Independent Educational Consultant Services


As an Independent Educational Consultant Dore Frances, MA provides several helpful services for families throughout the admissions process. Ms. Frances earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Child and Family Studies.


By working with the family and their student (when applicable), she:

• Advocates for the student and supports the family throughout the process
• Develops an admission plan
• Evaluates the students abilities / education / interests / struggles and helps to arrange for any necessary testing that may be pre-required (not always necessary)
• After thorough research and in-depth telephone conversations Dore provides a recommended and detailed list of programs and schools where the student would likely heal, succeed and thrive. She makes these recommendations after the student has been pre-accepted so as not to waste any valuable time
• Offers guidance in avoiding common mistakes in the application / interview / transportation process

As your Independent Educational consultant Dore helps a family navigate confidently through the details of the admissions process, and saves you a significant amount of time.

More importantly, as your Independent Educational Consultant she helps increase the likelihood of a successful program or school search.

Dore's knowledge of Christian based programs, clinical boarding schools, emotional growth programs, residential treatment schools, special-needs boarding schools and wilderness programs as well as the type of students they seek helps families identify several programs or schools that are both appropriate and potentially successful for the student.

Dore Frances, MA is a professional who charges families for her services.

She does not receive any compensation from schools or programs.

Her educational consultant fees vary, depending on the level of services requested.

Please contact Dore Frances, MA for more specific details. Once an initial call is completed, services offered and the associated costs are clearly established up front. Fees may be structured as an inclusive package, on the basis of an hourly rate, or by session.


Choosing and Using HFS as Your Independent Educational Consultant

Choosing the right program or school for your adolescent is one of the most important decisions a parent can make in a lifetime. Finding the right Independent Education Consultant to work with you in this process makes all the difference. Naturally, it is most important that you trust and feel comfortable with your educational consultant. When choosing any educational consultant, consider their credentials and the associations they have joined. The academic background and experience must match the services you need.

Ms. Frances has been accepted and recognized in the Circuit Court for the State of Oregon in and for the County of Coos, as a court approved Parent Coordinator.

She is an active member of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and The Clinicians Network of Bend and Central Oregon.

Her professional affiliations are with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in which she is a volunteer in Deschutes County, Oregon, Education Industry Association (EIA), National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education (NAPCSE), the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH).

Dore is straightforward in her communication and professional in her interactions with her clients.

She is committed to abide by ethical standards based on four values: confidentiality, integrity, respect and sound advice.

Additional ethics and practice standards help ensure that parents come to know that Dore does put the family and students interests first and she has pledged not to take any fees from programs or schools for placing students.

Always ask an educational consultant about their experience placing at risk youth, and their knowledge about such things as ADD / ADHD, LD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Teen Depression - some consultants, such as Dore may have most of their experience placing students in Alternative Private Boarding Schools, special needs boarding schools, or wilderness programs while other consultants may have more experience in placing students in traditional boarding schools or colleges.

Dore will share with you how she gathers information on how many program and school visits she personally makes per year and what sources of information she relies on in order to keep up to date on program and school developments.

Families need to always ask every Educational Consultant they interview what, if any, relationship the consultant has with any program or school that the family is considering - in terms of financial arrangements, the number of students they have referred to those programs or schools, and how those students have done while there.

It is important to note that while educational consultants are very helpful, a professional would never guarantee admission to a particular program or school.

Families who approach educational consultants with a pre-set list of programs or schools where their adolescent must get accepted (and expect the consultant to simply get them in) are unnecessarily doing themselves a disservice. Independent Educational Consultants often offer a much broader perspective of what programs and schools are appropriate for a student based on their unique needs. Both the family and their student are better off by being open to the consultant's advice.


Program / School Visits

Visits are an important part of the services of an independent educational consultant.

Dore Frances, M.A., Educational Consultant has made visits to all of the programs and schools listed below. This is just a partial list.

This is only a list and not an endorsement or recommendation.

Articles of Interest

News & Views

Press Releases

Recommended Reading


For more information on Horizon Family Solutions Independent Education Consulting practice, contact us toll free at 866-833-6911 or Dore@DoreFrances.com.

Every year thousands of parents struggle with the decision to place their child into a therapeutic residential boarding school program. Watch this three minute video about Educational Consultants.

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