TASH Members Can Access Restraint & Seclusion Prevention Training

Beginning Monday, March 4, TASH members will have access to a complimentary suite of training sessions on the prevention of restraint, seclusion and aversive interventions. The sessions are a reprise of content previously only available for purchase, and part of an new effort to make education and advocacy content available as part of TASH membership. If you are not currently a TASH member, there is no better time to join. A minimum commitment of $30 per year provides access to education, training and advocacy resources as well as discounts to conferences and events. Visit www.tashorgstg.wpengine.com/membership to learn more.

The following sessions will be available starting March 4. Details on how TASH members may access each session will be posted here on the TASH blog.

Shouldn’t School Be Safe? Preventing and Eliminating the Use of Aversives, Restraint and Seclusion | Pat Amos

The rising tide of Positive Behavior Supports has not lifted all boats, and many students with disabilities continue to be subjected to restraint, seclusion and other aversives as part of their education and behavior intervention plan. Evidence clearly demonstrates that these practices are not education – they are the failure of education. Through their use, students learn that “might makes right” and fail to acquire productive, socially acceptable long-term strategies for communicating and meeting their needs. Participants in this session will learn how to work together to eliminate these highly dangerous and counterproductive techniques.

Pat Amos is a parent and has been an advocate for people with disabilities and their families for more than 25 years. She currently works as an Inclusion Specialist with the Youth Advocate Program’s Autism Institute, and is a member of the TASH Board of Directors.

The Business Case for Reducing Restraint and Seclusion Use | Janice LeBel

By reviewing the limited data on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, along with greater details from the health care sector, what emerges is a picture of high-risk, costly procedures that claim far more than dollars and cents. A significant price is paid for restraint and seclusion on staff, students and schools. Through this session we’ll examine the fiscal impact of restraint and seclusion and the multiple dimensions of costs incurred at the systemic, organizational and personal levels. We’ll also look at examples of savings from effective changes in organizational culture, and share with participants how to obtain low/no cost materials to support restraint and seclusion prevention in schools.

Janice LeBel is a licensed psychologist with more than 25 years experience in public mental health. She oversees Massachusetts’ $25 million system of inpatient and secure residential care for youth, and leads the Department of Mental Health’s Restraint/Seclusion Prevention Initiative.

Understanding the Effects of Trauma on the Lives of Those We Serve: Developing Trauma Informed Systems of Care | Joan Gillece

Restraint and seclusion are very dangerous practices with serious and long-lasting effects far beyond when the incident occurs. Through this session, we’ll dive deep into the long-term effects of trauma on the lives of people subjected to these practices, including what the research in mental health and child development tells us about enduring psychological harm caused by restraint and seclusion. We’ll also cover positive alternatives and identify techniques for prevention of these practices.

Joan Gillece is the director for the SAMHSA National Center for Trauma Informed Care, and SAMHSA Promoting Alternatives to Seclusion and Restraint through Trauma-Informed Practices. She has 30 years experience working in the behavioral health field.