Promoting Social and Emotional Competence. Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is an approach to helping people improve their difficult behavior that is based on four things:

1. An Understanding that people (even caregivers) do not control others, but seek to support others in their own behavior change process;
2. A Belief that there is a reason behind most difficult behavior, that people with difficult behavior should be treated with compassion and respect, and that they are entitled to lives of quality as well as effective services;
3. The Application of a large and growing body of knowledge about how to better understand people and make humane changes in their lives that can reduce the occurrence of difficult behavior; and
4. A Conviction to continually move away from coercion - the use of unpleasant events to manage behavior.

Coercion involves attempting to control the behavior of others through threat of, or escape from unpleasant events. Coercion minimizes the dignity of the other person, often provokes retaliation, and sometimes causes physical and emotional harm. One example of coercion involves overpowering someone and physically forcing him to do something he doesn't want to do. If he doesn't comply, he is forced and continues to be forced until he gives up fighting. A common and relatively minor example includes taking privileges away from a person when she misbehaves. However, even minor coercion can be harmful in that it can take away from the dignity, autonomy, and sense of self-control of the other person. Equally important is that when minor coercion that was once effective ceases to work, caregivers tend to increase the level of coercion rather than decrease it. They may increase the length of time required to spend in time-out, the amount of privileges taken away, or the tone of voice used.

PBS involves a commitment to continually search for new ways to minimize coercion. This does not mean parents or caregivers should be judged harshly if they occasionally resort to yelling. We all fall back on patterns of caregiving that have worked for us in the past, especially when we are challenged by difficult behavior. PBS simply means that we, as caregivers, recognize the times when we have resorted to coercion, and continually seek to find alternatives that we can use next time we're challenged with similar behavior.

Below is a list of things you may find helpful.

• Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behaviors
• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning
• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning - What Works Briefs
• Positive Behavior Intervention Support
• School Wide Information System (SWIS)