SECTION 5.405. General Principles for Behavior Therapy Programs

A state MR facility will ensure that the following general principles are incorporated in its written polices and procedures developed as described in §415.404 of this title (relating to General Provisions) and followed during the development, implementation, and monitoring of behavior therapy programs for individuals.

(1) The health, safety, welfare, rights, and privileges of an individual must protected.

(2) Only the least intrusive or restrictive intervention that effectively modifies or replaces a targeted behavior will be employed as part of a behavior therapy program.

(3) Staff do not exercise control over an individual; rather, staff offer an individual the needed and appropriate support that enables the individual to modify or reduce inappropriate behavior.

(4) Staff must attempt to understand an individual's motivation for engaging in inappropriate behavior in order to effectively develop a strategy for making changes to the individual's environment that will result in a modification of or reduction in the inappropriate behavior.

(5) Staff must ensure that an individual who exhibits inappropriate behavior is treated with compassion and respect, in addition to being provided with effective and appropriate services.

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.405 adopted to be effective June 23, 2004, 29 TexReg 5939; transferred effective September 1, 2004, as published in the Texas Register September 10, 2004, 29 TexReg 8841