PCI
Positive Culture Initiative
Ohio Department of Developmental
Disabilities
Director John Martin
What is the
Positive Culture Initiative?
A statewide initiative launched by Director John
Martin in 2008 that:
 Is intended to bring about lasting change
within the DD system;
 Shifts thinking away from behavior change
through aversive measures and toward
relationships that support good lives
 Opens the door for new conversations about
what people want and need from us.
What Do We Want to Do
Together?
 Stir things up – Start a Movement throughout
Oho
 Help people get organized for change
 Learn new practices, approaches and tools to
create a more positive culture of support
 Work toward policy change that will shift the
field away from aversive practices and the
current emphasis upon behavior
management
Shift in Approach
Away From
Focusing exclusively on
challenging behavior
“Here’s how to do it”
Importing outside experts
Directed by DODD
Toward
Focus on building culture
and practices that
support good lives
We can learn to do this
together
Identify and build our
capacity
Owned by a diverse group
of people across Ohio
Initial Focus of Initiative
Conscious decision not to implement
rule change (aside from a ban on
the use of prone restraint) but
rather to focus on shifting the
culture of our work toward creating
better environments and healthier
relationships.
Initial Focus of the Initiative
Efforts placed on shifting people’s belief
systems through training, tools and
resources to guide them toward a better
way. Trainings included:
 Overview of the Positive Culture
Initiative
 Gentle Teaching
 Dangers of Restraint and Seclusion
 Trauma-Informed Care
Impact of Training Efforts
 From October 2008 – March 2011:
9,550 people in Ohio have
participated in training related to
the Positive Culture Initiative
Components of the Initiative
Conveners Group
Collaboration with
other systems
and supporters
Regional Behavior
Support Committees
Local Network
Groups
Statewide
Behavior Support
Advisory Committee
Behavior Support Advisory
Committee
 Recommended the ban on prone restraints in
2008
 Created Crisis Intervention and Prevention
Assessment Tool in 2009 to evaluate crisis
intervention programs from a positive culture
perspective; Developed training curriculum
 Collected data on the use of restraint and
seclusion in 2009 and 2010 to assess
progress toward positive practices
 Developing guidebook in 2011 to outline
Ohio’s approach toward a positive culture
Conveners Group
A group of community leaders brought
together around a vision of creating a
positive culture that drives decisions
being made about services to people in
Ohio
Role of the Conveners
To lead local Network groups to create a
shared understanding of what the
desired culture would look like – and
what is possible within their
communities.
Accomplishments of the Conveners
 Established local Network groups throughout
Ohio and convened community discussions
 Developed a resource book for use in leading
discussion about culture shift
 Hosted the first annual statewide event in
2009 to model positive community
conversations
 Supporting local Network groups to host
regional events in 2011 to connect local
leaders and inspire change
Purpose of Local Networks
To create local ownership and take
action together to make a difference for
people within the scope of their
communities.
Collaboration with Other Systems
 Led Ohio’s efforts to ban the use of prone restraint
across all Ohio state departments
 Led the Ohio Policy Committee on Restraint and
Seclusion to draft a statewide policy outlining
requirements related to risk identification, tracking
and training relative to these practices across 14
state departments
 Ongoing collaboration and cross-training with MI/DD
systems through the CCOE leaders
 Policy work and shared philosophical discussions
related to supporting people with autism through the
Interagency Work Group on Autism
Contact
Pam Berry
Senior Policy Advisor
Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Pam.Berry@dodd.ohio.gov
(614) 301-2992