Day Treatment

Sometimes school is too much to handle, especially when other, emotional issues are going on in a student’s life. In these cases, it can be best for the student to temporarily go to a school where therapy is involved throughout the day-to-day class structure. Our Day Treatment program follows the same academic schedule as the surrounding school districts, but with the addition of frequent, regular therapy by a full, dedicated team.

What is Day Treatment?

Our Day Treatment program is a therapeutic setting with an academic component, not just a school with therapy. We are focused on rehabilitation that lasts a lifetime. Our goal is for students to leave our program emotionally strong, with high self-esteem and the resilience needed to cope with the normal social expectations of a mainstream school environment.

Who is it for?

Our program works best with 6th-12th graders who are inward-acting (self-injurious, depressive, self-isolating, truant, PTSD, etc.) rather than outward-acting (bullying, aggressive towards others, etc.). We work with students with mental or emotional health challenges that make it difficult for them to succeed in a mainstream educational setting. There is also a demand for a middle ground for students who have been hospitalized or gone through a residential program but are not ready to return to a mainstream environment. We aim to fill that care gap and support students through their continued recovery and growth.

Is it an after-school program, or a full school?

Our Day Treatment program is a therapeutic setting with academic collaboration, rather than a school with therapeutic support. It lasts all day, Monday through Friday, consistent with school holidays and extending into the summer.

How does it work?

We work hard to create a calm, safe, regulated milieu so students feel decreased anxiety, increased connectedness and affiliation with others, and ongoing support from staff and peers. Our setting allows students to continue earning academic credits while working on improving overall functioning across home, school, and social interactions.

Students alternate between academic classes and therapy throughout the day -- this gives them an opportunity to address any issues as they arise, rather than making them wait until all their classes are done for the day. Our academic curriculum is coordinated through Intermediate District 287. Classes are small, typically 8-10 students in each, to provide more individualized instruction and continued exposure to a classroom setting.

Our emotional health curriculum is path-based, geared to enhance self-esteem and build social and coping skills. As part of that curriculum, we offer process-oriented therapy groups, weekly individual therapy, bi-weekly family therapy, diagnostic assessments, goal-setting and treatment planning, and psychological testing for our students. We also work from an attachment lens and utilize Bruce Perry’s, MD, Ph.D.: Six Core Strengths for Healthy Child Development by developing each strength in our clients throughout their time in treatment. Our Day Treatment program is located in the Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 Highway 7, Suite 309, Hopkins, MN 55305.
Students are typically with us for 9-12 months, depending on their needs and we offer transportation through the student’s home school district during the school months, Medical Transport, and by our Youable van in the summer.
Because our program is in its own Intermediate District, you do not need to live in a specific district in order to attend. If you live in the counties in and around the Twin Cities metro area, you are eligible.

Do I need a referral for my child?

You can reach out to us about your child directly, or you can have a referral by a teacher, school counselor or therapist, social service agency, or hospital. After the process has started, we will request certain information from parents and mental health providers to determine eligibility, which may take up to two weeks.

Is it covered by insurance?

Day treatment services may be covered by private insurance or Medical Assistance. Please make sure to include your insurance information in your application and we can determine the necessary next steps for coverage based on your family's plan.

How do I get started?

Follow the link below to get started with the application process for Day Treatment