
Connections Day School
Therapeutic Services
Our therapeutic day school serves students from surrounding Chicagoland counties and public school districts who are in need of alternative school programming which is supportive, therapeutic and educational. Our program provides alternative educational and therapeutic supports to children, adolescents and young adults ages 6-22 who struggle with emotional, behavioral, academic, and developmental needs requiring an alternative academic environment to promote success.
Due to the nature of the students’ needs, a full array of related services are available as needed within the school day including Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Substance Abuse Counseling, Transition Counselor support, Psychiatric and Psychological Consultation.
Each student is assigned an individual primary therapist who delivers individual therapy weekly and provides case management and crisis management and support as needed throughout the day. Primary therapists also support family therapy and regular communication with families about the student’s progress. Students also participate in group therapy weekly, which takes place in the classroom setting along side similar aged peers. The primary therapists have routine consultation and training to build their expertise with a wide variety of issues related to the concerns students may experience with an emphasis on incorporating the family in the student’s treatment and progress. This requires that parents/families be available for regular family therapy contact with the CDS therapist. Therapists are available during the school day to accommodate student and family needs.
The therapists also support Extended Day services at CDS, which provides extended services to specific students that may require additional and extended care past the typical school day hours. Additionally, therapists support monthly Family Night activities.

DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM
The SEDOL Diagnostic Program at CDS is an alternative educational setting designed to provide individualized programming within the framework of an academic and therapeutic environment. When a student’s current placement is seemingly not meeting his or her emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric needs, the school district and parents may be in agreement that an alternative placement is necessary for a temporary time period to further assess the student’s educational needs. The student can be a regular education student needing an alternative placement while undergoing an Initial Case Study Evaluation, or it can be a Special Education Student needing an alternative placement while undergoing a reevaluation. In either case, the student would receive these evaluations along with the individual, group, and family counseling traditionally offered at CDS. The Diagnostic placement is a 60 school day program. At the end of those 60 days, a staffing is held to review all of the diagnostic data and observations. Special education eligibility will be discussed; if a student is found eligible for special education services, an individualized education plan (IEP) will be created, or the existing IEP will be modified as needed. Placement options will also be discussed. If the student is not found eligible for special education services, a plan for the student’s transition back into mainstream classes will be formulated. Referrals can be made directly to CDS Diagnostic Coordinator.
INTERIM ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL SETTING (IAES)
SEDOL has also contracted with CDS to provide a placement option for students who require an interim alternative educational setting (IAES). An IAES is required whenever a student has been involved in a behavioral infraction, leading to his/her expulsion from the home school district. Continuation of services is mandated at the time of an expulsion. The IAES program at CDS will 1) enable the student to continue participating in his/her general academic curriculum; 2) enable the student to continue receiving services and modifications listed in his/her IEP; and 3) include services and modifications designed to address the behavior that led to the disciplinary action. This placement will include Case Study Reevaluation components, updated behavioral, therapeutic, and academic observations, and intensive therapeutic interventions for the student and his/her family. This IAES placement is a 45 school day program. At the end of those 45 days, a staffing will be held to discuss the reevaluation, update the IEP, plan for the student’s transition back to their prior educational placement, and/or discuss other appropriate placement options. Referrals can be made directly to CDS Diagnostic Coordinator.
Both the Diagnostic and IAES programs are a unique combination of academic and therapeutic services presented in a highly individualized manner so that the needs of each student can be met most effectively. Students enrolled in both of these programs intermingle in classrooms with a minimum of ten students and at least two teaching staff to ensure the maximum amount of one-on-one support.

