B.E.S.T (Behavioural Emotional Social Teaching) is an 8 week program designed to meet the needs of 9 children with challenges in behaviour, social or emotional skills. It is a partnership with Intersect Child and Youth Services, Aboriginal Supported Child Development, Aboriginal Infant and Family Development, Aboriginal Child and Youth Wellness Program, Supported Child Development and The child Development Centre. Child participants are selected from the caseloads of the partnering agencies as was the staff operating the group.

The B.E.S.T group operates like a preschool program, 4 days per week, 2.5 hours per day with 3 staff. The program focuses on friendship skills, conflict resolution, problem-solving skills and social and emotional awareness. In addition to the preschool component, a parent-child play therapy group is offered one time per week as is a parenting group, both of which the parents are encouraged to attend. The B.E.S.T. program was run as a pilot project in 2012. We hope to run more sessions in the future.