One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

10 Questions to Ask Yourself (When Using a Troubled Teen Help Web Site)

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:31:00 +0000

The past fifteen years has seen a major change in parents being able to find an effective, ethical and safe
source of information when needing a treatment program or wilderness camp for their at-risk youth.

Searching on the Internet is definitely a challenge. Many parents and even professionals are turning to the Internet to find solutions and support for struggling and troubled teens as well as young adults.

Advertising and marketing practices have created real challenges for a family when searching for information on the Web. There are hundreds if not thousands of return link sites to various websites that link to each other for the mutual benefit and FREE advertising with no oversight of the actual advertiser. They just list everyone that links to them. This is having an effect on parents and their children, giving them many more resources in which to turn when their struggling or troubled child needs help. These thousands of websites all promise to help with the crisis at hand. With all this information, and what many times ends up being mass mailings of brochures and countless telephone calls from a call center, parents are faced with the responsibility of not making a mistake when choosing what is in the best interest of their child. Listed below are ten of the most common questions I ask you to consider. I present this with the hope that parents and professionals who are making such a serious and perhaps life changing search will carefully and slowly look at whom they have connected with before making any choices that will affect them and their child.

1.) Who runs the site? Any reputable Web site will make it easy for you to see who is
responsible for the site and its content. Most will have a Contact, Privacy Policy, Site
Map and/or Services link.

2.) Who pays for the site? The source of a Web site’s funding can influence its content.
Sites ending in .gov represent a government-funded site. Sites with the .edu endings are
affiliated with schools. Sites with .org are run by nonprofit organizations. Other sites
may be sponsored by drug companies or financed through the sale of advertisements or
products. Many are independently owned by the person or a person providing services
and this does need to be stated.

3.) What is the purpose of the site? A site’s mission statement is often found under the
Contact or Services link or may even have its own Mission Statement menu link.

4.) Where does the information come from? Many struggling teen and troubled teen
help Web sites post information collected from other Web sites. The original source
needs to always be clearly labeled and referenced.

5.) What is the basis of the information? The site needs to describe the evidence
supporting the contents. Facts and figures need to have references, as do articles and
other references. Advice or opinions need to be clearly separated from information based
on evidence.

6.) How is the information selected? Do people with ethical and strong qualifications
review everything before it is posted?

7.) How current is the information? Web sites need to be reviewed and updated on a
regular basis. Somewhere on the site should be a statement about how often the site is
updated or when the last update took place. Check the Mission Statement.

8.) What information about you does the site collect and why? Any credible site that
asks you to become a member or register needs to tell you how it will use your data that
it collects. Beware of sites that will take your address and browsing history and sell it to
companies that want to contact you about all sorts of things.

9.) Does the information sound too good to be true? Web sites offering a guaranteed
miracle fix for a struggling or troubled teen, or suggesting they know how to work with
every child no matter what their struggles or diagnosis, and offer to have your child
back to the way you remember them before the crisis, are unlikely to hold valid
information. We do not recommend Boot Camps. There are no quick fixes that are long
lasting. Look for a staff page, contact page with address and phone number.
When these are missing, more than likely this is a telemarketing web site that is
connected to a call center looking for parents in crisis to make an immediate decision.
This is dangerous for you and your child.

10.) Is the site asking you to do something? Be careful of any site that wants you to take
immediate action. No matter how reasonable the advice sounds, no matter how quickly
they can get you a loan, no matter how fast they can come pick up your child. Do not
make any quick decisions about your child’s needs without checking references and even
speaking to another person you trust to make sure you are not over reacting or acting
too quickly and making a rushed decision.

Reputable web sites can provide instant access to high-quality information. However, please remember,
search engines are not designed to be applicable just to you and whatever it is you typed in while
searching for help. Google, for example, uses a complex formula with more than 100 factors, including
the popularity of a site, to determine the order of search results. The needs of your child and your family
must always be a priority, even during a crisis.

Our Mission and Our Vision

Changes, Changes, Changes!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:21:00 +0000

When I'm really in the zone with my writing my brain works on the project at all times. The best evidence of this is when I've fallen asleep and I awake with an idea.

