So You Want to Be an Educational Consultant!

After Benecia County father Ron B. and his wife decided to send their daughter to a residential program, they started doing research on the dozens of choices they found. They gained impressions of the schools they looked at on the Internet-but weren't sure their perceptions were right. They decided to call in a professional, an education consultant knowledgeable about residential programs, to help them navigate the process in what seemed like a tricky decision. "She was a good sounding board," Ron says of the consultant his family hired.

"Even though we learned a lot on our own, it was helpful to talk with someone who knew the schools and could give us insights that we couldn't get from reading a brochure or looking at their website." Educational consultants have been around for decades to advise parents on where their children should go to high school and college. Now increasing numbers of families are turning to these experts to help them find the right therapeutic program or specialized boarding school.

These consultants offer a range of advice and services. They provide insight into the character, mission, and environment of schools; and help families determine which schools are the best match for their adolescent. After all, who doesn't want their kid to have the best shot at life?

One Colorado mother says that soon after her son started a therapeutic boarding school last summer, two different parents asked her which consultant she had used: "I thought, 'consultant? Was I supposed to use a consultant?' " A growing number of parents think so.

The number of educational consultants working with wilderness programs, addiction treatment centers and boarding schools, just to name a few, has been increasing at a very steep rate over the last five to seven years.

One Connecticut mother who has twins in an eating disorder program, thought she and her husband, both clinicians, could easily manage the search process. But the mother says she discovered a "whole subculture" to the Internet scene for which she and her husband felt unprepared. She believes it would have been shortsighted to invest in this type of specialized treatment for their twins - the tuition and emotional investment - without spending a comparatively small amount to get expert advice. The process can, in fact, be daunting. Some schools require student testing prior to admissions or a wilderness therapy program. "I was feeling overwhelmed at the thought of scheduling all the school visits in order to make a decision, and the fact that my daughter had to go through testing and a wilderness program," says a Delaware father of a fourteen-year-old girl who hired a consultant a year ago. The consultant shocked him by advising that his daughter would be out of state. "She told us not to even bother looking in our state because our daughter was such a high risk runner and very street smart," says the Delaware dad. He followed the consultant's advice. A Florida couple turned to a consultant after making what they felt was a bad decision on their own.

They had paid the first four month's tuition at a Christian Boarding School and attended a new-parent seminar when they started feeling the school they'd selected for their then-fourteen-year-old son was somehow wrong. They hired a consultant to help them sort out what it was they were looking for. "Talking with our consultant helped us to organize our thoughts and listen to our hearts to hear the common threads that kept coming up again and again - a therapeutic Christian education - disciplined structure - a solid Christian based program," said the mother. Before the end of the first month, they moved their son to another program in another state.

Consultants, like emotional growth programs and residential schools, aren't cheap.

Prices depend on the consultant and the services chosen. A general one-time consult that lasts at least two hours can cost several hundred dollars. An ongoing relationship that involves compiling information for several choices and following up with programs and schools after the adolescent has been admitted can cost several thousand dollars. It a teen is involved in the juvenile justice system, it can be even more. Even if parents hire an educational consultant, they should not put the ultimate decision in that person's hands.

"The recommendations can't compare with the first-person experience parents gain by visiting each recommended program or school personally, whenever possible."

Not all consultants are alike in their approach and passion for working with at-risk adolescents. Like programs and schools, each has her or his own attitude, dedication and quality of work about the process. When looking for a consultant, ask questions that go beyond educational background. Find out how much time a consultant spends traveling to visit programs and schools. How long have they been an educational consultant?  What did they do before?  Here are other ways to help find a consultant who is qualified and will work well with your family:

· Spend five to ten minutes on the phone with each consultant you're considering to get a sense of whether they share your approach to the process.

· Ask about the consultants background and other areas of expertise.  An educational consultant doesn't need any particular education, training, or licensing to hang out a shingle. Ask what professional associations they belong to and always ask for references. 

