Troubled Teen Resources

It looks like you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Teens, especially those with low self-esteem or with family problems, are at risk for a number of self-destructive behaviors such as using drugs or alcohol or having unprotected sex. Depression and eating disorders are common health issues that teens face.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) suggests the following ways for parents to prepare for their child’s teenage years:

The teenage years are a time of transition from childhood into adulthood. Teens often struggle with being dependent on their parents while having a strong desire to be independent. They may also feel overwhelmed by the emotional and physical changes they are going through.

At the same time, teens may be facing a number of pressures–from friends to fit in and from parents and other adults to do well in school, or activities like sports or part-time jobs. The teenage years are important as your child asserts his or her individuality.
What can I do to help my teen?

Communicating your love for your child is the single most important thing you can do. Children decide how they feel about themselves in large part by how their parents react to them. For this reason, it’s important for parents to help their children feel good about themselves. It is also important to communicate your values and to set expectations and limits, such as insisting on honesty, self-control and respect for others, while still allowing teenagers to have their own space.

Parents of teens often find themselves noticing only the problems, and they may get in the habit of giving mostly negative feedback and criticism. Although teens need feedback, they respond better to positive feedback. Remember to praise appropriate behavior in order to help your teen feel a sense of accomplishment and reinforce your family’s values.

Establishing a loving relationship from the start will help you and your child through the teenage years.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) suggests the following ways for parents to prepare for their child’s teenage years:

* Provide a safe and loving home environment
* Create an atmosphere of honesty, trust and respect
* Allow age appropriate independence and assertiveness
* Develop a relationship that encourages your teen to talk to you when he or she is upset
* Teach responsibility for your teen’s belongings and yours
* Teach basic responsibility for household chores
* Teach the importance of accepting limits
What warning signs should I look for?

Remember that your teen may experiment with his or her values, ideas, hairstyles and clothing in order to define him- or herself. This is typically normal behavior and you shouldn’t be concerned. However, inappropriate or destructive behavior can be a sign of a problem.

Teens, especially those with low self-esteem or with family problems, are at risk for a number of self-destructive behaviors such as using drugs or alcohol or having unprotected sex. Depression and eating disorders are common health issues that teens face. The following may be warning signs that your child is having a problem:

* Agitated or restless behavior
* Weight loss or gain
* A drop in grades
* Trouble concentrating
* Ongoing feelings of sadness
* Not caring about people and things
* Lack of motivation
* Fatigue, loss of energy and lack of interest in activities
* Low self-esteem
* Trouble falling asleep
* Run-ins with the law

What should I do if there is a problem?

Work together to maintain open communication. If you suspect there is a problem, ask your teen about what is bothering him or her. Don’t ignore a problem in the hopes that it will go away. It is easier to cope with problems when they are small. This also gives you and your teen the opportunity to learn how to work through problems together. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with dealing with your teen. Many resources, including your family doctor, are available.
Other Organizations

Myth: The epidemic of violent behavior that marked the early 1990s is over, and young people—as well as the rest of U.S. society—are much safer today.

Fact: Although such key indicators of violence as arrest and victimization data clearly show significant reductions in violence since the peak of the epidemic in 1993, an equally important indicator warns against concluding that the problem is solved. Self-reports by youths reveal that involvement in some violent behaviors remains at 1993 levels.

Myth: Most future offenders can be identified in early childhood.

Fact: Exhibiting uncontrolled behavior or being diagnosed with conduct disorder as a young child does not predetermine violence in adolescence. A majority of young people who become violent during their adolescent years were not highly aggressive or “out of control” in early childhood, and the majority of children with mental and behavioral disorders do not become violent in adolescence (see Chapter 3).

Myth: Child abuse and neglect inevitably lead to violent behavior later in life.

Fact: Physical abuse and neglect are relatively weak predictors of violence, and sexual abuse does not predict violence. Most children who are abused or neglected will not become violent offenders during adolescence (see Chapter 4).

Myth: African American and Hispanic youths are more likely to become involved in violence than other racial or ethnic groups.

Fact: Data from confidential interviews with youths indicate that race and ethnicity have little bearing on the overall proportion of racial and ethnic groups that engage in nonfatal violent behavior. However, there are racial and ethnic differences in homicide rates. There are also differences in the timing and continuity of violence over the life course, which account in part for the overrepresentation of these groups in U.S. jails and prisons (see Chapter 2).

Myth: A new violent breed of young superpredators threatens the United States.

