state accreditation must provide and maintain a curriculum that reflects state and national academic standards. Indiana Code §20-30-5. Accredited schools must are required to adhere to the rules of health and safety as set out by the Indiana State Board of Education, the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, The State Board of Health and the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 511 IAC 6.1-1-4 and 511 IAC 6.1-2-1.
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
Indiana children between ages 4-17 diagnosed each year with ADD/ADHD: 15.7% (CDC: State-based Prevalence Data of Parent Reported ADHD Diagnosis by a Health Care Provider, 2011) https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/prevalence.html
Indiana ranks 20th in the country for teen pregnancy with 5,300 live births to women between 15-19 years old (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2016 Study) https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescent-reproductive-health/indiana/index.html
National suicide ranking: 25th. (CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention, 2018) https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/population-health/us-states-ranked-by-suicide-rate.html
In a 2009 report, it showed that 50.4% of Indiana teens abuse alcohol. Marijuana use was 8.7% and other illicit drug use was at 2%. (Indiana University-Purdue University: Substance Abuse Trends in Indiana, 2015) https://iprc.iu.edu/publications/etc_pdf/Substance%20Abuse%20Trends%20in%20Indiana.pdf
Juvenile arrests in Indiana for 2018 included 96 arrests for aggravated assault, 38 arrests for robbery, 412 arrests for larceny, 267 arrests for drug abuse and 47 arrests for weapons violations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2018 Report) https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/qa05103.asp?qaDate=2018&text=yes
For the 2014-2015 school year, Illinois reported an 87.1% high school graduation rate. (U.S. Department of Education. 2014-2015) https://www.governing.com/gov-data/high-school-graduation-rates-by-state.html
Summary
If you are thinking about a military school or boot camp as a solution for your troubled teen, talk to Help Your Teen Now first. Our free phone consultation will allow us to assess your child’s needs and guide you to the resources and programs that specifically pertain to you. Many boot camp programs are loosely regulated and skirt state licensing requirements. They have no therapists on staff and are a short term solution at best. Help Your Teen Now will partner with you to explore other, more effective options for your family. We have helped hundreds of families, just like yours take those first steps to restoring your teen’s good behavior and self-confidence.
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