full day workshop

NATURAL SETTING THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT (NSTM): A MULTIPLE MODEL APPROACH TO MAINTAIN INDIVIDUAL WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND SEVERE BEHAVIORS IN
Michael Petronko, Rutgers University, USA and Russell Kormann, Rutgers University, USA

Princess Hotel Room: Forum

The provision of effective behavioral support to individuals with a developmental disability and an accompanying mental health and/or behavioral challenge (i.e. a dual diagnosis) residing and working in the community is a topic of great importance. As individuals with increasingly complex behavioral challenges move from congregate care settings to community-based programs, the challenges faced by parents and staff who must manage these dangerous behaviors (i.e. self-injury, serious aggression) are enormous. Unfortunately, many training models have not historically emphasized the “behavioral competence” of the direct service caregiver. Project: Natural Setting Therapeutic Management (NSTM), was designed to address these treatment barriers by teaching family and/or staff members of persons with dual diagnoses methods to construct and maintain a therapeutic environment in the home or work setting. The Project focuses on the development of behavioral competency via the use of a multiple-model, psycho-educational training program designed to transfer treatment ownership from clinician to family or staff members. In the more then 30 years of providing these services under contract by the State of New Jersey, the project has been presented internationally as a model of an empirically supported CBT service delivery system.  Workshops on NSTM have been given in the AABT/ABCT annual conferences 5 out of the last 6 years and in Kobe at the last WCBCT, as well as a myriad of other international societies. This workshop will present the structure and format of Project NSTM with particular emphasis on system management issues.

Dr. Petronko is currently Executive Director of Project NSTM and Research Professor in The Graduate school of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University.  He is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology of APA and a Fellow of AAMR.  He has conducted extensive research on multiple model community-based programming for people with developmental challenges and their families.  He has additionally advocated for NSTM as a service delivery model in various states in the United States.  Several articles as well as book chapters have been written on NSTM. Dr. Kormann is currently the Director of NSTM and has coauthored many of the publications and workshop presentations with Dr. Petronko.  He is a fellow of AAMR and is actively conducting research on aspects of the NSTM multiple model system.

Key References:
Petronko, M.R. & Kormann, R.J. (2005).  Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Community –Based Interventions for Mental Retardation Adults.  International Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. 
Petronko, M.R., & DiDomenico, D.M.  (2005).  Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Developmental Disabilities, Mental Retardation.  International  Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy.  Petronko, M.R. & Kormann, R.J. (2005).  Developmental Disabilities.  In R. Mennutti, A. Freeman and R. Christner (Eds.), Cognitive Behavioral Interventions in Educational Settings.  Brunner-Routledge Publishing (pp. 239-254). New York, NY.