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Boot Camps & Military Schools in Virginia
When your teen shows signs of at-risk behavior, you may think that a few weeks at an intensive behavior boot camp is the quick answer. However, boot camps and military schools are only one part of a range of teen help programs available to help at-risk youth. At HelpYourTeenNow, we’ve guided parents nationwide through the difficult process of identifying and enrolling their troubled teens into residential programs that best fit their needs.
Get the details to learn if a military school for troublesome teenagers is the best program for your child or call Help Your Teen Now at 1-800-901-7347.
Military Schools in Virginia and Boot Camps Aren’t the Best Options for Troubled Teens
Discipline and respect are what parents hope their children will learn when they search for military schools and boot camps. However, you should know that privately-run boot camps for at-risk teens only last for a short time, generally 1 to 3 months. They are not equipped to treat a teen’s underlying issues causing the behaviors. Military schools are academic institutions that do not handle troubled teens. There are plenty of rehabilitation and therapeutic programs for troubled teens that offer strict structure, professional therapy, and round-the-clock supervision. Unlike boot camps, these programs use a more gentle approach with the goal of long-term change.
Virginia Regulatory Laws
The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services regulates all residential facilities that serve juveniles, including military schools, wilderness camps, therapeutic boarding schools and other programs. It provides licenses to the facilities after ensuring they meet minimum state standards.
Virginia private schools don’t have to be licensed by the state, nor do they need to be accredited to operate (Va. Code §22.1-19). State certification is also not required for private school teachers. Schools may set their own curriculum and not worry about any oversight by the state board of education. Each student must have proof of immunization (Va. Code §22.1-271.2.E). Every employee at an accredited private school must undergo a criminal background check. Non-accredited schools do not meet this criteria, (Va. Code §22.1-296.3).
(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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Virginia Regulatory Laws
The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services regulates all residential facilities that serve juveniles, including military schools, wilderness camps, therapeutic boarding schools and other programs. It provides licenses to the facilities after ensuring they meet minimum state standards.
Virginia private schools don’t have to be licensed by the state, nor do they need to be accredited to operate (Va. Code §22.1-19). State certification is also not required for private school teachers. Schools may set their own curriculum and not worry about any oversight by the state board of education. Each student must have proof of immunization (Va. Code §22.1-271.2.E). Every employee at an accredited private school must undergo a criminal background check. Non-accredited schools do not meet this criteria, (Va. Code §22.1-296.3).
(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 Virginia Teens
ADD/ADHD
- 9.2%
9.2 percent of children in Virginia, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).
TEEN PREGNANCY
- 13.1%
The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Virginia 13.1 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
- 12.1%
Virginia ranks 25th with a suicide rate of 12.1 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/VA
DRUG USE
- 6.96%
In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Virginia, about 6.96% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
ALCOHOL USE
- 9.01%
Approximately 9.01% of teens in Virginia suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).
TEEN VAPING
- 19.9%
Virginia ranks 35th among all states, with 19.9% 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!
If your teen is suffering from depression, self-harm, low self-esteem, learning disabilities, anxiety, and other similar behavior, HelpYourTeenNow can guide you to programs designed specifically to deal with these issues, run by qualified professionals. Our free consultation will help steer you toward reputable programs with a track record of success, not private boot camps where licensing and regulations are optional, and treatment methods are not proven to work. HelpYourTeenNow is a parent advocate group with one goal—to help parents benefit from our years of experience and the lessons we’ve learned in dealing with our troubled teens. Call for an assessment and support when you are ready to step in and help your child.