Putting the Pieces Together: Perceptions of Longitudinal Wraparound, Systems of Care, and Positive Behavior Support Implementation.

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) was introduced to community-based providers in Kansas in 2012 in response to a federally funded initiative to reduce the placement of youth in psychiatric facilities. As core project activities concluded in 2016, researchers investigated the impact of this comprehensive PBS initiative on youth, families, mental health centers, and other stakeholders. This paper describes how qualitative interviews and focus groups were used to investigate the perceptions of families, advocates, and implementers involved in wraparound (WA), regional interagency collaboration, and the addition of PBS services. Themes reflected the changes occurring over time in statewide WA implementation and how state funding for the PBS effort was used as part of regional interagency collaboration to continue supporting principles outlined in systems of care.