The Syllabus is similar to the syllabus for a course. It is your primary reference for information regarding the module. The online capability of the module allows you to access information directly from Levels II and III of the module, but selected elements of those levels also appear in the syllabus to give you a single source for key information. You may find it helpful to have a hard copy of the syllabus available for reference.

There are four major goals for this module. Upon completion of this module, you should be able to do the following:

1. Describe strategies that are used to logically link a positive behavioral support plan to functional assessment outcomes.



2. Identify the key features of a written positive behavioral support plan.



3. Discuss why implementation plans are critical to the success of a positive behavioral support plan.



4. Describe why it is important to evaluate a positive behavioral support plan.

The Content Outlines are specific to lessons in this module. They allow you to preview the content to be covered in each lesson and to note how the content for the several lessons combines at the module level to meet the goals for the module. You will also find that the Content Outlines will serve as a useful review feature. Later when you have completed the module and wish to review what was covered in the individual lessons you can return to the Content Outlines.

1. Design of PBS Plans
   1. Positive behavioral support (PBS) plan
      1. Written guide for supporting a student
      2. Description of how to redesign the environment and teach new skills
      3. Consistency of implementation efforts
      4. Outline of how individuals supporting the student will make changes
      
      
   2. Important issues related to PBS plan development
      1. Technical soundness of positive behavioral support plans
         1. Functional assessment
         2. Basic principles of applied behavior analysis
      2. Contextual fit of positive behavioral support plans
         1. Individuals implementing the interventions
         2. Support and training needed
         3. Time and resources
         4. Values and beliefs of the team
      3. Characteristics of effective positive behavioral support plans
         1. Full set of problem behaviors
         2. Escalating sequence of problem behaviors
         3. Behaviors maintained by the same function
         4. Relevant settings and throughout the day
         5. Multiple intervention strategies
         6. Specific contexts in which problem behavior occurs
         7. Variability in size and complexity
      
      
   3. How a PBS plan is developed from functional assessment information
      1. Hypothesis statement including four major components
         1. Setting events
         2. Antecedent events
         3. Problem behaviors
         4. Consequences
      2. Desirable behaviors and competing behaviors
      3. Interventions addressing each component
         1. Setting event interventions
         2. Antecedent interventions
         3. Teach new skills
         4. Consequence interventions
      4. Brainstorming process
         1. No judgment
         2. Contextual fit
         3. Select interventions
      
      
   4. Features of a PBS Plan
      1. Identifying information, reason for support, positive characteristics
      2. Description of problem behavior
      3. Hypothesis statement(s)
      4. General and specific interventions
      5. Crisis prevention plan
         1. Description of "crises"
         2. Specific intervention procedures
         3. Guidelines for intrusive procedures
         4. Data collection and reporting procedure
         5. Training and staff support systems
      6. Evaluation plan and data collection summary
         1. Expected outcomes
            1. Problem behavior
            2. Appropriate behavior
            3. Positive lifestyle changes
         2. Describe measurement procedures
         3. Data driven decision making
         4. Dates for follow-up meetings
      
      
   
   
2. Implementing PBS
   1. An implementation plan
      1. Describes how the interventions will be put in place
      2. Ensures initial and ongoing efforts of the team
      3. Provides clarity and focus for the team
      4. Ensures consistency of the interventions
      5. Identifies the resources, training, and strategies needed
      6. Provides a timeline for interventions
      7. Documents the agreed upon dates for meetings
      8. Identifies individuals responsible for implementation
      9. Spreads the responsibilities among team members
      
      
   2. Documenting the functional assessment process
      1. Include a list of the major steps involved
      2. Document the individuals responsible
      3. Provide estimated dates for completion
      4. When a number of team members are involved
         1. Include each measure that will be used and who will collect it
         2. Decide carefully what and how data will be collected for ongoing use
         3. Ensure that the data collection strategies are efficient for long-term utilization
      5. Include plans for direct observation
         1. Choose time efficient strategies
         2. Identify individuals who will obtain the data
      6. Include a functional analysis
         1. Provide a description of protocols and procedures
         2. Identify which team members will be participating
         3. Include any individuals who will be providing expert guidance
      7. Create implementation forms
         1. Document dates for additional functional assessment planning meetings
         2. Include future dates for ongoing functional assessment
         3. Identify who will summarize the functional assessment information
      
      
   3. Organizing the implementation plan
      1. Create meeting times to design logically linked interventions
      2. Complete the competing behavior diagram
      3. Identify who will be writing the positive behavioral support plan
      4. Organize the interventions under each category of the hypothesis statement
      
      
   4. Intervention planning
      1. Identify the individuals responsible for obtaining materials or equipment
      2. Include steps needed to obtain resources
      3. Document any training needed for individual staff members
      4. Provide a description of resources needed
      
      
   5. Evaluation planning
      1. Monitor specific behaviors
      2. Decide which forms the team will use
      3. Identify the individuals who will be participating
      4. Plan regular meeting dates for reviewing the data
      5. Utilize data collected during initial stages of evaluation
         1. Behaviors are recorded daily and summarized weekly
         2. Quality of life measures may be reviewed monthly
      6. Collaboratively review the data
         1. Reviewing progress
         2. Reassessing timelines
         3. Engaging in problem solving
      7. Provide visual summaries of data
         1. Provide a visual graph
         2. Include a summary of qualitative measures
      
      
   
   
3. Modifying & Assessing PBS Plans
   1. Positive behavioral support plans
      1. Strategy for evaluating effectiveness and efficiency
      2. Ongoing efforts for designing, evaluating, and modifying
      
      
   2. The evaluation plan
      1. Details related to data collection
      2. Procedures for summarizing information
      3. Names of the individuals responsible for collecting data
      4. Regularly scheduled meetings to review data
      5. Data collected evaluates a number of factors
         1. Decreases in problem behavior
         2. Increases in alternative skills
         3. Changes in quality of life
      6. Accurate evaluation includes several features
         1. Active participation of all team members
         2. Inclusion of multiple measurement strategies
         3. Interpretation of data utilizing multiple perspectives
      7. Effective evaluation also considers two issues
         1. Feasibility and fidelity issues
         2. Team members' satisfaction
      
      
   3. Evaluating contextual fit
      1. The plan is compatible with the people implementing it
      2. The positive behavioral support plan is designed for long-term maintenance
      3. Strategies for evaluating contextual fit
         1. Review the implementation plan
         2. Assess the quality of the data collected
         3. Invite a team member to observe and problem solve
         4. Devise a simple list containing important elements of the intervention
         5. Conduct regular surveys of staff satisfaction
      
      
   4. Modifications based on contextual fit
      1. A natural part of a positive behavioral support plan
      2. Should relate to long-term goals
         1. Increasing significant social relationships
         2. Expanding communication or coping skills
         3. Transferring control to the student
         4. Improving generalization
      3. Adapting data collection for efficiency
      4. Consumer satisfaction survey information
      5. Additional resources or training may be identified
      
      
   5. Using evaluation data to troubleshoot
      1. Functional assessment review
      2. Issues related to contextual fit