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: May 12, 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
WEB: alleganyboyscamp.org
PHONE: 301-478-5721
Gender: Boys only
Cost: $1,784/month, no scholarships, non-profit, assistance on a case-by-case basis
Student Qualifications: Troubled boys, local only from homes within 4-5 hours away
Status of Enrollments: Average wait 3-4 months
Ages Served: 9-15 years old
Length of Program: 18-24 months
Residential or Day School: Live-in program. Students sent home every 6 weeks for extended family weekend.
ANCHOR ACADEMY
WEB: anchoracademymo.com
PHONE: 573-471-2900
Gender: Boys only
Cost: $1200/month, plus $500 enrollment fee (sliding scale for single parents or w/multiple children)
Student Qualifications: None
Status of Enrollments: Unknown
Ages Served: 17-24 years old
Length of Program: Minimum of 12 months
Residential or Day School: Residential
ANGELS’ COVE MATERNITY HOME
WEB: anchoracademymo.com
PHONE: 573-471-2900
Gender: Female
Cost: Adolescent: 10% of the family’s bring home income (flexible). Adult women: $50/month AND must save 30% of their income (for the adult women’s living).
Student Qualifications: Prospective resident must the willing to come, not forced
Status of Enrollments: No openings — Waitlist for an unknown length of time.
Ages Served: 11-17, and adult women
Length of Program: 12 months for adolescent. Can stay 3 months after baby is born for adults.
Residential or Day School: Residential
BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME of NORTH CAROLINA
WEB: bchfamily.org
PHONE: 800-238-4269
Gender: All
Cost: Call for specifics
Student Qualifications: North Carolina residents only
Status of Enrollments: Call for specifics
Ages Served: Call for specifics
Length of Program: Call for specifics
Residential or Day School: Call for specifics
BETHANY’S HOUSE
WEB: bethany.org
PHONE: 800-454-0454 or 209-526-3342
Gender: Women
Cost: Free
Student Qualifications: Pregnant women
Status of Enrollments: Call for specifics
Ages Served: Adult age 18+
Length of Program: Call for specifics
Residential or Day School: Call for specifics
BLOUNT YOUTH HOME (Alice Blount Academy)
WEB: blountyouthhome.com
PHONE: (912) 537-7758
Gender: Boys
Cost: Call for specifics
Student Qualifications: Call for specifics
Status of Enrollments: Call for specifics
Ages Served: 10-18 years old
Length of Program: Call for specifics
Residential or Day School: Residential
BOYS HOME OF VIRGINIA
WEB: boyshomeofva.org
PHONE: (540) 965-7700
Gender: Boys
Cost: Sliding scale. No set tuition.
Student Qualifications: Call for specifics
Status of Enrollments: Has current openings
Ages Served: 6-17 years old
Length of Program: 2-year commitment or upon graduation
Residential or Day School: Residential
BOYS TOWN
WEB: boystown.org
PHONE: (800) 448-3000
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Call for specifics
Student Qualifications: Call for specifics
Status of Enrollments: Call for specifics
Ages Served: Age range varies by location
Length of Program: Call for specifics
Residential or Day School: Residential
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!
CAL FARLEY BOYS RANCH
WEB: calfarley.org
PHONE: 800-657-7124 (must use applicant form at www.calfarley.org/admission/)
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: No stated cost
Student Qualifications: Will not accept aggressive students, those requiring excessive medical or psychological care, nor sexual predators.
Status of Enrollments: There are many thousands of applicants and few openings. Children accepted from families experiencing challenges relationally, socially, emotionally, or financially.
Ages Served: Ages 5-18 (16.5 is the age limit for applying but can stay till 18)
Length of Program: Average stay is 2.5 years
Residential or Day School: Residential
CHEROKEE HOME FOR CHILDREN
WEB: chc4kids.org
PHONE: 325-622-4201
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: No charge
Student Qualifications: Texas residents only. No aggression/violence, no sexually acting out, no severe disruptiveness, must be manageable.
