Not sure I wholly agree. Being sent to the family farm to work (seriously work) for the Summer was effective for many. I will concede that it's a low percentage gamble, especially if it's merely a change of scenery.
I’m with you as far as farm work helping some, though not all. Beau was a Foster Parent for many years. 14 TEENAGERS have been through this farm, mostly boys as Beau is a stellar Male Role Model which none of them had growing up. (This was when his first wife was still alive.)
Of the 14, ONE Foster Son has pretty much been ‘saved’ and is basically a functional member of society. He is the only one that keeps in touch and still goes to Beau for guidance at age 40. He is a HUGE help to us with home projects and the like. He’s very good mechanically and with painting, flooring, etc. which is what he does for a living.
The others? Incarcerated or dead. :(
You can’t save them all, but you can sometimes save one! :)