Three Rivers - Is This Program Right for My Child?

Is Three Rivers Montana Right for My Child?

Three Rivers Montana recognizes the difficulty parents have when a child is not doing well. When the efforts the parents are making do not seem to have the desired effect on the child's behavior, parents seek help for their child. This brief assessment quiz and the following description of available services may help you determine the next step in the process of determining whether Three Rivers Montana may be of help to your family.

You may want to print this, complete it, and use it as a part of your decision making process.

Four important questions will help guide you in your decision making process:
1. Are your child's problems becoming more severe?
2. Is the relationship you have with your child becoming better or worse?
3. Do you believe that your child needs to get away from his or her current environment (friends, neighborhood, school, etc.) to start moving forward in life?
4. Are you afraid for your child's safety and his or her future?

Parental Assessment

1. Does your child argue with you frequently? Yes Sometimes No

2. Does your child refuse to follow your rules? Yes Sometimes No

3. Does your child engage in behavior that is contrary to your values? Yes Sometimes No

4. Does your child avoid talking with you by isolating him/herself? Yes Sometimes No

5. Is your child verbally aggressive (cussing, name calling, threatening) with you or others? Yes Sometimes No

6. Does your child abuse drugs or alcohol? Yes Sometimes No

7. Do you suspect that your child's friends are using drugs or alcohol? Yes Sometimes No

8. Has your child's behavior or emotional state changed significantly over the past year? Yes Sometimes No

9. Does it seem that your child is negatively influenced by peers? Yes Sometimes No

10. Is your child experiencing academic difficulties? Yes Sometimes No

11. Is your child having difficulty with hyperactivity and/or distractibility? Yes Sometimes No

12. Does your child have behavior problems in school? Yes Sometimes No

13. Is your child skipping school? Yes Sometimes No

14. Does your child engage in behavior that you believe may lead him or her into legal trouble? Yes Sometimes No

15. Is your child manipulative? Yes Sometimes No

16. Does your child act is if he/she feels entitled to whatever he or she wants without working for it? Yes Sometimes No

17. Does your child appear to be struggling with emotional difficulties such as depression or anxiety? Yes Sometimes No

18. Has your child talked about hurting him/herself or wanting to die? Yes Sometimes No

19. Has your child attempted suicide? Yes Sometimes No

20. Has your child engaged in self-injurious behavior such as cutting or burning him/herself? Yes Sometimes No

21. Does your child become easily overwhelmed with stress? Yes Sometimes No

22. Does your child have an eating problem (anorexia, binging, bulimia)? Yes Sometimes No

23. Does your child engage in risky behavior that could lead to serious injury or death? Yes Sometimes No

24. Is your child promiscuous? Yes Sometimes No

25. Does your child appear to lack motivation? Yes Sometimes No

26. Do you believe your child may be struggling with adoption or attachment issues? Yes Sometimes No

27. Does your child have a problem expressing anger appropriately? Yes Sometimes No

All of the questions above concern behaviors that are problematic. Some of the questions point to very serious difficulties. If you answered YES to at least several questions, it is likely that your child would benefit from some type of intervention. If you have answered YES to any of the self injury questions, your child needs immediate intervention.

Many types of interventions are available. Interventions such as counseling, parent support groups, drug and alcohol treatment, or a mentor program may be sufficient to help your child in your community. If they are not providing enough assistance, you may consider an out-of-home placement. A brief description of a variety of out-of-home placement options follows.

Educational Consultants: Educational consultants are professionals who work with parents to find appropriate educational and treatment resources for children and their families. Educational consultants have extensive knowledge of educational and treatment programs and can guide families to appropriate and effective placements. Educational consultants work for the family, not for specific programs. Therefore, they focus on meeting the needs of the family. Resources for finding an educational consultant include the Independent Educational Consultant Association (www.iecaonline.com) or www.strugglingteens.com.

Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Programs (also known as Wilderness Programs): THREE RIVERS MONTANA is an outdoor behavioral healthcare program. The outdoors is used in conjunction with caring staff to help the teen make changes in his/her life. Wilderness programs vary in approach. THREE RIVERS MONTANA relies on well-trained, caring staff who develop strong relationships with our teens. Wilderness programs remove the teen from all distractions, allowing him/her to focus on what's important so he/she can move forward in life. Wilderness programs are an effective form of treatment for teens who have behavioral, emotional, substance abuse, and school problems. Significant change is seen in most teens who attend a good, clinically supported program. When choosing a program, family involvement and aftercare services should be considered.

Inpatient Hospitals: Children may need to be hospitalized if their condition is imminently dangerous to themselves or others.

Residential Treatment Centers (RTC): Teens who need long term treatment may be well served in a residential treatment center. Treatment length may vary from 30 days to a couple of years. A placement in a wilderness program before a placement at an RTC often well prepares the child for the further treatment he/she will need. Teens leaving an RTC may be helped by placement in a wilderness program before returning home or going to a boarding school.

Therapeutic Boarding Schools: These schools provide therapy and an education. Some may be licensed as Residential Treatment Centers, and if they are, will provide the same type of care as an RTC.

Emotional Growth Boarding Schools: The emphasis at these schools is on both education and emotional growth. Therapists may work with the students at these schools, but the therapeutic component would be less intense than that at a therapeutic boarding school.

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