Assisted transport is the service families use when a teen has a placement to go to and will not get there on their own. Two trained adults collect your teen, travel with them, and hand them over at the program. It is legal, it is widely used, and the quality of the companies doing it varies enormously.
This page covers what actually happens on the day, what it costs, and what to verify before you book. If you are still deciding whether transport is the right call at all, start with what to do when your teen refuses to go.
Free · No fee to families
Not sure what your teen actually needs?
We’re parent advocates, not a program. Since 2001 we’ve helped families work out which option fits — residential treatment, a therapeutic boarding school, a transitional program, or none of them yet. We’re paid by no one you’re choosing between.
26 years helping families · Featured on TODAY, CNN, FOX & Psychology Today
What happens on the day
The shape is consistent across reputable companies:
- Planning call. You brief the team on your teen — medical needs, medication, history, what is likely to escalate them, and anything the program has asked for. This call matters more than families expect.
- Arrival. Usually early morning, usually at home. Two agents, typically matched to your teen’s gender where possible. They introduce themselves and explain plainly what is happening and where your teen is going.
- The conversation. A good team talks first. Most transports involve no physical intervention at all — the professional skill is de-escalation, not restraint.
- Travel. By car or commercial flight. The team stays with your teen throughout.
- Handover. At the program, with paperwork and a report back to you.
You are generally not present for the departure, which parents find harder than they expect. Ask the company how they handle that, and ask what they tell your teen about you.
What it costs
Transport is billed separately from the program and is almost always private-pay. Price depends on distance, whether flights are involved, and how many agents the company assigns. Ask for the quote in writing, and ask specifically what is not included — flights, hotel, meals, a second vehicle and delays are commonly extra.
It is one line in a much larger number. See what the placement itself costs and how families fund it.
What to verify before you book
The industry is not uniformly regulated, and this is a stranger taking your child. The checks are on our companion page: how to choose an escort or transport company safely — licensing, insurance, restraint policy in writing, staff training and background checks, and what the company does if your teen refuses to move.
Two things worth deciding before you make the call: whether the receiving program requires or recommends a particular company (many have preferences, and you should ask why), and whether anyone recommending a company is paid by it. We are not, and you should expect a straight answer from anyone who is.
Free · No fee to families
Not sure what your teen actually needs?
We’re parent advocates, not a program. Since 2001 we’ve helped families work out which option fits — residential treatment, a therapeutic boarding school, a transitional program, or none of them yet. We’re paid by no one you’re choosing between.
26 years helping families · Featured on TODAY, CNN, FOX & Psychology Today
Is there another way?
Often, yes. Transport is a tool, not a first step. Before booking, it is worth asking whether a different conversation, a different person making the case, or a short delay would get your teen there voluntarily — because a teen who arrives having agreed to go usually starts the program in a better place.
That is a conversation worth having with someone who has no stake in the answer. P.U.R.E. is a parent advocacy service, not a transport company and not a program. Since 2001 we have helped families work through exactly this decision, and there is no fee to your family.
Common questions
Is teen transport legal?
For a minor, a parent or legal guardian can arrange transport to a placement. The rules differ once your teen is eighteen, when participation becomes voluntary — see programs for young adults. Ask any company to explain the legal basis it operates on and get it in writing.
Will they restrain my child?
Most transports involve no physical intervention. Every reputable company has a written restraint policy, training standards and incident reporting. Ask for all three before booking, and treat reluctance to provide them as your answer.
How much notice do they need?
Companies often work at short notice, though more notice usually means a better-matched team and a better-planned handover.
Should I tell my teen beforehand?
There is no single right answer, and it depends on your teen and on safety. Discuss it with both the transport company and the receiving program — they have seen both approaches many times.
Does insurance cover transport?
Generally no. It is usually a private-pay cost on top of the program.
