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MindSet FAQ

COE Conference

The MindSet FAQ

Answers to common questions

Here are some of the important questions answered by the model:

MindSet was developed as a responsive, user-friendly model that meets the need for Emergency Safety Intervention Training while keeping in mind that we are working for you. In other words, we not only train instructors in our curriculum, but we also provide free resources and ongoing assistance through our trainer portal and online community to develop a growing network of practitioners committed to the reduction of physical restraint and seclusion. Since the four-step counseling model is actually scripted, staff members can be held accountable for not using the process during debriefing. MindSet provides a specific set of tools to teach staff what to say in the midst of a crisis situation rather than hope that they will have the correct words based on the theory that was taught in their previous training or educational program.
 
Yes, those certified in part two of the curriculum learn physical containment techniques that are reserved for use in instances in which individuals are in imminent danger. The techniques span a full continuum from least restrictive intervention to most restrictive; horizontal containment while adhering to strict guidelines. Horizontal containment is a floor restraint that does not restrict breathing, nor applies direct pressure. Under no circumstances does MindSet authorize prone or supine restraint. Our techniques remain safe for individuals of all ages. We teach this as a last resort intervention to be used in the case of an emergency situation for a minimal amount of time. Restraint is never to be used to gain compliance, a method of punishment, or to modify behavior. It is a safety protocol only.
 
No, the goal is to build a more systemic and sustainable approach than management. The intention of MindSet is to work with our partners while challenging the climate and culture across all settings to achieve success in developing alternatives to aggression and violence. We believe that handling crisis situations can be easy so long as staff members keep the greater goal of safety in mind. Crisis situations will be less likely to occur when staff members are proactive in their approach and organizations prioritize the necessary time to work with individuals in care and children in schools to develop specific plans rather than lean upon punitive reactions that have been proven to make matters worse.
 
If we truly believe that all behavior is a form of communication, the reasonable answer is because they are trying to meet a need. That need is often rooted in safety. Therefore, the question should not be “Why are they doing that?” Rather, it should be “What do they want?” If we can determine what they are trying to get out of the behavior, we can begin the process of assisting them with alternative behavior that can lead down a path of resolution. Punitive measures often escalate rather than de-escalate the situation. When an individual/student “acts out” the response of staff will determine if the communication following the behavior results in a “confrontation” or a “conversation.” The motivation for each is very clear and the results profoundly different. One leads to the destruction of a relationship and the other the development of one. MindSet provides the proper framework for the conversation.
 
Yes, the curriculum has been on the list of approved programs for DHS and DBHDD service providers since 2006. Organizations such as hospitals and care providers who are accredited by CARF and The Joint Commission who have chosen the MindSet approach continue to meet or exceed accreditation standards.
 
Since the world has been experiencing new and tremendous challenges and trauma due to the social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is our hope that schools and agencies will prioritize de-escalation training. human services, healthcare, and educational organizations have been mandated to have training in the appropriate use of physical restraint for decades. This mandate is often translated to mean that staff need to check off a set of skills that suggest they are capable of restraining individuals and students upon initial employment and re-certified on an annual basis. When this is the case, the organization is operating in dangerous territory and the abusive use of restraint is much more likely. There are numerous accounts of incidents in which staff members, who have been through an approved training, have been found responsible for the death of children and adults due to incidents in which they did not employ the techniques taught within the training they received. MindSet training meets the need for appropriate physical restraint techniques as a response to imminent danger. However, the real difference comes when the entire organization embraces the principles, philosophies, and techniques found in part one of our curricula. MindSet Foundations is intended as an ongoing conversation that will lead to a cultural shift and organizational change. Creating a culture of prevention by raising awareness, facilitating insight, enhancing skills, and ultimately certifying staff will result in a reduction of unjustified and unreasonable restraint.
 
There are no hidden or additional costs associated with the re-delivery of our curriculum. More information about the certification is available on the website and we welcome any ideas that you may have for implementation in your area. MindSet resources are free of charge to Certified MindSet Instructors through a secure portal including printable pdf versions of the participant guides and various certificates for staff. The only fees that we require are your initial certification cost of $1200 (Four-day training), $600 initial foundations instructor certification in de-escalation (Two-day training in person or online- no restraint certifications), and re-certification $350 (One-day training after the first year and biannually thereafter).
 
MindSet trainings are currently being scheduled in school districts across the country as well as behavior health organizations, group homes and foster care agencies. We are continually seeking new training sites. If you are interested in hosting a training session in your area, we welcome your correspondence to discuss options. We also offer online options for MindSet Foundations Instructor Certification.
 

Still have questions?

