Positive Behavioral Interventions
The Center for Discovery promotes the use of Center-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
The following are dimensions of PBIS (Koegel and Dunlap, 1996):
- Incorporates person-centered values
- Treats all people with respect and dignity (interventions are not pain-inducing or degrading)
- Uses Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) to inform intervention
- Focuses on teaching skills to replace problem behavior
- Draws from multiple interventions and support strategies
- Determines outcome goals based on individual’s preferred lifestyle and that are culturally sensitive
- Addresses all aspects of functioning that lead to a better quality of life
- Focuses on proactive and preventative approaches to behavioral change
The HealthE7 Center-Wide Positive Behavior Support Plan sets the expectation for what is needed to support the pro-social behavior of all of our students and residents. This plan outlines environmental and instructional strategies that are expected to be implemented by all staff across all environments. Strategies are broken down into the HealthE7 areas of Environmental Modification, Eating, Energy Regulation, and Emotional Regulation.
Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) are conducted for students who require more intensive supports, and a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is developed that identifies strategies to prevent problems behaviors, skills that need to be acquired, and what responses are needed when problem behaviors occur. The BIP is developed with input from a multidisciplinary team. The Center’s behavior team includes Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), Certified School Psychologists, and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT). All behavior problems are considered in the context of co-occurring health conditions including medical problems and chronic stress and anxiety. Data is an integral part of our program as it is used to monitor the effectiveness of our program and to provide accountability to our funding sources.