Adolescent day treatment: A school and community based alternative to residential care

This article describes a school and community based day treatment program w hich is the result of cooperative efforts between a school district and a c ommunity mental health agency. Irt is designed as the last, in-district pla cement available for students prior to residential care. Using a systemic a pproach, the program serves students in grades 7 to 12, with a variety of d isabilities including emotional and behavioral disorders, physical disabili ties, and special education classifications. This article describes the pro gram's treatment components, provides a case study of a student who attende d the program, and presents the results of a 5-year review of the program's effectiveness.