Heysha Rodriguez

Change Agent

Heysha Rodriguez is a Behavior Interventionist, originally from Puerto Rico, and has been in Georgia for 12 years. With a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Alabama, Heysha has gained vast amounts of experience working with diverse populations inside and outside the academic setting. More importantly, Heysha has had over eight years of hands-on experience in educational settings working in multiple Georgia school districts. Within this role, she helped create a positive school environment for students and staff through the management of PBIS programs that earned a distinguished rating for several consecutive years, successfully implemented positive behavioral interventions, and effectively trained personnel to implement these. Additionally, Heysha has created successful programs for behavior management and social skills that use research-based interventions and supports. Her knowledge of Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans has assisted in increasing school-wide appropriate behaviors.
Heysha is passionate about working with cultural minorities. Being a cultural and racial minority has allowed her to understand and help culturally diverse students in the academic environment, school administration, and their parents. Outside of work, Heysha loves experiencing nature. She is an avid trail runner and hiker and enjoys rock climbing and camping. Her husband and Dobermann, named Jäger, often accompany her on these adventures.

Kimberly Hodges

Change Agent
I have worked with children and adolescents identified as having severe emotional and behavior disorders since beginning my career in 1995 at Hillside Hospital. It was here, as a Behavior Specialist, that I met and worked alongside Marshall Siler, the creator of the Mindset Curriculum. In 2001, I moved into the public-school setting as a special education teacher in a program serving only students with severe emotional/behavior disorders and autism in Henry County, Georgia. During my 21 years with this program, I have served as Instructional Lead Teacher, Crisis Interventionist, Behavior Specialist but always as a Mindset Trainer. The more I got to know my students and their vast array of behaviors, the more interested I became in childhood trauma and the impact it has on learning and the brain. Drawing from personal, professional, and educational experiences with childhood trauma, I developed a training to help our program better understand and serve our students. As my passion for this subject grew, I realized the knowledge I had gained about childhood trauma and resilience had too many implications for the way we teach, serve and parent our children not to share with as many people as possible. In 2016, I became a Certified Trauma Practitioner and Trainer for the National Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) and founded K. Hodges Consulting, LLC with the hopes of spreading the word on childhood trauma and resilience to all who would listen. My dog Skillet and I also passed our exam with Therapy Dogs International, and I introduced him to the students as our first Program Therapy Dog. Today, Skillet and I continue to work part-time as a Behavior Specialist team for the program in Henry County while also educating others throughout the state and country on childhood trauma and resilience and serving as a Mindset Master Trainer. I am constantly seeking to further my knowledge in trauma and resilience practices and most recently have become a trainer of Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model in Education. The more tools you have in your toolbox, the more individualized supports you can provide. I love that Mindset was one of the first tools I honed when I began my journey and only serves to enhance all the other tools I’ve acquired along the way.

Anne-Marie Jones

Change Agent

Throughout my career in education, I have worked as both a building level and district level administrator.  Within these roles, many years of my work focused on classroom management and behavior interventions.  I earned my Educational Specialist degree through Georgia Southern University.  Currently I provide district and organizational level consulting and training in various content including: Mindset, Restorative Practices, PBIS, Trauma-Informed Care and Behavior Management.

Jackie Holland

Change Agent
Raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and holding a Masters Degree in Special Education, Jackie Holland brings a wealth of versatile experience in special education to her clients. She brings a unique perspective with an ability to connect resources to individuals and families in need of behavioral support. Jackie’s passion for this work was inspired by someone very close to her as she lived the struggle that so many families face when it comes to seeking and finding guidance. Jackie has worked as a paraprofessional, teacher, special education administrator, and behavior specialist for a diverse Title I district. Jackie provides district level training in the MindSet Safety Management Curriculum, Circle of Security (Parent Coaching), PBIS, Trauma Informed Practices and Care, Tier 1 Classroom Supports, Coaching Cycles with an emphasis on collaborative teaching best practices, Restorative Practices, Data Collection, and Behavior Intervention Plan development based on the needs of the individual. She currently resides in Watkinsville, GA with her husband and son.

Jessica Puckett

Change Agent
Having always been drawn to helping individuals, I decided to gain my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Purdue University and my Master of Education degree, specializing in behavior and learning disabilities, from Georgia State University.  I have had the opportunity to work in residential facilities, trauma intervention programs, special needs classrooms, schools which are part of the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) and work my way to the district level in Henry County, Georgia as an Intervention Support Teacher where I became a MindSet Master Trainer. Through conversations with individuals who work in the behavioral field and hearing about the need for extra assistance in school districts and agencies, I developed Southeast Behavior Supports, LLC. which provides such assistance to those in need.  Most recently, I have taken on the role of Consulting Operations Manger for MindSet where I run the consulting branch.

