“Therapeutic” residential programs

Some states allow religious groups to operate boot camps, boarding schools, and other residential programs for the purpose of behavior modification without state oversight or regulation.  Some states have inadequate regulation of both secular and church-run programs.  Also, many of these link to the front page of CHILD’s newsletters, but the article you click on may not be on the newsletter’s first page.  In that case, find the article in the Table of Contents on the front and scroll to the appropriate page number.

Many methods used in such programs have not, to our knowledge, been shown to effect long-term change in behavior.  It is very difficult for parents to find effective, safe programs especially when companies and individuals advertising their advice are actually making commissions to steer families to certain programs.

CHILD supports Congressman George Miller’s bill to require licensure and appropriate regulation of all behavior-modification residential programs for minors.