Fact: There is no evidence that young people involved in violence during the peak years of the early 1990s were more frequent or more vicious offenders than youths in earlier years. The increased lethality resulted from gun use, which has since decreased dramatically. There is no scientific evidence to document the claim of increased seriousness or callousness (see Chapter 3).

Myth: Getting tough with juvenile offenders by trying them in adult criminal courts reduces the likelihood that they will commit more crimes.

Fact: Youths transferred to adult criminal court have significantly higher rates of reoffending and a greater likelihood of committing subsequent felonies than youths who remain in the juvenile justice system. They are also more likely to be victimized, physically and sexually (see Chapter 5).

Myth: Nothing works with respect to treating or preventing violent behavior.

Fact: A number of prevention and intervention programs that meet very high scientific standards of effectiveness have been identified (see Chapter 5).

Myth: In the 1990s, school violence affected mostly white students or students who attended suburban or rural schools.

Fact: African American and Hispanic males attending large inner-city schools that serve very poor neighborhoods faced—and still face—the greatest risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of a violent act at school. This is true despite recent shootings in suburban, middle-class, predominantly white schools (see Chapter 2).

Myth: Weapons-related injuries in schools have increased dramatically in the last 5 years.

Fact: Weapons-related injuries have not changed significantly in the past 20 years. Compared to neighborhoods and homes, schools are relatively safe places for young people (see Chapter 2).

Myth: Most violent youths will end up being arrested for a violent crime.

Fact: Most youths involved in violent behavior will never be arrested for a violent crime (see Chapter 2).

An important reason for making research findings widely available is to challenge false notions and misconceptions about youth violence. Myths such as those listed below are intrinsically dangerous. Assumptions that a problem does not exist or failure to recognize the true nature of a problem can obscure the need for informed policy or for interventions. An example is the conventional wisdom in many circles that the epidemic of youth violence so evident in the early 1990s is over. Alternatively, myths may trigger public fears and lead to inappropriate or misguided policies that result in inefficient use of scarce public resources. An example is the current policy of waiving or transferring young offenders into adult criminal courts and prisons.

Wisdom Ranch School is a small, alternative residential school for adolescents that combines academics, character development, and ranch living into a unique and memorable experience

John Tucker
Admissions Director
208-527-4750
PO Box 166
Arco, ID 83213
john@wisdomranch.org

We were the first program to successfully blend traditional therapy with a challenging wilderness experience. Our inpatient center is located on a working cattle ranch in the rugged mountains of northwest Montana.

Kay Holmes
Admissions
406-854-2832
200 Hubbard Dam Road
Marion, MT 59925
wtc@digisys.net

Wilderness Quest treatment programs for adolescents and young adults achieve changes in self-concept, self-responsibility, maturity and behavior through combined intensive wilderness living and strong facilitated self-discovery. Self-Responsibility and maturity are gained by successful experiences of self-responsibility and “real life” opportunities to give of one’s self for the good of the group - experiences that arise naturally in a facilitated wilderness living experience.

Anngela Ritter
Admissions
435-587-2801
580 N Main
Monticello, UT 84535
anngela@wildernessquest.com

Empowering youth through adventure based activities. We believe that adventure activities, including group games, backcountry camping, low and high-ropes courses, rock climbing, mountain peak ascent and white water rafting are effective tools for enhancing self esteem and communication skills, developing leadership, and improving life skills among young people.

David Green
Founder
970-349-2590
PO Box 2652
Crested Butte, CO 81224
wildernessopportunities@hotmail.com

A boarding school that incorporates a modern emotional growth design to effectively work with troubled teens. White River Adventure focuses on lifestyle changes in the physical, mental, social, and emotional aspects of life.

Randall Hinton
Co-Founder
Justin Nielson
Co-Founder
787-298-2775
866-679-8336
PO Box 43001, Dept 432
Rio Grande, PR 00745
wra@libertypc.net

Al Cordoza
800 899-8585
16835 algonquin Street
#350
Huntington Beach, CA 92649

A licensed and accredited residential therapeutic wilderness adventure program serving males ages 14-17, with a range of emotional and behavioral difficulties manifested in substance abuse, family conflict, school failure and conflict with the law.

Stephen Glass
Executive Director
705-386-2376 ext. 201
705-386-2645 fax
PO Box 2000
South River
Ontario, CANADA P0A 1X0
referral@projectdare.com

Patrick and Theresa Wardle have created a safe, nurturing environment for adolescent girls with emotional, behavioral, developmental and/or relationship difficulties.

Theresa Wardle
208 267-1166
HCR-01
Box 435F
Naples, ID 83847
wardlenw@nidaho.net