That's been happening lately. And while I bitch about having to write so much to keep up with this ever changing industry - program closures, staff leaving and ending up elsewhere - new programs starting - the truth is I live for those moments because it means I've reached a certain plateau in my writing and the view is pretty good from there.

I'm slogging through the editing of draft one of the current book, and it's been feeling sloggish. So the other day I made an announcement.

"The next thing I write is going to be a whole lot easier to edit. It's going to be an autobiography."

I mean people are crazy for autobiographies, right?

A Message to Parents

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:06:00 +0000

The Internet is now saturated with marketing web sites advertising Christian based programs, specialty schools, boot camps, wilderness programs, boarding schools, etc. that claim to be able to "correct" whatever ails your teen. They flaunt their exaggerated success rates and unidentifiable "testimonials" from so called parents.

Horizon Family Solutions has a policy of listing testimonials from actual parents and professionals who have given their permission to have their identity revealed. Websites with no identification of personnel and programs with no staff lists may actually be unlicensed or have previously been under investigation.

In one well known case a program actually had worthless accreditation, and parents and students did not find out until they went to to transfer the "credits" and found out they were worthless.

So, when your child needs help for some kind of behavioral problem, get OFF these Internet websites and look only for those sites that are identifiable by listing the owner of the site with name, address and phone number, have known associations to which they belong, share their mission statement and can provide both personal and professional references.

Coming soon -

One Size Does Not Fit All

‘Who knew!’

Therapeutic residential and wilderness programs are not
all the same
and neither are educational consultants or youth transport companies

For nearly 17 years, Dore Frances,M.A., Child Advocate and Independent Educational Consultant and Founder of Horizon Family Solutions, has assisted families and helped professionals find appropriate and best matched programs and schools for their at-risk preteen, teen and young adult.

TroubledTeenHelp.com offers Educational Consulting and other
specialized services to parents and professionals.

Yup, I’m still behind schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:00:00 +0000

- - Bear with me, I should have the E-Book ready by October.

Thanks for your patience, and for all of the interest!!

The word count for One Size Does Not Fit All has been ratcheting up steadily over the last five weeks, and I’m well within sight. Today, however, I took a step backwards. I cut a huge chunk out of one chapter because I’m in severe danger of overshooting that target. I cut 2,500 words, but then wrote 1,000 so the net loss wasn’t too dramatic. It was mainly undigested notes pasted in, so not a great loss.

My style is hardly terse, in fact it’s rather discursive (but not flowery, heaven forbid), so my editor will be able to trim some fat, but if I go too far over the top the page count of the book will go up, costs will rise, and that will either put pressure on my margins or the finished price of the paper book.

Not a problem for the pdf version, except perhaps for bandwidth issues.

Quality words only from here on in. I’m beginning to think about pictures and illustrations. Another bridge to cross (in due course).

A School Where One Size Doesn't Fit All

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Educator Hopes to Create Student-Centered Model

By Jay Mathews - Thursday, July 17, 2008; Page DZ03 - Washington Post Staff Writer

Growing up in Montgomery County, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and getting a law degree from Harvard, Alan M. Shusterman had been called brilliant but didn't feel that great.

He got a job in corporate law with a large Boston firm, but that didn't work for him, either. Gradually, he realized he wanted to teach children.

After three years introducing middle-schoolers at Sandy Spring Friends School to social studies, he decided on his life's work: starting a school like none the Washington area has ever seen.

Shusterman, 43, has assembled a board of advisers, found 15,000 square feet of commercial space a mile southeast of the White Flint Metro station and begun to recruit students for the private School for Tomorrow, scheduled to open in September 2009. Shusterman plans to start with about 50 students in sixth through ninth grades and expand through 12th grade. He said he expects to charge about $25,000 a year in tuition, the typical amount for independent schools in the Washington area, but the schedules and lessons will be radically different.

"The model is inspired by the success of home-schoolers," he said. Students will set their class schedules, enabling them to learn at their pace and in their styles. Teachers will act as advisers, not taskmasters.

As for homework, "the one-size-fits-all [model] mandated in today's schools is largely counterproductive," Shusterman says in a slide presentation he uses to sell his idea. School for Tomorrow will have a home reading requirement and "encourage and support individualized, student-initiated homework."

