DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Bertha Abess Children's Center model views the child with emotional and behavioral disabilities as one whose emotional and/or behavioral problems interfere with his social and academic learning and with successful functioning in the home, school and community. The Center provides a comprehensive, intensive day treatment program designed to meet the individualized needs of each client.
Our program model has three phases:
- Diagnostic - Assessment and program planning
- Prescriptive - Implementation of the treatment plan
- Transitional - Preparation for returning to a mainstream
This phased model affects all areas of the child’s educational and treatment plans. In behavioral areas, the child moves from low-level reinforcers (tangible) to high level reinforcers (praise, grades). Academic tasks change from teacher-dependent tasks to more traditional textbook assignments which are taught in group lessons. Social/emotional skills move from simple sharing of materials and labeling feelings to more disclosing and less structured group sessions.
Classroom settings are highly structured and two specially trained instructional staff members work with each group of ten to twelve students. Techniques include sequential behavioral interventions, systematic positive behavior management, environmental manipulation and a variety of instructional modalities.
