Youth Voice Matters: Perceptions of Facility-Wide PBIS Implementation in Secure Residential Juvenile Facilities

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in Secure Care Juvenile Justice Settings: Feasibility and Sustainability

“…Finally, the leadership team can plan methods for ensuring that youth have input into the design of PBIS activities. Jolivette, Boden, Sprague, Ennis, and Kimball (2015) describe the need for and benefits of ensuring that youth have a voice in PBIS. Based on data collected through multiple focus groups of staff and youth in secure care facilities that were implementing PBIS, the researchers concluded that designing methods to solicit youth input may enhance youth response to PBIS and increase overall fidelity of implementation (Jolivette et al, 2015).…”

“…Jolivette, Boden, Sprague, Ennis, and Kimball (2015) describe the need for and benefits of ensuring that youth have a voice in PBIS. Based on data collected through multiple focus groups of staff and youth in secure care facilities that were implementing PBIS, the researchers concluded that designing methods to solicit youth input may enhance youth response to PBIS and increase overall fidelity of implementation (Jolivette et al, 2015). Youth input may be obtained in numerous ways, such as inviting youth representatives to attend portions of PBIS leadership team meetings to give input on specific PBIS activities, holding youth focus groups to solicit input, and/or using surveys or suggestion boxes so that youth may anonymously provide input.…”

Staff and Youth Buy-In Ideas for Initial and Sustainable Facility-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports Implementation Within Residential and Juvenile Facilities

“…Over the past decade, researchers have begun adapting the PBIS framework for use in residential and juvenile facilities across the country (Ennis & Gonsoulin, 2015). While implementation of FW-PBIS is still in the early stages, positive outcomes have been noted (Jolivette, 2016; Jolivette et al, 2015; Jolivette & Kumm, 2018). The PBIS framework is rooted in the following key features: (a) a continuum of behavioral support focusing on prevention of problem behavior in which expected, appropriate behaviors are clearly defined; (b) consistent instruction across environments to teach appropriate behavior; (c) the use of interventions which have been empirically validated for proven effectiveness; (d) measurable outcomes informed by data, practices, and systems; and (e) a process of decision making based on data (Sugai & Horner, 2002).…”

“…This also affects youth as the staff with whom they interact on a daily basis may change regularly. This lack of consistency can often result in different expectations during different shifts/settings throughout the facility, which can have a negative impact on youth buy-in (Jolivette et al, 2015). Youth buy-in to FW-PBIS may also be affected by limited time in a facility when youth serve short sentences.…”

“…Researchers have noted lack of staff buy-in to be one barrier to successful implementation of FW-PBIS within residential and secure-care settings (Jolivette et al, 2015; Swain-Bradway et al, 2013). When implemented in traditional school settings, a minimum of 80% staff buy-in is recommended; however, researchers have suggested a rate of 90% to 95% staff buy-in for successful implementation of FW-PBIS in residential and secure-care facilities (Jolivette & Nelson, 2010).…”