· Find out how often they visit programs and schools and in which states.  Ask if they have visited the program you're considering and when was the last time they visited. It's a good question to ask because schools' curricula can change from year to year. By keeping current on schools, consultants can provide insights that parents don't always get from a website, brochure or a chat with the school's director.

· Ask how they stay current on trends and research in education and other areas that may pertain to your adolescent (ADD/ADHD, eating disorders, learning disabilities, mood disorders, etc.) 

· Ask how often they work with adolescents the same age as your adolescent and with the same needs.

· Find out if they provide both one-time and ongoing consultation services. What comes with each type of arrangement, and what will it cost?

Recommended Reading

Recent incidents involving Internet crimes against adolescents have been prominent in the media. In some incidents, the crimes have involved suspects and victims who met each other on social networking or blogging sites such as MySpace, Friendster, Xanga, and Facebook. Blogs and social networking sites where people can meet, communicate, and interact have recently exploded in popularity. The number of visitors to MySpace went from 4.9 million in 2005 to currently over 67 million. Like most new technological developments, this brings both positive and negative implications, especially for parents and their teens. The majority of the activity on these sites is legal and can be positive.

Young people who are curious connect with friends and seek like-minded individuals.

However, many children and teens are not aware they are putting themselves in danger by giving out too much personal information and communicating with people they've only met online. The unprecedented amount of personal information available on blogs and social networking sites makes them a perfect place for people who would harm children to identify their victims and gain their trust. This trust can be used to lure children and teens into a false sense of security, making them vulnerable to "grooming" and enticement to meet in person, which could have very serious consequences. Other dangers to adolescents include exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, or identity theft. Children and teens are often not aware that their words - which may have been intended for a small audience - sometimes find their way to a larger one, especially if they are controversial.

Some students who have posted threatening words against their school or classmates have attracted the attention of law enforcement, while those who have posted inappropriate comments about school personnel have also been disciplined.

Some employers and universities have even used online postings when considering potential candidates. Even before the rise of blogs and social networking sites, adolescents faced many dangers while online.

A 2000 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported that one in five children had received a sexual solicitation online and one in 33 received an aggressive solicitation. This problem is compounded because most adolescents did not inform their parents of the incidents. Less than 1 in 4 told a parent about the sexual solicitation they received. To help stop this dangerous trend, NetSmartz is releasing "Blog Beware" to raise the awareness about the risks associated with these sites and give parents, children, teens and teachers the tools they need to keep everyone safer online. This resource contains safety tips for parents and children and includes a quiz that they can take together. It is also supported by the extensive material available on NetSmartz.org for kids, teens, parents, educators, and law enforcement.

The NetSmartz® Workshop is an interactive, educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for children aged 5 to 17, parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement that uses age-appropriate, 3-D activities to teach children how to stay safer on the Internet.

NetSmartz has developed a comprehensive educational Internet safety program that has been proven successful in more than 3,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country reaching over 3.3 million young people. NetSmartz officially partners with 15 states to implement its important Internet safety message in the community and help prevent the online victimization of children.

What Parents Can Do If Their Daughter or Son Is Suspended From School

Get the Facts

• Immediately contact the school and request: 1) a copy of the student's school records, including records for attendance, grades, and any past discipline; 2) a copy of any administrator's, teacher's, or student's statements about the charge/incident; and 3) a copy of the school's or district's disciplinary policies in writing (if they have not as yet been provided to you). Review these materials and note anything you want to ask your child or the school about that may include issues relevant to the current situation.
• School administrators must provide students with notice of the charges against them, the basis for the charge, and an opportunity to tell his/her side of the story.
• Talk with your son or daughter. Ask him/her to tell you (or even better to write out) exactly what happened as soon as possible so you have a clear understanding of the details related to the incident. Make sure he/she is being honest about what happened.

