Positive Behavior Facilitation:
Understanding and Intervening in Behaviour

Description

For adults interacting with today's children and youth, concerns regarding behavior and questions about how to intervene in behaviour are more prevalent than ever. Children who consistently demonstrate self-defeating behaviours that are unsafe and disruptive to their environments are often poorly managed. These youth are often prematurely removed from their schools and communities due to the severity of their behaviour and adults' inability to effectively intervene in that behaviour.

Adults are charged with providing environments that are safe, supportive, and focused on the mental and social/emotional development of children. In order to meet this charge and decrease the rate of youth removal from their environments, adults must have the appropriate awareness, tools, and skills. They must be equipped with knowledge that enables them to address the unique challenges of youth in the 21st century. This is the knowledge offered in Positive Behaviour Facilitation (PBF).

Positive Behaviour Facilitation is a thirty (30) hour research and evidence-based curriculum. PBF presents the necessary skills, techniques, and strategies for supporting children and youth in the demonstration of positive behaviour. The curriculum teaches that we must consider a comprehensive view of understanding and intervening in behaviour rather than exclusively managing behaviour on the surface. PBF teaches that we must first assess ourselves, youth, and the presenting circumstances before we take action which must be based on accurate evaluations of each of these factors.

PBF is a philosophy; it is not a program. For those who adopt PBF as an operating frame of reference regarding behaviour and intervention in behaviour, the philosophy of PBF is something lived, not done. This distinction is an important one as it is the goal of PBF to shift the understanding and practice of addressing youth behaviour. It is not the intention of PBF to present yet another program that monopolises and misuses the time and energy of those who attempt to implement it. PBF provides adults with a philosophical frame of reference paired with effective strategies for succeeding with youth.

The uniqueness of the PBF curriculum revolves around the awareness that any adult who is facilitating positive behaviour in another must begin by doing so in him or herself. Therefore, PBF begins with an examination of self. In this tool, participants identify and learn strategies for self-management. PBF then moves through several necessary elements for facilitating positive behaviour including:

• examining and understanding conflict
• creating nurturing environments
• determining the necessary elements for behaviour management and facilitation of behavioural change
• learning an array of techniques that manage surface behaviour
• communicating effectively with children and youth, particularly in times of conflict.

Participants will have hands-on experiences with each tool and will practice the skills necessary for mastery of each component. The six (6) tools of PBF are:

1. Awareness and Management of Self
2. Knowledge of the Dynamics of Conflict
3. Healing Environment
4. Understanding the Differences between Behaviour Management and Behavioural Change
5. Surface Behaviour Management Techniques
6. Effective Communication.

Participants who successfully complete a written examination will receive certification in Positive Behaviour Facilitation. The adults and professionals that will find certification in PBF beneficial include teacher, teacher assistant, counselor, health care professional, behavioural specialist/technician, social worker, therapist, clinician, child advocate, mentor, administrator, and parent.

In settings where goals include: 1) nurturing children and youth, 2) keeping environments safe, and 3) supporting the mental, emotional and personal development of youth, PBF offers adults a specific and helpful philosophy. The adoption of this philosophy enables adults to:

• examine themselves
• understand the behaviour of self and others
• effectively intervene in behaviour
• develop relationships that support others in making independent and positive behavioural decisions.

For an overview of the Course Content, click here.
For further details including the Course Syllabus and other requirements, click here.