NCJ Number
244391
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: March-April 2013 Pages: 116-126
Date Published
April 2013
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper, compares a Behavior and Education Support Team (BEST) with a children's services team, to examine the nature of work undertaken.
Abstract
Behavior and Education Support Teams (BESTs) were developed as a significant element of the Every Child Matters program. Although varying in composition, they were generally designed to provide support for groups of schools in relation to behavioral, emotional and educational issues. They have not been subject, however, to a great deal of published research and their development, furthermore, raised significant issues about prevention and the preventive process, in particular the capacity to reach vulnerable children and families where thresholds for mainstream services were high. This paper, comparing a BEST with a children's services team, examines the nature of work undertaken. It shows the 'service on offer' from the two agencies differed markedly, with BESTs undertaking a more child-focused approach. The implications of the development of additional services for prevention and the preventive process are discussed. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.