• Call the principal or assistant principal who gave the suspension and ask for a face-to-face meeting at a time that is convenient for you. Ask for whatever accommodation you need to enable you to participate fully in the meeting, for example, if you need to meet in the evening or need a translator if you do not speak English. There are five good reasons to request and attend a face-to-face meeting: to learn more of the facts around the incident, to verify that your child is being treated fairly, to ensure that your child is taking responsibility for his/her actions, to ensure that your child's educational progress is not adversely affected, and to learn of any opportunities or services that may help your child, such as counseling or other types of social, educational, or health services.
• Do not go alone to the meeting. Take someone with you who can serve as an advocate and provide you with support or make you feel more comfortable. This might be a friend, neighbor, community service agency representative, or clergy. Make sure that the school official is informed that this person will be present at the meeting.
• Approach the meeting with an open mind and a firm commitment not to argue or raise your voice.
• Write down any questions you have before the meeting and bring your list with you so you can ask your questions and have them answered at the meeting.

• What rule did my child break? May I see this rule in writing? What did my child do to break the rule?
• What is the normal punishment for breaking this rule? Is there a different punishment for the first, second, or third violation of this rule? Are these things in writing?
• Why is my child receiving extra punishment?
• Where was my child when this happened? Who was the teacher in charge? Where was the teacher when the incident happened?
• What other students or employees were around when this happened? What are their accounts of the incident?
• Were other students involved in this incident? What punishment did the other students receive? Why is their punishment different?
• Exactly what did each person do? Exactly what did each person say?
• Could the teacher have handled this differently?
• Has my child had similar problems before? Is this documented in writing?
• Will this punishment cause my child to fail a class or be held back?
• Can my child make up his schoolwork and tests?
• What can the school do to help my child and avoid this problem in the future? For example, may my child change his seat in class or be transferred to a different class?

• Take your son/daughter to the meeting with you if he/she can act respectfully and take responsibility for his/her actions. He/she must admit if he/she was wrong and violated a school rule.
• Do not admit wrongdoing and do not let your son/daughter admit wrongdoing unless it is true.
• If your son or daughter admits wrongdoing, consider or ask what can be done to "make things right." For example, is an apology to a teacher or another student in order, or is there some other action your son or daughter may take to correct or make amends for the situation? If so, have your son or daughter follow through on this.

Ask For Help

To ensure the educational progress of your child.

A student can fail a class if he misses too much work or can be retained in the same grade if he misses too many days. If the suspension will harm your child's educational progress, ask the school officials to help avoid these outcomes for your child.

• Ask the school to provide all of your child's school assignments so your child can complete them during the suspension. Also ask for permission to have your child make up the tests that would be missed.
• Ask if there is help for homework in the community or tutoring help.
• Ask if your child could finish the punishment during in-school suspension.
• Ask if the school could assign another punishment.
• Ask for a hearing to request that a situation that would harm your child's educational progress be reconsidered, or appeal the suspension decision

The incident that led to your child's suspension may be related to an issue or problem that is not resolved by the suspension.

• Ask what other opportunities and services there are in the school or community to help your child. Consider and ask about services such as: ongoing counseling; testing for learning disabilities; opportunities to be mentored; peer mediation programs; special education services; special language programs; tutoring; drug counseling; mental health services; anger management, social skills, and conflict resolution training classes; and involvement in youth leadership activities, sports, camps, after-school programs, and community service activities.

Often there are things that parents can do and learn about to be better advocates for their child's education and well-being. Schools and communities have resources or may know of support groups or opportunities that can be helpful for parents.

• Ask your school about groups, programs, and opportunities for your support and involvement in your child's education and development.

• If you are not satisfied with the suspension decision, you may be entitled to appeal the suspension decision to the superintendent or his/her designee or to the local school board. Your school principal can tell you how to go about the appeal process.
• The United States Constitution and other federal laws prohibit any educational discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, or other difference. If you believe your child has been treated unfairly because of his race or other characteristic you may file a complaint of discrimination with the Office for Civil Rights of the U. S. Department of Education. There is a regional office serving your area. Call the Civil Rights Hotline at 1-800-421-3481.

