Children's Day Treatment Program     

 

INTRODUCTION

The Children’s Day Treatment  Program, or TIES (Therapeutic Intervention and Educational Support) program offers daily treatment and education to children aged six to twelve with severe psychiatric and behavioral difficulties. Children who attend this program typically cannot function in a community school setting and require additional supports and a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

GOALS

The goals of the TIES program are:
1. To improve the ability of the family to support the healthy development of the child
2. To enable the child to function in a community school setting
3. To support community schools to educate the child.

THE PROGRAM

Therapeutic activities are designed to improve communication skills, problem solving abilities and overall ability to function in a group setting. Treatment is designed to meet the unique needs of each child. Because long term outcomes for the child are directly related to the involvement of parents/guardians in treatment, guardians are required to participate with their child on a regular basis.

The core activities include:

  • social skills training, other group therapy and individual therapy
  • individualized academic support
  • family therapy
  • transistional support to the child’s community school
  • connected to follow-up mental health support to the family 
  • psychological services as indicated
  • outreach to community schools and referrals to support programs as indicated
  • psychopharmacology services as indicated


The program has spaces for 12 children and operates daily throughout the school year. Program breaks occur at the times of the official public school holidays. The length of stay varies for each child depending on need; however, the anticipated average length of stay is five to six months.

THE PROGRAM TEAM

The program team includes a senior therapist, three child and youth care counsellors, two teachers and a consulting psychiatrist. Functional behavioral assessments and discharge summaries provided.

 

Therapists, teachers and other service providers working with the child are viewed as part of an “extended team”. Clinicians involved with the child upon referral should be prepared to follow up with the child upon discharge from the program.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Children eligible for the program will meet the following criteria:

  • between the age of 6 and 12 years
  • has been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health disorder in the past six months
  • less intense forms of treatment have not been adequate to stabilize the child
  • cannot be accommodated in a community school because of the nature of his or her illness
  • the child’s guardian is able and willing to participate in treatment

  • the child’s school supports the referral and is committed to working with the program