I saw this on the US Dept of State website. You might find it beneficial.
Quote:
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.
FACT SHEET
BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION FACILITIES
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In recent years there has been a growth of facilities around the world for
the treatment of minors with drug/alcohol and discipline problems. These
overseas treatment centers are known as "BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION FACILITIES."
Parents enroll their children in these facilities in the hope of improving
their behavior. The Department of State is aware of facilities in Jamaica,
Mexico and Samoa. There may be facilities in other countries that have not
come to the attention of the U.S. Government.
U.S. citizen parents who place their children in these facilities typically
sign a contract for their child's treatment that authorizes the staff to act
as agents for the parents. These contracts often give the staff blanket
authorization to take all action necessary, in their judgment, for the
health, welfare and progress within the program of the children. The
facilities isolate the children in relatively remote sites, restrict contact
with the outside world and employ a system of graduated levels of earned
privileges and punishments to stimulate behavior change. Communication
privileges of the children may be limited.
The Department of State has no direct knowledge of the corporate or legal
structure of these enterprises nor of their precise relationship to each
other, including ties to organizations in the United States. Though these
facilities may be operated and staffed by U.S. citizens and populated
primarily by U.S. citizen minors, the country where the facility is located
is solely responsible for compliance with local safety, health, sanitation
and educational laws and regulations, including all licensing requirements
of the staff in the country. These standards, if any, may not be strictly
enforced or meet the standards of similar facilities in the U.S.
Parents considering enrolling their children in overseas Behavior
Modification Facilities may find it prudent to visit the site and review the
host country's rules governing the facility and its employees. Parents
should contact the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in the host country to inquire
about the facility, or speak to the country officer in the Office of
American Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202/647-5226. When
aware of the existence of such facilities, U.S. consular officials conduct
periodic site visits, sometimes accompanied by host country officials, to
monitor the general well being of the U.S. citizen enrollees and to
specifically check on individuals who have been the subject of welfare and
whereabouts inquiries. These inquiries may be generated by parents or by
other interested individuals. U.S. consular officials are not qualified to
determine whether the programs offered by the facilities are of therapeutic
benefit to the minors involved. U.S. consular officers encourage the
administrators of these programs to ensure that all U.S. citizens at the
facilities are registered with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the
event it should be necessary to provide emergency consular services. Parents
should be aware that U.S. citizens 18 years of age and older have a right to
apply for a passport and to request repatriation assistance from the U.S.
Government, both without parental consent.
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