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Therapeutic & Alternative Boarding Schools In New Jersey

Alternative and therapeutic boarding schools can help at-risk youth turn their lives around, but the process from beginning to end is filled with questions for both teens and parents. HelpYourTeenNow is a parent advocate group dedicated to providing answers to families seeking help for behavioral, academic and psychological issues. With a free consultation, we can assess your teen’s situation and provide guidance on what it takes to choose, enroll and succeed in a therapeutic boarding school in New Jersey.

New Jersey Regulatory Laws

The State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families is the agency responsible for licensing youth residential facilities such as alternative and therapeutic boarding schools for the state. The Office of Licensing must approve all treatment centers or group homes that provide 24-hour care for youth.

Private schools in New Jersey are not required to be licensed or accredited, but schools must obtain a certificate of approval from the New Jersey Education Commissioner to legally operate (N.J. Rev. Stat. §18A:69-1 et seq). Teachers are not required to be certified for New Jersey private schools. In the state, private schools must be compliant with the New Jersey State Sanitary Code, which covers immunizations (N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:1A-9). There is no policy on testing for private schools in New Jersey.

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

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New Jersey Regulatory Laws

The State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families is the agency responsible for licensing youth residential facilities such as alternative and therapeutic boarding schools for the state. The Office of Licensing must approve all treatment centers or group homes that provide 24-hour care for youth.

Private schools in New Jersey are not required to be licensed or accredited, but schools must obtain a certificate of approval from the New Jersey Education Commissioner to legally operate (N.J. Rev. Stat. §18A:69-1 et seq). Teachers are not required to be certified for New Jersey private schools. In the state, private schools must be compliant with the New Jersey State Sanitary Code, which covers immunizations (N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:1A-9). There is no policy on testing for private schools in New Jersey.

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

Statistics for At-Risk New Jersey Teens

ADD/ADHD

  • 6.8%

6.8 percent of children in New Jersey, 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 

  • 9.2%

The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in New Jersey is 9.2 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

  • 5.3%

New Jersey ranks 2nd with a suicide rate of 5.3 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/NJ

DRUG USE

  • 7.71%

In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In New Jersey, about 7.71% 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/#new-jersey

ALCOHOL USE

  • 9.48%

Approximately 9.48% of teens in New Jersey suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).

https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#new-jersey

TEEN VAPING

  • 27.8%

New Jersey ranks 14th among all states, with 27.8% 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!

With a highly structured atmosphere, professional staffers and programs designed to help your teen succeed, therapeutic and alternative boarding schools can be the solution you are looking for. However, not all programs are equal. That’s why HelpYourTeenNow exists—to be a resource for parents of troubled teens making the difficult decision to participate in the right programs with the best track records. During our free consultation, HelpYourTeenNow will put you in touch with parents and professionals who understand what you need and are willing to help you and your teen find success. Call HelpYourTeenNow for more information on New Jersey therapeutic boarding schools.