Behavioral Services Part 3 - Behavioral Champions

The science of behavioral treatment changes as the behavior of persons served adapts to environments.

As we continue to find ways to evolve with the changing times, it is important to get as many voices lending their input and expertise into the conversation as possible.

This is where the Behavior Champions comes in.

In this third and final part of our look at SCCMHA’s Behavioral Treatment system, we’ll take a look at what the Champions do and how they help round out this unique approach to developing new ways of behavior treatment.

Created as a kind of roundtable, the Behavior Champions is a group of behavior experts who gather to discuss the changing sciences, new methods of treatment and innovative ways to assist other behavioral psychologists around Saginaw County.

“It became a dialogue,” said Psychologist Heidi Wale Knizacky of Apprecots Applied Research Consultants. “And we asked ourselves, ‘How can we help the network see this as a learnable science and understand what high-quality behavioral interventions are?’”

Heidi serves on SCCMHA’s Behavior Treatment Committee (BTC) and also works with the Behavior Champions.

According to Heidi, Behavior Champions are in place to be used as resources for network staff around the county who may need further assistance in developing their own treatment plans.

“If someone has exhausted all possible ideas with their person served and is still having concerns, they can go to their team Champion to get an advanced level of learning,” Heidi said.

The Behavior Champions regularly meet every month to discuss new ideas, publications, applications, research studies and varying other new outlets to determine what may be used to support their respective workforces.

For those staff members who reach out to their Champion for assistance, they may be invited to present at these meetings to gain input from different voices.

“No one person can know everything,” said SCCMHA Director of Services for Persons with IDD Charlotte Fondren. “Hearing from different people gives us all kinds of ideas and suggestions to best serve those individuals we want to help.”

“I’m always amazed by the suggestions we have in the meetings.”

Heidi is overwhelmed by the practices SCCMHA has put into action to continue to serve Saginaw County.

“I’m delighted to be a part of this process,” Heidi said. “SCCMHA is ahead of the curve in finding the best practices for behavior treatment.”