IECA Says Support for Families with Violent and Oppositional Teens is Crucial

Proquest LLC

The New York Times published an article focused on teens who act out violently against parents, siblings and themselves.

According to a release from IECA, the story (Seeing Sons' Violent Potential, but Finding Little Help or Hope) told the story of a family and their struggle with local care and residential treatment programs.

The author, Benedict Carey, accurately noted the difficulties in securing funding from insurance companies and local school districts as well as the absence of good information about the success of such long-term residential options. With hundreds of such programs, offering a range of services and specializations, it is difficult for a parent to know what options would work best for his or her own child. The answer may lie with experts in residential care. Independent Educational Consultants (IECs) are trained experts who possess comprehensive, firsthand knowledge of placement options. Many IECs specialize in crisis intervention, and have extensive experience advising families with children who have emotional and behavioral difficulties.

"Long and short term placements, from medical models to intensive therapy and wilderness programs can be an excellent alternative for families with at-risk children, teenagers, and young adults," said Mark Sklarow, chief executive officer of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. "But every program is different. It's crucial to find the proper placement for each individual child. IECs emphasize the importance of individual assessment and careful, well- informed placement."

IECA members regularly visit schools and programs across the country (spending about 20 percent of their time on the road) to evaluate and monitor program success and quality, including meeting with program staff and observing staff-student interactions. This expertise is used to advise families on the most suitable placement for the child. IECA members are objective and maintain an impartial view of each placement option; they accept no placement fee from schools or programs. This means their only obligation is to the client and family, and not to programs looking to fill beds. Issues such as drug use, attachment disorder, promiscuity, aggression, and defiance can create a barrage of overwhelming and stressful emotions in a family. As parents look for answers, most are not aware of what options are available. Given the immediate need often associated with these situations, families in crisis can be especially vulnerable to an improper placement.

"IECA educational consultants advise parents on all facets of their child's or young adult's care," said Sklarow. "This collaborative and confidential assistance can bring long-awaited solutions to families. IECs are thorough in their assessment and evaluative processes, conducting extensive interviews of family members, school personnel, and other key referring professionals."