Bazelon.org Factsheets - Fact sheet #1: Why States and Communities Should Implement School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Integrated with Mental Health Care

The first in a series of fact sheets about School-Wide Positive Behavior Support from Bazelon.org. Fact Sheet #1 explains the reasons behind implementing SWPBS, what PBS is, the three tiers approach and how it can work with mental health supports. To download the entire fact sheet please click on the link below the preview.




http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4592nwmsHozLWVlUWpybmVvUWc/view?usp=sharing

Adults in Transition: Supporting individuals with ASD as they pursue their dreams

Please enjoy this video showing Positive Behavior supports in action at the West Virginia Autism Training Center, Huntington West Virginia. It documents 3 unique individuals with autism, as they pursue their goals in life using a PBS model of support. 

Coming soon - 2015! Expedited PBS Endorsement Process

The WV APBS Network has been busy finalizing a PBS endorsement process for West Virginia. With the assistance of our partners in Virginia, we are close to establishing an initial Board of endorsed PBS facilitators who will review applications and portfolios from interested professionals in West Virginia.

Please check back in January for more information and application forms for an expedited endorsement process.






What are some of the benefits of a PBS Endorsement?

PBS endorsement provides benefits to consumers, practitioners, service providers, and service systems. PBS Endorsement:

•  Recognizes individuals with extensive experience in Positive Behavior Support Practices
• Builds a pool of qualified mentors and provides mentoring opportunities from a PBS endorsed professional
• Enables consumers (individuals and family members) to discriminate between professionals who have advanced training/experience in positive behavior support and those who do not.
• PBS Endorsement can be obtained across fields in addition to other training and credentials
• Promotes best practices in Positive Behavior Support
• Provides consumers with the opportunity to select individuals with extensive knowledge to provide validated high quality services
• Builds capacities of skill professionals and strengthens quality service delivery across service systems.
• Develops a community of committed practitioners who share resources, ideas, support and enhance the quality of service provision.
• Promotes a focus on meaningful outcomes and quality of life improvements for individuals who receive services
• increases the fidelity of Positive Behavior Support services and supports in consistency in the quality of services by adhering to the APBS standards of practice.
• Provides organizations and agencies avenues for internal staff training and mentoring.

New Blog features!

Two new features have been added to the WVPBS Network blog. A total page view counter has been added to the sidebar to keep a count of all of our visitors to the blog. Also, the top three most popular posts from the blog have been added to the sidebar.

Keep checking back for more research, news and features on the West Virginia Positive Behavior support Network blog.

Current PBS Research: Perceptions of Contextual Features Related to Implementation and Sustainability of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support

 Current research on implementation and sustainability of school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) published in the "Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions - January 2014 vol. 16 no. 1 31-43". The authors are Kent McIntosh, Larissa K. Predy, Gita Upreti, Amanda E. Hume, Mary G. Turri, and Susanna Mathews.

Emphasis provided by this blog.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the perceived importance of specific contextual variables for initial implementation and sustainability of School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS). A large, national sample of 257 school team members completed the School-Wide Universal Behavior Sustainability Index: School Teams, a research-validated measure of variables influencing sustainability of schoolwide behavior interventions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to assess perceptions of the most and least important variables for initial implementation and sustainability, as well as variables perceived as more important to sustainability than initial implementation.

Across quantitative and qualitative analyses, results indicated that administrator support and school team functioning were rated as the most important features for both initial implementation and sustainability, whereas barriers to SWPBS were rated as relatively less important. Staff support, integration into typical practice, and parent involvement were rated as significantly more important to sustainability than initial implementation. These results were consistent across types of raters and schools. Implications for enhancing implementation and sustainability of SWPBS are discussed.

Access the full article, with a subscription, here.

New Endorsement process for PBS Facilitators in West Virginia

 The WV APBS network has been hard at work creating and formalizing an endorsement process for PBS facilitators within West Virginia. Check back for more information soon about the coming endorsement process, it's benefits and how to apply.

More Minutes available - August 2014

You can now view August 2014's minutes here or, as always, our list of minutes is available on the right-hand side of the page.

The new "WVAPBS Network" Brochure - 2014

The WVAPBS Network has a new brochure!

Please take a look at the WVAPBS Network’s new brochure and feel free to download and make copies to distribute to individuals that may be interested in our work in WV. We also encourage you to take copies to conferences, training or other venues to spread the word about the West Virginia Association for Positive Behavior Support Network.

You can download a copy here.

Nomination for the APBS Board: Charlotte Hays

Charlotte Hays

Our very own Charlotte Hays will be running for a position on the national APBS Board.

From the APBS website: (although nominations are now closed)

Nominations are being solicited from the APBS membership for five open seats on the full Board of Directors for the 2014 election cycle. Any member of APBS in good standing may nominate another member (or themselves) to run for the board.Terms for seats on the board run for 3 years. The APBS Nominations Committee will establish a slate of candidates based upon the information provided with each nomination.

 In order to vote for board members you must be a member of APBS. To join, visit their membership page here.

