Project Description:
The purpose of this project is to develop and test a collaborative, web based tool to improve early childhood teachers implementation of interventions for children with or at risk for emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD). Despite the development of multi tiered systems of supports and evidence for the efficacy of positive behavior supports and function based interventions (aimed at preventing and reducing challenging behavior), many early childhood programs lack the capacity to implement intensive interventions (tier 3) with fidelity. Further, many behavior support programs fail to consider the role of families in the individualized behavior support process. In this project, the research team modifies and expands the existing technology, as well as extend its application from its original design for K 8 classrooms to be appropriate for early childhood settings. This new intervention, the Integrated Behavior Support and Teacher Coaching System for Early Childhood Settings (ibestt EC), combine professional development with behavioral coaching and family collaboration to increase early childhood teachers ability to improve behavioral outcomes for children with or at risk for EBD.
The project iteratively develops and tests ibestt EC across 4 years. In the first year, the research team solicits feedback from early childhood practitioners and families through focus groups and workshops and use their feedback to revise the existing technology. The revised intervention are field tested to evaluate teacher fidelity of implementation in early childhood classrooms in the second year. In the third year, the team creates professional development materials to support teachers in intervention implementation. In the fourth year, the research team assesses the promise of the intervention through a series of single case design studies.
This project produces a fully developed, web based intervention, ibestt EC, toimprove teacher implementation of intensive behavioral interventions in early childhood settings. Products will also include peer reviewed publications and presentations.
