Blog Updated, February 2021, with links to other blogs and intervention styles since this blog was written in 2014.
The Importance of Due Diligence in an Unregulated Industry
Take a deep breath, and then read this before you hire a teen transport company. This is an unregulated profession, with some companies raising the bar and more transparent than others. As a consumer embarking on transporting a child across state lines, you are operating in a space with no universal licensing requirement, no standardized training, and no single oversight body to keep companies accountable. You need to do your homework, and you need to understand that going in.
Making it more complicated, regulations vary by state. Some states have virtually no requirements at all. California is the exception (YEAAA CA!), it is the most regulated state in this space, requiring licensing and registry compliance for agents working with minors. If you are not in California, assume less protection, not more.
On top of that, you are navigating a flood of information, strong opinions, and perspectives that may not reflect your values or what is right for your teen/family.
Here are experienced questions as you are considering making the decision to transport your child from home to a treatment program that is potentially across state lines.
1. How long have you been in business?
Older does not always mean wiser; it is a place to start. If it is a new company, find out why they started the company—what is the story? The newer companies spin out of other companies for positive reasons & other times negative reasons.
2. How much professional insurance coverage does your company carry? What type of professional insurance coverage?
Insurance: The industry standard is a policy of at least $1 million, with coverage for intervention & transport of at-risk &/or young adults. If you are hiring a transport company, ask for a copy of the company’s proof of insurance. You should also receive their agent’s contact information.
Auto Insurance: The transport companies should provide auto insurance for all their agents (contract &/or employees). It is also a best practice for the transport company to conduct driver’s license checks on all staff who will drive for the company.
Worker's Compensation: Verify that the transport company has Worker’s Compensation for all employees and any contractors. This is a law for all 50 states. This protects the client from facing a bill or lawsuit from an injured employee/contractor, and from having responsibility fall to Workers’ Compensation.
(PRO TIP: Workers' Comp also protects referral sources, too.)
(YIKES: I was discussing these standards with an owner of a transport company. I was informed that only ONE therapudic consultant had ever asked them for proof of insurance. I realized, as a consultant, I did not check on this either and have always relied on my professional relationships and trusted. This was an oversight on my part and was quickly corrected.)
3. Are the Transport Agents employees of your company or not contracted?
Most transport companies have employees and contractors. The question is whether all the contractors are covered under all the insurance policies. Are there any differences in training requirements? Generally, the answer is they are covered, and there are no training differences, but ask. (see #2)
4. What kind of background checks do you perform on your employees?
The standard is the FBI biometric background for all transport agents & driver’s license checks performed for all driving staff.
However, in California, there is the TrustLine registry. This means that if an agent is not on the Registry, they cannot transport a troubled teen (under 18 YO) in or out of the state. Therefore, some agents only work with young adults, because this is not required for adults.
5. Is your company independent of programs, schools & all treatment facilities?
This goes for transport companies, interventionists, programs, and independent education consultants; if there is a dual relationship, it must be disclosed before the professional relationship has been established. ALWAYS ASK.
6. What are the policies regarding physical restraints and mechanical restraints?
As a family member, you want to be comfortable with what might go wrong is something happens. ASK. ASK. ASK. Generally, the problems occur in the home, and the teen calms down once they have left the house (think about when you dropped toddlers off at nursery school).
7. What are the company's policies regarding the training of the transport staff?
There are generally two agents, and one agent will have a higher level of training. This is an area that may differ company to company.
8. Do you always have at least one same-sex agent with my teen?
It is not a rule, but generally, at least one agent is of the same sex as the client.
9. Should I speak to more than one company?
Yes. Each company has a different perspective & training. You must feel comfortable with the company and the process. Like any business, there are different price points, and transport companies plan and implement travel in different ways, and it is important, as a consumer, to know how that is done.
Some examples of the differences between styles, and it is up to the consumer to figure out what works best for the family.
- Some agents arrive the day or night before and rehearse with the family.
- Some agents arrive the night of at a particular place.
- Some involve the family member(s).
(PRO TIP: As a former referrer, I would always give more than one option because it would lower my liability.)
10. Does your state require licensing of your business, and if so, are you licensed?
Each state differs, like everything else involving private pay behavioral health for troubled teens & young adults. There should be at least a license to operate or conduct business in the state if the state does not require one. Regardless, you should know who to complain to if there is a problem. (CA requires this).
Take-Home messages:
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Most transports of teens or young adults go without a problem. The problems occur when plans are not adapted to changes "on the ground" & all pertinent information was not disclosed ahead of time.
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Your referral source (interventionist or therapudic consultant) should have solid recommendations for transport companies. Ask them if they interviewed them directly to review insurance and other questions listed above. (If you are finding and hiring a Transport company on your own and sense something is not correct, look for another company.)
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A good transport company should be able to provide all of the above information in a timely manner and in a comprehensive way. If not, do not use them.
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Transporters are dealing with high-risk situations & clients, and over time, incidents happen to even the best companies. The good companies quickly correct problems, and most importantly, they are structured and operate in a way that protects families and referral sources from incidents turning into major problems.
Note to the reader: This was the first blog post on this website, written in 2014. It was written before I had advertisers, a working website, and it was content that I wanted out there to begin to put the information that I knew as a professional, referring to what I believed needed to be out there to be consumed by all who happened to come across my blog. Understanding Teen Transport and the different intervention approaches was important to me as a consultant. There are several blogs, and more are in the works. If you want the most up-to-date blogs, click the Teen Transport filter. Here are links to a few that reveal different approaches, models, and the professionals whom a family can hire: The ARISE model, Assisted Enrollment or Assisted Intervention, and a Brief History of Interventions, for context. There are many, many former clients who were transported and had terrible experiences with their transport company. And using the word terrible to describe their experience is the understatement of the decade. As with everything on this website, if you are a parent searching for answers, speak to more than one professional, family member, or company. There is no quick fix to the struggles you and your child are having. There is no straight line.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Brian Shepherd is the President of Right Directions Crisis Intervention, which provides crisis intervention and transport services to families in need.
Information was provided by the Association of Mediation and Transport Services (AMATS).