A Parent's Guide to Hiring an Educational Consultant

By Kenneth Davis

A Parent's Guide to Hiring an Educational Consultant is a guide for parents that explains the role, the process, and the value of retaining an Educational Consultant (EC). In addition, it includes relevant topics of interest for parents or families addressing the educational challenges for children, adolescents, and young adults. These include what parents need to know to find an Educational Consultant, and their professional memberships in helping parents.  he schools and programs they work with, the settings where students can thrive, questions parents might ask when hiring an EC, and the available financial resources for schools and programs. Furthermore, the guide discusses boarding schools, day schools, residential treatment, recovery programs, sober living programs, therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness therapy, gap year, and college placement programs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Davis
• Release date: Apr 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665535953

Kenneth Davis

Kenneth Davis, M.A. Ed., an Independent Therapeutic Educational Consultant, is a graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. He earned his Master of Arts Degree in Education Technology in 2004 and Bachelor of Science from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX. Mr. Davis has worked in the health care and education fields for many years and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults in multiple health care settings. He is a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, the Small Boarding School Association, and the Better Business Bureau. He holds professional membership in the Therapeutic Educational Consultant Association and is listed with Boarding School Review. In addition, Mr. Davis has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for over 25 years. He has worked in multiple health care settings ranging from a general hospital to a residential treatment center for children and adolescents. In addition, he has worked as a Special Education teacher for nearly a decade. Additionally, Mr. Davis is known for his exceptional skills in pinpointing the needs of families and determining the paths to academic and emotional growth for students from all backgrounds and grade levels. He has worked as an Educational Consultant since 2004. Moreover, he has toured young adult programs, boarding schools, and colleges for many years averaging 50 program tours per year. The author has placed students in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, California, Hawaii, New York, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. In addition, Mr. Davis has lived in Michigan, Virginia, New Hampshire, Texas, New York, and the US Virgin Islands. He currently resides in Arizona. Mr. Davis has written articles for Raising Arizona Kids magazine and the Arizona Black Pages. In addition, he has appeared on AZ Family with Tess Rafol, a local television host in Phoenix, and on a podcast for Business Networking in New York. Kenneth Davis wants each parent to recognize his commitment to children. His expressed interest is in providing helpful information to parents to improve their children’s academic and emotional health. He developed this guide as a valuable tool for parents.

Book preview

`

© 2022 Kenneth Davis M.A., Ed. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Cover design: Nancy Kekich

Content/Copy Editor: Sandra Huston

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021917475

ISBN: 978-1-4567-0130-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-3595-3 (e)

Print information available on the last page. Published by AuthorHouse 02/27/2022.

DISCLAIMER

This guide's purpose is not to identify all ECs and TCs but to share with parents those interests that are best suited to the families we serve. We recognize that each independent Educational Consultant or Therapeutic Consultant has their practice and memberships to which they belong. Therefore, we don't hold liable any consultant for the information contained in the guide, nor do we hold liable any of the associations or programs which represent independent Educational Consultants to any parts of the guide.

The author holds full responsibility for the guide's content, which the he and the editor have carefully researched. No one can use the guide for personal use or claim information without the author's permission. All rights reserved.

I am eternally appreciative of my mother, Jewell Davis (l), and my grandmother, Alice Owens (r), for their unconditional love, which allowed me to become who I am as a person and a Consultant. As a child, they instilled principles that remain with me today. Together they represent an eternal love for me as a son and grandson.

About the Author

Kenneth Davis, M.A. Ed., an Independent Therapeutic Educational Consultant, is a graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. He earned his Master of Arts Degree in Education Technology in 2004 and Bachelor of Science from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX.

Mr. Davis has worked in the health care and education fields for many years and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults in multiple health care settings. He is a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, the Small Boarding School Association, and the Better Business Bureau. He holds professional membership in the Therapeutic Educational Consultant Association and is listed with Boarding School Review. In addition, Mr. Davis has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for over 25 years. He has worked in multiple health care settings ranging from a general hospital to a residential treatment center for children and adolescents. In addition, he has worked as a Special Education teacher for nearly a decade.

Additionally, Mr. Davis is known for his exceptional skills in pinpointing the needs of families and determining the paths to academic and emotional growth for students from all backgrounds and grade levels. He has worked as an Educational Consultant since 2004. Moreover, he has toured young adult programs, boarding schools, and colleges for many years averaging 50 program tours per year.

