A grant from Foundations Community Partnership will help Woods Services, a leading provider of lifecycle care for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (ID/D) and autism, broaden the scope of its highly successful positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) program. PBIS focuses on identifying, teaching, and reinforcing positive behaviors and using proactive strategies to reduce problematic behaviors.
Woods’ special-education schools began using PBIS seven years ago to help students with severe behavioral challenges reach their academic, personal, and vocational goals. Many students come to Woods’ schools after having been unsuccessful in other school settings, and this evidence-based model has helped them reach new heights of success. Nationwide, studies show that PBIS in the school setting improves student outcomes, educator practices, and school systems.
Woods will now expand the program beyond the classroom and into the residential setting to provide consistency and continuity for students. The program, led by Sailaja Musunuri, MD, EVP of Integrative Medicine and Chief of Psychiatry at Woods, will be piloted in four homes that serve children and youth with ID/D and autism from July 2024 to June 2025.
“As a result of expanding the program, we expect to see fewer problematic behaviors at home; enhanced social, communication, and behavioral skills; better treatment outcomes; and improved family relationships, which could increase family reunification,” Dr. Musunuri says.
Upon successful completion of the pilot, the program will be expanded to additional residential group homes.
“As part of its strategic directions plan, Woods has developed new delivery models targeted to address the needs of students with autism, intellectual disabilities, behavioral challenges, mental health disorders, and medical conditions,” says Dawn Diamond, CEO of Woods Services. “This project is integral to this initiative.”
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