Behavior Management Services

Behavior Intervention Plan:

In conjunction with the youth, the School Psychologist may develop a behavior management plan that outlines the appropriate and prescribed methods of supporting the child in controlling his behaviors during school hours, and is based upon his strengths, needs and risks. This plan specifies which interventions may or may not be used with a particular child, and also identifies desirable behaviors.

The Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is reviewed annually at the CSE meeting and is revised as needed. This is likely based on the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), which is initiated in the school.

Individual Crisis Management Plan:

An Individual Crisis Management Plan (ICMP) may be developed when a student is exhibiting challenging behavior that is consistently interfering with his functioning. The need for an ICMP may be determined during the pre-placement process or when a new challenging behavior arises during the youth’s placement. The treatment team meets to identify and discuss safety concerns, current behaviors, potential triggers, and behaviors of concern as well as to develop intervention strategies according to the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) model.

Physical Restraint/Therapeutic Crisis Intervention:

All Children's Home of Kingston employees who work in a direct care and supervision capacity are required by N.Y.S. Office of Children and Family Services, Social Service Law to be trained in the methods of therapeutic crisis intervention. All direct care staff will attend an initial TCI training upon being hired and will attend refresher TCI training in six month intervals.

There are only three reasons that staff may implement a physical restraint:

  1. Agency policies and state regulations approve it
  2. The young person’s individual Crisis Management plan indicates it
  3. Our professional dynamic risk assessment indicates it

Restraint shall be used without purposely inflicting pain or harm, and only when other forms of intervention are either inappropriate, or have been tried and proved unsuccessful. Restraint, including room isolation, will never be used as punishment or for the convenience of staff.

Staff must end the physical restraint as soon as possible, while still maintaining control of the situation and ensuring everyone’s safety. We must avoid a re-escalation of the situation, or retaliation against the youth. It is also important to avoid discussing the problem until everyone has returned to” normal” functioning, and has had some space to pull themselves back together.