RESOURCES

Special Education Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network

The Alliance is an innovative project that focuses on providing technical assistance for establishing, developing, and coordinating Parent Training and Information Projects and Community Parent Resource Centers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Telephone: 1-888-248-0844.

U.S. Office for Civil Rights

The mission of the Office for Civil Rights is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights.

A complaint of discrimination can be filed by anyone who believes that an education institution that receives Federal financial assistance has discriminated against someone on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination, but may complain on behalf of another person or group. Telephone: 1-800-421-3481. http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/

Association for Childhood Education International

The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) works to promote the rights, education, and well-being of all children in their homes, schools, and communities. The ACEI promotes cooperation among those serving children, works to raise the standard of preparation for those involved with the care and development of children, encourages continuous professional growth of educators, and focuses public attention on changes required in various programs to accommodate the rights and needs of children.
Telephone: (800) 423-3563.http://www.udel.edu/bateman/acei

Families and Education

Families and Education provides information and ideas to help parents understand how schools and other educational programs work, how children learn, and how parents and families can best contribute to the learning process. It includes the parent brochure series "Parents Ask About. . ." in English and Spanish, and documents related to parent involvement.http://www.rmcres.com/famed/index.html

American Bar Association

The American Bar Association (ABA) is the national professional organization of the legal profession, principally representing practicing lawyers, judges, court administrators, law teachers, public service attorneys, and non-practicing lawyers in other professions. http://www.abanet.org.

The ABA's home page offers access to the following two youth-related sites:

The ABA Center on Children and the Law works to improve the quality of life for children through advancements in law, justice, and public policy. In areas relating to children and families, the center works to improve laws, policies, and judicial procedures; to conduct and disseminate research on law, policy, and practice; to enhance the skills and competence of legal professionals and non-attorneys; and to increase public awareness of the law and the judicial system. http://www.abanet.org/child/

Therapeutic Growth Programs

At HFS, we are constantly seeking new solutions of the best ways possible to service our families - past, present and future. We have a long running history of success stories as a result of our first hand insight of what families are experiencing. That insight was reinforced through the 2006 Survey of Educational Consulting Clients conducted by HFS. Through the benefits of technology, it was not a surprise to us that the majority of our services are 'virtual' visits, if you will. Roughly half of all our families use the Internet and email as a means of communication while in process of placement and communication with their Horizon Consultant. So we recognized and responded to the development of technology within our industry since the establishment of Horizon Family Solutions, more then a decade ago.

It just made sense to seek out other technological means we could put into play that would raise the bar and help us provide even better service and results for our families.

When we discovered Core Solutions, for months we carefully researched the services and results they offered. In the end, we could not find a better match that understood, and met, the HFS services and the unique needs of our families. In that HFS 2006 Survey, it was nearly unanimous among the respondents who stated they'd use an Online Community.

They went on to report that 99% of them would use it to communicate about relationships and family. Knowing how tough it is for families to find the support they need, 85% said they'd use it as a sounding board.

Dealing with the challenges families face in hanging in there for the long haul, more than 8 out of 10 said they'd use it as a motivation tool.

More than half of the respondents would frequent the Board to receive feedback and guidance from their Educational Consultant. Being a very personal journey, 82% felt it important that the access to their Community be private, accessible only for other parents like themselves.

It became very clear to HFS, that the Core Solutions services would answer all of these needs, requirements, and more.We are finalizing this service and expect to have many families invited and included in our new HFS Community shortly. This will be by invitation only and will be exclusive to HFS clientele: alumni families, families who are currently enrolled in a Program/School, and families looking at out-of-home placement as the possible next-step solution. We do hope that industry partners will begin to offer 'virtual support groups' to the families they serve. HFS hopes this will continue to be a fast paced trend in our field of work, as it brings such an added connection between all of those in service to family healing, and all of the families that benefit from our service.

For more information about Core Solutions, please visit www.CoreBB.com to find out how their insight, experience and on-going positive results can compliment the great services your organization is currently offering.