Information about Charlotte Hays:

Experience Relevant to Positive Behavior Support 

·         Program Coordinator Sr./Clinical Instructor, Family Focus Positive Behavior Support, WV Autism Training Center, Marshall University

·         Community PBS Program Manager/Research Instructor, Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, West Virginia University

·         Leadership Team Member, Committee Chair, Past-Chair

West Virginia Association for Positive Behavior Support Network 

Charlotte Hays is a Licensed Psychologist with a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis who has implemented and supervised PBS programs through both of the major universities in West Virginia throughout her career.  She has over twenty-five years of experience in Positive Behavior Support, beginning with the first state PBS project involving de-institutionalization efforts, continuing with the development of statewide PBS training and services, and leading into the coordination of  PBS training and services for families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders during the past eleven years.

Nomination Summary:

The commitments I hope to bring to APBS members and the Board include:

• Collaborating  to  develop  better  integration  and  understanding  of  PBS  across populations, tiers, disciplines, and systems
• Ensuring  the  fidelity  of  PBS  training  and  practices  through  the  development  of standards of practice for all tiers, including ethical guidelines
• Supporting state networks in collaborating to effect systems changes to support quality PBS practices
• Continuing  to  expand  research  applications,  learning  opportunities  and presentation topics across disciplines and systems.

The contributions of the APBS Board and its members in the field of PBS are not only impressive, they are inspiring - and I believe that inspiration is the key to ensuring future generations  of  PBS  evidenced-based  best  practices.    If  you  agree,  I  would  greatly appreciate your support and the opportunity to serve!

Minutes are now available for July 2014

You can now view July 2014's minutes here or, as always, our list of minutes is available on the right-hand side of the page.

Next WVAPBS Meeting - August 20th - WVUCED - Big Chimney

Our next meeting will be held on August 20th 2014 at the WVUCED, Big Chimney office.  

Directions:

From 79 South Take the Big Chimney exit (Exit 5). Turn left at bottom of exit ramp onto Rte. 114. Turn left at the 4-way stop onto Rte. 119. Cross the bridge. The CED office is in the brick building on the right. 

From 79 North Take the Big Chimney exit (Exit 5). Turn right at bottom of exit ramp onto Rte. 114. Turn left at the 4-way stop onto Rte. 119. Cross the bridge. The CED office is in the brick building on the right.

There is free parking in the rear of the building. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor and follow signs.

 

 

Current PBS Resarch: Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) for Mothers of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects on Adolescents’ Behavior and Parental Stress

Current research on Mindfulness-based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) publish in "Mindfulness - July 2014". The authors are Nirbhay N. Singh, Giulio E. Lancioni, Alan S. W. Winton, Bryan T. Karazsia, Rachel E. Myers, Larry L. Latham, Judy Singh.

Abstract

Some parents have to deal with the challenging behaviors of their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including aggressive and destructive behaviors. While pharmacological and behavioral interventions have been the treatments of choice, sometimes the pharmacological treatments are not very effective or the behavioral interventions are so labor intensive that parents fail to implement them consistently, thus leading to treatment failure and parental stress. In this proof-of-concept study, we assessed the effects of providing mindfulness-based positive behavior support (MBPBS) training to three mothers on the challenging and compliance behaviors of their adolescents with ASD. 

The MBPBS program included a series of meditations aimed at personal transformation during an 8-week program. The training in mindfulness-based practices was paired with applications to their interactions with their adolescent children using a positive behavior support model, whereby the mothers learned how to apply behavioral contingencies with intuitive awareness. Results showed that the adolescents’ challenging behaviors decreased and compliance behaviors increased commensurate with the mothers’ training in MBPBS. In addition, statistically significant reductions in the mothers’ stress levels were correlated with the MBPBS training. These findings provide initial support for MBPBS in assisting parents to effectively manage the challenging behaviors of their children with ASD and in increasing their positive social interactions with them, but without raising their own stress levels.

Purchase access to the complete article here.

12th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support - March 11th - March 14th 2015

12th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support - March 11th - March 14th 2015

Boston, Massachusetts

Registration begins early September 2014.

APBS 2015 Call for Papers Now open

The APBS Conference Committee encourages you to submit a presentation for the 12th International Conference on Positive Behavior Support, March 11-14, 2015 in Boston, MA. The theme is "The Expanding World of PBS: Science, Values, and Vision". For details about submission dates, submission guidelines, presentation types, presentation topic areas and the strands within those topics, please visit the APBS 2015 Call for Papers page.

PBIS.org: Advancing Education Effectiveness: Interconnecting School Mental Health and School-Wide Positive Behavior Support

 

From the PBIS.org website:

  Advancing Education Effectiveness:  Interconnecting School Mental Health and School-Wide Positive Behavior Support

An excerpt:

 

This monograph is about improving the quality of life and outcomes for children and youth, especially those children who are at risk for or experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges. The editors have wisely chosen a title for the monograph that signals the pivotal role of education in this endeavor. Advancing Education Effectiveness:

Interconnecting School Mental Health and School-wide Positive Behavioral Support clearly conveys the message that effective education is the primary goal and linking two important processes will be the strategy promoted to achieve this goal.

The Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) is described in the following chapters as the proposed mechanism that can effectively link School Mental Health (SMH) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in order to leverage the individual strengths of each of these processes and produce enhanced teaching and learning environments through their strategic linkage.

Read the whole document here.