What’s New
New Organization-Wide Positive Supports Briefs
We are excited to release three new practice briefs exploring real-world implementations of organization-wide positive supports across Minnesota! These documents highlight how service provider organizations are moving beyond traditional training models to embed person-centered practices, positive behavior supports (PBS), trauma-informed care, and data-driven decision-making into their core cultures.
Check out the latest publications now available in our resource library:
Introduction to Organization-Wide Positive Supports
Learn how organizations transition from the “train and hope” approach to a sustainable, team-based three-tiered public health framework. Featuring a detailed case study tracking progress from 2016 to 2020, this brief demonstrates how evaluating implementation fidelity (using the Tiered Onsite Evaluation Tool) leads to reduced incident reports and improved staff retention.
Organization-Wide Positive Support Planning: Mains’l Services
Explore how Mains’l Services integrates person-centered values, staff well-being, and innovative tech tools (such as Center on Me and My Plan Data) across their support network. Discover how continuous capacity-building, Safety Care training, and structured DSP career pathways have helped Mains’l achieve low supervisor turnover and high satisfaction scores.
Aligning Residential Services, Inc. Core Values with Positive Support Practices
Discover Residential Services, Inc.’s (RSI) decade-long journey of reshaping policies, training systems, and workplace culture across northeastern Minnesota. Learn how RSI uses comprehensive data feedback loops, community partnerships, and specialized staff support roles—such as the Employee Resource Specialist—to decrease turnover by 20% and advance high-quality outcomes for people with complex needs.
What's New Posts
Back to School THINK Toolkit
SAMHSA Guide for Self-Care After Treatment in the ER
Success Stories: Competitive, Integrative Employment
Suicide in Older Adults e-Toolkit
MN Department of Administration Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
SciLine: Youth Gender Identity and Transitioning
Disabilities and Sexual Self-Advocacy
Profile of Older Americans with Data from 2023 Released
Podcast episode “MN Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network”
PBIS Apps Podcast: How to De-escalate Student Behavior
Upcoming Events
Build a Stronger Organization from the Inside Out!
Join us for a live listening session at Noon on October 7th to preview an upcoming guided training series that helps organizations embed positive support practices into everyday operations – improving staff confidence, reducing crises, and enhancing quality of life for the people you support. Register Here
HCPBS Webinar: Brain Science Meets Positive Behavior Support for Children and Adults with Complex Behavior Needs
Join Nancy Thaler from 12:00–1:30 p.m. Central on October 13th for a webinar on how understanding the neurological roots of behavior can inform positive behavior support for children and adults with complex behavioral health needs. Explore why challenging behaviors happen and strategies that can help people thrive. Register with this link.
Positive Behavior Support Intensives Training Series
Join this free, six-session training series on applying Positive Behavior Support in Minnesota human service settings. Sessions focus on supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, especially at the targeted and intensive levels of support. The series runs from November 4, 2026, through March 31, 2027, with each training day scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Attendance at all six sessions is encouraged but not required. Space is limited to 100 registrants.
Register for the PBS Intensives
Help shape the future of person-centered supports in Minnesota.
Join one or both free online input sessions to share your ideas and recommendations for strengthening person-centered practices across the state.
Register for Session 1 (November 5, 1-3 pm): z.umn.edu/boof
Register for Session 2 (November 11, 9-11): z.umn.edu/boog
Check out the latest events happening both locally and nationally using the events calendar below.
Recent Presentations and Resources
Positive Supports Newsletters
Check out the monthly newsletter for the most current news and learning opportunities. Email us at pbs@umn.edu to sign up to receive this newsletter via email; include the subject line “Join the positive supports listserv.”
2024
- June 2024: Information on the MNPSP.org update and resource spotlight quality of life tools.
- May 2024: New resources from 2024 including presentations, recordings, and contextual assessment inventory. Resource spotlight cultural responsiveness.
- April 2024: Skill Building Plans Resource and resource highlight encouraging and building relationships.
- Tiered Approach to Trauma-Informed Practices Newsletter: Summary of training, presenter biography, topical resources.
- Motivational Interviewing Newsletter: Summary of training, presenter biography, topical resources.
- Integrating Positive Behavior Support (PBS) with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Newsletter: Summary of training, presenter biography, topical resources.
- County Community of Practice Newsletter: Lead agency matrix tool and lead agency resources
- February 2024: New positive support training series for spring 2024, 2024 APBS Conference information, and resource spotlight on wellness.
2023
- Special Edition Newsletter Cohort Celebration: Thank you from DHS and ICI to cohort organizations, information on recognition levels, organizations recognized, and future recognition levels.
- DHS Thank You Video to Cohorts
- June 30, 2023: Implementation highlights on communication success and resource spotlight on listening.
- June 7, 2023: Implementation highlights on supporting staff and changing policy to reflect person- centered practices and positive supports and resource spotlight on mindfulness.
- May 2023: Implementation resources including key features associated with effective positive support implementation and information on planning your direct support staff training materials and recording.
- March 2023: Awards for TOET participation, information on the community- based positive supports training series materials and recordings on mnpsp.org, and goals from the MNPBS PATH 2022.