DOCUMENT RESUME CG 027 127 ED 396 211 Mueller, Alison AUTHOR Increasing the Effectiveness of De-escalation of TITLE Aggressive Behaviors in the Young Child. PUB DATE 95 109p.; Master's Practicum, Nova Southeastern NOTE University. Practicum Papers (043) Dissertations/Theses PUB TYPE Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160) MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE *Aggression; Antisocial Behavior; Behavioral DESCRIPTORS Objectives; *Behavior Change; Behavior Disorders; Child Behavior; Child Psychology; Children; Clinical Experience; Elementary Education; *Inservice Education; Intervention; *Job Training; *Mental Health Clinics; Problem Children; *Young Children ABSTRACT Due to the overuse of physical containment within the in-service agency where this practicum study was conducted, an training program was designed and implemented aimed at better preparing staff to de-escalate aggressive behavior. A three hour training session and a conclusive one-and-a-half hour long testing period (involving lecture, role play, video taped situations, and trainees were observed group discussion) were implemented. Staff within this milieu in order to insure that a transfer of learning to the practicum setting had been accomplished. The training increased staff verbal de-escalation skills, behavioral observation skills, and decreased assaultive behavior by eight 6- to 12-year-old girls in a residential treatment facility. Eight appendices include an implementation plan, list of physical restraints, injury log, de-escalation training guide, and a documentation review form. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/TS) *AA.*AA;,A:,AAAA*A;.*****:.**********************-******************* Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. *********************************************************************** De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 1 Increasing the Effectiveness of De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors in the Young Child by Alison Mueller Cohort 68 A Practicum Report to the Mastees Program in Child Care, Youth Care, and Family Support in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY 1995 11%.. iI :4..tr,;,ic )t,; LI S DE l'AILT NIL ILI or I- LAICATION C1 Ant ' , »11 r11-L»1 All .1 i If II', MATI-IfiAl fll';`;1 FAINAI I t IThcAtioNIAL IIL'iOUHCLS INF ORMARON Ir--1 1 IA:. Nit N (;11AN T fr. 1,', CENTF LI WILICI il This II, WIIIII(4111 ha'. been 1111(0(illted .1'. 11 r.-- 4 rlitE t tc-r, ,..,,..,,, Itnn, MP pel..011 1.0 11111,1111/41o,11 .,..f..,,,.,., 11 di. C\I LI MI.., r /1,111110, Ildv1.111,1,11111,1(1e 10 .r filHocilictiot, qiillty FiEsT COPY AVAIL,ABLE CD P lb, IT) Fill I"mI' 1 ' tI VIVA 01 liwo.otIN )NAt FIT 1( .Al lif 'a)1111( F rviLit.01.1 110, ii111,411 (10 1101 Ile( f NII C.) ()Iik1A11( if\J (I I f11 1111,111011111 1,)11( y De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 2 Authorship Statement I hereby testify that this paper and the work it reports are entirely my own. Whe....) it has been necessary to draw from the work of others, published or unpublished, I have acknowledged such works in I give accordance with accepted scholarly and editorial practice. testimony freely, out of respect for the scholarship of other workers in the field and in the hope that my own work, presented here, will earn similar respect. ti///g Signature of Student Date De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 3 Abstract Increasing the effectiveness of de escalation of aggressive behaviors in the young child. Mueller, Alison L.,1995: Practicum Report, Nova Southeastern University, Master's Program for Child Care, Youth Care, and Family Support. Descriptors: Verbal De EscalationNerbal Intervention/Behavior Management/Intervention Strategies/Managing Aggressive Behavior/Preventive Strategies. Due to the overuse of physical containment within the practicum agency, the author designed and implemented an in - service training to better prepare staff to de escalate aggressive behavior. A three hour training and a conclusivelm:,1- and thirty minute testing period was implemented which encompassed lecture, role play, video taped situations and group discussion. The trainees were observed within the milieu to insure a transfer of learning to the practicum setting had been accomplished. De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 4 The training increased staff verbal de escalation skills, behavioral observation skills, and decreased assaultive behavior by residents. Appendices include an implementation plan, list of physical restraints, injury log, de escalation training guide, and a documentation review form. De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 5 Table of Contents Page Chapter Introduction and Background I. 8 The Setting in Which the Problem Occum Student's Role in the Setting 11 14 The Problem II. 14 Problem Statement 14 Documentation of the Problem 22 Analysis of the Problem 25 Ill. Goals and Objectives 28 Solution Strategy IV. 28 Existing Programs, Models, and Approaches 35 Solution Strategy Implemented 39 Strategies Employed: Action Taken and Results V. 39 Activities Implemented 44 Results 62 Conclusions and Recommendations VI. 69 References Appendices: 62 Calendar of Activities A. 63 Physical Intervention jsting B. 64 Occupational Injury and Illness Report log C. 66 Curriculum (Teaching Guide) D. 66 Attendance Form E. De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 6 Table of Contents (cont.) Appendices 67 Post - Test F. 68 Checklist G. 69 Documentation Review Form H. i 0 De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 7 Chapter 1 Introduction and Background The practicum agency has been in existence for over 100 years. The original plant design resembled a typical late 19th, early 20th century orphanage setting. Within the past few years the facility has been renovated to reflect the goals of a modern, ever evolving residential youth care agency. In 1991, the agency received accreditation, and as of October, 1995 has been upgraded to a formal designation as a residential treatment facility. With this in mind the practicum student will give a brief look at the agency as it exists today. This not-for-profit agency is located in a large urban setting. Within their residential program, service is provided for up to 71 male and female residents, age 6 through 17. Ten separate housing units, contained in one large building complex, hou:-,e 7 to 8 residents each. 0 De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 8 The agency provides what they refer to as a 'circle of care'. Programs which are part of this 'circle of care' include: foster care, residential care, and the independent living arrangement (provided for residents transitioning to independence). Aside from the 10 houses, the agency has an additional house which It has contains 4 bedrooms. This house is available for multiple uses. been used to house residents for pre-independence, and it has also served as a special unit for youth in crisis. The Setting in Which the Problem Occurs I had selected the youngeSt girl's unit for the focus of my practicum. There are 8 girls on this unit, ranging in age from 6 to 12 years. Seven of the eight girls are African-American, and the unit on average, is 85% to 100% African-American. The girls were placed in this program by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) due, mainly to abuse and/or neglect. De escalation of Aggressive Behaviors 9 There are four bedrooms on the unit. Each girl shares a bedroom with a roommate. There is also a common living room, a dining area (although meals are served in the cafeteria), a bathroom with a shower unit, and a separate tub. Two toilet stalls are also provided. A staff office is located on the unit; this office has been placed in an area which allows for visibility of all the bedrooms. All of the girls attend group therapy, individual therapy, and therapeutic recreation. Each girl is provided on-going case work services, medical services, opportunities for religious practice, and education appropriate to her individual needs. This was a new unit for this agency. In the past, there was only one girl's unit which served all of the residential female population, age 6 through 17. The agency began this unit in May of 1994, based on a generalist model. The unit was self-contained, and all the staff hired were required to have a Bachelor's degree. The agency has since moved away from the generalist model. The staff women from this unit, are fairly 0