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Selecting a Program

Determining The “Right” Place To Meet Your Child’s Needs

Choosing the right place for your child is an important step in getting the help he or she needs. To many parents, it appears there are a multitude of options that can seem overwhelming. Others may feel there are no options and don’t know where to turn.

NATSAP members offer a variety of different schools and programs. For further definition of the facilities available to you, please go to our NATSAP Program Definitions.

Our members are in over 30 states. The ages served range from under 12 years old up to 35 years old. Your options will include the age range the school/program serves as well as gender specific or coed.

What’s the First Step?

We strongly advise parents to seek professional assistance in the placement of their child. A professional can

  • Evaluate your child to determine the core issues they are struggling against
  • Aid in the placement of your child by communicating with the Admissions and Clinical personnel at our member programs
  • Possess personal knowledge of the school/program they are recommending for placement.

If you engage in consultation, be sure that the professional has experience placing youth in residential programs and that they have some training and visitation of therapeutic programs before relying on their advice.

Where Do I Find Professional Assistance?

A list of Related Organizations can be found on this website. For those professionals and families who have not had occasion to travel to the programs listed in our directory, please be aware that members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) are required to visit dozens of programs each year. They would be pleased to work with you on specific placements. To read more about educational consultants, click here.

What To Look For In A School/Program?

Accrediting Agencies

There are regional and national accreditation agencies that are recognized in this industry; for example:

Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
Council on Accreditation (CoA)
Joint Commission (JCAHO)

Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
DNV GL
Teaching Family Association