Seattle Children's Behavior and Attention Management Programs 

To improve the life of a child by changing how their caregivers see themselves, their child, and their future together. To facilitate caregiver growth in parenting self-efficacy and increased autonomy in managing challenging behaviors across the lifespan.

Seattle Children's Behavior and Attention Management Program (BAM) serves children and teens ages 5 to 15 with disruptive behavior or attention problems, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and their families. Our focus is on understanding a child’s needs and providing training and support for the caregiver(s). Research shows that training and support for caregivers are the best ways to help kids who struggle with behavior or attention.

At BAM, we follow a stepped care model, providing treatment options to meet the unique needs of each family. Our different levels of care address a spectrum of externalizing behaviors, from low acuity issues such as inattention, non-compliance, mild verbal aggression, and arguing, to high acuity challenges including extreme physical aggression, verbal aggression, threats of harm self or others, elopement, and property destruction. While many of our patients have been diagnosed with ADHD, we also support children and teens with a variety of diagnoses, including oppositional defiant disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, conduct disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and autism spectrum disorder, as well as those without a formal diagnosis.

The BAM team consists of Psychologists, Psychiatrists, a Program Manager, Program Coordinators, Family Advocate / Case Managers, Mental Health Therapists, Mental Health Therapist Associates, Parent Partners, and Student Trainees.

Primarily, students will work alongside a Family Advocate / Case Manager to support patients caregivers in BAM programs. These tasks include but are not limited to: enrollment and discharge into our high acuity programs, locating resources, connecting families to community resources, supporting with crisis calls, and setting caregivers up for success within our programs.

If the student's schedules allows, they will have opportunity to observe both individual and group-based sessions within BAM. For individual sessions, students can join the Disruptive Behavior Crisis Clinic, which is a 5-week, individualized program for caregivers of children and teens between the ages of 5-15yo who have recently been in crisis and went to the emergency department. For group-based care, students can join SuperParenting, which is a 9-week, 60-minutes a week group enrolling up to 18 caregivers per group focused on parent behavior management training for patients with lower acuity behaviors.

BAM strongly believes in a team-based approach. We have several huddles and consultations scheduled throughout the week to ensure opportunities to receive support and consult on clinical cases. Students will be invited and encouraged to attend these meetings to observe clinical consultations, participate in problem solving discussion, and support with care coordination when needed.

Students will research and engage in discussions focused on but not limited to: navigating different levels of care, understanding the systems patients and families are involved in, the impacts of public policy and funding, social justice, and process improvement.

BAM works directly with caregivers and does not provide services directly to the child. Students should understand that the practicum work will be focused on working with parents and caregivers.

Due to all services being offered via telehealth, students should have a private and confidential location to join zoom visits, meetings, and support with phone calls. When joining zoom visits, students need a professional background (blurred zoom background is okay).

Email cover letter and resume to BAM’s Program Manager – Cori Hamilton (cori.hamilton@seattlechildrens.org). If we are accepting students and feel you are a good fit, we will schedule an interview. After the interview, we will follow up with a decision in 1-2 weeks.