Status of Enrollments: Full on the girls’ side. Boys side has openings.
Ages Served: School age up to 17 years old
Length of Program: Six plus months, but varies.
Residential or Day School: Residential
CONNIE MAXWELL CHILDREN’S HOME
WEB: conniemaxwell.com
PHONE: 800-868-2624
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: No cost
Student Qualifications: South Carolina residents only, only mild behavioral issues.
Status of Enrollments: Depends on age/gender
Ages Served: Ages 5-16 (school age)
Length of Program: Depends on the situation 1-90 days for crisis program/ OR indefinitely/until HS graduation and beyond if desired.
Residential or Day School: Residential
COOKSON HILLS CHRISTIAN HOME
WEB: cooksonhills.org
PHONE: 918-948-6300
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: No one is turned away if they cannot afford
Student Qualifications: Call
Status of Enrollments: Call for availability
Ages Served: 5-17 years old
Length of Program: Six week segments for schooling, plus 5-week summer break.
Residential or Day School: Residential
EDGEWOOD RANCH
WEB: edgewoodranch.com
PHONE: 407-295-2464
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: No one is turned away if they cannot afford
Student Qualifications: Florida residents only (60-mile radius of the school). Voluntary children only.
Status of Enrollments: Openings for girls 11-14 and boys 11-15 currently
Ages Served: 7-17 years old
Length of Program: 12-month commitment
Residential or Day School: Residential
FAIR PLAY CAMP
WEB: fairplaycamp.org
PHONE: 864-647-4311
Gender: Boys. Must agree to placement/have desire to change.
Cost: No one is turned away if they cannot afford
Student Qualifications: South Carolina & Surrounding States
Status of Enrollments: No openings/6 month wait at least
Ages Served: 8-15 years old
Length of Program: 18 months roughly
Residential or Day School: Residential
FRENCH CAMP ACADEMY
WEB: frenchcamp.org
PHONE: 662-547-6482
Gender: Coed. Non-coed dorms. Does deal with different behavior issues.
Cost: Day student $375/Boarding is income based
Student Qualifications: South Carolina & Surrounding States
Status of Enrollments: Current openings
Ages Served: 1st-12th graders
Length of Program: Stays until HS graduation
Residential or Day School: Residential and Day
FLYING H YOUTH RANCH
WEB: flyingh.org
PHONE: 509-658-2990
Gender: Boys only. Will NOT take sexual abusers, serious felons, chronic drug users.
Cost: $2000-4000/month sliding scale based, scholarships dependent on donations.
Student Qualifications: South Carolina & Surrounding States
Status of Enrollments: o current openings. Call.
Ages Served: 14-16.5 years old
Length of Program: 18 months
Residential or Day School: Residential
GOOD NEWS MINISTRIES
WEB: goodnewsministries.com/boys-home-2/
PHONE: 765-795-3722
Gender: Boys only
Cost: Free
Student Qualifications: Call
Status of Enrollments: Call
Ages Served: Call
Length of Program: 9 months
Residential or Day School: Residential
HAPPY HILL FARM
WEB: happyhillfarm.org
PHONE: 254-897-4822
Gender: Coed.
Cost: Day school K-5th is $7000/6-8th is $8400/ 9-12th is $9300.
Student Qualifications: They work with those who’ve had difficult life circumstances but are wanting the opportunities their school provides.
Status of Enrollments: No openings.
Ages Served: K-12th grade
Length of Program: Continuous
Residential or Day School: Residential and Day school
HEARTLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
WEB: hcaboardingschool.org
PHONE: 660-284-6300
Gender: Coed.
Cost: $1620 per year
Student Qualifications: Call
Status of Enrollments: No openings.
Ages Served: K5-12th graders
Length of Program: August-May
Residential or Day School: Day school only
HOPE HARBOR
WEB: hopeharbormn.org
PHONE: 507-537-4525
Gender: Coed.
Cost: Call for details
Student Qualifications: Must live within driving distance. (boys and girls locations vary)
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: 12-17 years old
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential
MID-COURSE CORRECTION (weekend only)
WEB: midcoursecorrection.org
PHONE: 810-227-0243
Gender: Coed.
