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

Utah River View in La Verkin River View River View Academy Not exactly sure?  Neither was a parent when she called me after surfing the Internet and coming across a marking arm that attempted to tell her that her son was a perfect fit for this program. As a parent advocate for over a decade, I have certainly heard and visited many schools and programs in our country and this one really confused me.  Why? Well - La Verkin, Utah is very small and the home of Cross Creek which is part of the organization that harmed my own daughter years ago and defrauded me. They are also part of many allegations of abuse, fraud and currently involved in yet another lawsuit .  Are you looking for residential therapy for your at-risk teen?  I commend you for being proactive - don't give up your search.  There are actually more good programs than there are not so good.  However it is imperative you do your research and dig deep. Know the questions to ask . ...

Teens smoking cigarettes is not want parents like, however unfortunately with peer pressure, sometimes our kids feel the need to fit in. Most know that smoking is bad for you, yet as with kids, they don't worry about the consequences. Kids can get pretty creative when it comes to hiding their bad habits from parents and most parents assume that their child would never do anything like take drugs, drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. In all cases there are certain signs to watch for that let you know if your child is indulging in any of these risky behaviors, no matter how crafty they may be at trying to hide them. Here are some signs to watch for if you think your child may be smoking. More use of breath mints or chewing gum – Has your child suddenly felt it necessary to always chew gum or have breath mints? If so, there is a chance that they might be trying to cover up the bad breath that smoking causes. The dirty ashtray smell – Chances are if you confront...

Parenting teens in today's society is not an easy task.   Communication with your teenager is key to their success on many levels, however as a mother that raised two teenager, I know it is easier said than done.   Drug and alcohol use among teens is an issue parents need to be aware of.    There are many good kids making some very bad choices.    A common misconception parents make is thinking that a teen that is only smoking marijuana is a phase.   Marijuana and the substitutes for it, such as spice, are more risky and dangerous than years/generations prior.   They can be laced with higher levels of PCP than can literally alter the mind of your teen as well as cause brain damage.  Drug use (substance abuse) is a serious cry for help, and making your teen feel ashamed or embarrassed can make the problem worse. Some common behavior changes you may notice if your teenager is abusing drugs and alcohol are: Violent o...

You have finally reached your wit's end with your teenager. You have exhausted all your local resources, your nerves are fried, you have removed all their privileges and nothing is making a difference - you are literally a hostage to your own child! What now? It is time for outside help... but you get online and realize first the sticker shock.... (price of programs and schools) then you see all these horror stories - EXACTLY WHO SHOULD YOU BELIEVE? Your gut! Years ago I was in your exact spot - and I didn't listen my gut, and the results were not good, however it had a purpose.  The reason was to be a part of helping parents not make the mistakes I did. When you get online you will see many toll free numbers going to places unknown.  Usually sales reps that will more than happily give you a list of programs that they believe will be perfect for your child - but how do they know? Point is - you don't want a sales rep - you don't want a marketing arm, y...