This blog is a referral-free zone!

You know what this blog is, in addition to being the fastest-growing, most relevant, most pro-people blog on the Internets (sic)? This blog is also a referral-free zone! Can you say referral-free zone? Sure you can, boys and girls.

You know what a referral-free zone is? That means this blog won't refer you to "behavior modification" or other confinement facilities to send your kids. Somebody out there probably sees that I protest abusive centers, so they think I must know of some good programs I can recommend. But as a matter of policy, I try to avoid recommending places.

In fact, I don't even know of any programs that I'd favor. From the abuse that's been verified in numerous programs, I have no choice but to assume the worst about programs in general. One state in particular where I would not recommend a program is Utah, because Utah has so little oversight that it's become a magnet for abusive facilities. You have to err on the side of caution (everywhere, not just in Utah). This is especially true as many of these centers use deceptive marketing.

Some people will criticize some facilities but recommend others if they think they're up to snuff. I don't make recommendations, because that's not what I do. Whatever problems a teenager might be having, there's no way that a "tough love" confinement facility or "hospital" is the only option. Count on that.

If these programs are so great, why aren't the kids allowed to just get up and leave? Yes, I know what the excuse is going to be: "It's for their own good." Well, I'm almost 35, and I've known since I was 16 that's not true. From what I've seen, the "for your own good" mantra doesn't carry much weight with me.

You can educate yourself more about the teen confinement industry and the referral-free zone concept at:

http://www.referralfreezone.info