Resident Behavior

«Home»

Managing Resident Behavior

We use the term "Behavior Management" to refer to the things we expect the staff to do to provide the residents with discipline and guidance that is

1. consistent
2. treats residents humanely and kindly
3. is adaptable to an individual resident's needs and/or development, and
4. promotes self discipline and acceptable social behavior.

Three basic things the staff must do to provide this kind of discipline and guidance are to implement the Behavior Modification System, adhere to the Shelter's Daily Schedule, and adhere to and enforce the Shelter's policies and procedures. This manual covers these subjects in detail. When the manual does not clearly define the appropriate response or acceptable methods staff can use to manage a resident's behavior, staff are to exercise their judgment and discretion in attending to a behavior management issue, following the guidelines listed above.

The daily schedule, behavior modification system and various policies and procedures are interdependent. Once staff grasp how each component works and how the components work together, effective behavior management then largely depends on the staff's approach. Staff will be the most effective when they

1. are consistent
2. are fair
3. do not express moral/ethical judgments regarding a resident's behavior, and
4. do not allow their personal feelings toward a resident to influence giving the resident rewards and/or consequences.

This doesn't mean that staff are expected to be impersonal in their approach to behavior management. The intention is for staff not to personalize a resident's behavior and for all residents to receive equal treatment from the staff.

The RC and RS as a team must be consistent in their message and approach to behavior management. To accomplish this, it is very important for staff to maintain open lines of communication as they work together on their shifts. Also, it is essential that each individual know and respect the boundaries of authority inherent in his/her position in order to ensure that appropriate rewards and consequences are being given and to facilitate "back-up" of each other.

Our efforts to provide behavior management, at the very least, expose the youth to an orderly way of life where his/her and the group's integrity are maintained and protected. In many instances we can also help the youth identify and build upon his/her strengths, begin to develop a sense of right and wrong, and begin to become self-directing, self reliant and socially responsible. In short term care we may not have the kinds of opportunities that long term care provides to actually modify a youth's behavior, yet the positive discipline and guidance we provide does have an impact.

The agency provides in-service training concerning behavior management, as well as opportunities to attend training outside the agency. The agency will also provide written training materials, including the State Department of Public Welfare's "Model Discipline Policy" which is in the last part of this section. A copy of our discipline and behavior management policy is available to give to parents/guardians. An example is included in this manual, at the end of this section. Extra copies are stored in the OM office file cabinet.

«Back To Top»

Behavior Modification System

The Youth Shelter utilizes a level system, which is designed to reward residents whose behavior is acceptable or compliant with the rules within the shelter and establish consequences for residents whose behavior is unacceptable or non-compliant. Rewards consist of privileges that are awarded for attaining each different level. The higher the level the resident is on, the more privileges he or she has available. Consequences consist of losing points and/or losing privileges for various periods of time by dropping to a lower level or being placed on a "Yfreeze".

the behavior modification level system

There are five levels within the level system. Residents move up from level to level in a progressive manner by following established rules and meeting daily expectations. Residents begin each day with 100 points, and will only lose points if they break shelter rules or do not follow instructions. A point tally sheet with several specific point categories will be prepared each day to record point deductions. Residents must maintain a certain number of points each day in order to progress towards the next level and/or keep their current level.

The table below indicates how many points residents must earn to keep their current level, the minimum amount of points that must be earned for that day to count and thus progressing to the next level, and how many days a resident must be earning this minimum amount in order to move up to the next level.

The Level System

	Points to Keep Level	Minimum to Progress	Days to Progress
Level 3	90	n/a	n/a
Level 2	80	90	4
Level 1	70	80	2
Level 0	65	70	2
Restriction	n/a	n/a	24 or 48 hours

For example, if a resident is currently on Level 2 Day 3, and this resident earns only 85 points on Wednesday, then on Thursday the resident will still be on Level 2 Day 3 because the resident did not earn enough points (90) to progress towards level 3. If the same resident on Level 2 Day 3 earns only 75 points on Wednesday, then on Thursday the resident will be on Level 1 Day 1 because the resident did not earn enough points (80) to stay on Level 2.

When residents enters the shelter, they will begin on either level 1 or level 0. If the resident is a parental placement, he/she will start out on level 1. If the resident is a probation placement as a result of misbehavior, the resident will start out on level 0. If the resident arrives before 2:00pm, he/she will be placed on either level 0 or 1, Day 1. If the resident arrives after 2:00pm, he/she will be placed on Level 0/1, Day 0, and will be considered "orienting" for that first day. The next day, if behavior has been compliant, the resident will be on Level 0/1, Day 1.

Purchase Tokens Tokens are awarded to residents based on their level. Residents can spend these tokens on such things as special snacks, pop, pens, etc. Residents can purchase items every afternoon before afternoon snack during "store-time". The token amount earned each day per level is as follows.

