DDA replacing Behavior Principles and Strategies (BPS) training with the Mandt System

The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) provides behavioral support services to support people in a variety of settings including Community Services, State Residential Centers (SRCs), Secure and Evaluative Therapeutic Treatment (SETT) programs, and other areas where people are experiencing or are likely to experience difficulty in community living as a result of behavioral, social, or emotional issues.

The State-approved program has been Behavior Principles and Strategies (BPS) for more than two decades, and is now being replaced by the MANDT system. DDA has selected this framework for behavior supports, as it is more current with the Administration’s philosophy which focuses on building healthy relationships, providing a more person-centered, values-based process that encourages positive interactions. Mandt promotes individual and organizational well-being and safety with both non-physical and physical interactions.

Maryland is very excited to implement Mandt as part of our transformation. Supporting people through the life course with a person-centered, family-oriented system of supports will help people to have full lives. Over the next 24 months, there will be a steady transition to the Mandt System to allow the transition from BPS to Mandt. This will include training new Mandt trainers, training direct support professionals on the new curriculum, and revising behavior plans to reflect the new language and philosophy. During the transition, BPS recertification will continue until June of 2019.

The timeline will be guided by input from the Statewide Behavior Supports Committee (SBSC), which will convene later this month.

• Train the Trainer sessions will start in April and continue until 350 trainers are certified.
• Regional training will be announced soon, and providers can send staff to training free of charge.
• Once the plan’s writers have been trained/certified in Mandt, behavior plans will reflect the Mandt techniques.
• Those who write behavior plans should become familiar with Mandt and the state’s rollout timeframes.
• By April of 2020, all direct support professionals will be trained and all plans will need to be revised if they have any behavior techniques that are not supported by the new Mandt System.

Please see the Letter from Deputy Secretary Simons for more information on the roll out.

For more information, view the introductory Mandt System video by clicking on the image below.

FOR MORE DDA NEWS, VISIT THE DDA WEBSITE OR THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.

The mission of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration is to create a flexible, person-centered, family-oriented system of supports so people can have full lives.