In a journal article recently published in The Michigan Child Welfare Journal, Professor Daniel Pollack and his colleagues explore the sinister side of various programs that are for so-called "troubled teens." Often costing $10,000/month or more, these programs offered stressed out parents a proffered "residential school" or "wilderness camp" environment in which their children are theoretically to receive therapy. I remember having read articles about children who never returned from such programs. Pollack describes what can go wrong in these largely unregulated programs.

I Googled << wilderness camp teen >> for images. The happy campers in the photos that popped up on my screen look nothing like what is described as the typical therapeutic wilderness camp experience despite the fact that some of them appear to be images from websites advertising such programs. Now that is scary! [Note to self: Skip the image]

This journal article cites, among others, a Los Angeles Times newspaper article about one such program. Anyone thinking about sending a teenager away--entrusting the care of a child to strangers--would do well to read this. Netburn, Deborah. "Sending your child away." Los Angeles Times, , sec. Home, November 14, 2009. http://tinyurl.com/lk6dhs3 (accessed January 26, 2014).