Behavior Support Services

Skills Behavior Support Services are available to individuals with developmental disabilities through a support team model. Assistance is provided to individuals, staff and families to design support plans that enhance adaptive behaviors and diminish problem behaviors which interfere with learning and integration within their community.

The goal of Skills Behavior Support Services is to determine and meet the needs of the person rather than merely eliminating inappropriate behavior.

Skills follows a person-centered approach when supporting people. Treatment plans are individualized as part of the Individual Support Plan (ISP) and follows the principle that the least restrictive treatment should be used first. Skills behavior support specialists rely on input and assistance from the individual’s multidisciplinary support team (e.g., family, friends, support coordination, staff) to determine the best way to support the person.

Range of Services

Skills Behavior Support Services offers a variety of services to support people experiencing challenging behaviors including:

  1. Behavioral assessment, which includes a functional behavior analysis, skills analysis, assessments of social and communication skills, and environmental analysis
  2. Development of a Behavior Support Plan, monitoring and evaluating progress, and coordination of behavior support services across all environments.
  3. Training of staff and/or family on how to support the person using the behavior support plan.
  4. Social skills training to assist the person in learning the skills needed to be a full member of his or her community. Topics may include coping skills, assertiveness skills, forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships, anger management skills, safety skills, and human sexuality. All training is based on the needs of the individual.

Skills Behavior Support Services are available in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Juniata, Mifflin, and Somerset Counties.

Service Standards

Specific responsibilities of Skills behavior support specialists include:

  1. Assessment of problem behaviors through collection of baseline information, observation, functional analysis of the behavior, team consultation, reviewing of historical records, and person-centered planning
  2. Development of a Behavior Support Plan based on the behavioral assessment and consultation with the person’s team
  3. Training of staff and/or family members on how to support the person using the procedures in the Behavior Support Plan and how to document learning
  4. Evaluation of the individual’s progress through regular assessment and consultation with staff or family
  5. Coordinating behavior supports across all environments to insure consistency
  6. Conducting periodic reviews of the individual’s progress and documentation of this progress in the Quarterly Report
  7. Monitoring the individual’s progress until behavior supports services are no longer needed
  8. Consultation with psychiatric and medical providers

The nature of the behavioral supports emphasizes a balance between “what is important to the individual” and “what is important for the individual.” This is achieved through a consistent, planned approach which always focuses on the desires and health and safety of the person first.

Referral Procedure

Referrals for Behavior Support Services must be requested by the person’s Support Coordinator.

For further information about Skills Behavior Support Services, please contact:

Sue Wion, Director, Behavior Support Services
4601-A Cortland Avenue,
Altoona, PA 16601
814-283-0025 ext 345
Email: swion@skillsgroup.org