Tokens by level

Level	Tokens
Restriction	0
Zero	0
One	5
Two	10
Three	20

«Back To Top»

group assist (g.a.)

This is a conference period called by the staff in which all residents meet with staff to discuss problematic behavior. All residents must stop what they are doing and attend the Group Assist. The purpose of the ?G.A.? is to inform resident(s) that a behavior is unacceptable and encourage all residents to brainstorm alternative behaviors. Consequences are issued at a GA, if necessary, and it is made clear to the residents what the consequences will be if the behavior continues. Usually a G.A. lasts from 5-7 minutes and can occur at any time of day.

consequences

There are four automatic consequences that residents can receive for unacceptable behavior. Each of these consequences is described in detail below. A sheet which outlines specific consequences for specific infractions is on the next page of this packet. This is designed for providing consistent implementation of the behavior modification program The following are descriptions of the types of consequences issued at the Youth Shelter.

Point Loss

Point losses occur for relatively minor infractions. The accumulation of point loss can result in other consequences, such as freezes or level drops.

Freeze

This is a 2 or 6 hour period of time during which the resident does not receive any privileges normally attributed to his/her level. This is the result of continual unacceptable behavior. The resident does not lose his/her level, or lose their token balance, however the privilege to spend these tokens is temporarily revoked. During a freeze, a resident is basically on Restriction and must follow the guidelines of Restriction, but if the freeze is satisfactorily completed, then the resident will resume the level that he/she was on prior to the freeze being issued.

Level Drop

If a resident is issued a level drop, the resident digresses to the level below his/her current level. In addition, the resident must immediately serve a 2-hour freeze. A level drop may occur due to a low enough daily point total, or continued unacceptable behavior. Residents do not lose their token balance if they receive a level drop unless they have been dropped to Restriction. Similar to when residents first arrive, if a resident receives a level drop before 12:00 noon, then they are on Day 1 of whatever level they dropped to. If the resident receives a level drop after 12:00 noon, then that day does not count as Day 1 of their new level.

Restriction

Restriction can be the result if a resident who is on Level 1 loses their level, or if a resident demonstrates a behavior that is subject to automatic Restriction (see next page). Restriction lasts for a period of either 24 or 48 hours, depending on the severity of the behavior. When a resident is on Restriction, his/her token balance resets to zero. Residents on Restriction may not speak to other residents, they have no level privileges, and they must be in a designated area. When Restriction is completed, the resident begins again on Level 1. Again, if a resident completes Restriction after 12:00 noon, then they will not be on Level 1 Day 1 until the next day. If they complete restriction before 12:00 noon, then that day counts as Level 1 Day 1.

«Back To Top»

Typical Consequences for Poor Behavior

Infractions subject to LOSS OF POINTS or FREEZE (depending on # of occurrences)

• Cursing
• Negative or disrespectful comments to staff or peers
• Unnecessary noise making
• Failure to follow directions
• Out of designated areas (kitchen, office, etc.)
• Misuse of furniture (sitting on tables, tipping chairs)
• Failure to complete chores or room responsibilities
• Encouraging others= misbehavior
• Physical contact with other residents (non-sexual)
• Exchanging or passing notes, telephone number, addresses
• Failure to follow the ?Top Ten Shelter Rules?
• Failure to provide a completed homework form after school (2 hour freeze - first time)

Infractions subject to LEVEL DROP AND 2-HOUR FREEZE

• Breaking confidentiality (naming past resident, disclosing info about residents in shelter)
• Borrowing, loaning, or exchanging property with other residents
• Lying to staff
• Leaving workplace without permission from staff (if resident has a job)
• Threatening behavior (verbal threats)
• Racial, ethnic, sexual comments
• Suspension from school (warrants a Freeze from 8:30am - 3:30pm during days suspended)
• Being removed from Youth Shelter School, sent back to shelter.
• Failure to earn enough points needed to maintain level
• Failure to provide a completed homework form after school (second occurrence within 3 weeks)
• Going into another resident’s room
• Any other rule that has been violated multiple times previously

Infractions subject to automatic RESTRICTION

24 Hours

• Aggressive Behavior (posturing, aggressive movements towards another)
• Possession of lighter, matches, smoking-related materials
• Smoking: resident smells like smoke, but no physical evidence (such as tobacco, smoke)
• Self-mutilation; carving or piercing
• Possession of weapon or similar object
• Punching or kicking a wall, door or other object that may cause harm to self
• Failure to provide a completed homework form (third time less than 3 weeks from 2nd)
• Level drop while on Level 1

48 Hours

• Running away from the shelter (if not exited within 24 hours)
• Truancy from school
• Expulsion from school
• Physical violence
• Sexual misbehavior (kissing, groping, exposure, etc.)
• Smoking on shelter grounds or on a shelter outing
• Extensive and intended property damage
• Possession of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs
• Use of alcohol or drugs

«Back To Top»