Florida's Positive Behavioral Support Project Has Busy Year
A middle school teacher made a disturbing comment last week regarding her new classes. "I am basically conducting crowd control," she said. "If it doesn't get any better in the next month, I am leaving."
Hopefully, as Florida's Positive Behavioral Support Project (FPBSP) continues to expand, teachers, related services personnel, administrators, and family members will receive the support they need to address the challenging behaviors students bring in today's classrooms.
Funded by the Department of Education's Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Service, Florida's Positive Behavioral Support Project assists school districts as they address serious problem behavior. Positive, assessment-based intervention approaches are used with students who have disabilities and significant behavior challenges, and an impressive number of personnel have already received training, consultation, and on-site coaching.
The Positive Behavioral Support Project is used when a pattern of dangerous, destructive, or highly disruptive behavior exists, the behavior results in exclusion from integrated activities, and difficulties persist despite less comprehensive or systematic approaches. The behavioral support team works to identify what the student is saying or doing that is problematic, determines what extent these behaviors are occurring, and what goals the team hopes to achieve through intervention.
A new website provides additional information about the program. A variety of resource materials can be downloaded, including a fact sheet and information on team training and technical assistance. For additional information, visit the website at http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/, or contact project coordinator Josh Harrower at (813) 974-6440.
The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.