Scared Straight program for girls?

[frequentflier]

A friend of mine has a 15 y.o. daughter that is running away, skipping school and hanging with the *wrong* crowd. My friend and her family recently moved back to the area and the father travels a lot.
I don't have children and know I am not in a position to give advice. In fact, when I was this child's age, I was living in my own apartment and working on my GED.
Does anyone know of a scared straight or boot camp type program for girls in this area?

 

[Aerogal]

I don't know of any programs, but mom should get her a birth control implant put in.

Or go on the web and look at some pictures of meth girls, venereal deseased private parts, abused/malnourished children et..... Show her the glam side of bad behavior choices.

 

[RoseRed]

Beyond Scared Straight - Video - A&E TV

 

[bresamil]

Father travels alot....daughter in trouble alot....sounds like she's looking for attention.

 

[Sweet 16]

All the "boot camp" this girl needs is for BOTH of her parents to show they care by putting their boot up her butt and scaring her straight themselves. Or send her away to reform school and make her someone else's problem.

 

[pumpkin0824]

Maybe instead of trying to scare her from the wrong path you should try showing her the right path. Find out what she wants in life. Does she want to go to college, and dont just assume because she is acting the way she is now that she doesnt. Take her to one and show her why she needs to straighten her act up.
For me, when I was 15, I was doing exactly the same things you described and what turned me around was me deciding that I wanted to go to college and be better than the crowd I was hanging with and that was enough for me. I went from just barely passing my freshman year (still not sure how I managed to pass) and still goofing off the beginning of my sophmore year to graduating in the top 10 of my class (number 8 of 200+). But if someone would of tried to "scare me straight" when I was 15, I can guarantee I would of just rebeled even more and would of probably stayed with the wrong crowd doing the wrong things.

 

[withrespect]

A friend of mine has a 15 y.o. daughter that is running away, skipping school and hanging with the *wrong* crowd. My friend and her family recently moved back to the area and the father travels a lot.
I don't have children and know I am not in a position to give advice. In fact, when I was this child's age, I was living in my own apartment and working on my GED.Does anyone know of a scared straight or boot camp type program for girls in this area?

They leased an apartment to a 15-year-old?

 

[frequentflier]

They leased an apartment to a 15-year-old?

Yes. In the 70's it was possible. l also had no problems buying beer and cigarettes when I went to the grocery store for food. Someone pulled some strings for me to take my GED when I was 16 (instead of 18 and out of school for 2 years)
And I think I turned out pretty good

 

[withrespect]

Yes. In the 70's it was possible. l also had no problems buying beer and cigarettes when I went to the grocery store for food. Someone pulled some strings for me to take my GED when I was 16 (instead of 18 and out of school for 2 years)
And I think I turned out pretty good

 

[poster]

A friend of mine has a 15 y.o. daughter that is running away, skipping school and hanging with the *wrong* crowd. My friend and her family recently moved back to the area and the father travels a lot.
I don't have children and know I am not in a position to give advice. In fact, when I was this child's age, I was living in my own apartment and working on my GED.
Does anyone know of a scared straight or boot camp type program for girls in this area?

It's nice of you to try and help but this type of behavior doesn't just start overnight. Sounds like she's looking for attention, the mom and dad need to do some serious stepping up.
What are the reasons the teenager gives for doing these things?

 

[poster]

Maybe instead of trying to scare her from the wrong path you should try showing her the right path. Find out what she wants in life. Does she want to go to college, and dont just assume because she is acting the way she is now that she doesnt. Take her to one and show her why she needs to straighten her act up.
For me, when I was 15, I was doing exactly the same things you described and what turned me around was me deciding that I wanted to go to college and be better than the crowd I was hanging with and that was enough for me. I went from just barely passing my freshman year (still not sure how I managed to pass) and still goofing off the beginning of my sophmore year to graduating in the top 10 of my class (number 8 of 200+). But if someone would of tried to "scare me straight" when I was 15, I can guarantee I would of just rebeled even more and would of probably stayed with the wrong crowd doing the wrong things.

I agree, perhaps 'fun' time spent with the mother or even you would be the attention she needed. Or even encouraged time spent with others the parents approve of might spark some interest in something other than trouble.

 

[frequentflier]

It's nice of you to try and help but this type of behavior doesn't just start overnight. Sounds like she's looking for attention, the mom and dad need to do some serious stepping up.
What are the reasons the teenager gives for doing these things?

Honestly, I am not involved besides being friends with the Mom. This young girl is "in love" with a *bad boy* and thinks he will love her back if she tries to be everything she thinks he wants her to be. He comes from a dysfunctional family with parents that sound like total losers. They have encouraged this minor girl to come to stay with them.
The daughter has always had good grades and has made good decisions until this "bad boy" came along.

 

[wineo]

Contact Tri County Youth Service they have office in St. Mary's , they have programs to help with problems like this.

 

[aps45819]

What are the reasons the teenager gives for doing these things?

Most likely "I don't know"

 

[withrespect]

Most likely "I don't know"

true story...

 

[RoseRed]

Honestly, I am not involved besides being friends with the Mom. This young girl is "in love" with a *bad boy* and thinks he will love her back if she tries to be everything she thinks he wants her to be. He comes from a dysfunctional family with parents that sound like total losers. They have encouraged this minor girl to come to stay with them. The daughter has always had good grades and has made good decisions until this "bad boy" came along.

Have the police been involved regarding this issue? Wouldn't this fall under contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

 

[bohman]

Have the police been involved regarding this issue? Wouldn't this fall under contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

If somebody else decides that my minor daughter should live with them instead of me, then there's going to be an ass-whooping at somebody else's house.

 

[RoseRed]

If somebody else decides that my minor daughter should live with them instead of me, then there's going to be an ass-whooping at somebody else's house.

Absolutely.

 

[poster]

Have the police been involved regarding this issue? Wouldn't this fall under contributing to the delinquency of a minor?

I would wonder this myself. How old is this boy?

Invite him to everything, diner, shopping, visiting grandma, just come over and hang out. Make it a rule he can come over anytime but she can't go to his house. My guess is he won't want to do this. At this point remind her that if he was truely 'in love' with her he would want to spend time with her no matter where. If anything a closer eye could be kept on her, she's going to find a way to see him reguardless.

I have an uneasy feeling though about what hasn't been said.
I think there's a little more going on at home than you're being told.

 

[frequentflier]

Thanks for all the replies. There probably is more going on than I know about.

One thing is for certain: I am glad I chose to never have children. I can see where children can bring some people a lot of joy. But I can also see the heartache, frustration and guilt from the other end of the spectrum.