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Therapeutic & Alternative Boarding Schools In Maryland

There are few things in life that are as frustrating and worrisome as when you see your teenager struggle with emotional, behavioral or mental health issues. Fortunately there are options for you and other Maryland parents who want to find a residential program for their child, in the form of therapeutic and alternative boarding schools in Maryland. Help Your Teen Now is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping parents of troubled teens find trustworthy resources so you can make decision about their teenager’s future.Help Your Teen Now was started by a mother with teens of her own who could not find an unbiased source of information when she needed to learn more about teen help programs. Today, Help Your Teen Now has helped hundreds of families find the information they need to make serious decisions and select a full time alternative or therapeutic boarding school in Maryland. We provide you with a free consultation when you call Help Your Teen Now at 1-800-901-7347

Help Your Teen Now Has Resources on Therapeutic and Alternative Boarding Schools in Maryland

Help Your Teen Now is a successful advocacy group/resource agency for parents from Maryland and across the country. Our goal is to provide you with unbiased information, because we are not affiliated with any school, program or facility. Rather than spin your wheels doing research on Maryland boarding schools that is time-consuming, stressful and overwhelming, let us take some of the burden off of your shoulders by providing information you can trust and advocates you can count on. We take pride in the fact that only the best of the best boarding schools in Maryland makes our recommendation list, and they have all been thoroughly screened for a history of success.

Maryland Regulatory Laws – Residential Treatment Centers and Therapeutic Boarding Schools

There are no requirements for accreditation for nonpublic schools, however, registration is mandatory in the form of a Certificate of Approval from the Maryland State Board of Education. Bona fide church organizations are exempt from this requirement, although the school must be registered with the state and present acceptable evidence of the church organization legal authority status. Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article 2-206(e)(4). A certificate of Approval is also required by Maryland to operate “noncollegiate educational institutions.” This certificate is based on appropriateness and adequacy of the facilities, educational requirements, standards and personnel requirements. Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article 2-206(e)

Teachers approved under COMAR 13A.09.09 (private pay) are required to have a bachelor’s degree or 120 semester hour equivalent with the exception of those teaching subjects other than English, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science. COMAR 13A.09.09.06. The State Board of Education is responsible for establishing minimum requirements for issuing diplomas. Approved schools must have a curriculum that reflects the same courses taught in public schools. COMAR 13A 09.09.07A(2).

Nonpublic schools must remain in compliance with applicable health, fire safety and zoning regulations. COMAR 13A.09.09.11. All employees of nonpublic schools who have access to students must undergo a criminal background check. Family Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, Title 5, Part VI and Education Article 2-206.1

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

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Maryland Regulatory Laws – Residential Treatment Centers and Therapeutic Boarding Schools

There are no requirements for accreditation for nonpublic schools, however, registration is mandatory in the form of a Certificate of Approval from the Maryland State Board of Education. Bona fide church organizations are exempt from this requirement, although the school must be registered with the state and present acceptable evidence of the church organization legal authority status. Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article 2-206(e)(4). A certificate of Approval is also required by Maryland to operate “noncollegiate educational institutions.” This certificate is based on appropriateness and adequacy of the facilities, educational requirements, standards and personnel requirements. Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article 2-206(e)

Teachers approved under COMAR 13A.09.09 (private pay) are required to have a bachelor’s degree or 120 semester hour equivalent with the exception of those teaching subjects other than English, language arts, mathematics, social studies and science. COMAR 13A.09.09.06. The State Board of Education is responsible for establishing minimum requirements for issuing diplomas. Approved schools must have a curriculum that reflects the same courses taught in public schools. COMAR 13A 09.09.07A(2).

Nonpublic schools must remain in compliance with applicable health, fire safety and zoning regulations. COMAR 13A.09.09.11. All employees of nonpublic schools who have access to students must undergo a criminal background check. Family Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, Title 5, Part VI and Education Article 2-206.1

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

Statistics for Troubled Teens In Maryland

ADD/ADHD

  • 9.9%

9.9 percent of children in Maryland, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9489617/

TEEN PREGNANCY 

  • 13.1%

The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Maryland is 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

  • 8.2%

Maryland ranks 6th with a suicide rate of 8.2 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/MD

DRUG USE

  • 8.19%

In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Maryland, about 8.19% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.

https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#maryland

ALCOHOL USE

  • 9.07%

Approximately 9.07% of teens in Maryland suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).

https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#maryland

TEEN VAPING

  • 23%

Maryland ranks 23rd among all states, with 23% of high school teens reported to have used vapes. (Drug Watch, 2024).

https://www.drugwatch.com/e-cigarettes/vape-stat-by-state/

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.

https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/statistics/

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!

Let HelpYourTeenNow Help You Find the Best School In Maryland For Your Teen.

Help Your Teen Now is on your side, and we understand that you want to do what is best for your troubled teenage son or daughter. Therapeutic boarding schools blend powerful therapy, academics, recreation, social events, and more into a life-changing experience that can stop the teen’s downward spiral and get them back on track to a successful future. Helping your teen and healing your family can start as early as today.

Give Help Your Teen Now a call at 1-800-901-7347 and see what our experienced team of advocates can do to help you find the right therapeutic and alternative boarding schools in Maryland.