Day Treatment Programs

Does you child need a program that is less intensive than residential care, but more intensive than outpatient counseling? Day treatment programs can help your child deal with behaviors such as depression and anger that are interfering with their success at school and in your family. Some of these behaviors include rage, poor impulse control, inappropriate expressions of emotions, and property destruction.

Children between the ages of 6 and 17 enter day treatment programs due to a collaborative effort between the county mental health department, the child’s school district, and, you, the parent/guardian. Your child may continue in the day treatment program for up to one year.

In day treatment programs, your child will attend school with classes taught by certified school district teachers during the first part of their day and receive behavioral treatment and therapy in the afternoon. We believe that the child, the teacher, and the counselors need to work closely together in order to allow for clear communication and a cohesive environment, so our child development counselors remain with the children and teachers in the classrooms throughout the day,

Day treatment programs reinforce your child’s good behavior while giving them the tools necessary to express themselves in constructive ways. We believe that building on the positive enhances your child’s ability to adjust and adapt in a healthy manner. When your child returns to their original school, the programs offer parent trainings and family therapy to make the transition easier.

Discovery Hills Day Treatment –

Our Intensive Day Treatment Program located in Vista serves both boys and girls in grades K through 6. This program is certified by AB2726.

Discovery Valley Day Treatment –

Our Intensive Day Treatment Program located in Vista serves both males and females in grades 9 through 12. This program is certified by AB2726.

East County Day Treatment –

Our Intensive Day Treatment Program located in Lemon Grove serves both boys and girls in grades K through 6. This program is certified by AB2726.

Emerald Day Treatment –

Our Intensive Day Treatment Program located in El Cajon serves both boys and girls in grades 6 through 8. This program is certified by AB2726.

LifeSchool Day Treatment –

LifeSchool is an Intensive Day Treatment Program that serves several school districts throughout the county of San Diego. We accept both male and female students ages 13-18. Students are provided the mental health and educational services necessary to succeed in school and the community. This program is certified by AB2726.

How does a child get a referral for a day treatment program?

A public school will notice a behavior or learning problem with your child. If the school determines that an Independent Educational Program (IEP) is necessary to address the problem and the school and the parent(s) determine that a day treatment program is appropriate, then the child is qualified to enter the program.

San Diego Center for Children provides services for children from numerous San Diego County school districts.