How to Choose a Program

By Kent Tasso, Founder

I started my first program, Kolob Canyon Residential Treatment Center, back in March of 2002 and have developed three more since. Having worked prior to that time in schools for a number of years, I knew that bigger wasn't better when it comes to working with young people-especially those at risk.  I also believed that treating every child the same way was a sure-fire recipe for failure for many of them.  And above all, I had the conviction-and still do today-that if you get what you pay for, then with someone you love as much as you do your own child you should be careful with cheaper programs!  

A number of years later, my opinions and advice haven't changed a whole lot.  Since our founding, the CERTS schools and programs have developed a family of specialized programs that do cost more than most, but only because of the one on one attention and the unparalleled care.   Our programs are small, specific to certain clinical issues, utilize the strengths, interests and "languages" of a girl to help her heal as quickly and completely as possible (click here to learn more about this), are loving and nurturing, and our directors and therapists ask every day what I believe are the right questions, "How can we reach this girl?" and, "How can we do things better?"  Our programs are sophisticated enough to treat the most clinically intensive needs, and yet small enough to feel like a family. 

And yet, years later I would add one more bit of advice: You don't need to do this alone.  Many parents will opt to get help from specialists who live in their area called Educational Consultants.   These people are usually highly educated, know individual programs well, and have a history with the best ones nationwide.  While they do charge a fee, typically their fee is a small percentage of the total cost of treatment.  And a good educational consultant is an indispensible guide in helping a family go through the ups and downs of treatment.  Because they work for you alone, they have no vested interest in recommending a specific school or program other than they believe it is best for your daughter.   The leading organization of consultants is the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and you can find them online at www.iecaonline.com.  I highly recommend them.

If you still believe you want to do this by yourself, I have the following advice for you:

  1. Wherever possible, tour the program before placing your daughter.  You should feel safe, secure, and confident your daughter would be in excellent hands after meeting face to face with whomever would be providing care.

  2. Make sure they really know your daughter well (clinically, educationally, and otherwise) before they say they would admit her.  Watch out for the program that takes everyone!

  3. To help pay for treatment, call your health insurance company and thoroughly check out your mental health insurance benefit.  Often, even when the insurance company won't cover residential treatment per se, they will cover itemized therapy sessions with a licensed therapist.  Good programs have a lot of therapy, which means you can get a lot of reimbursement up to your annual maximum.

  4. Remember that the most expensive treatment of all is the one where, one month after coming back home, your daughter is back to the same old stuff-this after exhausting your life savings!!   Quality matters more than you can believe.

  5. While a key factor of treatment cost is the monthly tuition, an often equally important factor is average length of stay.  Many cheaper programs have average stays that are significantly longer-the end result being they can actually cost more.

  6. Be sure and ask about financial aid.  Many of the best programs have scholarship assistance-thanks to generous (and grateful) parents and families--that will help pay part of your stay.  Programs can't afford to just give this away--you do have to qualify for this aid.  But the end result is that if you qualify, you may be able to stay within your target tuition range without having to trade down to a lower level of care.

For a more comprehensive look at how many families pay for treatment, click here. 

 

 

 

 

 

National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs Intermountain Therapy Animals Northwest Accreditation Commission U.S. Department of Homeland Security Certified Education Recreational and Therapeutic Schools (CERTS)