BPDFamily.com

therapeutic foster homes and if they seem to be helpful or hurtful when compared to a group home placement.  We have some tough choices to make and I know each individual is different and reacts differently in any situation.  Your input has helped me so much in these last few months that I feel it necessary to continue to ask for your guidance.  :)

Googie

Googie

I'm in the same boat about to find out what's out there... .I will share any information that I find.

Wish us luck!

Long term residential treatment that the family actively participates in would be my first choice.

If you believe this is not possible define the obstacles and take on each one step by step.  Most of the time it is financial... .why?  because your d is a minor and you have control over these choices.  It is a fact that you can place her in a place of your choosing as long as it is funded.

There are many members here who have had experience with funding rtc.

Personally we paid out of pocket and it was and continues to be a very good choice we made.  I understand that not all families can make this sacrifice.  There are options for personally funding rtc:

Home equity loan

Personal low interest loans (specifically designed for rtc)

Using her college fund (if you have one)

Other options:

IEP Funded

Insurance

State funded

lbj

My ds29 was in a private long term therapeutic boarding school from age 14 through high school.  These were schools that run 12 months a year.  It was determined that our local public school could not accommodate his needs so the school district picked up the entire tab.

Have you had your ds evaluated by a school appointed psychiatrist who will then make a recommendation?

The law is very exact.  Your ds is entitled to FAPE a free, appropriate public education.  If it is determined that your public school cannot provide that then alternatives must be found at their expense. 

If that's the case you will have some homework to do in choosing the best placement for ds.

She does not meet the requirements for IEP funding so she can not go to a residential school without us paying for it and since our family has 7 other children (yours mine and ours) we can not afford to pay for anything.  My credit is screwed so no loans either... .

We are looking into what our options are at this point.  We have an appointment at 1 today.  Keeping our fingers crossed that there will be some choices that make sense for her and our family.  So far, there have been very few that she/we qualify for.  I love our Easter Seals team, so I am praying that they have found a place for her.  :)


Googie

I will pray too Googie!

Googie I hope Easter Seals comes through for you.  Just curious... .why does dd not meet IEP requirements?

I am also going to contact Easter Seals to see if they can help my son with housing.

Because she can hold herself together enough at school where there is no immediate need for an alternate academic environment.  She was not able to hold it together 2 years ago, but for some reason the admin at her middle school kept playing games regarding my request for an IEP eval to the point where it then became the problem of her HS (which was the point of their games to begin with).  Since she started HS we have had nothing but great experiences with the special ed staff.

Googie

Sounds like you have had a rough time.  Praying that Easter Seals comes through...

We had problems in middle school which were similar. We could not get the school to cooperate even when our D's therapist would write reports and attend meetings. Finally, in 9th grade we got the attention and support we needed. Can you try and have a therapist write the request demonstrating that this is not new, documenting the long term process that has been in place with your child but that nothing has worked. Specifically requesting alternative support.

We are in the process of having her therapeutic team write referrals for alternative placement because all of the options available to her are short term placements, so we will be looking into having her placed through her IEP.  :)

Hope this works out to your family's benefit Googie,

let us know where you need help

lbj

Googie,

So this is good news yes?

We're not quite sure if we can get it done.  It's not looking good at this point.

G