Much of Shusterman's plan is inspired by John Dewey, a 20th-century educational philosopher whose devotees have called for teachers to be "guides on the side, not sages on the stage."

Dewey led a movement called progressive education in which, he said, children learn best when pursuing individual projects that allow them to explore their world. Many teachers, in both private and public schools, use project-based learning to a degree. But at School for Tomorrow, Shusterman said, every course and project will be linked to this question: What does a high school graduate need to know and need to be able to do to thrive in college, the workplace and life in the 21st century?

Old divisions are to be discarded, he said. Students will ally with teachers to decide what and how to study.

Subjects such as math and science might be studied together when it makes sense. Class periods won't necessarily adhere to strict time frames as students take large chunks of time for individual or group projects.

Students of different ages will work together and learn from each other. Shusterman said he developed his ideas for the student-centered system during four years of research, which included home-schooling his daughter when she was in fourth grade in 2006-07.

She and his two sons are looking forward to "going to Dad's school," he said.

Shusterman said that he has found some teachers who share his view of educators as coaches and that he is looking for more. He said he is recruiting students mostly in Montgomery County and the District but is welcoming applications from elsewhere.

The school plan says there will be "widespread use of parents and community members" who will be trained to volunteer as mentors and sources of expertise.

Like all private school founders, Shusterman is spending a lot of time raising money. Many teachers with his ambitions start charter schools, because, as public institutions, they receive tax dollars for support.

But Shusterman said he wants to avoid the limitations and red tape that taking government money would put on his ability to do what he wants. Launching an independent, private school is something few in the region have done in recent years.

Elizabeth Downes, executive director of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, said that 11 schools have joined her private group in the past eight years, two of which were recent start-ups.

Shusterman said he hopes his school will set an example. It is important, he said, to serve "as a model for others with the long-term goal of causing widespread change in American secondary education, both private and, more importantly, public."

Table of Contents .... Sort of ......

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:25:00 +0000

The emails are flying in on a daily basis ... filled with questions about when the book will be available ..... what will be in the book ..... where can you get the book ...... why is the book not yet ready ...... how can you make sure you get the book ..... and the question I like best ..... who am I writing about? Well, I am not going to answer all of the questions now, but I will give you a teaser. The e Book will be available in 2009.

What will be in the book ... well, some of the things in the book are about understanding the nature of children, adolescents and young adults - ADD in children - Choosing a program that best fit's your child's needs - Effective parenting for the 21st century child - Evaluating residential, wilderness, aftercare and transport services - Help for single parents and step-parents - How residential therapeutic and wilderness programs are beneficial - Living with a teenager - Making the difficult choice when your family is in crisis to get outside help - Building self-confidence in children, teens and young adults - The delicate art of letting go when your child needs treatment- The parents work when their child is in treatment - Transporting your teen to a program - What happens when it is time for your child to come home from their program. Does that help answer your questions?

The E book will be available on the website at OneSizeDoesNotFitAll.info. The book is not ready yet because I took some time off from interviewing and traveling and will be starting again after the New Year. It never was scheduled to come out in 2008. I am not sure who started that rumor. To make sure you know what is happening, just come back here and check. The reason I started this blog was because of all the calls and emails I was receiving. As far as who I am writing the book about .... the intention of the book is about this industry, not any one person or any one place in particular. No one from the industry has sponsored the book, though I have had some inquiries. Those discussions are incomplete as of this writing. So, sorry to be so vague, but that is what happens when you are writing a book. At least that is what I have learned. One person even called for an interview and I said I was not ready. They were shocked. I am just not the kind of person that needs or wants all the hype.

I would rather concentrate on writing and making it be the best it can be. Thank you everyone for all your support. This is a goal worth waiting for as far as I am concerned. Some people will like the book, other's won't. That is fine with me. I look forward to all the comments, as you well know!

Dore E. Frances, M.A.

Have a Question? Get an Answer!

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:46:00 +0000

The book is not out yet ..... but do you need to Ask a Question now?

Do you need the answer or solution to a one-time question or problem, such as:

How do I choose a program that best fits my child's needs?
Does my child need a program or is this normal adolescent behavior?
How can an educational consultant help me and do I need one?
How to I go about getting my teen to their program?
Are all residential treatment centers the same?
What happens after my child comes home from wilderness or residential treatment?
What is parent coaching and how is it difference than therapy?

