Transcript Slide 1

Implementation of Positive
Behavioral Interventions &
Supports (PBIS)
in a Children’s Residential
Mental Health Treatment Program
Veronica P. Arellano, O&E Manager
Andrew Pane, Milieu Activities Therapist
Georgetown Training Institute Conference
Orlando, FL
July 2006
1
Context and Reasoning for Change


To achieve improved
outcomes

Poor outcomes cited
nationally for residential
services
High cost of services, in
context of diminishing
resources

Effectiveness of community
based services

Focus on permanency and the
effect foster care has had on
severing family connections

To implement evidence based
services including PBIS, TFCBT, and Parent Management
Training

To utilize residential services
as an intervention, not a
placement

To increase youth and family
connections and sustainable
community supports

To ensure consistent
implementation of a strength
based, needs driven, family
centered, individualized and
culturally relevant philosophy
in all aspects of care

To partner with families and
ensure family involvement in
all aspects of care
2
Phases Change Process
Phase 1 - Data
Gathering







Focus groups with families
and children
Staff questionnaires
Customer questionnaires
Reviewed 7 years of
internal data
Literature review of
Evidence-Based Practices
Benchmarking other
residential programs
Attendance at “Best
Practices” conferences
Phase 2 –
Implementation






Implemented PBIS
Family Finding
Family Inclusion Practices
and Procedures
Community Based
Practices
Switch to Mental Health
Model vs. Day TX.
Developed Transitional
Services
3
Residential Services Description

4 RCL (Rate Classification Level) 14 cottages, capacity of
up to 10 children



Two units for children ages 6-12 years
Two units for youth ages 12-18 years
3 are co-ed and 1 is all male
Array of Services






Comprehensive assessment
of all life domains
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
Intensive case management
and linkage to community
activities
Nursing services
Psychiatric Assessment and
Treatment






Psycho educational and
psychotherapeutic
groups Academic
support
Family Finding
Family Partner Services
Medical/Dental
Assessment and Linkage
Recreational, Music and
Art Therapy
Therapeutic milieu
based on PBIS principles
4
Youth Characteristics
Residential
Gender
Male
59%
Language
English
95%
Ethnicity
African American
13%
Caucasian
30%
Latin American
46%
Other
12%
Age at Entry
13 to 18 Years Old
54%
% of Out-of-Home
Placements
3 or More
79%
CAFAS at Entry
Severe (140 and Higher)
69%
5
Youth Characteristics
(cont.)
Residential
History of
Abuse
Physical
Yes
64%
Sexual
Yes
40%
Drug/Alcohol
Yes
77%
6
Why PBIS?

Evidence in schools that approach creates pro social positive
environments

Alignment with agency philosophy

Goodness of fit: congruent with behavioral approach already
utilized

Focus on increasing quality of life, achieving broad goals and
supporting portable skills

Use of a proactive and educative approach to support
elimination of “control based” interventions including
restraints

Eber, Sugai, Smith, & Scott (2002); Scott & Eber (2003 a & b)
7
PBIS Implementation Strategies

PBIS Overview Training for all staff

Hired a Consultant who observed each cottage to understand
current operations and provided 3 8-hour trainings on
Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Support Plans

Developed an implementation work team

Developed a “Support team”

Developed behavior and cottage management system

Reviewed past point and level system, developed new systems
based on values matrix
8
Living Situation at Exit
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Pre-EBP
Post-EBP
Pre-EBP
Willow
Post-EBP
Sequoia
Home
Foster Family
Pre-EBP
Post-EBP
Pre-EBP
Penn East
More Restrictive
Post-EBP
Ruth Mallery
Other
9
Reason for Discharge
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Pre-EBP Post -EBP
Pre-EBP Post -EBP
Pre-EBP Post -EBP
Pre-EBP Post -EBP
Willow
Sequoia
Penn East
Rut h Mallery
P l anned Di schar ge
T x Goal s Not M et
Neut r al
M i ssi ng I nf or mat i on
10
Avg. Number of Restraints
Average Number of Restraints Per Month
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
12
9
8
6
3
0
1
Willow
0
Sequoia
Pre-EBP
Penn East
Ruth Mallery
Post-EBP
11
Avg. Number of Assaultive
Behaviors
Average Number of Assaultive Behaviors
Per Month
20
16
15
11
8
10
7
5
5
3
2
0
0
Willow
Sequoia
Pre-EBP
Penn East
Ruth Mallery
Post-EBP
12
Facilitative Factors


Agency and PBIS philosophy alignment
Sponsorship and resources from management



Outcome and Evaluations Department



Clearly delegating tasks to specific people with timelines
PBIS Trainer/consultant became familiar with program,
built relationship with staff and maintained on-going
support for implementation.


Data management practices
Using electronic record to gather and report data
Use of change methodology and quality improvement
techniques


Open to concerns and seeing resistance as helping to inform the
change process
Acknowledging staff and celebrating successes
Resource binders and books
Developing Program Procedures to support implementation



Structuring discussions of BSP in team meetings
Development of a “Support Team” and an Operations work team
Building PBIS job expectations into staff evaluations
13
Challenges

Implementing significant change while caring for children
24-7

Deciding what practices to discontinue to make room for new
practices

Development of a sustainability plan

Considering multi-systemic needs and regulations,
particularly in terms of documentation

Maintaining focus and prioritizing PBIS implementation with
multiple other demands

Learning curve on how to utilize data to inform practice

Establishing consistency and accountability across three
shifts, 20 staff and registry

Overcoming agency culture “flavor of the day”
14
References

Scott, T.M. & Eber, L. (2003). Functional
Assessment and Wraparound as Systemic School
Processes: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary
Systems Examples. Journal of Positive Behavior
Interventions, Vol 5 (3), pp 131-143.


Eber, L., Sugai, G., Smith, AC.R., & Scott, T.M.
(2002). Wraparound and Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Supports in the Schools.
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders,
Vol 10 (3), pp 171-180.
15