CARE-NH/NH PBIS
An Initiative of Systems of Care and Education

New Hampshire has developed a three-year statewide implementation plan for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a school-wide program engaging school community members in data-based decision making and program design that focuses on improving school climate and student achievement. As New Hampshire strives to develop a collaborative partnership between systems of care and education, it looks to develop and support cross-partnership infrastructures at the state and local levels, building on New Hampshire’s System of Care grant, CARE NH. The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) and CARE NH leadership are working with New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Supports (NH CEBIS) and Achievement for Dropout Prevention and Excellence (APEX), a grant project being implemented by New Hampshire’s Alliance for Community Supports and the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, to develop and implement a three-year statewide plan that will engage all New Hampshire schools (and other child-serving programs) interested in participating. The CARE NH Technical Assistance Workgroup is leading the development of training for intensive-level supports and services, including the use of community-based wraparound planning for students with intensive-level needs.

Schools that have adopted PBIS participate in training and data collection. Each PBIS school forms a team comprised of school staff including administrator(s), parent(s), student(s), and community member(s). This team works with a PBIS technical assistant to develop a school-wide program. Beginning this year, in order to become a New Hampshire PBIS school, at least 80% of all school staff must vote to participate, ensuring a high level of commitment on the part of school administrators and staff.

New Hampshire’s Second Annual PBIS Summit, held in February 2004, focused on the critical role of parents and family members in PBIS. CARE NH sponsored keynote speakers Barbara Huff, Executive Director of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health and Sandra Keenan, Senior Education Advisor, Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health. The CARE NH Family Involvement Workgroup is working closely with other statewide family partners and NHDOE contractors to develop a statewide plan for family involvement in school and community initiatives.

New Hampshire PBIS now includes 50 schools, 2 preschools, and 17 Head Start programs in 32 sites. PBIS Schools in CARE NH regions include 14 public schools, 1 preschool, 5 Head Start sites, and 2 non-public schools that serve students with disabilities. In the first two years of New Hampshire’s initiative, over 12% of New Hampshire schools have become PBIS schools.

For more information: http://www.seresc.net/cebis/

Debra D. Grabill
Education Liaison to NH System of Care
603-643-5507
debra.grabill@valley.net