Cost: $200

This course will cover the core competency of positive behavior support and effective environments as defined by NADD benchmarks for clinical excellence in IDD-MI dual diagnosis best practice.  Individuals with dual diagnosis often have multiple factors affecting the presentation of their challenging behaviors (i.e., symptoms).  While PBS cannot cure underlying biological bases for mental illnesses, it has been shown that it can reduce the behaviors of concern for those who have mental health conditions. The primary goal of PBS interventions is to improve the quality of life of the individual so that they can experience: (a) positive relationships with others, (b) a sense of personal agency through experiencing sufficient choice and control in their life, (c) positive status for positive contributions, and (d) improving competence in managing their daily life.  Creating positive environments also includes arranging the social environment so that caregivers reinforce pro-social behaviors and eliminate reinforcement for the challenging behaviors.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Demonstrate how to operationally define problem behaviors, assess their frequency and intensity/severity and analyze data and collection methods in order to identify the setting and antecedent factors that appear to predict the problem behavior(s).
  2. Identify potential multiple causes of challenging behaviors and relate how medical or mental health disorders may act as setting events and/or antecedents including potential actions needed to rule out potential medical/mental health conditions.
  3. Recognize behavioral phenotypes, differentiate internal vs. external triggers to behavior.
  4. Interpret the results of a functional behavioral assessment clearly and create a comprehensive treatment plan by describing the importance of including the person and all other relevant stakeholders in the assessment process and in the planning for behavior supports.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of the developmental stage of the person and prescribes strategies that are developmentally appropriate for the person.
  6. Select the least restrictive procedure necessary to insure protection and eschew aversive and demeaning procedures for a teen or adult, using techniques commonly used with children; being overly controlling, etc.

Credit Hours

Success in this 1.0 credit hour course is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of 15 hours over the length of the course in direct instruction as provided by the instructor and an additional 30 hours outside of class reading, reflecting, and evaluating the topics for a total of 45 hours.