Available at BEST
Berniklau Education Solutions Team (BEST) is a private k-12 school approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. In addition, therapy services through our Intensive Outpatient Program provide youth the opportunity to participate in a daytime therapy program without disrupting their educational progress. Our LIMHP group addresses children and family issues including behavior, mood disorders, conduct disorders, trauma, chemical dependency, and anger management through group, individual, and family therapy and psycho-educational groups. At the same time, a team of highly qualified, experienced teachers are helping youth build good habits for success in school.
Academic & Behavior Level III
Public schools may contract B.E.S.T services. B.E.S.T. is approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. Certified teachers work with small groups of students in traditional classrooms. Students may also work on the on the Plato computerized curriculum. In some cases, the student's team advises the student to work from the community school's material. In all cases, experienced teachers consistently shape behavior for success in the community school through individual behavior plans for students and classroom expectations for appropriate interactions and productivity. The education staff will collaborate with the parents and school personnel to plan for the most expedient and effective integration into the community school. Partial transitions, individual schedules, and careful planning will facilitate the transition. Within a safe environment, B.E.S.T will implement educational, and accomplish course completion.
Year Round School
B.E.S.T is in session all week days except six major holidays. It may be determined by individual student teams that the student will be best be served by attending school year round to prevent regression or to recover credit towards graduation.
Pre-Vocation and Vocation
Job readiness and basic employment skills are part of each student's program. Responsibility for maintaining classrooms is shared by the students. For older students, vocational assessments, specific trade classes, and employment skills are available. A vocational shop provides an environment for individualized hands-on skill building.
In-School Support
Another facet of Berniklau Education Solutions Team is a wraparound program which consists of teachers cased in public school settings. These teachers are skilled in intervening before the student fails, thus preventing placement in a more restrictive setting, suspension or expulsion. These teachers also provide daily documents of progress which is sent weekly to parents and guardians.
Evaluation
B.E.S.T. is contracted by some school districts to provide level III education for students in residential care. B.E.S.T. conducts an evaluation to determine if the student qualifies for special education services. The multi-disciplinary team determines the best procedure to meet the student's educational needs. A vocational assessment may also be completed when appropriate. These recommendations are helpful for the students when they transition to school after their stay at the residential facility.
Intensive Outpatient Program
This treatment program provides therapeutic interventions to prevent more restrictive alternatives. It may also serve as a transition base for students integration from residential treatment or in-patient hospitalization into home and community. Students are required to attend the program at least three hours per day, but most are involved for six hours so academic credit is earned. Individual, group, family therapy, and psycho-education groups are included. The student's treatment is supervised by an experienced psychiatrist who reviews treatment plans and assist the team in adapting them to address the needs of the youth.
Community Treatment Aides
B.E.S.T. professionals may also provide specific support for students and families in the home and community according to the treatment plan