DIRECTORY OF AFFORDABLE THERAPEUTIC BOARDING SCHOOLS AND THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS FOR TROUBLED TEENS
Provided by: Best Choice Admissions Services
If you have a troubled teenager and have low income, we’ve listed below the affordable boarding schools and free programs that you may want to contact.
List Updated: March 9, 2023
IMPORTANT! If you are interested in one of these programs, please contact them directly. This website has no affiliation with them. Others have shared them with us, but we do not vouch for them nor endorse them, nor do we have any more information about them than is included here. Be sure to check them out carefully.
ALLEGANY BOYS CAMP (Maryland) (At risk boys ages 9-15) (WEB: www.alleganyboyscamp.org) Ph: 301-478-5721
ANCHOR ACADEMY (Missouri) (Boys ages 16-24) (WEB: www.anchoracademymo.com) Ph: (573) 471-2900
ANGELS’ COVE MATERNITY HOME (Mt. Vernon, Illinois) (Pregnant Teens and Women) (WEB: bchfs.com/maternity-care/) Ph: 618-382-4164
BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME of NORTH CAROLINA *North Carolina Residents Only (WEB: bchfamily.org) (Co-ed, Ages Vary by Location) Ph: 800-238-4269
BETHANY’S HOUSE (Adult age 18+) Christian ministry for pregnant women, age 18 and over, providing a free residential program. For more information call 1-800-454-0454 or 209-526-3342. (WEB: www.bethany.org)
BLOUNT YOUTH HOME (Boys, Ages 10-18) (WEB: blountyouthhome.com) Ph: (912) 537-7758
BOYS HOME OF VIRGINIA (Boys 6 to 17) (WEB: https://boyshomeofva.org) Ph: (540) 965-7700
BOYS TOWN (Co-Ed Age Range Varies by Location) (WEB: www.boystown.org) Ph: (800) 448-3000
BRUSH CREEK ACADEMY (Oklahoma) (WEB: BrushCreekAcademy.com) — Low cost, year-round Christian program and school for troubled teenage boys.
Call (918) 435-8206
WE HAVE OPENINGS RIGHT NOW!
CHEROKEE HOME FOR CHILDREN * Texas residents only (Co-ed ages 2-18) (WEB: www.chc4kids.org) Ph: 325-622-4201
CONNIE MAXWELL CHILDREN’S HOME (Co-ed Ages 5-16) *South Carolina Residents Only (WEB: www.conniemaxwell.com) Ph: 800-868-2624
COOKSON HILLS CHRISTIAN HOME (Co-ed Ages 5-17) (WEB: cooksonhills.org) Ph: 918-948-6300
EDGEWOOD RANCH *Florida Residents Only (Co-ed Ages 7-17) (WEB: edgewoodranch.com) Ph: (407) 295-2464
FAIR PLAY CAMP (South Carolina & Surrounding States) (Boys, Ages 8-15) (WEB: www.fairplaycamp.org) Ph: 864-647-4311
FAITH ADOPTION (Mt. Vernon, Illinois) (WEB: bchfs.com/adoption-services/) Ph: 618-382-4164
FRENCH CAMP ACADEMY (French Camp, MS) (WEB: www.frenchcamp.org) Ph: (662) 547-6482
FLYING H YOUTH RANCH (Naches, WA) (WEB: www.flyingh.org) Ph: (509) 658-2990
GOOD NEWS MINISTRIES (Indiana) (WEB: https://goodnewsministries.com/boys-home-2/) Ph: 765-795-3722
GRACEHAVEN PREGNANCY RESOURCE ENTER (Mt. Vernon, Illinois) (WEB: bchfs.com/pregnancy-resource-clinic/) Ph: (618) 816-7526
HAPPY HILL FARM (Granbury, TX) (WEB: www.happyhillfarm.org) Ph: (254) 897-4822
HEARTLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Bethel, Missouri ) (Coed, grades K4-12) (WEB: hcaboardingschool.org) Ph: (660) 284-6300
HOPE HARBOR (three locations in Minnesota & South Dakota). (Coed ages 12-17 ) (WEB: www.hopeharbormn.org) Ph: (507) 537-4525
ILLINOIS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME (Males and Females Ages 12-16) (Web: bchfs.com/residential-care) Ph: 618-382-4164
MASONIC-EASTERN STAR HOME FOR CHILDREN (Ages 5-18) (WEB: www.meshc.org) Ph: 402-721-1185
MASTER’S RANCH (Missouri) (Boys ages 10-17) (WEB: Mastersranch.org) Call: (417) 938-4711
MICHIGAN BOOT CAMP (weekend only) Mid-Course Correction (WEB: www.midcoursecorrection.org) Ph: 810-227-0243
MIRACLE FARM (WEB: www.miraclefarm.org) Ph: 979-836-0901
MOUNTAIN STATES CHILDREN’S HOME (Co-ed, ages 11-18) (WEB: www.msch.org) Ph: 303-776-6841
NEW LIFEHOUSE ACADEMY (Oklahoma) (WEB: NewLifeHouseAcademy.org) Low cost, year-round Christian program and school for troubled teenage girls.Phone (918) 435-8206
WE HAVE OPENINGS RIGHT NOW!
