Q: Our 15-year-old son has developed severe emotional problems. We’ve been told he needs residential care, but we can’t afford this. What can we do?

A: Start by contacting your placing agency for help. They probably won’t be able to provide funding, but they may know how other families they’ve worked with have gotten services. You might contact your state’s services for children (foster care) — some parents have used temporary foster care to provide residential services for children.

Finally, does your son receive special-education services at school, via an Individualized Education Program (IEP)? If so, ask about residential treatment as part of his IEP. You might seek assistance from an attorney specializing in family or mental health disability law in this matter.