The author has placed students in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, California, Hawaii, New York, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. In addition, Mr. Davis has lived in Michigan, Virginia, New Hampshire, Texas, New York, and the US Virgin Islands. He currently resides in Arizona.

Mr. Davis has written articles for Raising Arizona Kids magazine and the Arizona Black Pages. In addition, he has appeared on AZ Family with Tess Rafol, a local television host in Phoenix, and on a podcast for Business Networking in New York.

Kenneth Davis wants each parent to recognize his commitment to children. His expressed interest is in providing helpful information to parents to improve their children’s academic and emotional health. He developed this guide as a valuable tool for parents to make the right choice in finding an Educational Consultant. His commitment is to help families and believes the guide will be of great benefit to families

Contents

......................................................

Introduction.........................................................

PART I—Why Parents Should Hire an Educational Consultant......................

What Is an Educational Consultant?.........................................

What Is a Therapeutic Consultant?..........................................

School Connections: A Tool for EC Collaboration?...............................

What Is Placement?.....................................................7

Who Makes Placement Decisions?..........................................7

What Is an International Agent?............................................8

The Benefits of Hiring an Educational Consultant................................

The Roles of an Educational Consultant......................................

Best Practices of the Educational Consultant..................................

Confidentiality........................................................

PART II—What Parents Need to Know About Educational Consultants...............

How Do Parents Find an Educational Consultant?..............................

How Much Do Educational Consultants Charge?...............................

What Services Do Educational Consultants Provide?............................

How Consultants Help Parents............................................

Arranging to Meet with Parents............................................

How 21st Century Educational Consultants Communicate........................24

PART III—How Educational Consultants Work with Parents and Families........

How We Work with Separated or Divorced Parents.............................

Co-Parenting.........................................................

Helicopter Parents.....................................................

Home Intervention.....................................................

Parent Coaching......................................................

PART IV—What Parents Need to Know About the Placement Process...............

How Placement Works..................................................

The Goal of Placement.................................................

Tours and Placements..................................................

Placement Challenges..................................................

Helping Parents Find the Best Fit..........................................

Working with a Transport Service..........................................

PART V–What Parents Need to Know About the Financial Piece...................

The Financial Piece....................................................

The Cost of Boarding School.............................................

Financial Aid: College vs. Boarding School...................................

What Parents Need to Know About College Costs..............................

Special Education Funding...............................................

Helping Parents Understand School Choice..................................

Helping Parents Understand Insurance Costs for Therapeutic Boarding Schools........

Merit & Need-Based Scholarships and Financial Aid............................

PART VI—What Parents Need to Know About Special Needs Classifications........

The World of Special Needs Classifications...................................

What ‘On the Spectrum’ Means to Parents...................................

Recognizing ADHD and ADD.............................................

Non-Verbal Learning Disorder/Disability.....................................

What Parents Need to Know About Child Advocacy.............................

The Therapeutic Boarding School Environment................................

Therapeutic Boarding School Placement.....................................

Oregon’s Pending Legislation for Therapeutic Placements........................71

PART VII—What Parents Need to Know About Head and Spinal Cord Injuries..........

Helping Parents with Brain-Injured Students..................................

Helping Parents Understand Brain Injury Scales...............................

About Students with Spinal Cord Injuries.....................................

PART VIII—What Parents Need to Know About Various Mental Health and

Learning Disabilities....................................................

Students with Varied Mental Health Conditions................................

What Parents Must Know About Eating Disorders..............................88

Language-Based Learning Disabilities.......................................

Students with Central Auditory Processing Disorder.............................

Educational Rights for Children with ADHD...................................

Working with Students with Severe Emotional Conditions.........................

Detecting Autism and Recent Research on Causes of Autism......................

For Parents with Children with Developmental Disabilities........................

Students Who Need Vocational Rehabilitation Services..........................

PART IX—What Parents Need to Know About Physical Challenges.................

Meeting the Unique Needs of Students with Visual Impairment or Deafness..........

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities...............................

Students with Teenage Diabetes.........................................

PART X—What Parents Need to Know About Boarding Schools..................

Helping Parents Understand the Boarding School Environment...................

Understanding Therapeutic Boarding Schools................................

Boarding School Review: Its Development..................................

Why Is Boarding School Review So Effective?................................

Myths About Boarding School............................................

Advanced Placement Courses in Boarding Schools............................

Military Boarding Schools...............................................

Diversity in the Boarding School Community.................................

