• What types of programs and services does Achievekids provide?
  Achievekids provides outpatient counseling, school-based mental health, and a non-public school for children in special education. We have sites in San Jose and Palo Alto. We have seven classrooms in Palo Alto and six in San Jose. In our non-public school, we serve children and young adults ages 6-22. We provide special education, school-based mental health therapy, outpatient counseling (individual, family and group), speech and language therapy, behavior modification, vocational training, community integration, transition services, psychiatric services (medication evaluation and support), and collaboration with other professionals and agencies (i.e., school districts, county mental health, and regional centers).
  
  
• What types of children does Achievekids serve?
  In our non-public school, we serve children who are in special education, have an individualized education program ( IEP) and are referred by the school district or county Office of Education. We serve children who have been identified by their school district as having a developmental delay, mental retardation or emotional disturbance. We specialize in serving children who have significant behavioral problems and who have not been successfully served in the school district or county special education programs. The most common diagnoses that our students have include autism, mental retardation, pervasive developmental delay and Asperger’s Syndrome. Some of the common diagnoses of mental illness that our students have include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Many of our students have a dual diagnosis, which means they have both a developmental delay and an emotional disturbance. In our outpatient counseling program, we serve children who have behavioral and mental health needs that interferes with their family, school and community functioning.
  
  
• What geographic area does Achievekids serve?
  In our non-public school, we accept referrals from school districts in Santa Clara County, San Mateo County and nearby areas of Alameda County and Santa Cruz County. In our outpatient counseling program, we serve children who live in Santa Clara County.
  
  
• Why are children usually referred to your program and how do you go about getting your child referred?
  In order to be a student at Achievekids, the child must be referred by the school district or county Office of Education. Children are usually referred because they have significant behavioral problems and the school district feels they need a more restrictive environment. Special education laws mandate that children be served in the least restrictive environment. The school district or county Office of Education will first make every attempt to serve the child’s needs in the home school district or county program and use every available resource and support service before referring to a non-public school. A non-public school is considered the most restrictive environment because it is a segregated site serving only students in special education. If you feel your child needs a non-public school, you need to share your concerns with your school district representative and discuss all your options. This can be done at an IEP meeting. As a parent, you are your child’s strongest advocate.
  
  
• What is the process for getting a child enrolled in your program and how long will it take?
  For our non-public school, the child must be referred by the school district or county Office of Education (for children who are in group homes). They can do this by calling the Intake Coordinator and sending the child’s school records. This includes: IEP, Psychoeducational Evaluation, and any other evaluations that have been completed such as speech and language, occupational therapy and functional behavioral analysis. These records will be reviewed to screen whether Achievekids has a classroom that will meet the child’s needs. The parent can tour the school program at any point in the process, even if the child has not been formally referred yet. After the child has been referred, records have been reviewed and the family or caretaker tours the program, the child and caretaker will be invited for an “Intake Visit.” During this time, the child will spend time in the classroom and meet with the therapist. The Intake Coordinator will meet with the caretaker. The purpose of this Intake Visit is to learn more about the child and determine whether Achievekids has an appropriate school placement to offer the student, based on their needs and the family’s wishes. If Achievekids has an appropriate program for the child, we will offer a placement and the child will start school as soon as an opening is available. This could take from a couple weeks to several months, depending on the classroom and staffing ratio. In order to access services for our outpatient counseling program, the parent or caretaker must call the Intake Coordinator who will complete a screening and determine eligibility. If Achievekids does not have the services the child and family needs, we will provide referrals.

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