Visit to the  Behavior Treatment and Training Center

  J. Olmanson

 Date of visit: June 2000

 Name and Location:

Behavior Treatment and Training Center

1818 Collins Road

Richmond, TX 77469

Population Served: Youth between the ages of 10 and up (on site/over night) in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, Matagorda, Orange, Waller or Wharton county, as well as others by court order or administrative mandate. The individual in need of services must have autism, a pervasive development disorder, or mental retardation. All ages are served through assistance within the person’s own community.

Method of Referral: School district faculty, the child’s parents, judges, and government officials may refer an individual within the ages listed above. For residential admission, the individual must display behaviors which: threaten continued residence in the family or group home, or pose an imminent risk of injury, or severely disrupt current programming or services in the community.

Staff Requirements and training:  The center employs masters-level behavior analysts with extensive experience and training in applied behavior analysis. The Center also offers training in applied behavior analysis for individuals, families, providers, organizations, and schools. Training includes participation, demonstration, role-play, and lecture. Such training is provided on location, in-home, in school, and at work.

Models of intervention used:  Development of written plans for behavior treatment based on assessment results and treatment data, short-term and direct intervention by Center staff in the individual’s home, school or place of work, short-term residential placement –behavior treatment and skill training at the group homes, transition plans to transfer intervention strategies to family, and school.

Ratio of Staff to clients:  better than 1:4

View on administration and staff concerning:

·        It appears as if the Center has enjoyed a strong last five years. Though there have been some returning residents, there have also been success stories as well.

·        Current issues of concern include the dilemma between keeping those who fit certain violent physiological profiles from the public and allowing them the opportunity to rise above their violent potential and turn their life around. Also at issue is the matter of resident occupancy. It seems as if there is an effort or hope amongst those at the Center that the number of residents not increase.

·        This program seems to follow a stereotypical Northern European model of rehabilitation in residency. The difference between this facility and high population state schools might be the personalized care and small group camp-like atmosphere.

·        In general I thought that there was great potential for community and familial assistance. Giving families, teachers, and society a place to send problem children for through evaluation and testing, from which effective strategies may be learned and implemented at home, school, and in the work place.