Alternative Schools for Kids With Substance Abuse in Pennsylvania

Private Residential Rehabilitation Institution

• There are currently 22 private residential rehabilitation institutions, in the state of Pennsylvania, that help support children and youth with substance abuse disorders. The goal of these institutions is to rehabilitate the students, educate them academically as well as teach them skills to "successfully reintegrate back into the community." Aside from providing instruction through curriculum based on state educational standards, a PRRI also provides "substance abuse education, counseling, treatment and relapse prevention."

Approved Private Schools

• Another option for schooling for children with substance abuse problems is an approved private school. Some of these schools have a "school-based partial hospitalization" program built into the school day. This means that while students are receiving instruction in academics, they are also learning coping skills taught by mental health professionals. Typically, these sessions with a mental health professional are done during whole group, small group and individual sessions with the therapist or social worker. There are currently 38 approved private schools in the state of Pennsylvania. It will be important to talk to personnel who deal with admissions at these schools to determine if it is an appropriate educational placement for the child. Since it is a private institution, services offered to the students will vary greatly from one school to another. Furthermore, the severity of the substance abuse may also be a determining factor, because the child may require more intensive interventions or therapy than the approved private school can offer.

Private Academic Schools

• Private academic schools function very similarly to approved private schools. The main difference is how these schools receive funding. For example, private academic schools may charge parents tuition, while approved private schools receive funding from school districts and the state. Therefore, some of these private academic schools can provide services to a child with substance abuse issues. This could be an alternative solution for educational placement for the student.