OBLONG CHILDREN’S HOME (Co-ed Ages 5-17) (WEB: oblongchristianhome.org) Ph: 618-592-3633
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST HOMES FOR CHILDREN (Co-ed, ages 6-17) (WEB: www.obhc.org/bch-okc) Ph: 405-942-3800
PATHWAYS COUNSELING – OUTPATIENT COUNSELING ONLY – (WEB: bchfs.com/counseling-services/) Ph: 618-382-4164
PINE HAVEN SCHOOL (WEB: www.pinehaven.net) Ph: 406-745-4545
REDEEMER’S BOARDING SCHOOL (Washington State) (For girls) (WEB: https://www.redeemersboardingschool.com) Ph: (509) 486-8888
RODEHEAVER BOYS RANCH (Palatka, FL) For boys who, because of parental death, desertion, divorce, disability or dysfunctional home situation, have no home of their own. Phone: (386) 328-1281 (WEB: www.rbr.org)
SHENANDOAH BAPTIST ACADEMY (Cleveland, TN) Phone: (423) 339-0103 (WEB: sbcministries.com/sba)
SHERIDAN HOUSE FAMILY MINISTRIES *Florida residents only (WEB: sheridanhouse.org) (Boys ages 11-17) Ph: 945-583-1552
SHILOH CHRISTIAN CHILDREN’S HOME (WEB: www.shilohranch.org) (Coed ages 5-15) Ph: 573-588-2191
SHOW ME CHRISTIAN YOUTH HOME (Missouri) (WEB: www.showmehelpingkids.com) (Web: 660-347-59820
STILL WATERS CHRISTIAN BOARDING SCHOOL (Missouri) (Boys ages 10 – 17) (WEB: stillwatershome.com) Ph: 601-656-7714
SUNRISE CHILDREN’S SERVICES – Therapeutic Boarding School (2 locations in Kentucky) (Boys and girls age 12-18) (Web: www.sunrise.org/therapeutic-residential-care/) Ph: (502) 538-1059
SUNRISE CHILDREN’S SERVICES – Psychiatric Care (Kentucky) (Boys ages 6 -18 ) (WEB: www.sunrise.org/psychiatric-treatment/) Ph: 859-936-3545
TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOMES (Round Rock, Texas) (WEB: childrenatheartministries.org) Ph: (512) 255-3682
TULSA BOYS HOME (Boys Ages 11-18) (WEB: www.tulsaboyshome.org) Ph: (918) 245-0231
VICTORY HOUSE (Girls Ages 16-18) (WEB: victoryhouse.ws) Ph: 785-694-2921
VISION BOYS ACADEMY (Boys ages 8-12) Missouri – For pre-teen boys with outdoor activities on a 27-acre campus.PHONE: 417-452-2682
WEB: Visionboysacademy.org
WATERSPRINGS RANCH (Co-ed Birth to 12 years) (WEB: www.waterspringsranch.org) Ph: 870-772-7187
WEST TEXAS BOYS RANCH (WEB: www.wtbr.org) Ph: (325) 949-1936
WESTVIEW BOYS HOME (Boys Ages 12-18) (WEB: westviewboyshome.com) Ph: (580) 688-9281
WILL LOU GRAY OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL (West Columbia, SC) (WEB: www.willougray.org) Ph: (803) 896-6480
YOUTH-REACH (Houston, Texas, and Louisiana) (WEB: www.youth-reach.org) Ph: (281) 459-4555
OTHER PROGRAMS (SHORT TERM AND YOUTH JOBS):
JOB CORPS (Free – NATIONWIDE) Job Corps is a free education and vocational skills training program that helps young people learn a career, earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job. For eligible youth at least 16 years of age, Job Corps provides the all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life. If you are interested in placing your teen in a Job Corp program in your area, call (800) 733-JOBS or (800) 733-5627. An operator will provide you with information about Job Corps, place you in touch with the admissions counselor closest to where you live, and mail you an information packet about the Job Corp program.
