Finding the Right Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) and Therapeutic Boarding Schools
Understanding Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs)
Residential Treatment Facilities (RTFs) and therapeutic boarding schools offer specialized, intensive behavioral health treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults within a residential group setting. These facilities are tailored for young individuals who need a longer term, structured environment to address severe emotional and behavioral disorders that cannot be effectively managed in less restrictive settings. The quality and objectives of these programs can vary significantly.
In the latter part of this blog, we will explore various placement consultants who can assist in navigating the myriad of options available nationwide. Additionally, we will highlight some programs that have received positive feedback from firsthand experiences.
Pros of RTFs:
RTFs offer intensive, multidisciplinary care with a team that may include psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, and special education teachers. They provide a stable and controlled environment crucial for effective treatment and emphasize family involvement as an essential component of the recovery process.
Cons of RTFs:
However, RTFs also have some drawbacks. The separation from the community can be challenging for both the child and the family. Treatment typically requires a longer stay, which might affect academic and social life. Additionally, these facilities can be expensive and may not be covered by all insurance types. There is also a potential risk for impulsive or unsafe behaviors among peers due to the congregated nature of these settings.
Exploring Therapeutic Boarding Schools
Therapeutic boarding schools are specialized institutions that offer clinical therapy alongside academic programs for adolescents with mental health issues, behavioral challenges, and emotional disorders. These schools ensure academic continuity by providing accredited educational programs while focusing on specific behavioral improvements tailored to adolescents' needs.
Pros of Therapeutic Boarding Schools
The nurturing environment balances structure with flexibility for personal growth. These schools offer targeted therapies and maintain academic continuity, ensuring education continues alongside therapy.
Cons of Therapeutic Boarding Schools
However, these schools are often located out of state, limiting family involvement and potentially adding to the child's sense of isolation. They can be costly, requiring private funding or specific insurance coverage. Transitioning back to regular school and community life can also pose challenges for some students.
Finding the Right Boarding School or Residential Treatment Program
Consultants can be invaluable in navigating the landscape of boarding schools and residential treatment programs. Here are some options:
Free Consultants Who Work for Larger Corporations
Amanda Mascieri: Works for Acadia Healthcare, which owns various residential treatment programs nationwide. Contact Amanda at Amanda.Mascieri@acadiahealthcare.com or (610) 906-9582.
Corina Jenkins: Works for Embark Behavioral Health, which owns many residential programs across the country. Contact Corina at corina.jenkins@embarkbh.com
RTF and Boarding School Placement Consultants
These professionals run companies that solely focus on helping with the right placement for all ages of patients. They do not have any specific ties to corporations that own multiple facilities and have extensive knowledge about therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment facilities across the country:
Patient-Recommended Residential Treatment Options
While we have not personally visited these facilities, we have received positive feedback from patients about the following programs:
Comprehensive Assessment Treatment (CAT) Program (Salt Lake City, UT): Associated with University of Utah, they focus on establishing a more accurate and complete diagnosis over a 2 to 4 month period of time.
McLean Hospital (Boston, MA): A Harvard-affiliated program known for its variety of programs for children, teens, and adults, including an acclaimed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) program.
Silver Hill Hospital: (Connecticut) Yale associated shorter term program for diagnostic clarity.
Newport Academy (Connecticut, Virginia, California): Offers specialized programs for teens and young adults.
Elements Wilderness Program : Very highly regarded outdoor program.
Rogers Behavioral Health (Wisconsin): While they have intensive outpatient care in Philadelphia, their residential treatment is located in Wisconsin. Their RTF provides care for all ages and conditions, including OCD, depression, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and eating disorders.
Embark (Poconos, PA): A residential treatment program for teen girls aged 12-17, with a partial program on the Mainline.
Under the Embark Umbrella are other RTFs:
New Vision Wilderness Therapy: Wisconsin outdoor therapeutic program.
Embark for Boys: (Benton, TN). The brother program, serving only males, to the one in PA, which serves females.
Elevations RTF: (Utah) Provides Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for teens.
Calo: (Missouri) Uses therapy dogs; Provides various programs for many age groups.
Turnbridge Dual Diagnosis: Connecticut for patients with mental health and substance use disorders.
The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs Website: offers a helpful starting point. Their website provides a broad overview of various programs across the country, each catering to different needs. While this resource is not comprehensive, it can give you a good initial sense of the options available. Keep in mind, however, that determining the pros and cons of each program based solely on their websites and online reviews can be challenging. Online reviews, such as those on Google, often skew negative, as individuals with positive experiences are less likely to post reviews.
For programs for adult treatment, please visit this posting.
Making the Right Choice
Ultimately, selecting between an RTF and a therapeutic boarding school depends on various factors unique to each adolescent's situation. Both settings aim to provide supportive environments where adolescents can hopefully receive necessary help while continuing their education and personal development.
Citations:
[1] https://www.elevationsrtc.com/b/therapeutic-boarding-schools-for-troubled-teens/pennsylvania-pa/
[2] https://hillside.com/services/residential-treatment-facility/
[3] https://www.magellanofpa.com/documents/2021/07/provider-performance-rtf-irtf.pdf/
[5]https://members.ccbh.com/health-topics/resources/residential-treatment-facility-rtf
