22 attend 5th annual training offered in partnership with the Defiance College Hench Autism Studies Program on Managing Challenging Behavior in youth

NAMI Four County once again partnered with Dr. Clarissa Barnes, director of the Defiance College Hench Autism Studies Program, to offer a 3-hour training on practical ways to discourage challenging behaviors and promote positive behavior among youth.  Some 22 participants from area school systems, churches, Jobs and Family Service offices, Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission, the area's Court-Appointed Special Advocates program as well as parents and grandparents of children who have challenging behaviors attended the training on the Defiance College campus.

Dr. Barnes, pictured walking among some of the participants, focuses on identifying specific challenging behaviors, the consequence that follows that behavior and what occurred before the behavior to help participants determine how specific changes in the environment could lead to the elimination of the disruptive behavior. By end of the three-hour training, participants have an action plan that they can then use with the children that they are involved with.

This was the fifth year that NAMI and Dr. Barnes have partnered to offer the training, which was so popular that nearly 15 people who had hoped to attend were placed on a waiting list.

We hope to offer the training again in the fall.

Several of the participants gave the following comments about the training.
"Great class.  I left with a better understanding of some behaviors."
"Very well done -- would like to know if anything like this is offered again.  Will be referring families."

For more photos from the training held Saturday morning, March 2, please visit the Photo and Video Gallery. 

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