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Boot Camps & Military Schools in Kentucky
If you feel like you are out of options for parenting your at-risk teen, you may have considered a juvenile boot camp or military school. However, it is important for parents to understand the requirements and methods in these programs in order to make the best choice for their child. At Help Your Teen Now, we offer our services to help educate and inform you about the best options in the Kentucky area. Call us today for a free consultation and get the knowledge you need to move forward in a decision that will help your teen and heal your family.
Boot Camps Are Not The Best Option for Troubled Teens from Kentucky
Although the rigid structure and strict rules of a military school or juvenile boot camp may seem ideal to correct your teen’s behavior, there are many misconceptions surrounding these programs. Military schools are not necessarily intended to treat troubled youth, rather they are academic facilities that will give students a leg up in a military career. Juvenile boot camps do exist to correct behavior in teens, but they are short term, non-therapeutic and have been proven to have little success in long term results. In addition, many programs are not regulated and engage in risky practices. Although a well regulated boot camp may be a reasonable first step in a longer term program,we encourage parents to consider options that have proven long term success such as an alternative or therapeutic boarding school. Call us today to discuss the options available in your area.
Kentucky Regulatory Laws
Although accreditation is optional for non-public or private schools in Kentucky, private schools may become certified or accredited through a self-study accreditation process provided by the Kentucky Nonpublic School Commission, or a state recognized national or regional accrediting agency. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §156.160(3). Registration, approval and licensing are all optional. Nonpublic schools in Kentucky are not required to employ instructors with teaching certificates, however, the curriculum must offer the same courses taught in public schools. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §156.445(3). Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann.§158.080. The state textbook commission must approve all text materials for nonpublic schools. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §156.445(3). The Cabinet for Health and Safety, or the local board of health is responsible for approving safety and sanitary conditions of nonpublic schools. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §212.210. Nonpublic school students must submit proof of immunization, or proof of exemption before attending school. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §214.034.
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
Kentucky children between ages 4-17 diagnosed each year with ADD/ADHD: 18.7% (U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2011) http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/prevalence.html
Kentucky ranks 5th in the country for teen pregnancy with 4,373 live babies born to women under 20 in 2016 alone. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Kentucky Adolescent Reproductive Health Facts, 2016 Study) https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescent-reproductive-health/kentucky/index.html
National suicide ranking: 20th, making it a top reason for death in Kentucky individuals between 10-24. (CDC: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2016) https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/population-health/us-states-ranked-by-suicide-rate.html
In a 2009 report, it showed that 27% of Kentucky teens abuse alcohol and 13% are binge drinking. Marijuana use in Kentucky teens was 32% and other illicit drug use was at 5%. (CDC: Kentucky Adolescent Substance Abuse Facts, 2017) https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescents-and-substance-abuse/kentucky/index.html
Juvenile arrests in Kentucky for 2018 included 19 juvenile arrests for aggravated assault, 16 arrests for robbery, 193 arrests for larceny, 72 arrests for drug abuse and 7 arrests for weapons violations. (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2018 Statistics) https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/qa05103.asp?qaDate=2018&text=yes
For the 2014-2015 school year, Kentucky reported an 88% high school graduation rate. (U.S. Department of Education, Graduation Rates 2014-2015) https://www.governing.com/gov-data/high-school-graduation-rates-by-state.html
Summary
If you are not sure where to turn with your out of control teen and are considering military school or boot camp for them, please call us first. Aside from a free phone consultation that will help us assess your child’s needs, we offer an experienced team that wants to help you make the best, most effective selection for your family. Juvenile boot camps and military camps often skirt state licensing requirements and it can be difficult to determine which ones are safe and which ones are not. We can help you find an environment for your child that will combine structure and rules with a therapeutic approach that will address the root of the behavior issues. Call Help Your Teen Now for a family assessment and take the first steps to restoring your teen’s good behavior.
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