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Boot Camps & Military Schools in Missouri

You may feel like putting your troubled teen into a boot camp is the only option you have when he or she is making bad choices when it comes to friends, substance abuse and school. Military schools and boot camps may seem like attractive options because they promise quick fixes for your teen’s problems. However, HelpYourTeenNow can assist you in looking at all your options when it comes to helping your at-risk teen with a truly therapeutic program that will build a solid foundation for success. Our free consultation gives you the information you need to determine whether boot camps are right for your child.

Military Schools and Boot Camps Aren’t the Best Option for Troubled Teens

When parents envision a teen help program, they often feel that a hard-core, paramilitary atmosphere will force their child to shape up and pay attention. However, studies show that boot camps do not provide long-term therapeutic benefits for teens with issues and in some cases, can make behaviors worse. True military schools are designed to prepare teens for officer positions in the military and will not accept students with behavior issues. There are a range of other programs out there designed to provide at-risk teens with the structure, supervision, therapy and rehabilitation they need to become productive citizens. Troubled teens will find more success with alternative programs rather than boot camps.

Missouri Regulatory Laws

When it comes to licensing residential programs for teens, the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services monitors compliance and enforces the state standards. The Residential Program Unit of this division regulates all public and private residential facilities, including military schools and boot camps.

Teachers don’t need to be certified to teach in Missouri private schools (Mo. Rev. Stat.§168.071), and there are no licensing requirements nor accreditation requirements. As long as the school teaches about state history, U.S. history and the Constitution of the United States, the private school does not need to follow any established curriculum (Mo. Rev. Stat. §170.011). A private school must ask for and keep track of current immunization records (Mo. Rev. Stat. §167.181(4).

(U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2009)

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

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Missouri Regulatory Laws

When it comes to licensing residential programs for teens, the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services monitors compliance and enforces the state standards. The Residential Program Unit of this division regulates all public and private residential facilities, including military schools and boot camps.

Teachers don’t need to be certified to teach in Missouri private schools (Mo. Rev. Stat.§168.071), and there are no licensing requirements nor accreditation requirements. As long as the school teaches about state history, U.S. history and the Constitution of the United States, the private school does not need to follow any established curriculum (Mo. Rev. Stat. §170.011). A private school must ask for and keep track of current immunization records (Mo. Rev. Stat. §167.181(4).

(U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2009)

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

Statistics for At-Risk Missouri Teens

ADD/ADHD

  • 10.8%

10.8 percent of children between 4-17 diagnosed per year. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007 Study).

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/prevalence.html

TEEN PREGNANCY 

21st

Missouri ranks 21st in the country for teen pregnancy, with 4,540 babies born to women under 20 in 2016. (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/missouri/index.html

TEEN SUICIDE

13th

National suicide ranking: 13th. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018)

https://www.usatoday.com/list/news/depression-suicide-by-state/346e182d-d439-4448-b8d9-a0233a45f598/?block=missouri

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

  • 32%

A 2016 report showed that 32% of Missouri teens abuse alcohol and 17% are binge drinking. Marijuana use in Missouri teens was 7.4% and other illicit drug use was at 5.5%. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016 Study)

https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/national-and-state-data-sheets/adolescents-and-substance-abuse/missouri/index.html

VIOLENT CRIME

1,067

Juvenile arrests in Missouri for 2018 included 89 arrests for aggravated assault, 48 arrests for robbery, 522 arrests for larceny, 365 arrests for drug abuse, and 43 arrests for weapons violations. (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2018)

https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/qa05103.asp?qaDate=2018&text=yes

GRADUATION RATES

  • 88.3%

For the 2016-2017 school year, Missouri had an 88% high school graduation rate. (U.S. Department of Education, 2018)

https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/high-school-graduation-rates-by-state/

Summary

We Can Help!

Contact HelpYourTeenNow for services that are specifically designed to provide parents like you with as much information as possible about military schools and boot camps, along with other options. We’ll assess your family situation and give you all the resources you need to make a wise decision. Boot camps and military schools are designed for short-term fixes, not long term solutions. HelpYourTeenNow is ready to assist you with the process of healing your family through residential treatment programs for teens, so call today for a free consultation.