FREE DRUG PROGRAM (San Antonio, TX)(WEB: www.pdap.com/sahome.htm)
YOUTH BUILD USA –In YouthBuild programs, unemployed and under-educated young people ages 16-24 work toward their GED or high school diploma while learning job skills by building affordable housing for homeless and low-income people. To find a location near you, call 617-623-9900.
NATIONAL GUARD YOUTH CHALLENGE — (40 locations) (Coed, age 16-18) A preventive non-religious youth-at-risk program, targets unemployed, drug-free, and law-free high school dropouts. Core components of the program are citizenship, academic excellence (GED/high school diploma attainment), life-coping skills, community service, health and hygiene, skills training, leadership/followership, and physical training. The five-month residential phase is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth’s community (WEB: www.ngyf.org/)
OTHER HELPFUL DIRECTORIES
THERAPEUTIC BOARDING SCHOOLS — https://therapeuticboardingschools.org/
CHRISTIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS — https://christianboardingschools.org/
SAMHSA — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – Online directory to help locate treatment facilities for adolescents and adults. Call 800-662-HELP; 1-877-767-8432 (Spanish); (WEB: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/)
FOR FAMILIES WITH TRI-CARE MILITARY INSURANCE
Residential Treatment Programs for Military Families utilizing Tri-Care Insurance:
https://www.tricaredirectories.com/LISTINGS/mainRES.htm
FOR MEDICAID or STATE INSURANCE FAMILIES
Medicaid recipients may attempt to get a list of programs that will work with their insurance directly from their State’s Medicaid Office:
1. Call Member Services – the Member Services number is located on the back of the Medicaid insurance card – ask for their list of preferred providers for Residential Treatment Centers, both in and out of their coverage area.
2. Do not let Medicaid ask to pre-qualify the student or patient over the phone – just request that they provide you with their list of programs, or website address where providers are listed.
3. Inquire Directly – programs accepting Medicaid often require that the child meets the medical necessity requirements for coverage. Then, the program will begin to act as the family advocate to get funding for the child’s stay. However, this can take months. Inquiring directly through Medicaid may save a 4-month wait to be evaluated.
Some states post providers who work with Medicaid on a webpage, please search for your state’s Medicaid providers via the Internet. If your child has been hospitalized for crisis stabilization or short-term treatment, ask the hospital for a social worker who can assist you in finding longer-term placement using Medicaid services.
Does Your Teen Need Therapy in a Full-Time Therapeutic Boarding School? Can You Find a Way to Pay $3,500 per month for Therapy, Education, and 24/7 Care?
I’ll help you find the right residential therapeutic program for your child — our assistance is FREE and confidential.
Call 888-940-6278 ANYTIME
Should you need help finding programs for troubled teens, ranch for teens, boarding schools for troubled youth, boarding high schools, homes for troubled teens or therapeutic boarding schools, please let us know. Alternative boarding schools are usually therapeutic boarding schools or religious boarding schools specifically designed for at-risk teens. These boarding schools, sometimes called reform schools, wilderness schools, or emotional growth schools, combine therapy with academics to help kids get back on track. Another category of residential schools is Christian boarding schools. In these troubled teen boarding schools, professional help is offered for teens to heal from trauma, learn how to cope and overcome difficulties, and discover more about themselves. Teens typically live in a group home that resembles a dorm and each resident has a set of responsibilities and chores to pitch in with. Academic and therapeutic activities are top priority and take up the majority of the day in these schools for troubled teens. However, sports, fun activities, clubs, and other extracurricular activities are also emphasized. The integration of a new location, academic support, therapy sessions, group living, and recreational activities help troubled and struggling teens to overcome their challenges, get back on the right track, and set them up for a bright future.