The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

As an organization that helps educate parents on researching residential programs for their struggling teen,  Parents' Universal Resources  is proud that since 2001 they have assisted  thousands  of families through their trying times. The internet has made it more confusing for most, but in many ways it can also be a tool. It's about sorting through the cyber-fiction to find the facts. We are contacted on a regular basis by parents, students and others that have been involved in residential therapy programs to increase our knowledge on what is happening in the field of therapeutic boarding schools. Firsthand experiences are priceless. My story  continues to be a familiar one to parents. Having a good teen that suddenly is someone you don't recognize -- as they start making bad choices, failing in school and hanging with a negative peer group. I share with parents frequently, learn from my mistakes, gain from my knowledge. My daughter suffered at th...

Parent Universal Resources is a service to parents and families to assist them with Parent Awareness regarding Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Residential Treatment Centers and Teen Help Programs for troubled teens on the East Coast. This industry is extremely competitive and can be very confusing. The “ desperate parent " is at high risk of making wrong decisions that may be detrimental to you and your child. Since we were once in that position, we want you to take comfort in the fact that you are not alone and give you the opportunity to learn from our experiences and more importantly, gain from our knowledge.  Researching can be time consuming and tedious, yet very important. How do you know if a program or school is right for your child or if they really are who they claim to be? We speak from our hearts and our experiences to give you a feeling of ease. Restricting your search to a geographical area limits your chances of finding the right placement for your child. ...

I’ve spent a lot of my life watching children — as a parent, and then working with parents of troubled teens. I’ve seen so many adolescents gravitate towards the wrong thing like moths to a flame. Even if they don’t dive into the fire, they almost can’t help but be drawn to it. It’s nothing new that teens put peers’ input above that of their parents. But what has changed? The input comes not just from classmates and neighbors, but from complete strangers who enter our children’s lives through their virtual world —  the Internet . When it comes to teenagers, it’s no surprise that social media is their virtual playground with  93 percent of teens checking YouTube weekly .  Why does this concern me? Over the last year, we’ve gotten just a rough idea of how much bad stuff kids can find on YouTube. Last May, researchers from a non-profit consumer group, the  Digital Citizens Alliance , searched YouTube for videos that came up after entering “ buy drugs without...

Your Child's Online Behavior Is a Reflection of Offline Parenting Raising children in a digital society can be challenging. Today kids are exposed to technology and are sometimes given their very own keypads in their first years of life. Generations earlier, the big talk was about the birds and the bees. Maybe parents would discuss this with us only a few times. A handful at the most -- sometimes not even that much in our adolescent years. Sex was (and is) a topic that many parents want to talk about as briefly as possible and then walk away. When it comes to the digital world, there is no walking away. The reality for today’s youth is that their online reputation will someday determine their college admission and very possibly their future employer. Every keystroke, post, and comment counts. Your child's online social skills are as critical as their offline people skills. Where do you begin? In tech terms -- by chatting . The tech talk is not a conve...

Bullying and cyberbullying is an issue that everyone is concerned about.  From verbal abuse to online harassment, words can be used as lethal weapons. On the same measure, words can be used to build people up too! Your words matter, keystrokes count — how will you use them? One of the most important ways your child can be proactive in helping others that are victims of cruel behavior such as bullying, is to become an  upstander . 10 ways to become an upstander by  School Climate : Learn more about mean, cruel, and bullying behavior.  Educate yourself and your community with the resources on  BullyBust.org . For example: Why do kids bully? Where does bullying take place most often in your school? What are the effects of bullying? How can we prevent it? Understanding this information will help you if you are bullied, and will help you to stand up to bullies if a friend or classmate is being bullied. Help others who are being bullied.  Be a frien...

A parent’s worst nightmare is surviving a child’s suicide. It’s not natural to outlive your child, especially to suicide. September is  National Suicide Prevention Month  however this topic is one that needs attention 365 days a year. Kids In The House  offers a library of videos by experts to help educate parents on teen suicide prevention.  Today’s generation of online peer pressure in combination with offline only complicates our teen’s stress and anxiety. The world of cyberspace has created a new level of concern for many parents – and they must continue to be in touch with their teen’s emotional lives both offline and online.  It’s why your offline chats are so important –  frequently . American Foundation for Suicide  offers the following warning signs for parents of teens and youth: Take it seriously, even if your friend brushes it off Suicidal ideation (continual suicidal thoughts) is not typical and reflects a larger problem...

What teens need to know before they start dating. One day, your little one is skipping down the sidewalk with her hair in pigtails and a firm grip on a teddy bear. The next, it seems like, she’s bouncing down the stairs on her way to greet her first date. Watching kids grow and mature, especially during the teenage years, can be a bittersweet experience. It can also be the harbinger of the most difficult period of your parenting career. Preparing your child for the world of adult interactions, romantic entanglements and independence isn’t always easy, especially when you’d much rather they stayed small forever. Just as you can’t keep a child from growing into an adult, neither can you stem the tide of romantic attraction and the desire to date. All you can do is hope that you’ve instilled the values that you set out to, and that you’ve adequately prepared your teenager for the complicated and sometimes painful world of dating. The Friendship Code There are certain rules that c...