Graduate School of Applied
and Professional Psychology
Project NSTM
797 Hoes Lane West
Piscataway, NJ
08854-8022
Phone: 732-445-2704
Fax: 732-445-3819
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Behavioral
Consultation
Services
School/Agency-Based
Consultation
Including students with developmental
disabilities and severe behavioral challenges in
regular educational settings is a problem that all
districts face. In light of the reauthorization
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA), academic personnel are routinely being asked
to provide a level of behavioral support, which
potentially exceeds their expertise. As you are
aware, IDEA mandates that schools conduct functional
behavioral assessments and develop positive behavioral
support plans that are steeped in applied behavioral
analysis.
Project NSTM provides behavioral consultation to
a number of school districts as well as several
specialized, out of district programs throughout
New Jersey. NSTM consultants function as trainers
who work directly with classroom teachers and aides
in the development of behavioral support plans for
students with behavioral challenges. Our philosophy
is one of developing behavioral competence in the
individuals who are already functioning as behavior
managers, namely the classroom staff. NSTM consultants
typically train staff in the methods of collecting
functional assessment data while teaching them how
to understand referred behaviors from a comprehensive,
learning perspective. Once data is collected, our
consultants analyze the data, review it with classroom
staff and develop an intervention that meets the
specific behavioral needs of both the referred student
as well as the needs of the classroom staff. It
is imperative that any consultation be "user
friendly" and something that classroom staff
believes is "do-able." Ownership of intervention
is critical to classroom consultation; this can
only be accomplished if the staff feel as if they
are integral parts of the process. Developing competence
and allowing staff to exercise their expertise,
rather than giving them "behavioral suggestions"
has proven quite effective in past consultations.
Project NSTM staff
possess expertise in the area of applied behavior
analysis and are well equipped to provide any district
with consultation in the following areas:
-
Functional
behavioral assessment of targeted behavior
-
Multifactor
assessment that includes student, staff, environment
and system variables as they relate to the targeted
behavior.
-
Behavioral
interventions that seek to contingently and differentially
reinforce adaptive behaviors while reducing negative
ones
-
Staff
training in the techniques necessary to carry
out such programs
Addressing and supporting staff morale issues
as necessary
It is also important to note those areas in which
Project staff do not possess expertise and therefore
cannot provide a district. They include the evaluation
and remediation of:
- Classroom curriculum
- Teaching methodology
- Student academic learning skills
Finally, Project consultants are experienced in
providing group in-service training in all areas
of behavioral assessment, intervention and program
development. This can either be included as part
of the negotiated consultative contract or purchased
as a separate product. I have enclosed a sample
outline of a one-day in-service in behavior management
developed specifically for academic staff. Other
topics, such as staff communication, stress management
and staff
motivation and burnout are also available as training
modules. Consultants are available for attendance
at IEP meetings, parent conferences and program
development meetings.
The NSTM consultant program is overseen and supervised by Dr.
Russell J. Kormann, Ph.D., the Project Director and
Dr. Michael R. Petronko Ph.D., ABPP,
the Project's Executive Director and founder. Both are licensed
clinical psychologists and Dr. Kormann is also a state certified
school psychologist. The consultant staff is made up of Doctoral
and Master's level clinicians with backgrounds in Applied Behavior
Analysis, child and adolescent psychology and cognitive behavior
therapy who provide consultative services throughout New Jersey.
All contracts gain the benefit of the Project's entire staff and
its 25 years of experience in providing comprehensive behavioral
services to people with disabilities.
Last update:
April 4, 2005
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