Moving Away from Point and Level Systems in Residential Care

Young people are most often referred for a residential intervention due to concerns about their behavior and safety in home and community settings. Thus, a prime focus of residential programs has always been on "behavior management" in the day-to-day life in the milieu. While differing approaches have been developed, a common strategy has been the use of point and level systems (P&L). These have been seen as providing motivation for the youth to meet the program's behavioral expectations through specified rewards and consequences. Targeted operant approaches with individualized reinforcement systems within a relational framework can be useful for much of the children and youth population.

However, a growing body of research in neuroscience, along with both clinical and lived experience, is demonstrating that prescriptive point and level systems applied universally to a group do not typically result in enduring behavior change. P&L systems run counter to principles of Trauma Informed Care as they involve using power and control to manipulate children’s behavior. Additionally, youth raise objections to what they consider arbitrary decisions regarding their status and privileges, and families object to behavior management approaches that don't transfer readily into their homes.

Are you interested in moving away from a Point & Level system and bringing the Collaborative Problem Solving approach to your organization?

Contact us to discuss how we can best meet your organization's needs.