Email me your question - add "Advice Needed" in the subject line - dore@dorefrances.com

You may choose from several options below on the PayPal drop down list.

A simple answer to a basic question, maybe something about boarding schools programs in general, or perhaps a more specific answer is needed, or a very detailed answer that may need research and references or even a 15 minute call to answer some questions on the phone.

Make your payment via PayPal and you will receive your answer in a short period of time or I will contact you regarding setting up a phone time.

Oftentimes this can be within the hour.

All answers will be complete and thorough.

"I have been teaching middle school for thirty years and I get asked so many questions by parents all the time that I just do not have the time to research. Also, things change so much I just cannot keep up. I started referring parents to Dore and they have said it has been a great time saver for them in finding out some basic information and getting help on where to go for things like psychological testing. This is a well needed and very inexpensive service!" ~ Jon Aslan, Arizona

"I was feeling very apprehensive about the residential therapy program I choose for my daughter. I needed to know that I had made a safe choice. I asked Dore to help me specifically research this school to make sure they had no complaints against them. Just getting her genuine feedback gave me peace of mind. I have a feeling I will be using her again." ~ Rob Beare, California

I needed to locate an advocate and attorney in my state that would be able to assist me with my son and his IEP. I had been on the Internet and found all kinds of sites but did not know whom I could trust. I gave Dore the specific information and she emailed me a thorough list with names, addresses, contact numbers and their websites. I felt much better knowing these were people who would be able to assist me with my son's specific needs. I have already referred this low cost service to another parent. " ~ Robbi R., Washington

Okay, I admit it. I was freaking out. As a single parent I had a situation going on at home, it was evening time, and I just needed some quick advice. Having a 15 minute call with Dore (she actually gave me 25), was just the shot in the arm I needed to get through the little mini crisis. I think my child and I could have ended up in a big fight had I not had this time out time with Dore. She helped me get calm, centered and really see what was happening. It is great to know she is there if I ever need her again." ~ David B., Bend, Oregon

Dore E. Frances, M.A.
One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

Why eBook First?

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:23:00 +0000

In one sense, everyone's website is an eBook, and the Web is one huge library of interlocking eBooks.

I know, I have been reading a lot during my research. Basically, this eBook is was a way of presenting the collection of information electronically, with the added power of linking documents and collections of documents through hypertext links.

The liberating power of the Web is that documents can be viewed across a whole range of computer platforms, from mainframes to mobile phones.

The disadvantage of the Web is that to view the documents you have to be "online".

Benefits of eBook - One Size Does Not Fit All -

Once downloaded (from the Web or a CD ROM), eBooks can be viewed whilst offline (although some of the external links I have embedded will only work when you are online).
Unlike websites, it can be easily distributed to other users
Unlike standalone documents, such as a Word or Excel file, this eBooks contains a variety of documents and files, all conveniently packaged in a single file.
Unlike paper-based books, this eBooks can be easily updated. And believe me, with daily changes
in the industry, this is one of the main reasons the eBook is coming out first. This eBook will even have a link to a website which contains the latest downloadable version of the book. Again, another reason the eBook is coming out first, as updates are happening weekly in the industry.
The production cost of eBooks is minimal, a big benefit for you.
Because I have been advise to have security, parts of the eBooks may be compiled so as to disable printing unless paid for. It may also be password protected which will prevent individual files from being copied (although no-one has found a way of preventing anything from being re-typed!)

Just keeping you updated, as I said I would let you know what was decided before the end of the year.

Dore E. Frances, M.A.

Choosing a Program for Your Child Involves Research

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:31:00 +0000

As I sit here today and do more research for the book, I have to give thanks that I am no longer in the position of needing to decide on a program for my child. Choosing a program for your child involves some important research.

Because the experience will have significant impact on your child's life, it’s important for parents to learn to choose wisely. Many parents can benefit from guidance in this area. For example, some parents may send a child to a program without considering the child's needs and desires. School is an important part of a child's life. Most students spend the entire day in class and develop lifetime interests, friends, and social skills based on their experiences on campus.

