Positive Behavior Support
Developed for schools, PBS has been adapted to the detention setting to help improve and modify problem behaviors.
What is Positive Behavior Support?
- PBS uses a strengths-based, person centered approach for improving an individual's quality of life.
- PBS tools and strategies are evidence-based and incorporate both behavioral and biomedical practices.
- PBS addresses the function that maintains problem behavior by teaching social and communications skills as a replacement for challenging behaviors.
- PBS includes interventions that involve changing situations and settings that trigger a problem behavior.
- PBS requires everyone working with an individual to change their own behavior. The focus is on creating a positive environment for social learning using a team based planning process.
- PBS is a layered approach:
- Universal: All individuals receive opportunities to learn social skills and communications skills. Positive feedback is given to everyone for using new skills.
- Targeted: Some individuals need more opportunities to practice new skills.
- Intensive: A few individuals need intensive supports with multiple interventions to address their unique social and quality of life needs. Wraparound and/or person centered planning is used to guide each team's problem solving efforts.
Positive Behavior Support is the integration of:
- Valued outcomes
- Behavioral and biomedical science
- Validated procedures
- Systems change
PBS uses a person-centered, team-based, proactive and preventative approach to:
- Enhance quality of life
- Decrease problem behavior
- Build positive relationships
- Encourage positive behavior
- Develop Strengths
