Intensive School Avoidance Services for Youth in Higher Levels of Care

School attendance problems (SAPs) are increasingly common in youth and often lead to poorer academic, social, and emotional functioning, family conflict, and referrals to psychiatric treatment. This paper highlights the unique benefits of intensive psychiatric treatment for SAPs and actionable steps for skills adaptation and implementation in a higher level of care, such as a partial hospital program. Four key components of evidence-based treatment for SAPs are reviewed: youth support, caregiver skills, school collaboration, and medication management. Strategies for increasing intrinsic motivation around school-related behaviors and supporting youth’s executive functioning are highlighted as augmentations to traditional treatment. We emphasize the importance of school reentry using gradual exposure early in treatment paired with skills implementation and offer a sample exposure hierarchy as a template for practitioners. Finally, we provide guidance on collaboration between providers and school personnel to facilitate youth’s successful return to school.