Treatment Philosophy

Berkshire Model of Care and Treatment (BMCT)

Berkshire Farm Center’s philosophy and approach to behavior support and management begins with the Berkshire Model of Care and Treatment (BMCT). This philosophy embraces a key ingredient to a successful motivational system, which is the daily teaching of skills and pro-social behaviors. When youth learn alternative interaction styles, they have more options and generally choose more appropriate ways of behaving.

Many of the children that Berkshire serves are not motivated to learn and change behavior. Most youth do not respond to natural consequences in their environment. Until youth begin to respond to positive and negative natural social consequences, an alternative means of motivating them is necessary. A structured motivational system helps to provide the boundaries within which the youth can begin to heal and grow. As the youth learns to enjoy the natural benefits of appropriate behavior, the motivation system is faded away. This motivation system further embraces continuous opportunities for pre-teaching moments, positive reinforcement, while incorporating the basic principles of a token economy system based on levels earned for demonstrating improvement or proficiency in targeted behaviors, while providing behavioral options for addressing emotions that cause destructive and/or anti-social behaviors.

Berkshire Farm Center has recently restructured its organization, which de-centralized the training department, and transferred expert knowledge of training necessary for the implementation of BMCT, to the direct care staff and their supervisors. The transferring of training to each unit occurred by strategically selecting direct care staff to obtain certification as a Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Instructor. This allows for on-site instruction and training of direct care staff, as well as on-site weekly assessments of staff training needs by the Therapeutic Support Staff.

Berkshire Farm Center has implemented a Behavior Management Policy that includes processes to promote the philosophy that physical intervention is to be prevented at all times, however, when necessary to stop a youth from harming himself or others, the philosophy embraces to maximize the therapeutic benefit of BMCT, with respect to a youth’s safety.

Learn about our Sanctuary Model and the Why Try Program!