Rachel Freeman, Chris Smith, and Donna Wickham
(11/02) The Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Support (KIPBS) at the University of Kansas was established November, 2001 in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to create statewide training for PBS and PCP. This system will allow professionals in the fields of developmental disabilities, mental health, and child welfare to bill Medicaid for PBS and PCP services. In Year 1, training will be limited to professionals in developmental disabilities. Professionals in mental health and child welfare will be invited to apply in future years. All Kansas agencies will be able to obtain access to online instructional materials that can be embedded within their own ongoing in-service training efforts.

The mission of the Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Support (KIPBS) is to create a community of professionals in the state of Kansas who:

• are committed to improving the quality of life for all Kansans by designing effective environments for social growth;
• have demonstrated expertise in the application of PBS and PCP;
• provide training and support for individualized PBS while simultaneously attending to the systems level issues that contribute to the occurrence of problem behavior;
• form a network of individuals who will maintain a collaborative connection with KIPBS; and
• can provide agencies in the state of Kansas with access to online instructional materials that can be embedded within in-service training.

Professionals participating in the KIPBS training will be expected to successfully complete training that will include both theory and application-based experiences during a 12-month period. Online instructional materials will be used to disseminate important concepts and theory on PBS and PCP. Onsite instructors will model specific PBS and PCP strategies, provide opportunities for professionals to apply theoretical knowledge, and reflect upon student progress. Although two courses will be established, students will be allowed to progress through the training at their own pace and can continue attending courses for an additional year as needed. Students will be evaluated based upon three components, including:

• a portfolio demonstrating the application of PBS with case study data, PCP, and examples of systems-level interventions (e.g., Power Point presentations and workshops, or written evaluations of staff development systems);
• completion of online instructional courses which will test conceptual knowledge of PBS including the principles of behavior, research-validated intervention strategies, PCP, systems change, and enhancing quality of life; and
• direct application of PBS as supervised by KIPBS Instructors and Mentors.

Professionals interested in participating in the Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Support will be asked to contribute 12 hours a year to the Institute for maintaining eligibility for reimbursement. The 12 hours will be used to continue professional development, assist in mentoring new professionals, and implement systems-level interventions collaboratively in Kansas organizations. At the end of their training, professionals will be asked to provide an action plan for the following year describing how the 12 hours will be implemented. KIPBS trained professionals will be able to bill Medicaid for positive behavior support (PBS) and person-centered planning (PCP) services. Before billing can be submitted, KIPBS trained professionals will submit an application to the Prior Authorization Committee for approval. For more information, the project’s website can be viewed at www.kipbs.lsi.ku.edu