Association for Behavior Analysis International

Increased complexity of support needs of persons with developmental disabilities (DD) living in the community and improved governance for agencies supporting adults engaging in challenging behaviour has increased demand for clinical behavioral services in Ontario. There are longer waitlists as clinical providers are required to help those most in need. In response, Regional Support Associates, a Ministry funded clinical provider for adults with DD, developed the Community Capacity Development Initiative (CCDI). CCDI was designed to complement clinical services while simultaneously building capacity within direct support agencies. CCDI builds on strengths and resources within agencies supporting persons awaiting services, emphasizing collaboration and efficient use of resources. CCDI is a comprehensive training based on positive behaviour supports that increase the staff's ability to complete a Functional Behaviour Assessment and develop a Positive Behaviour Support Plan. To date, the RSA has collaborated with 98 staff from 17 agencies and supported 52 persons with DD. Results from pre and post-assessments indicated increases in ABA knowledge. BSP developed scored significantly higher than those written by community partners before the initiative. This presentation will review the training model, its successes over the past five years and implications for service provision and future research.