An important component of the FACET approach was the use of school-based teams
to implement functional assessment and PBS. All FACET team members participated in
conducting functional assessment and developing and implementing the CBSP with
children. Several features of the professional-development model were designed to
maximize the extent to which teams implemented the FACET steps with accuracy and
consistency. First, training sessions were conducted by individuals with experience in
implementing functional assessment and providing consultation for teams within
classroom settings. Second, continuous support and training were provided to teams
over a period of four months during which time they focused on one target child (FOC).
The ongoing professional development allowed sufficient time for teams to practice
applying skills, evaluate implementation, and receive feedback and guidance from the
consultants. Third, the information presented during the training sessions focused on
natural classroom settings. We spent considerable time developing a strong foundation
for teaming and collaboration. We also presented explicit examples of intervention
strategies for each component of a CBSP, as well as general strategies to prevent
challenging behavior and support positive behavior. Although there was attention to
theoretical understanding of terms and concepts, there was much greater emphasis on
providing examples and demonstrating application. Team members learned to identify
triggers and the function of appropriate and challenging behaviors, and to apply
interventions based on functional assessment data. Another key to success was the focus
on simple changes in classroom environments to reduce the frequency of challenging
behavior, such as providing children with choices, creating well-organized learning
centers, limiting the number of children in potentially crowded spaces, and providing
children with leadership opportunities or responsibility in the classroom. The high
implementation fidelity ratings for GEN children (60% of activities), although lower
than for FOC children, suggest that the FACET approach to professional development,
with repeated training sessions, scaffolding and monitoring of team activities, was
beneficial in promoting generalization of the FACET model (without consultative
support) with other children.