“I remember the first time we met with you. We were telling you our story and we were hoping you would say, ‘he doesn’t sound so bad’ but in our hearts we knew he was a very troubled young man. You gave us hope that there were programs where our son could get the help he needed.” — Parent, Missouri

‘When is the right time?’ can be a difficult question for parents. Often times, in our initial conversations, parents tell me they’ve known something was wrong for months or even years. In many cases, parents know when they’ve exhausted every local resource and are desperately seeking out-of-home services. In other cases, learning difficulties were identified and “addressed” but with little or no success. Maybe your son or daughter is struggling in school, either academically or with peers, or maybe they’re making poor choices and have become unmanageable at home. Parents are often shocked at what they’ve been experiencing when they are able to distance themselves and take an objective look at their child. Whatever the case, making the decision to seek an out-of-home placement can be extremely difficult.

The bottom line is…. parents also must be ready! To this point, you’ve tried to remain positive. Believing your child when he or she tells you “this time will be different.” Holding out hope that the next professional or next teacher will make the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. Unfortunately, the truth is, you’ve been here before. Knowing you want to break the cycle and make a different choice is the first step. Making the call is the second.

Finding a qualified professional to guide you through the multitude of programs and schools is essential. I don’t have to tell you, this is one of the most important decisions that you will make regarding your son or daughter’s future. If you’ve searched the Internet looking for what’s “out there,” you’ve undoubtedly come across some schools that “look pretty good, and say all the right things.” Unfortunately, often times upon visiting in person, I find the program to be nowhere near the quality described on their website or in their brochure. The costs emotionally and financially, are simply too high to make an uninformed decision. I will guide you and work with you through each step of the process keeping in mind you and your child’s best interests.