Cost: $195-$495
Student Qualifications: Mild behavioral issues
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: 6-18 year olds
Length of Program: One weekend only
Residential or Day School: Residential
MIRACLE FARM
WEB: miraclefarm.org
PHONE: 979-836-0901
Gender: Boys
Cost: Sliding scale fee
Student Qualifications: Must be willing to go. Does NOT serve emotional disturbances or physical disabilities.
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: 13-17 years old
Length of Program: A little over a year
Residential or Day School: Residential
MOUNTAIN STATES CHILDREN’S HOME
WEB: msch.org
PHONE: 303-776-6841
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Will accept regardless of if parents can afford
Student Qualifications: Will consider ADD/ADHD, ODD, Mood disorders, mild attachment issues, PTSD, depression/anxiety.
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: 12-17 years old
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential

Phone (918) 435-8206
WE HAVE OPENINGS RIGHT NOW!
OBLONG CHILDREN’S HOME
WEB: oblongchristianhome.org
PHONE: 618-592-3633
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Placement fee and monthly charges based on sliding scale.
Student Qualifications: At risk, neglected or abused, behaviors must be appropriate for family setting and willing to cooperate.
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: 5-16 years old
Length of Program: Minimum of 1 full school year stay.
Residential or Day School: Residential
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST HOMES FOR CHILDREN
WEB: obhc.org/bch-okc
PHONE: 405-942-3800
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Call for details
Student Qualifications: Call for details
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: Ages 6-17
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential
PINE HAVEN SCHOOL
WEB: pinehaven.net
PHONE: 406-745-4545
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Sliding scale
Student Qualifications: Call for details
Status of Enrollments: Long wait list
Ages Served: Call for details
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential
REDEEMER’S BOARDING SCHOOL
WEB: redeemersboardingschool.com
PHONE: 509-486-8888
Gender: Girls only
Cost: $2,950month
Student Qualifications: Call for details
Status of Enrollments: Long wait list
Ages Served: 10-18 years old
Length of Program: Flexible length
Residential or Day School: Residential
RODEHEAVER BOYS RANCH
WEB: rbr.org
PHONE: 386-328-1281
Gender: For boys who, because of parental death, desertion, divorce, disability or dysfunctional home situation, have no home of their own.
Cost: Sliding scale
Student Qualifications: Call for details
Status of Enrollments: Yes openings
Ages Served: Age 7-17
Length of Program: 12 month minimum
Residential or Day School: Residential
SHENANDOAH BAPTIST ACADEMY
WEB: sbcministries.com/sba
PHONE: 423-339-0103
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Call for details
Student Qualifications: Call for details
Status of Enrollments: Yes openings
Ages Served: Preschool to high school age
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Day school
SHERIDAN HOUSE FAMILY MINISTRIES
WEB: sheridanhouse.org
PHONE: 945-583-1552
Gender: Boys only
Cost: $800/week
Student Qualifications: Local only. Will accept behavior issues like suspensions, disruptive behavior, acting out etc.
Status of Enrollments: No openings
Ages Served: 6-10th graders
Length of Program: 10-12 months
Residential or Day School: Day school (boys renturn home nightly)
SHILOH CHRISTIAN CHILDREN’S HOME
WEB: shilohranch.org
PHONE: 573-588-2191
Gender: Boys only
Cost: No cost
Student Qualifications: Will not take kids with need for medication regulation, mental health crisis/suicidal/homicidal, self-harm, need to intensive psych or therapeutic intervention, run away risks, chronic health issues, lower than 70 IQ or risk to others
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: Birth up to 18 OR graduation
Length of Program: Indefinitely – until graduation or improvement
Residential or Day School: Residential
SHOW ME CHRISTIAN YOUTH HOME
WEB: showmehelpingkids.com
PHONE: 660-347-5982
Gender: Boys only
Cost: Call for details
Student Qualifications: Call for details
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: Call for details
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential
STILL CREEK RANCH
WEB: stillcreekranch.org
PHONE:(979) 589-3206
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: No required payments, but financial support is encouraged.
