1) Ask about the boarding school's success rates. A quality program should have a systematic way of measuring success and should be able to provide information to interested parents about that success. If a school is reluctant about telling you their success rates or can only provide anecdotal evidence of program effectiveness, this is a fairly good indicator that the results aren’t too impressive. If you are quoted a statistic, be sure you understand what the number means. Some schools...

Parents often struggle with knowing when it’s time to consider an out-of-home placement for a defiant teenager. This decision may seem complex at first, but is actually quite simple. The following guidelines will help you to make an informed decision. 1) Determine whether a change in the environment is needed. Youth tend to create an external environment that both complements and reflects their current attitudes and behaviors. That environment consists of the social relationships they maintain (friends), the places they...

Are you raising one or more of the estimated 33 million teenagers in the United States? If so, you might be riding an emotional rollercoaster—you and your teen. Have patience and perspective, and keep in mind most teenagers turn out fine. In the meantime, here are 10 tips to help struggling teenagers overcome their difficulties. 1) Look in the Mirror. When dealing with a troubled teenager, a good place for parents to start is with themselves. Are rules too harsh?...