OT: Need ideas for coworker with troubled youth. Options

[Qarl]

I have a coworker that has a troubled youth.

Her son, now 13, was formerly a straight-A student, had great friends and was a nice young man. This was two years ago.

About that time, his best friend was murdered. In the same time frame, he was in two car accidents (one in which he lost one of his fingers). Ever since, he's been angry at the world, lashing out, rebelling, and getting continually out of control.

He now is getting involved with drugs, crime, hanging out with older kids and adults, failing in school, disrespecting his parents and generally being a bad kid. He skips school, escapes out the bedroom window at midnight, lies and steals

His parents are in a low-income household. THey work hard to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. His mother has tried the counselors at school (she says the really have nothing to offer), they've tried anger management, outside counseling, etc.

They are at their wits end and the mother says that she's losing her baby.

She is looking to me for ideas on how to get help for her child. Her problem is she can't afford much, if at all. Government funding, state funding... anything would help.

I've asked if he has any interests, and she says none that are good. She goes to church, but he has no interest in attending youth programs or getting involved in Scouting.

She'd love some sort of boot camp, boys ranch, boarding school, or scare-straight type program... but she can't afford anything.

Any and all ideas are appreciated.

Thanks,

Karl

[sww914]

I was that young man.
My uncle grabbed me and moved me out of Riverside, up to the San Luis Obispo area, waaayyyy out in the country, 40 minutes to town, and made me work really hard on a ranch that he lived on. He kicked my ass a couple of times too, and I was left with no options other that to do the right thing, mostly.
That was 23 years ago, I haven't even really seen any drugs for 20 years, and now I'm a devoted husband and a father to a wonderful special needs 9 yr old boy.
It can happen, don't give up hope. He needs to lose some options for awhile, until he can make decent chioces.
I'm 41 now, and I'm finally not that angry anymore. It takes a long time.