Finding the right school can be nerve-racking for parents, especially if your child has special needs like ADHD, Asperger's syndrome, autism, or a learning disorder. Although the law guarantees a free public education to every child, mainstream schools often aren't equipped to meet the unique needs of these children. What if you need to consider a wilderness program? Parents often struggle with the decision to send their child to a wilderness program, especially in the winter.

You are not alone in this feeling.

Hike a mountain, kayak through white water rapids, bike cross country, backpack through a National Park, snowboard, or cook over an open fire. Some adventure wilderness programs offer this, other basic wilderness programs do not. What if you need a wilderness adventure program for a youth with learning disabilities? How much therapy does your child need?

What is that your child is suffering with - anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol dependence, eating disorders, grief issues, low self-esteem, oppositional defiance, post-traumatic stress disorder?

Will an Outward Bound course help your child or do they need something more?

Do wilderness programs work?

Do you need an Educational Consultant?

When you visit the thousands of sites on the Internet, are these all different programs, programs owned by the same corporation with multiple (dozens and dozens) of websites, or a telemarketing company hired by a group of programs to sell your child to them for commission? I am now seeing websites by residential programs that do not have wilderness programs asking you to contact them for wilderness program help.

When did they go out and visit all the wilderness programs? What programs are they recommending?

Where did they get their expertise in this area? Why are they even doing this when they focus is on residential? Are they getting kick-backs from wilderness programs they are recommending and will the wilderness program then recommend the child to them for residential placement? My head is spinning!

Quickly as I get back to my writing - Be very cautious of any websites that advertise troubled teen help that do not have a staff page listing key staff members along with their education and qualifications. Be very cautious of any website that does not list the name of the program and a physical address. All of the telemarketing websites will only list a toll free number as they represent several programs and schools that pay them to answer those phones and sell kids to their programs for a commission check. Ask a lot of questions and get a second opinion. Have someone else call them as well. You are not in this alone!

One Size Does Not Fit All
‘Who knew!’

Dore E. Frances, M.A.

Safe Choices for Troubled Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Residential treatment centers for troubled teens are plagued by allegations of abuse and ineffectiveness. What do concerned parents or parents in crisis do? Yes, it is a business.

Private residential treatment centers can cost as much as a year in college, or more in some cases.

Some insurance companies will cover some treatment at programs and schools accredited by Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), an independent, nonprofit organization that inspects and accredits nearly 16,000 health care facilities in the United States.

However, JCAHO’s standards are geared mainly toward monitoring surgical and pharmacological procedures. RTCs are more like boarding schools than traditional hospitals.

Articles in the New York Times and the UK Gu ardian document abuses at treatment centers abroad including Academy at Dundee in Costa Rica and Tranquility Bay School in Jamaica. Controversy has arisen in Tranquility Bay amid the death of a student, parent custody battles, and allegations of unlawful incarceration.Lawsuits have been brought against the Worldwid e Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), an affiliated group of private residential treatment centers and schools that manages Tranquility Bay. And there are many complaints about other RTCs on websites run by watchdog groups, parents, and survivors. In recent years, government agencies in other countries have begun to crack down on these American-owned programs; authorities in Costa Rica, Mexico and the Czech Republic have shut down at least four WWASPS programs thus far. Survivors and parents have formed watchdog groups and mounted education campaigns to warn other families about the risks. Parents do need to proceed with extreme caution when selecting a residential program. Educational Consultants can assist and help you stay in close touch when you place your child in a treatment program.

Parents investing in and using actual educational consultants with usually obtain good results , but here again, parents must be careful. Some people call themselves consultants and yet accept financial rewards for enrolling kids in specific programs, so bias could be a problem when this is happening. It is important to ask about any commercial or financial ties between your consultant and the programs and schools they are recommending so that you can evaluate their recommendations accordingly. Unfortunately, even when a parent finds a suitable program or school, there is no guarantee that the program will provide long-lasting results. And above all, whatever you are dealing with and whatever choices you make, experts agree, parents need to avoid giving in to despair or embarrassment that keeps them from seeking appropriate help. We all fear the stigma that is attached to ‘troubled teens.'

We want to protect our teen and ourselves from the judgments of others, however, it is important to get over this fear as quickly as possible—everyone knows someone who has a child who has 'fallen apart.'

