B.E.S.T. is an intensive therapeutic program for children ages 5-12. It is offered as a hospital-based day treatment program at Sacred Heart. The program is for children with behavioral and emotional problems that are affecting relationships with family and friends and with school performance. Children participating in the program should reside in the Spokane area.

Contact
Behavioral Educational Skills Training
Psychiatric Center for Children and Adolescents
509/474-2112

Philosophy
The staff of the B.E.S.T. program believes that competence developed early in life contributes to self-esteem and success throughout life.

Program Design
This intensive program is designed for children experiencing:

• behavioral and emotional problems
• difficulty maintaining friendships
• a need for academic assistance
• poor response to other forms of counseling

B.E.S.T. is a year-round program and is held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Children and families generally participate for approximately five weeks.

Staff
The program staff members are multidisciplinary and include a psychiatrist, psychologist, family therapist, nurse, recreational therapist and counselors.

Activities
To meet the needs of children, the B.E.S.T. program uses a combination of activities and settings which provide:

• Interpersonal skill building
• self-esteem
• social skills-training
• responsible and acceptable behavior
• Academic skill-building
• Physical activities
• motor skill development
• successful achievement
• Weekly parent involvement
• team meeting
• parent group
• one-to-one parent skill training