It's amazing how many program owners, EdCons and referrers send their
own kids to programs as well.
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TESTIMONIAL LETTERSAbout our personnel and services
(Students names have been changed and some information such as names and locations left blank or omitted to protect confidentiality)
Actual references and contact information available on requestTransportI will be eternally grateful to Chuck and Mike for their professionalism in how they handled my son's transport to the program I selected. The program was on the other side of the country from where we live, so there were going to be several plane changes in addition to a two plus hour drive once they landed. Obviously, the decision to send my son away was very difficult and heart wrenching, but needed to be done. Chuck and Mike made me (and my son I later learned) feel VERY comfortable throughout the whole process. I could tell they took their job seriously, but also showed honest concern for my sons safety and well-being. They communicated with me throughout the trip to help ease my concerns. Due to flight delays, they missed a connection, so they had to change plans. Everything still went smoothly and my son arrived safely at his destination. I strongly recommend using Advantage Adolescent and Interim Services if the need arises.
Ellen B. Huntsville ALTransportBrenda and Chuck, I am writing to let you both know how good of a job you both did. My daughter was heavy into drugs and risky behavior for over a year…. When you made the pick-up, it was the first time in a year I knew she was safe. Your advice, planning, and hand holding was the best. Any parent in this position could do no better than consult with you both and follow your plan. Thank you for the first steps in saving Jill.
Mike B. Sandpoint, IDTransport…I cannot say enough good things about Chuck and Mike. They were professional, courteous and understanding. A very difficult set of circumstances was made much easier by the addition of their capable hands.
Pam T. West Chester, PATransport and Runaway InterventionWe would like to take this opportunity to make a personal and heartfelt recommendation regarding the services of Mr. Chuck Selent. Under extremely trying circumstances we called on Mr. Selent not once, but twice in the space of twelve months. The first was to transport our teenage daughter from Tampa , Florida to an emotional growth program in _______.
Chuck and Brenda Selent were very supportive and understanding during this emotional and difficult time. To say that our daughter gave them a hard time would be a gross understatement. She was verbally and physically abusive to them and threw a huge fit at the airport. Throughout all these events Chuck remained calm and completely in control. He also kept her father and I fully informed each step of the way as they delivered her safely to the program at _______.
Unfortunately, some months later our daughter elected to run from________ and went missing in the town of Missoula, Montana. Chuck and his partner did everything in their power to locate our runaway daughter. They left no stone unturned. This tremendous effort resulted in their successfully finding and returning our daughter to program.
A local police officer made the comment to us that Chuck and his partner had done everything possible. This gentleman told us that it was obvious that they cared deeply about finding our daughter and had really gone the extra mile to do so.
No words can ever convey our respect and admiration for the work this gentleman does…it would be difficult if not impossible to find someone with the experience and background Chuck and his team bring to the table. We wholeheartedly thank him for being there for our family.
Giselle and Alan A. Brandon, FLProfessional RecommendationOver the years, we have had the opportunity to talk with dozens of students who first met Chuck in the middle of the night under extremely stressful circumstances. We were amazed by how many of these students spoke of Chuck fondly and asked how he was doing. Not one student has ever had anything negative to say about their experience with Chuck, which we believe is a recommendation in itself.
As the first link in a chain that will hopefully lead toward positively redirecting a student, we believe that an experienced professional escort is essential. Because of this, we very enthusiastically recommend Chuck Selent as the top in his field.
R and W S. (owners - adolescent program) Couer d' Alene, IDRunaway Intervention and TransportMy wife and I cannot say enough about the services we received from______, and specifically Chuck Selent and Mike Decker, the week of …..
We arranged for Chuck and Mike to pick up Allen and take him back to_______. Allen still thought that since he had made it clear that he wanted to come home that I would take him home rather than send him back (to the program he ran away from). He was clearly surprised when Chuck and Mike arrived.
This was when I was able to observe firsthand the loving, caring but firm manner in which these gentlemen dealt with the situation. Before meeting Allen they asked me for background information on Allen's interests, and then spent the first 20 minutes with my son building a rapport with him around his love for _____. They also dealt with his issues of not wanting to go back, including helping explain the value if the residential program that he was running from and would be returning to. Although Allen strongly did not want to return to ______, they were able to help him calmly accept the fact that he was going back without incident.
