Increasing Behaviorally Descriptive Language When Documenting Critical Incidents through Training of Line-Staff and Supervision.

This paper introduces a strategy for increasing the use of behaviorally descriptive language by child care workers in an intensive residential treatment unit. The project's broader goal was to improve behavioral diagnosis and documentation of critical incidents. Critical incidents were commonly documented using inappropriate slang and jargon terms in place of informative, behaviorally descriptive language. A 6-hour training session was conducted with child care workers (N=20) and their supervisors (N=2), including a didactic presentation, role playing exercises, and a post-test. Intensive follow-up services included content analysis of critical incidents and weekly meetings with child care supervisors. The use of behaviorally descriptive language was found to have increased substantially at the conclusion of the 10-week program implementation period, and staff were found to use descriptive language more effectively when completing critical incidents reports. Appendices contain a project implementation plan, a training outline, a post-test, and reporting forms. (Contains 12 references.) (Author/PB)