The Therapeutic Day School of Hillcrest Educational Centers

    Housatonic Academy is a therapeutic day school serving the local students, families and school of the Berkshire region. We educate and treat students with a myriad of emotional, social and behavioral problems with concomitant learning disabilities.
    Housatonic Academy serves male and female students between the ages of 8 and 16. Students at Housatonic Academy typically have one or more of the following issues at the time of admission:

· Emotional disturbance
· Behavioral disorders
· Learning disabilities and disorders, and/or various cognitive impairments
· Psychiatric disorders
· Mild to moderate developmental delays; social delays and deficits
· High risk behaviors

    The HA program consists of a ten month, 180 day school program coupled with an 8 week summer program. Specialized diagnostic and clinical services are also available as an add-on service. The school provides individualized educational and therapeutic services that identify and build on the strengths of children and their families in a safe environment, allowing each student to reach their highest potential.
    Housatonic Academy utilizes a cognitive behavioral approach to therapy, emphasizing social skill development, and an individualized approach to Special Education. Trained staff identifies the social and academic skill deficits that inhibit the student's success in the public school. A comprehensive plan to address these skill deficits is then developed that is targeted at the student's successful transition to a less restrictive educational setting, such as their local public school.
    Housatonic Academy also emphasizes connecting our students with their communities. By developing the students community bonds, the local support and resource network for each student is strengthened. It is our belief that working closely with invested collateral agencies (DSS, DYS, Key, the Brien Center, etc.) strengthens our students' support networks to help transition our student's to less restrictive and mainstream educational environments.