A Family-Centered Prevention Approach to PBS in a Time of Crisis

Abstract

This article describes a family-wide prevention approach to positive behavior support (PBS) interventions during a period of potential crisis for a family with a child with autism. Specifically, the mother in this family was to have major invasive surgery that would require extensive time for recovery. Past functional assessment data and anecdotal evidence indicated that lack of predictability, structure, supervision, and systematic behavior supports all contributed to problem behaviors in this family. As a result, a multicomponent intervention plan was implemented to prevent such problems. The procedures included the following elements: (a) priming intervention, (b) stakeholder meeting, (c) coordination of services and schedules, (d) family-wide PBS plan, and (e) ongoing support. The outcome of this intervention was that the child with autism and her siblings showed decreases in their disruptive behaviors (as opposed to the expected increases), and the family experienced other family-wide collateral positive effects from this proactive intervention approach.