Challenging Behaviors

• The McWilliam-Casey Lab developed a service in Nashville called Family-Centered Positive Behavior Support, following the principles described in Lucyshyn, Dunlap, & Albin (2002).
• The service consisted of visits by behavior specialists to homes and classrooms of children birth-7 years of age.
• Ecobehavioral principles were followed, meaning that adjustments both to the environment (adult behavior, activities, physical space, etc.) and to the child (i.e., teaching the child) were made.
• The goal was to improve family quality of life at home and the child’s engagement in the classroom.
• Principles of reinforcement were used, as well as “sit and watch”—AKA contingent observation.
• Managing challenging behaviors is linked to our work on child engagement, which is seen as prevention of such behaviors, because engagement is incompatible, by definition, with challenging behaviors.

Research

• The research supporting the principles of family-centered positive behavior support is found in both Lucyshyn et al. (2002) and the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel/).
• From the CSEFEL website, see the page on What Works Briefs (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel/wwb.html).
• Our research on engagement is a basis for this work, especially with respect to teaching in classrooms.

Consultation, Training, and Technical Assistance Opportunities

• Parenting Group Sessions
• Workshops for teachers
• Ongoing training for teachers

Future Directions

• We would like to replicate the Family-Centered PBS program in Chattanooga as funding permits.
• We would like to conduct single-subject studies on the efficacy of “sit and watch.”