PBS Training Overview

Positive Behavior Support Training

Course Overview: This one-day training focuses on how to proactively assist individuals with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviors before they are nearing or in a crisis. All workshop participants are encouraged to come to the training with one person they currently serve in mind, so that the instructor can help them identify specific ways to address the challenging situations. The training demonstrates how to determine why a behavior occurs (function) and how to develop a plan for supports. Direct support staff will learn teaching strategies that can be used to change the behavior. Participants will learn how to complete an Antecedent-Behavior-Consequences (A-B-C) form to identify a hypothesized function for the behavior. Interactive small group sessions assist participants in learning how to match specific supports to that hypothesized function and develop a behavior plan. We will address the specific case scenarios, provided by attendees, in both large and small groups. Participants will leave with an initial plan to assist a specific individual they serve currently and a binder containing resource materials covered in the class.

Positive Behavior Support – Train the Trainer

Course Overview: a 2-day, regional train-the-trainer program on the above Positive Behavioral Supports curriculum.  This training is open to all providers of home- and community-based services interested in helping individuals transition to homes in community settings through Iowa’s Money Follows the Person grant. This program was developed to align with the web-based curriculum offered by the College of Direct Support, designed to train members of the direct care workforce. In addition to information on current best practices in providing behavior supports, this program will offer participants interactive, practical opportunities to apply the training to their own case studies and organizations.  This training is intended to be a "train the trainer" program. It is expected that supervisors, administrative staff and/or training staff of agencies will take from this training the competency to train their staff at their organization in the techniques and philosophies of Positive Behavioral Supports.  Day 1 of this training will focus on the foundation and skills of how to provide positive behavioral supports.  Day 2 will focus on how to sustain the Positive Behavioral Supports concept throughout your organization and how to become an effective trainer.   There is no charge to attend the training, and training materials will be provided by the Money Follows the Person grant. 

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Overview:  This 2-hour course focuses on what autism spectrum disorder is, and what supports and techniques can be helpful for someone on the autism spectrum. This training is open to all providers of home- and community-based services interested in helping individuals transition to homes in community settings through Iowa’s Money Follows the Person grant.

Individualized On-Site Consultation/Observation

The Behavior Support Specialist can provide on-site consultation to provider agencies that are working with an individual through the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. Activities offered through the consultation may include:

• Observations of the individual in the home, work, or community environments
• Data collection on the behavior (through observations and discussions with staff who know the person well)
• Assessments (can include a sensory inventory, preference assessment, functional behavioral analysis assessment, etc.)
• The development of interventions based on the data and assessments
• Training of staff on the invention
• Plan for continued tracking of behaviors to monitor the plan effectiveness 
• Additional recommended training
• Follow up on the plan; how it is working, needed modifications, and additional staff training if necessary 

For questions specific to the trainings, contact Stacie Lane, MFP Behavioral Specialist, at [email protected] or call 319-330-0598.