David V. Brown

Change Agent
With a background in special education and degrees from the University of Georgia, David delivers the MindSet Safety Management Curriculum in order to certify trainers in districts across the nation. In addition, he provides district and organizational level consulting and training in various content including: Behavior Management, Collaborative Teaching, Data Analysis, Restorative Practices, PBIS, Trauma-Informed Care, and Tier I Teacher Coaching. David’s most recent role as Coordinator of Behavior Supports for a diverse Title I school district adds to experience in leadership and teaching roles across various settings and specialized programs within public schools. He’s also worked in emergency shelters, therapeutic residential settings, and a school which is part of the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS). David is married to Kathryn, an inspirational educator in her own right. They have four children and reside in Athens, GA.

Acknowledgment of Acceptable use of Certification and Materials

I hereby acknowledge that the materials owned by Intervention Support Services, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company doing business as Mindset Safety Management and MindSet Instructor Training, are the property of  Intervention Support Service, LLC, and are proprietary in nature.  These materials are to be used solely and exclusively by MindSet Trainers and those they train within their own organization. In addition, materials are only to be used in accordance with the MindSet Tenets and Guiding Principles in creating a culture of prevention. Using MindSet to support, market, or advertise other products and services is only allowed with expressed written consent. Furthermore, As certified instructors of the MindSet Curriculum, I acknowledge I am authorized to train individuals only within the organization with which I was employed upon time of training.     

RELEASE, WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

I hereby acknowledge my awareness that my participation in one or more Mindset Safety Management training sessions may expose me to risk of personal injury.  I acknowledge that Mindset Safety Management training involves physical activity and therefore there is risk that I may be injured as a result of my participation in such training. 

For the sole consideration of  Intervention Support Services, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company doing business as Mindset Safety Management providing such training,  I hereby release, forever discharge AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Intervention Support Services, LLC and its members, directors, officers, consultants, agents and employees (COLLECTIVELY HEREIN REFERRED TO AS “RELEASEES”) from any and all LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS AND CAUSES OF ACTION OF WHATEVER KIND ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, COST (INCLUDING MEDICAL COSTS) OR EXPENSE OF ANY PERSONAL INJURY (INCLUDING DEATH) SUSTAINED BY ME, OR TO ANY PROPERTY BELONGING TO ME, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE, RESULTING FROM OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH MY PARTICIPATION IN THE TRAINING. 

 I certify that I am at least eighteen years of age, THAT I INTEND FOR THIS RELEASE, WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE TO BIND THE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY AND SPOUSE (IF ANY), IF I AM ALIVE, AND MY HEIRS, ASSIGNS AND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, IF I AM NOT ALIVE, and that I have read and understand the above.  I further agree that this Release, Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia. 

Jimmy Faulkner

Change Agent

Jimmy began working in the field of mental health and substance use over 20 years ago. He has always had a passion for working with people in reaching their goals and potential. His career has consisted of being involved in serving individuals in community mental health and staff development. Earning a degree in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University, he began his career as a counselor working for the Division of Youth Service (DYS). In this role he worked as a counselor for adolescents in the NC juvenile detention centers. While there, he became certified as a  NC criminal justice instructor. Jimmy provided training for the detention center and training school staff. His training areas were suicide wareness/prevention, documentation and crisis management. Making a decision to transition into working in the NC community mental health and substance system, Jimmy returned to East Carolina to earn a degree in Social Work. Jimmy has held both clinical and administrative positions in outpatient treatment, community based services, school settings and 24-hour residential programs. Since 2014, Jimmy has served as the Director of  Training and Staff Development for PORT Health Services. In 2022, he began a new role as Director of Behavioral Health Care Management while continuing to be involved in staff training. Jimmy has been involved with Mindset Safety Management for over 5 years as an instructor. For the past 3 years, he has brought his experience with training, staff development, program development and behavioral health to his role as an instructor trainer for Mindset Safety Management. 

Kristy Bone

Change Agent

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Kristy Bone

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With a background in special education and degrees from the University of Georgia, David delivers the MindSet Safety Management Curriculum in order to certify trainers in districts across the nation. In addition, he provides district and organizational level consulting and training in various content including: Behavior Management, Collaborative Teaching, Data Analysis, Restorative Practices, PBIS, Trauma-Informed Care, and Tier I Teacher Coaching.

David’s most recent role as Coordinator of Behavior Supports for a diverse Title I school district adds to experience in leadership and teaching roles across various settings and specialized programs within public schools. He’s also worked in emergency shelters, therapeutic residential settings, and a school which is part of the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS).
David is married to Kathryn, an inspirational educator in her own right. They have four children and reside in Athens, GA.

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