School-Based Services (formerly Day Treatment Program)
Who Can Use This Service?
This service is intended to provide intensive assessment and short treatment for children with mental health issues in grades one through eight who are struggling to succeed in the academic environment.
Children and their families are eligible to receive services if,
- The child is in grades of 1 through 8 and functioning at or above the borderline range of intelligence and eligible to attend elementary school on a full-time basis within Thunder Bay in either the Lakehead Public Schools or Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.
- The child is struggling with mental health issues and has moderate to severe level of social, emotional or behavioural problems that impact their ability to function within a regular school setting.
- The child has family or caregivers who are committed to participate in the family component of the program.
Children are not able to receive services in this program if
- Child is functioning under the borderline range of intelligence.
- Child has a primary exceptionality other than behavioural.
- Family refuses to participate in the family component of the program.
- There is documented evidence of a psychological or psychiatric profile that suggests that a different service is warranted.
- The needs of the child are beyond the resources of the program.
What Is Offered?
This school-based program offers mental health services up to six months in duration. The program provides an intensive multi-disciplinary assessment, recommendations and treatment in collaboration with the referred child, family and sending school. The team also addresses pertinent environmental factors for children experiencing serious behavioural difficulties within the school setting in order for children to be transitioned back into a regular school environment with improved student skills and strategies for school success.
How Will This Service Help?
The program provides comprehensive treatment to both the child and family. Services are provided in an individualized flexible manner. More specifically,
- the assessment seeks to understand the variety of issues that are impacting the child's ability to function in an academic setting and may involve a variety of disciplines including social work, child and youth work, nursing, psychology and psychiatry.
- Treatment includes individual, family and group interventions, which aim to strengthen the child's capacity to function in school and the parent's ability to effectively manage and support the child.
- Second Step Programming focuses on improving the child's social skills, empathy, anger management and emotion regulation.
- The academic component is focused on improving the child's literacy and numeracy skills and is provided by a Board Certified Teacher.
The program is offered within a community school and on a modified day from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. Transportation is arranged by the referring Board of Education. Both the child and family can expect to be a full participants in the treatment process from intake until discharge.
How Can You Find Out More Or Access This Service?
The Day Treatment program is voluntary and requires parental consent. The program considers and maintains that the parents and the sending school are the "referring agents" for service. The program operates in collaboration with the family, program staff and the referral school staff in understanding and working with the child.
To access this service
- The sending school is required to complete a referral package that includes the Children's Centre Thunder Bay referral form, a BCFPI Teacher report and an academic testing report that has been completed within the last six months.
- The referral information must be shared with the parent/guardian and they must sign the form indicated they are aware of the information and consenting to the referral.
- Children over the age of 12 must also consent.
- The sending school should forward the complete referral package to the Children's Centre: C/O the Day Treatment Administrative Assistant .
- After we receive the referral package, an appointment with Intake Services will be scheduled with the family to gather important information and complete the referral.
If you have any questions, please call Program Manager for more information at 807-343-5046.
