BEST- Building Emotionally Strong Teens Best- is a school-based therapeutic programme facilitating professional interventions in the lives of adolescents who are at risk of institutionalisation due to their challenging and often destructive behaviour at home, at school, and in the community. The programme provides systemic intervention for the child, the family, and the school. Separate programmes are run for boys and girls aged 12-14 years. An overview The programme consist of four sequential stages: • The selection process • The camp • The therapeutic process • 18 months aftercare programme The therapeutic process consists of the following: • 16 Life-skills themes • Homework Support • Teacher Support • Fathers Group • Women of Worth • Proactive Parenting • Family Counselling The selection process Identified in collaboration with the school and the local DCPO (DSD), 60 at-risk leaners between the ages of 12 and 14 years are screened to participate in the programme. The qualifying 10 boys and 10 girls meet the following criteria: • They are identified as the most at-risk • They are neither mentally retarded nor Psychotic • They are not substance dependent • They freely commit to the programme The Camp There are two intakes per year and the therapeutic process is for six months. Every intake kicks off with induction camp where each child’s needs, behaviour challenges, strengths and developmental areas are observed and documented.

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100-300 - Learners
100-300 - Community