Behavior Support Interventions Implemented by Families of Young Children

Abstract

Families are increasingly involved in the implementation of behavior support interventions to promote positive behaviors of young children in everyday family settings. Contextual fit, described as congruence between the behavior support intervention and the values, skills, resources, and routines of those who will implement the intervention, has been associated with the effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention. We analyzed studies published in the Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions from 1999 to 2009 in which families of young children ages 3 through 8 years implemented behavior support interventions. As part of this review, we examined information reported about contextual fit. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were coded using an investigator-developed protocol. Findings revealed that researchers generally reported information about collaborative partnerships with families. Information about family ecology, cultural and linguistic background, family perspectives about the intervention, and family quality of life were not reported in the majority of studies reviewed. Recommendations related to future reporting practices and research focused on contextual fit are discussed.

Not ‘Just a Talking Head’: Experiences of Australian Public Mental Health Clinicians Implementing a Dialogical Family Therapy Approach for Young People with Severe Mental Health Concerns

“…Clinicians also described concerns about meeting the requirements of their role and limited time and resources. Cultural influences on implementation of psychological interventions have been described (Bragg & Bonner, 2014;Branson, 2008;Hanbury, 2013;McLaughlin, Denney, Snyder, & Welsh, 2012). Other issues such as understaffing, managing conflicting demands, the prioritising of crisis interventions, and senior staff hostility towards family involvement have also been reported (Bucci et al, 2016).…”

Personalized Goals for Positive Behavioral Support: Engaging Directly with Children who have Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

“…Direct engagement with people who have an IDD reflects the person-centered values of PBS (Lucyshyn et al 2007;McLaughlin et al 2012) but also a human rights agenda more generally. For instance, in England, supporting and involving children with IDD in decision-making is recognized in law (Children and Families Act 2014) and is a specific requirement of local authorities as part of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2015).…”

“…Person-centered planning (Kincaid and Fox 2002) and stakeholder involvement (Lucyshyn et al 2007;McLaughlin et al 2012) are considered fundamental to supporting the kind of socially-valid outcomes and practices that PBS demands (Dunlap 2006). These approaches have relevance throughout a pathway of support but are perhaps most critical during early planning stages to identify goals that are grounded in the strengths, hopes and concerns of all involved (Dunlap and Fox 2007), and give direction to future assessment and intervention that may follow.…”

Making it Meaningful: Caregiver Goal Selection in Positive Behavioral Support

“…The person centred foundations of PBS call for close collaboration between practitioners and stakeholders (Dunlap et al 2008;Gore et al 2013;Lucyshyn et al 1997;McLaughlin et al 2012). In the case of children, this typically includes working in partnership with family caregivers who are likely to know the child best, be experiencing the impact of behavior that challenges (BTC) and be highly motivated to invest in positive change Fox 2007, 2009; Gore et al 2014).…”

“…Whilst PBS has often focused on family contexts (Durand et al 2012;McLaughlin et al 2012), caregivers of children with IDD and BTC, still report feeling marginalised, ill-informed, and not listened to by professionals (Griffith and Hastings 2014). Finding further ways to enhance stakeholder engagement is, therefore, a priority for PBS if support is to be routinely aligned with the needs, aspirations, and life quality of families.…”