Student Qualifications: NOT a behavior modification program. Will accept from out of state.
Status of Enrollments: Waitlist
Ages Served: Ages 10-14 (will not accept past 10th grade)
Length of Program: Stay through HS graduation
Residential or Day School: Residential
STILL WATERS CHRISTIAN BOARDING SCHOOL
WEB: showmehelpingkids.com
PHONE: 660-347-5982
Gender: Boys only
Cost: $2500 down payment and $1800 a month- flexible
Student Qualifications: Accepting of rebellion, anger, irresponsibility, poor behavior, etc.
Status of Enrollments: Waitlist
Ages Served: Ages 12-17
Length of Program: Minimum 12 months
Residential or Day School: Residential
SUNRISE CHILDREN’S SERVICES (Therapeutic)
WEB: sunrise.org/therapeutic-residential-care/
PHONE: 502-538-1059
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Call for details
Student Qualifications: Works with Behavior and substance abuse issues.
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: Ages 12-18 years old
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential
TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOMES
WEB: calm.org
PHONE: 512-255-3668
Gender: Boys and girls
Cost: Call for details
Student Qualifications: Call for details
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: Call for details
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential
TULSA BOYS HOME
WEB: tulsaboyshome.org
PHONE: 918-245-0231
Gender: Boys
Cost: Call for details
Student Qualifications: Oklahoma residents only.
Status of Enrollments: Call for details
Ages Served: Ages 13-18
Length of Program: Call for details
Residential or Day School: Residential
WATERSPRINGS RANCH
WEB: waterspringsranch.org
PHONE: 870-772-7187
Gender: Coed
Cost: Sliding scale
Student Qualifications: For those who have been abused, neglected and abandoned.
Status of Enrollments: No openings
Ages Served: Birth to 12 years
Length of Program: Minimum of 2 years stay
Residential or Day School: Residential
WEST TEXAS BOYS RANCH
WEB: wtbr.org
PHONE: 325-949-1936
Gender: Coed
Cost: Sliding scale. $2,500/mo.
Student Qualifications: Texas residents and bordering states accepted. Will not accept if child has had 2 or more placements (hospitals etc), recent suicidal ideations not accepted, amongst other things.
Status of Enrollments: Waitlist
Ages Served: Ages 11-17
Length of Program: 12 month minimum
Residential or Day School: Residential, but NOT a boarding school. Basic care facility.
WESTVIEW BOYS HOME
WEB: westviewboyshome.com
PHONE: 580-688-9281
Gender: Boys only.
Cost: Operate on sliding scale. No one turned away.
Student Qualifications: Will work with those who have issues with school, authority, self discipline, or other similar issues.
Status of Enrollments: Waitlist
Ages Served: Ages 12-18
Length of Program: 12 month minimum encouraged
Residential or Day School: Residential
WILL LOU GRAY OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL
WEB: willougray.org
PHONE: 803-896-6480
Gender: Coed
Cost: No tuition cost
Student Qualifications: Residents of SC and legal residents of US. Voluntary only.
Status of Enrollments: Call
Ages Served: Ages 16-19
Length of Program: Trimester
Residential or Day School: Residential
YOUTH-REACH
WEB: youth-reach.org
PHONE: 281-459-4555
Gender: Boys/men only.
Cost: No cost
Student Qualifications: Voluntary only. Will accept anywhere in the US.
Status of Enrollments: Call
Ages Served: Ages 12-17
Length of Program: indefinite. Typically 12-24 months
Residential or Day School: Residential
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/
PATHWAYS COUNSELING — OUTPATIENT COUNSELING ONLY – (WEB: bchfs.com/counseling-services/) Ph: 618-382-4164
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.
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.
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 ranches for troubled boys, boarding schools, military schools, christian therapeutic boarding schools, boarding schools for troubled youth or ranch for teens, 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.