What is an Educational Consultant?
An Educational Consultant is a professional who assists families in finding appropriate schools and therapeutic services for children and young adults. Educational Consultants travel to visit and tour schools, treatment programs, and residential facilities. Some Educational Consultants specialize in college placements while others primarily serve families with younger children and teens. Our specialty is working with families who have children, teens and young adults who are struggling to succeed in their current educational or therapeutic settings.
Who Uses Your Services?
Families seek our services when their son or daughter may not be able to access education through traditional options or is not being well served in their current school or therapeutic setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Hire an Educational Consultant?
There are literally hundreds of schools and programs serving children, teens, and young adults across the United States. Though there are some general categories (wilderness treatment, boarding schools, therapeutic boarding schools, and residential treatment programs) each facility is unique in how it serves its students and their families. As an Educational Consultant I investigate the details, meet staff and students and ask a lot of questions. Pretty websites don’t tell the whole story. Visiting and tracking each facility over time gives me an objective view so that I can help you choose the best options for your child.
How Are You Paid for Your Services?
Consultation and placement advice are billed and paid for privately by contract between Taconic Educational Placement and the client/family. By ethical obligation we never accept payment from any facility or provider of educational or therapeutic services.
How Do You Keep Track of and Know About So Many Different Schools and Programs?
Educational Consultants travel extensively and frequently to visit schools and programs throughout the country. We also gather at professional conferences and events with the explicit purpose of getting to know and understand each program we refer to.
Do You Help Clients and Families Who Live Outside Your Area?
Yes we do! Through available technology we are able to connect with families quite easily to perform consultation services. Whereas it is preferable to meet in person sometimes it isn’t feasible. In these situations phone, email, and video calls allow us opportunities to serve our clients.
Once my child has been placed in a school or program, then what?
We are available to support you for up to a year after your child begins a new school or program. Typically we are in touch with educators and staff on a frequent basis. If you and your child’s treatment staff feel it appropriate we will join you on phone calls or at times we may visit your child in his/her new setting.
Does My Child Really Need Your Help? Others With Similar Issues Seem to be Doing Okay...
Every child, every young person is a unique individual. You as a parent have done the best that you possibly could to help your son or daughter. Sometimes your love, guidance and best efforts just aren’t enough. Albert Einstein once said, “Trying to solve a problem with the same approach over and over again and expecting different results is insanity.” In some situations a tweak of the current educational or therapeutic placement is all that is necessary to put your child back on track. In other situations a different school or treatment setting is the best option to serve both you and your child. As parents we all want our children to grow up to be happy and successful. Some take one road, and others take a different road; no one road is the right path for every child.