Woodbury Reports, Inc.
Bonners Ferry, Idaho

---

Professionals
A Matter of Public Trust

Today on "Parent Choices for Struggling Teens", guests included leaders from professional associations in the network of private, parent choice schools, programs and services. Cliff Brownstein, Executive Director of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools And Programs (NATSAP), and Mark Sklarow, Executive Director of the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA), joined Lon Woodbury to discuss the term "professionalism" in the network representing families with children struggling with emotional, behavioral and learning problems.

The term "professional" has come into question recently, often due to those in the public eye who have acted unethically. So the first question asked for the guests' professional opinion of the definition of "a professional." Both Cliff and Mark agreed stated that a professional puts the needs of the client first.

In regards to their respective associations, the guests explained their roles in assisting professionalism. Cliff explained NATSAP oversees the standards of its members of private programs for youth and adolescents. These standards include a therapeutic licensure, accreditation by one of the four major accreditation bodies and at the time of joining and every year thereafter, they must sign off on the current code of ethics and best practices. Mark explained that IECA (and for the purpose of this interview, focused on 'special needs consultants') sets standards for member consultants. Consultants work directly for the family to "find the right path for the child."

Both organizations take their rules and standards very seriously. Any complaints are investigated immediately and if there is evidence of misbehavior, the consequences can be severe, ultimately with memberships expelled. "Ethics, trust, principals of good practice, and education are a priority," stated Mark.

Lon asked both guests what they do to counteract the allegations or claims when broached with the question of negative reports from the media or Internet about abuse. Both Cliff and Mark advise their members to share the good outcome stories, the success stories of these programs, of which there are hundreds. They also felt it was important to know how to balance the information out there.

"It is not going to be full sailing all the time. We are working with schools working with problem kids. There is going to be a problem once in a while." Negativity and false allegations sometimes come from kids who are or have been placed in a program and are resentful to everyone who sent them there. Often times, these kids were pulled before completion from the program or school, or a child that has returned home and has gone back to all the old negative dangerous patterns.

With the odds of "slim to none" in finding a good program directly off the Internet, it was highly suggested that parents need to do the research. "We advise the parents to check their state licensing bureau to see if there are any complaints filed against a program they may be interested in and to be sure a program is 'legitimate'. "Many sites are run to "recruit parents" or the website will deceive the public, by posting the NATSAP or IECA logo's on their site (even though they may NOT be members). Once again…parents need to do the research. With so many programs and schools to choose from and the thousand educational consultants out there, it is very important that parents find someone they can trust.

To listen to the full interview go to: Professionals: A Matter of Public Trust on LATalkRadio.
Also available in Podcast

Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00pm, Pacific Time, Channel One.

Clifford Brownstein is currently in his fourth year as the Executive Director of NATSAP and has spent his entire career working with trade and professional not-for-profit associations representing such diverse fields as accounting, law, medicine, banking, building inspection, scientific research, and motorcycling, boating, and private vocational schools, among others. He has served on the Board of Directors and as President of the Institute of Association Management Companies, has been a conference speaker on various association management topics, and has authored numerous articles for professional journals.

Mark Sklarow has served as Executive Director of the Independent Educational Consultants Association for nearly 20 years. He is a former civics teacher, dean of students at a Philadelphia High School, and Political Science instructor at Temple University.