Common sense, community support, and true professional assistance from someone who is traveling to visit dozens of programs each year are your best protections against the false promises offered by unscrupulous people who stand to profit from selling you an expensive residential program that may not be a best fit for your child and your family.

Even with the best programs, the most expensive programs, the longest in business programs - One size does not fit all!

Dore E. Frances, M.A.
Founder, Horizon Family Solutions
Author, One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

Is this a parent's parenting answer book?

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:38:00 +0000

I have been getting a lot of emails asking about the book and if I am adding answers to parents parenting questions in the book.

The answer is no ... and yes. No, this is not a comprehensive resource regarding parenting. Yes, it does offer advice and actual program, school, wilderness treatment, teen transport service resources. Not all of these resources are alike - thereby the name of the book - One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

The intention of the book is to share the first hand experiences and knowledge I have gained as a mother, child advocate, educational consultant and family coach with other parents and referring professionals who are in a position of needing to investigate and/or recommend residential / wilderness treatment for a child, teen or young adult. You will see the extensive research that has been compiled over the last several years that shows why searching on the Internet can be so aggravating, bewildering, confusing, devastating, energy wasting, frustrating, and just plain dangerous.

For example, Google in "Behavior Modification Program" and as of the time of our research, 8 months ago, we received 580,000 pages of advertised listing. Under those listings there was included:

Behavior Modification treatment center

Hospital Based Behavior Modification program

Outdoor therapeutic treatment program for troubled youth

Positive Youth Development program

Private therapeutic residential treatment program

Therapeutic Behavior Modification program

Therapeutic boarding school for struggling boys

........... Just to name a few!

Out of curiosity I just typed it in and there are now 1,680,000 pages. That is the increase in just 8 months!

Obviously not that many new programs opened, but advertising on the Internet has surely increased.

How does a family or a referring professional evaluate the effectiveness and safety of all these programs?

How do you overcome the feeling of hopelessness when faced at looking at all these pages?

How does a caring parent make a capable choice and important decision for their child?

Those are just some of the questions that are being answered in One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

Dore E. Frances, M.A., A.C.C.

Holiday Wishes for The Troops

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:25:00 +0000

This holiday season, you can send soldiers and wounded troops greeting cards - even when you don't know their names.

Through December 10th, the public can send their greeting cards, with adequate postage and a return address to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
Post Office Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD.
20791-5456

Please do not send care packages, inserts, money, or add glitter to your card.

"The eyes of the soldiers really light up when they see greeting cards sent from the American public," said Lt. Col. David Oclander. He was in Iraq around the time of last year's program and remembers seeing soldiers, even those in the most remote areas, carrying their cards around. "Some put their cards in their vehicles when they go out on patrol", Oclander said. "It really helps brighten their days, especially when they are enduring some long separations."

Please support our troops.

Dore E. Frances.M.A., A.C.C.

Tough Market Turns Schmoozing Into A Skill

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:59:00 +0000

Every program wants to make the right networking connections.

So does every Educational Consultant. But 2-1/2 hour lunches consume too much time and evening meetings cut into family time.

For myself, as an Educational Consultant, I am selective in choosing groups and organizations in which to give my time. I give them a certain amount of time, and if it is not working for me, I move on. With job cuts in the industry expected to continue, more programs are ramping up their networking efforts to build relationships in these bleak times.

Of course, widening circles isn't easy when a person's free time is already limited. The financial climate requires programs to shake off their uneasiness and schmooze effectively.

Especially for those that are smaller programs and have not been involved in networking before now. For any program that thinks they don't have time to network, think again. Networking is one of the most profitable activities that can be incorporated into everyday life. Creating and maintaining contacts can be strategic and needs to be focused.

It is all about developing relationships with people who can advance your business rather than just collecting business cards. Determine which groups and organizations to join. The same for Educational Consultants. It is about knowing what you need and knowing what you want.

