Location Page
Boot Camps & Military Schools in Washington
Military schools and highly structured boot camps in Washington may seem like the answer to your teen’s bad behavior, which probably includes defiance, substance abuse, violence, or threats of violence and depression. HelpYourTeenNow is a parent advocate group that wants to make your search for the right teen therapeutic program as informative and accurate as possible. We can answer your questions because we’ve been in the same position with our children. Before you commit to a military school or teen boot camp program, give us a call to see if that is the right program for your child.
Military Schools and Boot Camps Aren’t the Best Options for Troubled Teens
There are many other options for at-risk teens than military schools and boot camps. These programs are not designed to help teens recover from the deeper issues that may be causing the poor behavior. Military schools are legitimate academic institutions, while boot camps are generally private programs designed to push teens into compliance via strict structure and extreme physical activities. Neither of these options is successful in treating teens for the long term, and they don’t have actual therapists on staff. Choose programs that have proven their approaches work.
Washington Regulatory Laws
The Residential Treatment Facility, a part of the Washington Department of Health, must license facilities that provide treatment, therapy, and residential services to juveniles. https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/facilities-z/residential-treatment-facilities-rtf
Any treatment facility that includes an academic program as a private school is not required to become accredited (RCW 28A.305.130(5). Any teachers at such schools must hold a state certificate (RCW 28A.195.010(3). The curriculum of private schools throughout Washington state must include all subjects that will make it possible for students to meet the state board of education graduation requirements (RCW 28A.195.010(7)(8) et seq.)
(U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2009)
Reference: https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/index.html
Request Free Admissions Information
Educational Recources
Request Free Admissions Information
Washington Regulatory Laws
The Residential Treatment Facility, a part of the Washington Department of Health, must license facilities that provide treatment, therapy, and residential services to juveniles. https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/facilities-z/residential-treatment-facilities-rtf
Any treatment facility that includes an academic program as a private school is not required to become accredited (RCW 28A.305.130(5). Any teachers at such schools must hold a state certificate (RCW 28A.195.010(3). The curriculum of private schools throughout Washington state must include all subjects that will make it possible for students to meet the state board of education graduation requirements (RCW 28A.195.010(7)(8) et seq.)
(U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2009)
Reference: https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/regulation-map/index.html
Educational Recources
Statistics for At-Risk Washington Teens
ADD/ADHD
- 7.1%
7.1 percent of children in Washington, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).
TEEN PREGNANCY
- 11.3%
The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Washington 11.3 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
- 12.3%
Washington ranks 28th with a suicide rate of 12.3 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/WA
DRUG USE
- 11.11%
In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Washington, about 11.11% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
ALCOHOL USE
- 9.83%
Approximately 9.83% of teens in Washington suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).
TEEN VAPING
- 5.9%
Approximately 5.9% of middle and high school students, equivalent to 1.63 million individuals, reported current e-cigarette use. Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2024.
https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/results-annual-national-youth-tobacco-survey
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!
At-risk teens need to learn new and better ways of approaching the challenges and obstacles that life has in store, and military schools and boot camps do not teach these. Instead, we’ll guide you toward workable residential solutions during our free consultation. Help Your Teen Now will advise you on your options and give you the best recommendations for your teen in your area. Your teen will get the structure, discipline, and therapy all in a supervised setting designed to nurture, not degrade.