FAQs

There are many reasons to hire a qualified and experienced therapeutic placement specialist.  Finding an appropriate and reputable residential program is one of the most critical decisions you will make.  Access to the most quality programs, finding scholarships when necessary, and being guided by experts with first hand knowledge of programs across the country are some of the reasons hiring a reputable professional is important.  The internet has made it easier for families to find therapeutic programs.  Unfortunately, the programs that tend to show up on internet searches are spending a great deal of money to be at the top of the page.  If a program is paying for that type of visibility they likely aren’t the programs most trusted professionals are using.

One of the key questions we ask programs when touring is “what percentage of your clients are referred by placement specialists?”  At the best programs, the answer is always “80-100%.”  If it is less than this, it is a red flag for us.  This is because reputable consultants, those that have made researching and evaluating programs their life’s work, communicate with one another and fill the best programs around the country with their clients.  Programs prefer working with families with consultants as it serves as insurance that they are getting all of the necessary information to determine if a client is the best fit for their program.  With over 40 years of combined experience and over 1200 site visits, our experience and expertise is unmatched in the midwest.  We remain solely dedicated to uncovering the best programs around the country for our clients.  While programs fluctuate in the quality of their care due to strengthening or due to attrition, you can be assured that we have our fingers on the pulse of who is doing the best work presently.

This is a question that comes up frequently for parents and guardians.  It is quite common that one parent is experiencing their child’s struggles with more intensity than the other.  One of our primary goals with parents is to bring openness and transparency to their communication.   Having you “on the same page” is critical to the outcome of your child’s treatment.  

This question is one of the most difficult to answer.  Families making this difficult decision are typically pointing to the lack of progress or investment in traditional forms of treatment or education.  You will never hear us tell you “this is something you need to do.”  We will help you determine if you have exhausted all local options.  Our commitment is to having all clients treated in the lowest level of care that will meet his or her therapeutic needs.

This is a very personal decision for every family we work with.  We will be ready to assist you when you believe the time is right.  It is our experience that people don’t “outgrow” mental health issues and substance abuse.  To the contrary, untreated mental health struggles will metastasize when left untreated. People either have the skill set necessary to make change or they need to develop those tools.

If it's determined that treatment is needed, what is the timeline for finding the most appropriate program and placement?  Of course this varies depending on the type of placement search we are doing.  In crisis situations we have orchestrated placements with the utmost care in 24 hours.  A more typical process that provides us with the time to gather information from treating professionals and make recommendation to parents is 3-7 days.  School search recommendations typically take between two and four weeks.

We would prefer to meet all students in person prior to making placement recommendations.  Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible with children and adolescents.  Initially, much of our work is with parents of minors.  We work directly with you to determine if and when is the best time to introduce your child to this process.  In situations when it is determined by you that telling your child in advance is not possible, we assist in arranging transportation, provided by trained professionals.

We do meet with our adult clients, either in person or virtually, depending on their location. They are very much a part of the process. This approach is collaborative as adults need to find an experience that they believe is worth their investment of time and resources.

Absolutely!  The most respected programs have robust family and parenting components as a part of their therapeutic curriculum.  While it sounds counterintuitive, families are growing closer by being apart for this period of time.

We gather information from families and professionals in every case.  Interviewing psychiatrists, clinicians, teachers or school administrators, as well as meeting with clients when possible are all important tools.  We also gather psychological and educational testing, transcripts, and other documentation families or clients provide.

There is no question that out of home placements are very expensive and frequently not covered by insurance.  There are however many ways to reduce your out of pocket costs.  We will educate you about what our clients are doing to pay for treatment and work to save you money wherever we can.