Corey Jentry: "I Thought, It Was Going to Be a Lifeline It Quickly Turned Into a Trap”

According tothe American Bar Association, between 120,000 and 200,000 young people residein various types of group homes, residential treatment centers, boot camps, orcorrectional facilities in the United States. Although the exact number ofprivate placements is uncertain, it is estimated that over 50,000 of theseyouth have been placed in such facilities privately by their parents. TheAssociation also reports that the “troubled teen” industry is a significantbusiness, receiving around $23 billion annually in public funds to supposedlyaddress the behavioral and psychological needs of vulnerable youth. Many ofthese residential facilities operate as for-profit organizations.   The AmericanCommunity Survey indicates that approximately 17% of all children under the ageof 18 in the U.S. live in families below the poverty line, which means over 10million children are part of low-income families considered at-risk.   The $23billion figure refers to congregate care facilities, which include wildernessand boot camps for youth with behavioral issues, residential treatmentprograms, hospitals, “therapeutic” boarding schools (also known as“academies”), behavior modification programs, and youth justice facilities.   Dr. CoreyJentry, author of "Selling Sanity: The Troubled-Teen Industry, the InsaneProfits, and the Kids Who Pay the Price," is a survivor of this industryand holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the London School of Economics. Heexposes how troubled-teen programs, often marketed as providing help, can causelong-lasting harm.   Jentrystates, “Most parents, educators, and even mental health professionals don’trealize that there’s a multi-billion-dollar industry quietly profiting fromvulnerable kids. It’s called the troubled-teen industry. Behind the glossybrochures and promises of healing, it often delivers abuse, coercion, andtrauma. I know this because I lived it. As a teenager, I was drawn into one ofthese programs. What I thought would be a lifeline quickly turned into a trap.I experienced manipulation, control, and abuse that left deep scars—experiencesthat countless other kids are still enduring today.”   Today,Jentry helps families, educators, and advocates recognize warning signs,protect children, and advocate for meaningful reform—equipping people, with theknowledge to understand and challenge the systems that threaten vulnerableyouth.   For moreinformation: https://www.jentryconsultingservices.com/ LinkedIn: @CoreyRJentry,PhD Get theBook: https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Sanity-Troubled-Teen-Industry-Profits/dp/B0FLVCG4CV