MindSet

De-escalation and Physical Restraint Interventions for Behavioral Health Care Settings / DIDD Providers / Schools / Foster Care Providers, With background as a Special Education teacher with a concentration and certification for Emotional Behavior Disorders, I was recruited to work at the Crossroads Psychoeducational Program in Griffin, Georgia in 1992. Crossroads was a regional program, serving students with severe emotional behavioral disorders. Our students, at times, behaved in such a manner as to required physical intervention. We were trained in specific forms of physical restraint. Due to the nature of physical restraint, our program sought out new approaches of preventing and managing aggressive behaviors. What I believed was missing regarding physical restraint were the critical elements of a student-focused approach. This approach was provided when I was introduced to a new programPrevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior. PMAB is a principle-driven approach that focuses on communication and de-escalation procedures to prevent aggression in the classroom. PMAB challenges teachers and care-givers to explore alternatives to restraint. In 2002, I created a position in the Henry County School System as the Intervention Support Teacher. My role in the school system included responding to crisis situations throughout the district, developing intervention strategies, teaching staff development courses, and assisting in the development of intervention plans for students in need. As a certified trainer of PMAB I took on the responsibility of developing an extensive training in our system. As our training evolved, we moved to the MindSet Safety Management Curriculum in order to remain consistent with the Psychoeducational Network. In 2005 I was certified as a master trainer of MindSet. Following some serious soul searching I ventured into the realm of full time consulting and professional development in 2011 in order to provide MindSet Instructor Certification Training. This has led to an ongoing ...