(406) 655-2100 (800) 726-6755

School Based Services

School Based Services (SBS) offers mental health services to qualifying youth within the school setting. The Program Therapist and Behavior Specialist work in collaboration with the youth’s family, school, and treatment team to ensure a successful academic experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the qualifying factors for youth to participate in the SBS program?

A: Youth in the SBS program must meet the clinical criteria for a serious emotional disturbance and have a funding source.

Q: How do I know if my child clinically qualifies?

A: The SBS therapist is trained to evaluate for clinical necessity through a mental health clinical assessment and clinical screening tool.

Q: What type of funding do I need to have?

A: Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) is a Medicaid funded School-based program. For a youth to qualify for CSCT they must have Medicaid; or participating Private Insurance. For other School-based mental health services all other funding sources qualify such as Healthy Montana Kids, Private Insurance, private pay out of pocket. We also have a sliding fee available.

Q: What does CSCT stand for?

A: Comprehensive School and Community Treatment

Q: If I have no funding can my child still have services?

A: Our staff are trained to help families identify a funding source, such as filling out paperwork for the Office of Public Assistance to determine Medicaid or Healthy Montana Kids eligibility. We also have a sliding fee scale for other families.

Q: How does my child get involved in the SBS program?

A: Youth must be enrolled in a school we have partnered with; currently we have 16 teams in 8 school districts across the state of MT. For more inquiries please call Community Based Services at 406-245-2751 for specific school information.

Testimonials

Each year parent/guardians, clients and stakeholders have the opportunity to provide feedback regarding services. Listed below are some of the comments they have made in recent years:

I am better able to cope.

Youth

Therapy has been the most helpful thing for me.

Youth

When I have problems at home with siblings and parents, they help me get through it, and if I am struggling with school work, they help with that.

Youth

I believe that it has helped my children to have a better self-esteem and great skills to maintain their school work – family therapy has been great for the family.

Parent/guardian

It really helps when it comes to reasoning with my daughter. She has more patience and I’m learning to be more reasonable and listen to her as well!!

Parent/guardian

My child tends to act up really bad in the school setting; school is very stressful for her – especially peer relationships, and the CBS staff is very good on staying on top of this and being there when needed. They are also very good on keeping in touch with me.

Parent/guardian

At this time, we could not ask for a better group of individuals to work with. They are very professional and it is amazing to watch the relationships they build with our students. I truly love the opportunity to work with the CBS staff.

Stakeholder

Both of your CBS professionals are very good to work with and work well with the students and staff. If we didn’t have them here at school to work with it would be a big loss to us. Again they are the best and would like to see them continue their work here at the school.

Stakeholder

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Day Treatment

The Lewistown Day Treatment Program serves qualifying youth who reside at the Lewistown Community Group Home or in Lewistown-area family homes. The program serves children in grades K-8th. The classroom is located in the Junior High School building where we provide individual or small group academic instruction and therapeutic services to our students. We focus on building relationships to support the child and enhance their ability to learn and function in the school-based environment. We encourage the involvement of family members and communicate daily with parents.

Each youth receives individual and group/social skills therapy on a weekly basis. Family therapy and consultation is arranged on an individual basis. Our goal is to help the child become as confident and competent as possible so that they may return to their home school and thrive. Most children entering the program have struggled with social skills and peer relationships due to their emotional and behavioral concerns. In this safe and small group environment, they learn and practice how to successfully play, interact, and learn in the typical school setting.

The program is staffed by special education teachers, licensed therapist and behavioral specialist. The program follows the school district’s yearly calendar.

Testimonials

Each year parent/guardians, clients and stakeholders have the opportunity to provide feedback regarding services. Listed below are some of the comments they have made in recent years:

The day treatment program has really helped our most impaired students. It has made my job as a school based professional much better, as I know there is a strong and competent staff to give each youth the individual treatment and supervised education they deserve. I have been affiliated this program since it began and wouldn't want to be without it. It is gratifying to see students get the level of service they require. Keep up the great work!

School Based Stakeholder

My son struggled for years in school and started to really hate it. Since he started the day treatment class, he has done so much better, and isn't depressed anymore. He likes going to school. He is doing better with his academics, even though this is very hard for him. He is adding time back at his home school and we are very relieved.

Parent