Few association meetings are as important to licensed educational consultants as the annual NATSAP conference. It allows scholarly individuals and practitioners to confer and learn what works and what doesn’t in the therapeutic settings apart from home environments. The intent is certainly always “when the youth comes home” and the curriculum and philosophy guide the practice. Dr Burdick has found in his work spanning 30 years that one thing is true: When people feel “heard”, it makes a difference, and changes the perception for the individual in need of treatment. That’s true of the IP (identified patient or person) directly participating in a treatment intervention, as well as the other family members indirectly participating in the same. The “art” comes into knowing when timing is right to bring those two parties back in touch in demonstrating the maturity with newly learned communication skills and the strength to make it happen. Dr Burdick has traveled literally millions of miles to find “the right staff” in the “right place” to reach the needs of his individuals in need of treatment. If it’s in their own backyard, then, the plan to work with the individual and the family will will be coordinated and effective. Dr Burdick has recently authored a new test to assist in the determination of necessity of out of home vs. in home treatment. And, at NATSAP he will be sharing that test with others in similar practice.