In mental health residential environments one of the most difficult things is keeping the clients engaged with the programming and their challenging behaviors to a minimum. Every unit of every organization has a behavioral support system in place (along with structured activities) to achieve this objective. The efficiency and effectiveness of these systems will dictate how successful that program will be. Some months ago, we realized that the one we had wasn’t being effective enough, and that translated into individual behavioral issues that affected the normal functioning of our program as a whole.

In the unit where I work, we utilize a system to record behavioral frequencies. It provides us with data on the type of behaviors that are occurring as well as how often these behaviors are occurring. Such data is important to track behavioral progress or regression. Based on the concept of climbing up a ladder to reach discharge, pro-social behaviors move the client up the ladder and misconduct moves the client down the ladder. Also, privileges increase as the client moves from red, to yellow, to orange to green. The other purpose of the system is to function as a motivational tool.

Some time ago, we realized that the motivational factor wasn’t being strong enough and that the Point Level System wasn’t helping improving those skills that were meant to be fostered. Read the rest of this entry »