Children's Therapeutic
Support Services

ECS provides Day Treatment services to Bemidji youth experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges within the regular clasroom setting. The goal is to provide youth and their families with community-based mental health and educational services that will lead to greater school success. ECS leads the day treatment programs located at Horace May Elementary School and Bemidji Middle School.

Each program can accommodate a total of eight children. Currently, thirteen students are enrolled in the Day Treatment Program. Students receive core academic courses in addition to group therapy and individual skills training sessions throughout the school day. Each week, students participate in fifteen hours of group therapy and one hour of individual skills training. This program is funded through a contract with ISD #31 and the Beltrami Area Services Collaborative.

The children that are admitted into the Day Treatment Program evidence that they are unable to fully participate and thrive in a “regular” classroom setting. The school psychologist refers the children to the program. The child has an Individualized Education Plan and must have a current diagnostic assessment completed by a Mental Health Professional. This assessment identifies the child’s mental health issue and recommends Day Treatment to assist both the child and their family.

Janet Johnson, ECS’ Day Treatment Director, provides Family Therapy to these children and their families. In addition, the Day Treatment staff remains in close contact with parents, teachers, social workers, probation officers, and other case managers to coordinate support for the children and their families through mentors, in-home workers, case managers and private therapists.

During the Holiday season, ECS’ Adopt-a-Family Program provided gifts and grocery certificates to the families participating in the Day Treatment and Family Therapy programs offered in Bemidji. Thank you to all of the Adopt-a-Family donors who made this possible.

For more information about the Day Treatment Program, please contact Janet Johnson at 218.751.6553.