Make a list of 8 people you want to meet or get to know better and figure out how to connect with them. Once you meet them, stay on their radar. That means staying in touch and you have to be the one that touches base with them. When you feel you are so important that they will want to touch base with you, think again. I see this error in thinking in both program admissions personnel as well as Educational Consultants. To foster relationship-building, you have to go beyond membership events or random meetings. And you cannot sit in your office waiting for the phone to ring. Well, you can, but it won't ring most likely. Distinguish yourself by being actively involved in your industry. This takes commitment and time. You have to cultivate relationships where people trust you. You cannot make that happen by attending a meeting or group event every now and again. And you cannot do that by doing nothing. Get together with small groups once a month. Make a shift in the way you think. And yes, it will be uncomfortable.

When you want to meet people, do not have an agenda. Your own agenda always gets in the way.

With limited time to network, join those professional groups or organizations that are willing to meet in smaller group settings once or twice a month rather than at just the large, overly priced, expensive conferences. Of course, the most time-efficient way to network varies by program or whether you are an Educational Consultant. Are you wanting to make connections within your profession, win new business for your program or school, or gain some name recognition?

When you want to become more visible, connect with people who share your passion and can position you to meet others who share your passion. Remember: people need to know you, like you, trust you, in order to refer to you. They need to know you exist. Regardless of your purpose for networking, there is no shortcut. It does require a plan. Most people think too broadly and join too many random groups.

Spend no less than four hours per week on networking and limit participation to no more than four groups or organizations. It is less about meeting new people than having them remember you after you have met. Learn about what your colleagues are doing and share stories. In this industry there are thousands of stories to share. Mingling can be a benefit. Mingling with others in your profession, whether a program or an Educational Consultant assists you because these people understand what you are feeling and thinking. A huge networking mistake is collecting business cards and shoving them in a drawer. Organize the business cards into a database and create relationship follow-ups. Effective networking culminates mutual success.

Create opportunities for other people and at the end of the day, it does come back to you.

Dore E. Frances, M.A.
Author, Educational Consultant
One Size Does Not Fit All

Are You Confused Yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:04:00 +0000

Results of about 1,770,000 for Addiction Treatment Resources

Addiction Treatment Resources

Alcohol Drug Treatment and Substance Dependency (On this site it is actually listed as - Alcohol Drug Treatment and Substatnce Dependency) - They misspelled Substance!

Behavior Modification Programs

Boarding Schools

Body Image and Disordered Eating Program

Christian Alcohol Treatment Center

Commercialized Teen Boot Camps

Drug Treatment Centers, Alcohol Rehab Programs, Dual Diagnosis

Eating Disorders - Residential Treatment Options

Hospitalization and residential treatment programs

Meth Treatment and Chemical Dependence

Residential psychiatric and substance abuse programs

Residential Treatment Center

Residential Treatment Options: Military Schools

Residential Treatment Options: Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Substance Abuse Treatment for Young People

The 12-Step Program

The Dual-Diagnosis Program

Therapeutic Boarding Schools

There are literally hundreds of residential treatment centers for troubled teens available

Traditional Military Boot Camps

One Size Does Not Fit All

‘Who knew!’

Therapeutic residential and wilderness programs are not
all the same
and ….
Neither are youth transport companies

Dore E. Frances, M.A.

New Book: One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:57:00 +0000

Dore's France's new book, One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!, is full of useful advice for parents. How can this book be put to use?

Q. Did you follow all your own recommendations when you took your daughter to a residential treatment center in 2001?

Dore: I assure you that I am far from a perfect parent. I learned a lot from my own experience and have taken those lessons and and many more as well as all these years of becoming more familiar with the industry, conducting my own interviews and extensive research, doing my due diligence on the road traveling at least one week out of every month to visit programs, schools, students and even camping out with a wilderness program because I believe that very child and every family deserves the best opportunity when faced with this choice and decision.

Q. What do you still struggle with?

Dore: My biggest weakness is the feelings I still carry about the industry. I would have made a different choice for my daughter back in 2001 if I had known then what I know now. That is not to say she is not successful in her life now at the age of 22, almost 23. In terms of the industry, it is different now than it was then and it will be different two years from now compared to what it is today. My most serious weakness is that I am always wanting to keep up with all the changes, which creates a workaholic.

Q. Why did you decide to work with children and families?

Dore: My mother died when I was 9 years old. I was adopted, so this sent me into a spin that lasted for many years, which is why I specialize in assisting adopted children and their families.
At about age 10 I was with my beloved grandfather, who had always been there for me, and we were taking a walk to the park, and he asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. " As long as I am working with kids like me, I will be happy," I said. I never changed my mind.

