(REC Rejected 2025 – Dec 18) Cultures of Support: Implementing PBS in Diverse Organizations to Reduce Restraint and Promote Positive Behavior

Coercive practices, including physical restraint, continue to pose significant ethical and practical concerns across various organizational settings. This presentation addresses the critical need to shift away from these harmful interventions towards proactive, positive, and evidence-based strategies. We present a comprehensive framework for implementing Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) in multi-operational companies lacking a prior history of these practices, emphasizing its efficacy in reducing restraint and promoting positive behavior.

This presentation draws on data collected during a system-wide implementation of PBS. Baseline assessments revealed inconsistent practices and a reliance on reactive strategies. Following targeted training, data-driven decision-making, and the introduction of individualized support systems, significant improvements were observed. Specifically, fidelity checklists demonstrated an average increase of 13.2% in PBS implementation across participating organizations between 2024 and 2025, with the largest gains observed in specific programs where a BCBA was specifically hired to oversee operations and implementation measures.

Case studies from diverse organizations are presented to illustrate how PBS can be successfully implemented to reduce restraint incidents, improve staff engagement, and promote positive outcomes for individuals. We emphasize the importance of ongoing training, data collection, and collaboration with families and stakeholders to sustain positive change and build organizational cultures that prioritize support and respect.

Learning Objectives:

• The Participant will understand the scope and application of Positive Behavior Supports (PBS).
• The Participant will define and identify the impact of coercive practices on individuals.
• The Participant will demonstrate impact using visual analysis and data.
• The Participant will be able to express the importance of this topic and it’s impact on ABA.
• The Participant will understand use of restraint screening measures to support restraint reduction initiatives.

Nicole Sorensen, MS, BCBA, LBA, serves as the Director of Therapeutic Practices at MyPath, leading organization‑wide efforts to embed Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) and trauma‑informed practices across residential and day‑school programs. Her leadership centers on objective observation, practical fidelity measurement, and coaching systems that help stakeholders apply ABA consistently and humanely, reducing reliance on restraint and seclusion. Nicole’s career spans diverse settings across the United States and internationally, shaping her commitment to culturally responsive, person‑centered support. She was elected to the BACB Board of Directors for the 2025–2028 term and has taught in higher education. Nicole is pursuing an EdD in Applied Leadership & Organizational Behavior Management at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (expected 2028). Her dissertation focuses on practical dissemination of ABA within diverse systems through policy alignment, educator toolkits, and capacity‑building pathways (train‑the‑trainer, micro‑credentials, and communities of practice). Her current work emphasizes implementation science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and elevating humane, evidence‑based practices across complex service settings.