APBS Committees

The Committee on Continuing Education and Training monitors emerging issues and trends and supports the development of resources and programs for positive behavior support (PBS) in the US and internationally. These efforts include basic education and subspecialty areas to support effective implementation of positive behavior support. The committee advises and assists the APBS administration in the development, implementation, and promotion of its education programming and initiatives.

Highlights of Responsibilities

• Overseeing planning, coordinating, and evaluating all continuing education efforts and activities for APBS;
• Identifying emerging issues related to training and education for positive behavior support;
• Providing recommendations regarding the development of high-quality positive behavior support training, career development, post-graduate, and specialty education training; and
• Working alongside other APBS committees, workgroups, and administration on all levels of positive behavior support education implementation.

The Annual Conference Content Planning Workgroup has authority over the content of the APBS Annual Conference and works closely with APBS administration. It holds a meeting in the fall to select the program for the upcoming conference, a meeting in the spring to identify keynote speakers, and a meeting in the summer to evaluate the previous annual conference and begin plans for the upcoming meeting. The committee is charged with:

• Preparing the content for the annual conference and maintain close liaison with APBS administration to ensure that all disciplines across the lifespan are represented.
• Developing pre-conference workshops in conjunction with APBS administration.
• Selecting and coordinating the annual conference theme with APBS president.
• Working to develop conference tracks within the context of school, family, and community across settings (entire schools, organizations, states, for small groups, with individuals with complex support needs)
• Partnering with the APBS administration to select the main stage speakers.
• Collaborating with APBS Administration to ensure technical reviewers of submitted proposals are matched appropriately for content areas and identify the systems to ensure fair and equitable review of all submissions.
• Supporting APBS administration with the design and development of the poster sessions through the selection process.
• During the annual conference, the committee will meet with the APBS administration daily to review any programmatic issues that need to be addressed, assist in monitoring sessions, and fill any vacant roles of introducing speakers.
• Note that the chair and vice chair, in coordination with APBS administration, will coordinate the call for proposals website and submission requirements.

Each year, in concurrence with the International Conference on Positive Behavior Support, the Awards Workgroup coordinates the nomination process and reviews the nominations for the following awards: E.G. “Ted” Carr Practitioner and Initial Researcher, and APBS Leadership awards. The winners are recognized at the annual conference each year. The workgroup will work closely with the APBS administration to ensure an equitable nomination and selection process.

The Association for Positive Behavior Support (APBS) is a professional membership organization dedicated to advancing positive behavior support. The multidisciplinary association is made up of professionals, family members, teachers, consumers, researchers, university professors, and administrators who are committed to the application of positive behavior supports (PBS) within systems, such as schools and agencies, and at the individual level for people with complex support needs involving behavioral challenges. The mission of APBS is to affect behavior change and improve the quality of life for all individuals within their schools, families, and communities.

The Committee on Lifespan works to advance PBS implementation across a range of systems and stages of life, aligned with the APBS mission to enhance the quality of life through evidence-based strategies that promote socially valid and equitable outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), individuals, families, schools, agencies, and communities. This committee identifies priorities in the field and keeps these priorities at the forefront of the APBS mission and strategic plan.

Highlights of Responsibilities

• Creating effective partnerships with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), adults, families, schools, agencies, and communities to learn more about positive behavior support techniques;
• Producing, at minimum, 4 resources quarterly in alignment with APBS fiscal calendar year (2 per quarter) in coordination with APBS administration and subject to board approval.

The Mental Health and PBS Disparities Workgroup represents and advocates for minority and underserved populations and PBS implementors and practitioners from those groups. The workgroup seeks to reduce mental health disparities in implementation services and research that disproportionately affect women and minority populations. The workgroup aims to promote the recruitment and development of PBS implementors and researchers from minority and underrepresented groups.

Highlights of Responsibilities

• Increasing awareness and understanding of cultural diversity and fostering the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills in the areas of cultural competence through consultation, education, and advocacy within both the APBS and the field of PBS;
• Enhancing the quality and quantity of education in PBS, at all educational levels, including undergraduate, post-graduate, and beyond, in cooperation with other appropriate APBS components;
• Developing PBS leadership from minority and underrepresented groups both within the profession and APBS; and
• Producing, at minimum, 2 work products semi-annually to support these efforts in partnership with another organization or solely APBS.

The Committee on Research carries out activities to ensure that the substance and significance of research on PBS remain integral parts of the APBS mission and in the forefront of the national health agenda. The committee embodies APBS’s commitment to advancing evidence-based PBS knowledge across a broad range of research fields and issues.

Highlights of Responsibilities

• Recognizing researchers who have made significant contributions to PBS knowledge and practice across settings and contexts;
• Establish task forces in response to emerging needs relevant to the committee; and
• Advancing evidence-based knowledge across a broad spectrum of issues (e.g., white papers, special guest blog post, etc.).