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Boot Camps & Military Schools in Pennsylvania
Teen therapy programs are often successful in changing at-risk teen behavior, especially ones that are struggling with substance abuse, low self-esteem, psychological issues and violence to others or to themselves. Many parents seek out military schools or boot camps as their programs of choice, and may not realize that there are a range of teen rehabilitation programs out there. At HelpYourTeenNow, we can advise you on all your options and steer you toward reputable programs that have a proven success record of helping teens and their families regain peace and re-establish relationships. Call us for a free consultation on military schools and boot camps.
Military Schools and Boot Camps Aren’t the Best Option for Troubled Teens
Troubled teens need intensive therapy, and military schools and boot camps don’t usually provide that. Military schools are reputable academic institutions and boot camps are private, short-term programs with lots of structure and plenty of physical activity. Neither of these programs are intended to deliver long-term recovery for at-risk teens. As a parent, you want to choose the best program for your teen, and military schools and boot camps are rarely the right choice.
Pennsylvania Regulatory Laws
The Adolescent Health Program, part of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Family Health/Division of Child & Adult Services, is the governing agency that monitors and licenses residential care facilities for children and teens.
Pennsylvania private schools must either be accredited or licensed—they can choose which to comply with (24 P.S. §6705). Non-licensed schools are not required to hire state certified teachers, but licensed schools must do so (22 Pa. Code §51.34.; 24 P.S. §13-1327(b). All classes must be taught in English for all Pennsylvania private schools (24 P.S. §15-1511). School employees must undergo criminal history checks as well as basic background screening (23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §6355). Current immunization records for private school students is mandatory (24 Pa. Cons. Stat. §13-1303a).
(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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Educational Recources
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Pennsylvania Regulatory Laws
The Adolescent Health Program, part of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Family Health/Division of Child & Adult Services, is the governing agency that monitors and licenses residential care facilities for children and teens.
Pennsylvania private schools must either be accredited or licensed—they can choose which to comply with (24 P.S. §6705). Non-licensed schools are not required to hire state certified teachers, but licensed schools must do so (22 Pa. Code §51.34.; 24 P.S. §13-1327(b). All classes must be taught in English for all Pennsylvania private schools (24 P.S. §15-1511). School employees must undergo criminal history checks as well as basic background screening (23 Pa. Cons. Stat. §6355). Current immunization records for private school students is mandatory (24 Pa. Cons. Stat. §13-1303a).
(U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2009)
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
Educational Recources
Statistics for At-Risk Pennsylvania Teens
ADD/ADHD
- 8%
8 percent of children in Pennsylvania, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).
TEEN PREGNANCY
- 12.6%
The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Pennsylvania is 12.6 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
- 8.6%
Pennsylvania ranks 7th with a suicide rate of 8.6 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/PA
DRUG USE
- 7.22%
In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Pennsylvania, about 7.22% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
ALCOHOL USE
- 9.19%
Approximately 9.19% of teens in Pennsylvania suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).
TEEN VAPING
- 24.4%
Pennsylvania ranks 19th among all states, with 24.4% of high school teens reported to have used vapes. (Drug Watch, 2024).
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.
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!
Teen therapy boot camps may advertise that they have a quick solution to all your teen’s problems, but studies show that this kind of program doesn’t allow teens to make lasting changes in their behavior, nor does it give them a chance to work on the issues causing the problems. Military schools are not interested in rehabilitation and therapy—they are college prep schools with high academic standards. Help Your Teen Now can guide you in making the hard decisions about what programs will support and help your teen during a free consultation. Help Your Teen Now assesses your child’s issues and draws on our vast network of parents and teen experts to give you options tailored to your situation.