Dore E. Frances, M.A.
Founder, Horizon Family Solutions, LLC
Child Advocate
Educational Consultant

That's Right .... One Size Does NOT Fit All ....

noreply@blogger.com (Dore Frances PhD) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:54:00 +0000

A traditional African proverb says, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” It also takes a village to research and write a book.

Over the years of my life, my own “village” has included hundreds of different people from attorneys who mentored me into not attending law school, counselors who gave me extreme words of wisdom of which I still use today when assisting families, a dentist who let me see that compassion is still alive, friends who have come and gone, families I have assisted over the years, my grandfather who taught me to listen and observe, my Hospice trainer when I was a grief counselor, my Aunt Dorothy who never stopped loving me, not even for a second, kind people I have met in this industry, loving people I have met in this industry, my daughter who taught me the most valuable lessons of all and is still teaching me each and every day, my mother who died when I was 9 and left me with the most precious gift of all, my 5th grade school teacher who went out on a limb for me, and so many others who have crossed my path in the last 55 years of life. I am honored by all the people that have crossed my life path, whether casually or professionally. It is with their support that I ventured into writing this book abut the intense challenges that families face with raising children of the 21st Century.

The overwhelming experiences of who I have spoken with, what I have witnessed, what has been said to me regarding treatment options in this industry is why this book is being written.

There are still so many programs that are using methods that were first developed over 17 years ago. They do not work any longer. Many other programs have the vision to think and work outside the box not only with their staff but with the kids and families they assist.

Simply reducing behavior to a manageable symptom while in a confined setting is not an option that is worth paying for. Where can you turn to when you need a quick reference or even an answer about educational consultants, family and parent coaches, or a program for a student in crisis? In One Size Does Not Fit All, I am addressing hundreds of issues that are commonly faced when dads and moms are searching for assistance. Perhaps their child has been involved in the legal system or perhaps they are struggling with an eating disorder. In any case, this book will also assist not only parents but attorneys who work with juveniles, counselors who have hit the end of the road and need to tell a family what next steps might be, health care providers dealing with a crisis and need references for a family, school counselors and school psychologists, teachers and more. The book is designed for parents with kids of all ages, from 8 to 28.

Watch here for more information.

Dore E. Frances, M.A.
Founder, Horizon Family Solutions

One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

10 Questions to Ask Yourself (When Using a Troubled Teen Help Web Site)

Changes, Changes, Changes!!!

A Message to Parents

One Size Does Not Fit All

‘Who knew!’

Therapeutic residential and wilderness programs are notall the sameand neither are educational consultants or youth transport companies

TroubledTeenHelp.com offers Educational Consulting and otherspecialized services to parents and professionals.

Yup, I’m still behind schedule

A School Where One Size Doesn't Fit All

Educator Hopes to Create Student-Centered Model

Table of Contents .... Sort of ......

Have a Question? Get an Answer!

Email me your question - add "Advice Needed" in the subject line - dore@dorefrances.com

Why eBook First?

Choosing a Program for Your Child Involves Research

One Size Does Not Fit All ‘Who knew!’

Safe Choices for Troubled Teens

Is this a parent's parenting answer book?

Holiday Wishes for The Troops

Tough Market Turns Schmoozing Into A Skill

Are You Confused Yet?

Addiction Treatment Resources

Drug Treatment Centers, Alcohol Rehab Programs, Dual Diagnosis

Residential Treatment Options: Military Schools

Residential Treatment Options: Therapeutic Boarding Schools

Substance Abuse Treatment for Young People

The Dual-Diagnosis Program

One Size Does Not Fit All

‘Who knew!’

Therapeutic residential and wilderness programs are not all the same and …. Neither are youth transport companies

New Book: One Size Does Not Fit All - Who Knew!

That's Right .... One Size Does NOT Fit All ....

Therapeutic residential and wilderness programs are not
all the same
and neither are educational consultants or youth transport companies

TroubledTeenHelp.com offers Educational Consulting and other
specialized services to parents and professionals.

One Size Does Not Fit All
‘Who knew!’

Therapeutic residential and wilderness programs are not
all the same
and ….
Neither are youth transport companies