In summary, I cannot imagine a service that could provide more than what I received in terms of quick response, staying in close contact with me over the three days, being flexible as our understanding of Allen's location changed and helping Allen get in agreement with going back without incident. As a father, sending Allen back with an adolescent escort service was one of the hardest things I have ever done. They helped me with my fears and concerns and made the process much more positive and beneficial to all involved than I had anticipated.
I would be happy to act as a reference for other people who may be considering using your service and can be reached at _________.
Doug H. Chico, CAProfessional Recomendation(The following testimonial uses actual names by permission)I have known Chuck Selent and Mike Decker for many years and am familiar with their skills and compassion for teens in crisis. While Director of Ascent, I was on the receiving end of their escort services. Now, in the private practice of Clinical Psychology once again, I am on the referral side. In both roles, I have been extremely happy with their work. Kids are safely and courteously transported to treatment, and parents are pleased and relieved by their professionalism. I recommend them without reservation.
Roger C. Rinn, PHD, Licensed Psycologis, Huntsville, AlabamaProfessional RecommendationThis letter is written to commend Chuck Selent, with whom I have worked for almost a decade. My first contact with Chuck occurred when he was engaged to search for and escort back to campus our son, when he ran away from his placement at ________ in 1996. During that traumatic incident, we found Chuck to be positive, helpful, professional and competent. Knowing that a person of his caliber was searching for our son eased some of our concern and fear.
Since then for nearly seven years as Family Services Coordinator, educational consultant liaison and most recently as Director of _________I have had many occasions to recommend or engage Chuck Selent to be an Escort or to search for a missing student. He has always been quick to respond to a request for assistance, thorough in his preparation and search, and diligent in following every lead. He is always respectful but firm with the students he works with and shows compassion to the parents for whom it is a most distressing event. Chuck never takes a chance that might compromise the safety of a student or staff working with him, often suggesting the time, place and circumstances of transfer to maximize effectiveness. He understands the needs of all parties concerned - student, parent, staff and other professional service providers - and ensures that all those needs are met. He is unfailingly polite and professional, easing the tension of difficult circumstances because of his competence and calm demeanor.
R. M. (Director of an adolescent program) IdahoRunaway InterventionThanks for your help in locating my son last Thursday. We especially appreciate your advice in how we should deal with our son during our phone calls with him.
Because of your counsel we were able to learn of his whereabouts and encourage him to check into ________ which lead to locating and finding Donald.
Brian M. Chatham, NJTransportChuck and Mike immediately put our son at ease. They shook hands and explained the events that were about to take place. They answered his questions honestly and treated him with dignity and respect….. to actually see our son walk out the door willingly and of his own accord made the scene so much easier to take… We were ready for anything, and had it been that our son resisted, we knew that Chuck and Mike would have handled the situation with the same ease as the scene that actually happened. We want parents to be encouraged during that time of great emotion and turmoil.
As parents, we could not have chosen two better men to help our son to the destination where we now know he is getting the help and support he needs more than anything. We cannot recommend Chuck and Mike more highly.
Pamela and Fred L. Chicago, ILInterim Care Summer 2007Richard, I could never put into words what you have given to Josh and our family.
Andi A. Chicago, ILEscort/ Interim CareI have used the services of Advantage ISS Inc. three times within a year while my son was in a therapeutic boarding school. Chuck Selent escorted our son two times to a wilderness program. Chuck not only was professional in his dealings with us, but he was very sensitive to our emotional state. He communicated with us prior and after placement to update us with how our son was doing.
Most recently, we had to use the services of Advantage ISS again to place our son in a safe house while we looked for a different therapeutic setting. Chuck placed our son with two wonderful people, Debi and Laurie. To be honest, when it was recommended by our son’s therapeutic boarding school to put him in a safe house while we looked for another placement, my heart raced with so many questions. Would my son be safe with these strangers? What values do these people have? Whatever dark thoughts that could possibly happen to a child from unknown people came to my mind. It was a very trying moment. Bringing our son home for the interim was not recommended by all the professionals we had consulted, but Chuck knew our needs and placed our son in a loving, trusting and safe place. Our son blossomed in that month. He needed time out from his previous placement in a home that gave him what he had missed: a loving, nurturing, family environment. Debi and Laurie not only touched the life of our son, but they touched ours as well. We have since become good friends.
Overall, I would highly recommended Advantage Iss Inc, and Chuck Selent. Chuck had always been very prompt and thorough with his communication to us. We have never been left hanging in the dark.
Mother of 15 year old, CA