Implementing School–Wide PBS in an Institutional Setting

Presented by:

Craig Rosen—Principal, Educational Coach

crosen@dhs.state.ia.us

Why did the Iowa Juvenile Home/Girls State Training School implement PBS?

Philosophy

• Gradually moving away from correctional model since 1990.

• Strength-based programming & Positive Behavior Supports are the right treatment for our youth.

Changing Population

• 92% of students self-report abuse at the time of admission.

• 70% of admissions are from a mental health setting.

• Correctional approaches previously utilized were not effective with an increasing population with mental illness factors.

Program Changes

• 2000 IJH administration made the commitment to implement the Circle of Courage as it’s strength-based treatment model. Circle of Courage: Native American philosophy for reclaiming

youth at risk—youth act out because they are deficit in one or more areas (Belonging, Mastery, Independence, & Generosity)

• PBS provided the structure and processes to operationalize the Circle of Courage concepts.

Restraint and Seclusion

• Restraint and seclusion figures were escalating prior to implementation of PBS.

Obstacles Faced

    32%

   

Primary Prevention: - Support for all students - Common expectations - 5:1 ratio of pos to neg - Focus is on prevention - General education interventions

Secondary Prevention:-Limited integration into general education classes-Targeted Interventions

Tertiary Prevention:-Functional Behavior Assessments-Highest level of supervision and security-May have little integration into gen ed setting

Continuum of School-Wide

Positive BehaviorSupports

IJH

~ 23%Secondary

Prevention

~53% TertiaryPrevention

~24%Primary Prevention

Triangle Data

Greater need for specialized and more intensive individualized programming.

Most students in the red part of the triangle are operating under attention and escape motivated behaviors…not power and control as many staff believe.

Self-Assessment Data

Lack of common behavioral expectations

Treatment interventions were not consistently applied across campus

Curriculum/instructional strategies not matched to student ability

Philosophical Changes

Consistent consequences, vs. modifications & accommodations for individual students. (53% in the red)

Establishing environments that are naturally reinforcing (4:1 pos to neg)

Difficult time convincing staff that negative consequences are necessary but do not change behavior (1:4 neg to pos)

Philosophical Changes Cont.

• Changing the culture where opportunities for success must be earned?

• Changing the focus from staff reacting to behavior and enforcing rules to staff providing proactive discipline (i.e. recognizing triggers and preventing escalation)

• Empowering youth--actively involving youth in programming decisions, mentoring, student council, orientation, etc.

Positive Outcomes

Fewer Behavior Referrals

99-03 4-year avg. of 11.41

03-04 7.88

31% reduction in ODR

04-05 5.74 (Aug – Jan)

50% reduction in ODR from 02/03

Fewer Behavior Referrals

Data-Based Decision Making

Defining the Problem

Defining the Problem Continued…

• The remaining slides show data from April 1st to June 30th, 2005. The data helped the school pinpoint what issues were causing the increase in behavior referrals after almost 2 years of steady declines.

• The data supported our theory--we had a large influx of youth with Mental Disabilities (IQs in the 60s and 70s) that were not being successful in classrooms designed for youth with higher academic abilities. Changes needed to be made regarding:

Referrals By Problem Behavior

Non-compliance and Disruption was the most common reason youth were removed from class.

Referrals by Motivation

Avoidance of classroom activities showed significant increases as the population became less able to perform

academically.

Referrals By Time

•Spike at 8:00 am was due to youth having difficulty transitioning from the living units to school (see

targeted intervention)

•Spike at 9:00 was due to a small number of youth avoiding specific classes.

Referrals By Location

Most behavior problems occur in the classroom, which is partly due to how students are interacting with the

curriculum. Lower functioning students can not do as much independent seat-work.

Referrals By Student

10 of the top 14 students with 10 or more class removals from April – June had IQs in the 60s and 70s.

Targeted Interventions to Address the Problems

• Change in Environment– Implemented Gender-Specific Floors in school– Developed a Self-Contained Classroom

• More hands-on activities• Less stimulus/agitation by other youth

• Academic Restructuring– Curricular Improvements

• Low-level / high-interest material

– Instructional Strategies• Differentiated instruction—less independent seat-work• Lesson plans

Average Referrals/Day/Month

Behavior Referrals are again decreasing as changes to systems and structures were made to accommodate a changing

population. (see Feb –Jun 05)

Fewer Restraints

Skow Restraints

59

2920

010203040506070

Pre-SAFE Year 1 Year 2

Pre & Post SAFE Program

Avg

. N

o. o

f R

estr

ain

ts

Fewer Restraints Cont.

This data shows:

46% reduction in restraints over the first 12 months

31 % reduction in year two..

What does this mean…

Year one reduction represents a time savings of 15 hours per month

30 min average for the restraint and documentation for one staff to be involved in a restraint. (Most restraints involve 2 or more people.)

Since implementing PBS at IJH

Toledo - CINA - Total S&R Hours - Rate

-

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

Months

Rate

per

1,0

00 R

esid

ent H

ours