Behavior Services

 

Our Behavior Services Coordinator is available to all districts and assists with professional Development around the district’s behavior support system. Training for teachers, instructional assistants and at times lunchroom staff can help a district implement a positive behavior system throughout the district. Our Behavior Systems Specialist also provides a link with Compass Behavioral Health. This provides school districts with a needed linkage to mental health system and programs to support students that may be external to the district. The Behavior Interventionist spends time weekly in each district that contracts for this service with the goal of helping districts with classroom and student specific issues that may impede learning. Using the districts’ positive behavior system, the interventionist may work with the classroom teacher, principal, student, family or other agencies to help students succeed. Fully licensed with experience in schools, behavior interventionists may assist districts in learning to complete functional behavioral assessments, and behavior intervention plans or support a family that is trying to access mental health or other support agencies.

Kirsta Colley

Director of Behavioral Health Services

kirsta.colley@douglasesd.k12.or.us|541-440-4781

Ready Set Learn logo

Ready, Set, Learn

Launched during summer 2016, the Ready, Set, Learn Program was designed to help students grades pre-K to 6 whose behavior disrupts classroom learning. Douglas ESD operates the program, which deploys a team of behavior specialists to work with families, students and schools. Although not all Ready, Set, Learn students share the same types of challenges, all face conditions that make it difficult to learn and thrive in a classroom environment. The program uses methods known as trauma-informed practices, which address what happens to children who have experienced trauma that increases their chances for depression or other mental illness, chronic diseases and violence. By increasing children’s resilience and coping skills, the educational team seeks to improve their ability to engage and focus on school academics.

Classroom Instruction

The RSL program offers kindergarten through 6th grade classroom support for students with behavioral health issues. Students are provided skills training during whole class instruction in live context at the school in which they attend. Students work in the group atmosphere to maintain their current level of academics and to reduce ostracizing from their peers.

One-On-One Behavioral Intervention

The program also offers one-on-one behavioral health services to students including home visits to address specific family supports needed to minimize behavioral challenges that may influence academic success. Students receive individualized care to address their specific needs. These services are scheduled throughout the program as needed. On-going training is available for educators and administrators both in an individual format and through professional development workshops.

Therapeutic Learning Classroom

The therapeutic learning class (TLC) is a transitional program, serving students K-8, designed to help children with mental health and behavioral concerns. The TLC is a collaborative partnership between Douglas ESD and Compass Behavioral Health and is a certified psychiatric day treatment program through Oregon’s Addictions and Mental Health. The classroom is not meant to be a permanent placement and serves only to assist children in gaining skills to consistently perform in the general academic class. Students may stay in the class until they are capable of maintaining appropriate behavior in the regular academic class through the use of effective coping skills and individualized learning techniques. The therapeutic learning class (TLC) incorporates a balance of academics and classroom behavior management with evidence-based therapeutic practices. Some examples of therapy that may occur in the classroom are: Individual therapy and group therapy. Family Therapy is also an important part of the program and may happen at the TLC site, in the home, or other locations as determined. The staff members in the class all share the same goal of teaching the students skills to cope with emotional difficulties, ways to manage disruptive behavior, and to improve academic ability while supporting the family. Student referrals are supported by students’ home school district and it is not necessary for students to be enrolled in special education services.