Adolescent Day Treatment: A School and Community Based Alternative to Residential Care

This article describes a school and community based day treatment program which is the result of cooperative efforts between a school district and a community mental health agency. It is designed as the last, in-district placement available for students prior to residential care. Using a systemic approach, the program serves students in grades 7 to 12, with a variety of disabilities including emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, and special education classifications. This article describes the program's treatment components, provides a case study of a student who attended the program, and presents the results of a 5-year review of the program's effectiveness.