Intensive Community & School-Based Services

According to The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, “65 million young people in America under the age of 18, approximately 7.5 million have diagnosable mental disorders, though only one in five of those youths are receiving treatment”.

The Children’s Aid Society states that “American schools have only one guidance counselor for every 1,000 children and one social worker or school psychologist for every 2,500 in the U.S. – an indication that kids may be suffering in silence”.

Mental health is directly related to children’s learning and the social development. This includes interpersonal relationships, social-emotional skills, learning and academic ambition. School-based services include a broad spectrum of assessment, prevention, intervention, counseling, and activities. School based and community based services go hand in hand. This way the students receive the support they need in a seamless, coordinated, and comprehensive system of care. The goal is to help students learn the adaptive skills that will allow them to reach his / her life goals.

What does the Behavioral Health Associate (BHA) do?

The BHA is a specially trained team member who focuses on how a students’ behavior and mental health impacts their ability to learn and be successful in schools and the community. The BHA’s close collaboration as part of a treatment team establishes clear goals and expectations, that they communicate effectively which provides a supportive therapeutic service to students. They focus their work on a student’s overall mental health and how it impacts them with in a family, community and school setting. They participate in the treatment team meetings to become familiar with the client’s service plan and their goals and objectives. Every point of contact the BHA is modeling positive life skill to the client.

Services Provided:

In-school Shadowing
After School Community Based Activities

Summer, Winter, and Spring Break programs
After School Community Based Activities

The purpose of our program:

Denali Family Service’s BHA program provides the opportunity for consistent improvement in self esteem and behavior. It is a safe and supportive environment for children to learn how to properly handle failure and successes. Disciplined activities where behavioral and social problems can be observed and resolved. In this structured environment, clients are given the opportunity to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, develop appropriate emotional and social responses, practice useful study skills, address their interpersonal relationships problems, and cope with their mental or emotional issues.

Community & School Based Services BrochureSchool-Based Program Wish List