Congressman Sestak Obtains $100,000 for Positive Behavior Support Program at Devereux Beneto
MALVERN, Pa., March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-7th District) has obtained $100,000 for the Devereux Beneto Center in Malvern, PA. The funds were included in the House of Representatives Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill and will be used for a Program-Wide Positive Behavior Support (PWPBS) system for at-risk youth.
"I have seen firsthand the great work that Devereux does and was proud to support their funding request," said Congressman Sestak "Through its Beneto Center, with the help of this funding, Devereux is able to provide hope to struggling families and bring about life enhancing change to the participating youth."
The Devereux Beneto Center specializes in the treatment of children, teenagers, and young adults with emotional and psychological challenges including conduct and oppositional-defiant disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Young men and women with psychiatric conditions require specialized assistance," said Dave Woodward, Assistant Executive Director of the Devereux Beneto Center. "We are extremely happy that Congressman Sestak has been our advocate in Washington; this program will offer individuals we serve the best opportunity to be successful."
PWPBS will create an active learning environment focused on helping Devereux clients make a seamless and positive transition back into a community setting. "The focus will be on individual learning objectives," Woodward added. "The program will make evidenced-based treatment available to individuals with a wide range of emotional and psychiatric conditions, a critical need for at-risk youth."
Since the 1999 creation of the U.S. Department of Education's National Technical Assistance Center for Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, school-wide positive behavior support practices have resulted in a significant reduction in violence, fighting and disruptive behavior. The juvenile justice system has implemented similar programs with positive results.
"We are blazing a trail here and bringing this successful model to residential treatment centers," concluded Woodward.
PWPBS will be evaluated and outcomes will be measured regularly. The goals are a 30 percent reduction in behavior problems and a 20 percent increase in social and emotional goal attainment. Additionally, the project will create an infrastructure that will bring PWPBS to all Devereux centers in the region and across the country, as well as programs of other residential treatment centers throughout the U.S.
For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/ylaxb5y.
The Devereux Beneto Center, established in 1995, operates several locations throughout Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. Our innovative services utilize a contemporary continuum of mental health care including a Behavioral Health Center, Residential Treatment Facilities, Approved Private Schools, Pre-vocational and Vocational programs. These facilities continue to evolve to meet the needs of the surrounding communities and our broad referral base encompassing Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.
SOURCE Devereux
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