Athletic Activities in Boarding Schools......................................

The History of Native Americans in Boarding Schools..........................

Religiously Affiliated Boarding Schools.....................................

PART XI—What Parents Need to Know About Other Types of Schools

and Programs.......................................................

Residential Treatment Programs..........................................

Day Schools, Day Programs, and Private Schools.............................

Canadian Private and Independent Schools.................................

Junior Boarding Schools for LD Students....................................

Young Adult Programs for Women and Men.................................

Wilderness Therapy...................................................

Adventure Therapy....................................................134

Why Do Parents Need an IEP?...........................................

Challenging an IEP....................................................

Helping Parents Understand Charter Schools................................

The Every Student Succeeds Act.........................................

PART XII—What Parents Need to Know About International Placement Options.......

International Student Placement..........................................

Boarding Schools in England and the United Kingdom..........................

Requirements for Getting a Student Visa....................................

Language and Multi-Cultural Enhancements.................................

The Influence of China on the World Economy................................

The Global Market....................................................

Arranging for Parent/Student Tours........................................

PART XIII—What Parents Need to Know About College Placement................

College Testing......................................................

Understanding the SAT and ACT.........................................

What Parents Need to Know About the Gap Year..............................

College Placement for Special Needs Students...............................

The College Level Exam Program................................

Gifted Students Attending College Early...........................

Historically Black Colleges and Universities.........................

College Challenges..........................................

PART XIV-What Parents Need to Know About Drug Use and

Sexual Addiction............................................

Prescription-Drug Use Among Adolescents............................

Parents Unable to Detect Prescription Drug Abuse.......................

Why Random Screening Is in Schools................................

Vaping and E-Cigarettes..........................................

How Do We Get Kids into Treatment?................................

What Is a Sober Living House?.....................................

Working with Students with Sexual Abuse Issues........................

What to Do When Your Teen Refuses to Go into Counseling...............

What to Do When Your Teen Gets into Trouble.........................

PART XV—Summary of Guide Benefits and Resources for Parents..........

Benefits of the Guide............................................

Parent Resources...............................................

Conclusion....................................................

Our Appreciation...............................................

Glossary.....................................................

Introduction

A Parent’s Guide to Hiring an Educational Consultant opens discussions on various topics related to helping parents and families. It contains information for parents about Independent Educational Consultants (referred to as ECs) and our services. Its purpose is to explain to parents the process of working with an EC. In addition, the guide presents various settings where ECs place students.

This guide explores the EC’s role in these settings and provides parents with information about working with their child, adolescent, or young adult. Additionally, it presents the correct information related to placement challenges, enabling and guiding parents in the selection process. There is a dedicated space in the guide that follows each Part / Chapter where parents can keep notes on information shared in the guide.

We give you honest answers to your questions. As a general rule, many parents ask similar questions like, What is the best place for my child to receive a good education? Or, Where do I send my child who has special needs? Or, My child is having a lot of challenges in school and at home; can you help? This guide answers these questions and more. Furthermore, we will discuss many of the challenges parents face, like ensuring good education, managing information overload, and finding family/life balance in today’s demanding world of learning and education.

This guide allows parents to examine why they need to hire an Educational Consultant and the benefits. Parents will find working with an EC will simplify the process of finding the right fit for their child, adolescent, or young adult.

PART I—Why Parents Should Hire

an Educational Consultant

What Is an Educational Consultant?

According to Boarding School Review, a boarding and day schools directory, an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC), is a professional the family pays to advise them on the boarding school search and admissions process. Many offer full-service, comprehensive packages for a set price, while others quote an hourly rate. Your consultation generally starts with a focus on the student’s background and interests. An IEC talks with the student and parents about future goals and their expectations of the boarding school experience. Source: Boarding School Consultants Definition, 2020.

Likewise, the Therapeutic Consultants Association (TCA) states an EC is a skilled professional who provides counseling to help students and families choose a school, college, or another program that is an excellent personal match to foster the student’s academic and social growth.

According to the All Kinds of Therapy website, the term Educational Consultant harkens to the early days of specialized boarding and day school placements in traditional prep schools and elite colleges. ECs worked with families to help prepare students to secure enrollment in prestigious institutions and usher students through the college or graduate school application and decision process. Today many ECs still work exclusively in this field.

