Leading Provider of Behavioral Health Services Launches Coaching Program to Help Educators Respond to Disruptions in the Classroom

Invo Healthcare's innovative program, grounded in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis, to be deployed in select school systems at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Invo Healthcare, one of the country's largest and most experienced providers of school-based behavioral health services, today announced the launch of a new professional learning program to support educators and school staff to effectively address student behavior issues in the classroom, and in turn, promote a positive, safe school climate. The program is rooted in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and will be implemented in school systems across the country during the 2022-2023 school year.

Across the country, students are struggling to adjust to being back in classrooms and interacting with peers and teachers. According to a recent survey from the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 80 percent of public schools reported the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted students' behavior and socio-emotional development. More than half reported a spike in classroom disruptions due to student misconduct, including increased numbers of fights and threats of physical harm. In response, a growing number of schools and districts are finding that research-based behavioral interventions can have a significant positive impact on students' development of critical social, communication, and learning skills.

"ABA is a research-based set of practices that have broad potential but have historically been limited in practice to serving students with autism spectrum disorder or with other significant behavioral needs. But those very same strategies also offer a lot of promise for educators looking to help students develop the classroom behaviors critical for learning," said Invo Healthcare President Matt Stringer. "Based on the demand we've seen, paired with input from innovative-thinking school districts, we've developed a coaching program to equip teachers with the knowledge and resources they need to confidently help young people navigate this unprecedented time."

To help districts scale these critical strategies, Invo Healthcare has developed a behavior coaching program focused on upskilling teachers and staff to incorporate behavior strategies into their classrooms. Led by a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), who is trained to conduct behavioral assessments, interpret results, and design and supervise ABA interventions, Invo's interactive, semester-long program combines instructor-led education on ABA with ongoing 1:1 coaching, classroom observation, direct planning support, and monthly group meetings to model and implement the newly learned behavior strategies in real-time.

"The Invo Healthcare Behavior Coaching program is an innovative effort to address the needs of students and teachers," said William Edwards, the Director of the Clemson University Center for Behavior Analysis. "What makes the model unique compared to how many districts historically approach training is the level of individualization that can be provided to each teacher, the ongoing training and support, and the reliance on data to evaluate training efficacy. Districts traditionally provide training, but there is often a lack of focus on what happens after training. This model focuses on classroom implementation at a critical moment for our educators and students."

Invo Healthcare is the national leading provider of community and school-based behavioral health services for children nationwide. Operating in 27 states, Invo serves more than 70,000 children annually in the areas of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), behavioral and mental health services, speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, psychology, and other services. Invo is headquartered in Doylestown, PA with additional corporate campuses in Tampa, FL and Northbrook, IL. With more than 2,500 highly credentialed and trained clinicians across the country, Invo passionately drives superior outcomes with its proprietary programs. For more information, visit www.invocompanies.com

SOURCE Invo Healthcare