The teenage years are a struggle for most people. Some teens, however, have serious behavioral and emotional issues that go beyond "typical teenager stuff". For these teens, living in a group home for a short time can help them get back on track. But many medical experts advise parents to choose a place that's close to home.

"Mecklenburg County [North Carolina] has more group home beds than any other N.C. county, making it a magnet for troubled kids. Sending them there also means they're often far from caseworkers and family support that experts say they need... More than a year ago, a coalition of judges, child advocates, mental health and school officials sent a letter across the state, warning counties to stop dumping their troubled youths in Charlotte. The letter said youths were 'being effectively abandoned.'"

Experts can point to many case studies which prove that keeping kids close to home, close to parents and support systems, increased their chances of success. Read more online.

Labels: behavioral_issues, emotional_issues, troubled_kids