Additionally, the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) says, an independent EC can provide students and families with individual attention and firsthand knowledge of hundreds of educational opportunities. They allow the time to explore all options, such as schools, colleges, or other suitable programs. They broaden potential choices and provide vital assistance in weighing factors such as cost, location, and curriculum due to their extensive knowledge. (iecaonline.com/quick-links/parents-students/what-is-an-independent-educational-consultant/)

Other ECs work beyond the definitions above. They may be working with a family doing student academic, functional, or intellectual testing. They may have a specialty area in their practice, i.e., law school, medical school, and para-professional schools. Perhaps they focus primarily on international students. They have developed a unique subset of educational consulting. Educational Consultants and Therapeutic Consultants provide interventions (counseling). An intervention is a coordinated effort by one or more people—usually a family member or friends—to get someone else into or seek treatment. It can be conducted by a professional, TC or EC, with addiction knowledge to get this person into treatment. The event leading to the search for treatment might result from a traumatic event.

Often, the work of a Consultant and an Interventionist is similar. They work with admissions counselors, RNs, case managers, psychologists, dorm parents, and drug counselors to determine proper placement. Based upon the EC’s findings, Interventionists can also help get the student into the appropriate treatment facilities. Ultimately, the EC’s purpose is to work with students and families in finding the right fit.

Choosing to work with an experienced EC can increase a family’s likelihood of success in determining an appropriate level of care and service to enhance the potential for successful placement. The key to success is supporting the decision-making process and encouraging the family to complete the assessment and treatment process.

It is paramount that ECs maintain independence from the programs and schools they refer clients to avoid ethical conflicts. Their job is to help families examine, assess, and engage with the best wraparound services as well as home placement, day treatment, or residential treatment options. Optimal placement comes through interviews, assessments, an investigation of the family dynamics, and corroborating research of the programs, their number of clients per year, and their professional experience. In addition, ECs help families narrow down and understand the bank of options that exists.

What Is a Therapeutic Consultant?

All Kinds of Therapy states that Therapeutic Consultants (TCs), sometimes called Interventionists, are placement experts. They usher a family through an assessment and placement process that could result in boarding school, day school, a stabilization or treatment program, hybrid therapeutic gap year, a transitional young adult living program, or college. The results all depend on the consultants’ expertise and your child’s needs. At times the process can feel to a family like it is informal and off-the-cuff. However, a good consultant is like a good surgeon—dealing with complex family systems and diagnoses all the time. They can be a Swiss army knife regarding the available options, professionals, and treatment programs. A good TC predicts the roadblocks a family will have and, where possible, creates an alliance with the family and troubled teen or young adult client.

Educational Consultants usually meet parents and students before making placement decisions. However, suppose an emergency comes up that requires immediate intervention, like an overdose, threats of violence, or suicide attempt? The best choice of a consultant in this instance is a Therapeutic Consultant rather than a college EC. The Therapeutic Consultant’s focus will be on critical placement. In that case, the TC will immediately work to prevent harm to the child and the family. Prevention may include or require medical attention, law enforcement, emergency ambulatory care, stabilization unit, or outpatient services at a hospital. An EC with knowledge and background is better equipped to understand these situations and address the problem quickly. Some ECs admit that they don’t work with children in an acute care setting. A college or boarding school EC could use these skills but generally may not have training in dealing with crises. An example: might be a child who has taken an overdose and needs immediate medical attention, not a decision on placement at a boarding school or therapeutic program until they have stabilized. We believe it’s critical in this case to be connected to a TC instead of an EC.

Many TCs provide help to parents of young adults in school and program placement. The ages of these children might range from 18-30 years. According to our contacts with programs across the country, placements for young adults have increased into the adult population. Some programs have worked with adults up to the age of 50 and beyond. In a more clinical setting like those in Wickenburg, AZ, The Meadows Ranch for eating disorders (age seven and up) and the Claudia Black Treatment Center for addiction, trauma, and depression (age 18-26), the age range for treatment has increased from adolescence to adulthood.

The level on which a TC might work is varied, and parents who have small children through young adults might find themselves working with a TC in so many types of settings. The range of services in these settings might include individual or group therapy, daily living skills, job skills, or placement in a community to address the individual needs of students who have enrolled in college. Additionally, as substance use among young people increases, a TC might be the better fit for helping a family. While there are benefits to working with ECs and TCs, a TC’s expertise can be invaluable. For example, therapeutic consultants work in programs like The Dorm, the hybrid (In-Person + Virtual) mental health treatment program that is a residential program for college students located in Washington D.C. and New York City (TheDorm.com).