ABSTRACT
The multidisciplinary consulting behavioral management team at Bittersweet Farms has several basic functions. The core team consists of the director, nurse, social worker, program coordinator, and a consulting psychiatrist and psychologist. The structure of the team is somewhat fluid, so that other professionals may participate and consult periodically. Behavior problems have been eliminated or lessened by increasing communication channels and personal skills. The consultation of the speech and language specialist is very helpful, and with her help the team generates useful, creative ideas. Another major goal of the team process is to minimize the use and decrease the dosage level of psychotropic medication, or avoid it altogether. Medication is used at Bittersweet Farms only when necessary to correct, remediate, or control disturbed behavior when environmental or social methods have failed. Multi-determined problems require careful pretreatment assessment and accurate information on both antecedents and consequences, in order to monitor the effects of drug therapy.
