Altacare
Altacare, a Comprehensive School and Community Treatment Program (CSCT)
Altacare is Montana’s leading provider of in-school mental health services. With Altacare, children and adolescents can receive intensive outpatient treatment while they attend school - causing little-to-no disruption to their normal lives.
Altacare staff; which includes a Master’s level or licensed Therapist and a Mental Health Associate, have offices located within the school. They work closely with school principals and other personnel to identify and treat children in need of assistance with behavioral or emotional problems. Early diagnosis, intervention and treatment often eliminates the need for inpatient hospitalization and/or removing the child from home and school.
Altacare has been the leading provider of in-school mental health services in Montana for the past 15 years.
Altacare In-school Treatment
Altacare clients receive the same high quality of care found at Acadia Montana. They are seen on an outpatient basis as needed by a Therapist at their home schools. A comprehensive individual treatment plan is developed for each child; the plan is designed to allow them to continue to attend school while receiving intensive treatment for a wide-range of emotional, psychological, and behavioral disorders. Treatment plans are reviewed and updated every month. Altacare also includes outpatient, in-school:
- Individual, Family, and Recreational Therapies
- Case Management Services
- Anger Management Techniques
- Crisis Intervention
- Coping Skills
- Self-esteem Building
- Summer Programming
Admission Process
Children in need of assistance are referred to the Altacare program by concerned parents or school personnel. An Intake Assessment is done by the Altacare therapist with the child, parent or guardian, and referring school personnel. The Intake Assessment is a clinical tool used to determine if in-school Altacare treatment is the appropriate level of care necessary for the child, and if the child can benefit from Altacare treatment. There is no cost for the Intake Assessment, which normally takes approximately one hour.
If the Intake Assessment indicates the need for a different level of care, referrals will be made to appropriate providers. The school must also approve of the student’s placement in the Altacare program.
Admission criteria includes the presence of a persistent emotional, or psychological disorder that qualifies under an eligible Axis I DSM IV diagnosis (Conduct Disorder and Chemical Dependency are not eligible), and the child’s perceived ability to continue to function at acceptable levels while attending school.
Admission to Altacare can often prevent the necessity for a more restrictive level of care which would take the child away from home and school.
Locations
Altacare in-school treatment services are currently being provided in over 80 schools throughout Montana. To find out if Altacare is available in your child’s school please call the Altacare Coordinator toll-free at 800-477-1067, or 406-494-4183. Below is the list of Montana school districts served by Altacare.
- Anaconda School
- Belt
- Boulder School
- Butte School
- Centerville School
- Clancy School
- Colstrip School
- Conrad School
- Cut Bank
- Deer Lodge School
- Dillon School
- Eureka Schools District #13
- Evergreen School Middle
- Frazer School
- Frenchtown School
- Glendive School
- Harlem School
- Havre School Dist. Middle
- Huntley School
- Lame Deer School
- Libby School
- Lodge Grass School
- Malta School
- Noxon School
- Polson School
- Poplar School
- Rocky Boy
- Ronan School
- Shelby School
- Sidney School
- Sun River School
- Thompson Falls School
- Trout Creek School
- Vaughn School
- Wolf Point School