The Association for Psychological Therapies (APT) is a leading provider of training for professionals working in mental health and related areas, and below are the most frequently asked questions in relation to the RAID® Approach.
RAID stands for ‘Reinforce Appropriate, Implode Disruptive.’ In other words it advises us to Reinforce Appropriate behavior and Implode (‘encourage to collapse’) behavior that is Disruptive. Disruptive behavior means behavior that is disruptive either to the person’s wellbeing or the wellbeing of those around them. In the RAID philosophy Appropriate behavior is termed green behavior, and Disruptive behavior is termed red behavior.
RAID is a positive approach to addressing challenging behaviors. It focuses on nurturing positive (‘green’) behavior and improving quality of life, while reducing the occurrence of challenging (‘red’) behaviors. RAID is based on the understanding that behavior is influenced by the environment and aims to create supportive environments that make challenging (‘red’) behaviors less likely to occur.
RAID emphasizes strategies to promote positive (‘green’) behaviors, rather than approaches that focus on negative behavior, punishment or consequences. RAID recognizes that people may exhibit challenging (‘red’) behaviors as a means of communication or due to unmet needs, and may seek to address those underlying factors rather than solely focusing on the behavior itself.
RAID is an approach that whole teams are often keen to ‘sign up to’ as it offers a shared positive approach, and it often appeals to organizations of all sorts because it provides a clear, consistent, positive philosophy.
Although RAID applies to individuals it also focuses very much on the team, so that there is an overall milieu of positivity, so the focus is mostly on green behavior most of the time. ‘The team’ can be in a residential treatment facility, a community team, colleagues in a workplace, or a family in their home.
Here are some of the main differences (and similarities):
1. RAID tends to focus on the system or environment so as to set things up to encourage adaptive and productive (‘green’) behavior and so to displace the disruptive (‘red’) behavior. So if you are interested in setting up a ward, a school, someone’s home, a workplace etc in a way that maximizes positive ‘green’ behavior then probably RAID will be of more interest to you.
2. PBS tends to focus more on specific individuals so has more focus on analyzing the function of challenging behavior for specific individuals and so working out how that function can be better achieved for them. So if this is more your interest, then PBS will probably be of more interest to you.
3. Having said the above, it is also true that there will be an overlap. RAID has an attractive Behavior Support Plan for individuals built into its course, and PBS is also interested in creating positive and helpful environments. The overlap is formalized in that RAID can be regarded as a form of PBS.
4. So they are similar in that they both share a very positive non-punitive outlook, and are both interested in helping people with challenging behavior to behave in a way that works better for them and those around them.
Here are some of the main reasons for RAID working:
1. It strengthens the relationship between caregiver and client, by laying emphasis on appropriate behavior, rather than involving oneself in non-productive interactions over difficult and disruptive behavior.
2. In the RAID® approach we are focusing largely on positive behavior so are inclined to automatically model such behavior.
3. It notices and reinforces what the client can already do and builds on it.
4. Stressing appropriate behavior and highlighting it when it occurs 'builds' the client, makes them feel more competent and less frustrated. Building their 'self-efficacy' in other words.
5. People may strive to have us take notice of them, so we are best to take notice in response to green behavior rather than waiting for red behavior to occur before we notice.
6. Focusing on positive behavior motivates us and keeps us thinking in positive terms.
7. It encourages us to reinforce behaviors which are incompatible with those we are trying to reduce.
8. It gives real information. Whereas criticism only tells us that we have made one error and there are millions of others to make, highlighting ‘adaptive’ behavior gives hard information on how to do things right, time and time again.
9. The RAID® approach minimizes the possibility of reactance or countercontrol.
10. Functional Analysis: A functional analysis is often conducted to understand the purpose or function that the challenging behavior may serve for an individual. If this is identifiable then the RAID approach recommends helping the person find a better way of achieving the same function.
11. The RAID Behavior Support Plan: An individualized RAID Behavior Support Plan outlines strategies to promote positive ‘green’ behaviors and prevent the occurrence of challenging (‘red’) behaviors in specific individuals. It includes strategies such as teaching alternative behaviors, and modifying the environment, as well as reactive strategies to address ‘red’ behaviors if they do occur.
The key principles of RAID are:
1. Nurturing Positive Behavior: The focus of RAID is on nurturing positive ‘green’ behavior so it simply displaces the ‘red’ behavior for people.
2. Proactive Approach: RAID emphasizes a proactive rather than reactive approach. So it focuses on nurturing ‘green’ behavior and teaching appropriate replacement behaviors that meet people’s needs and of those around them.
3. Function-Based Approach: RAID recognizes that challenging (‘red’) behaviors often serve a purpose or function for people. Understanding the underlying function helps to address the root causes and develop effective strategies to meet the person's needs in more positive ways.
4. Collaboration and Teamwork: RAID promotes collaboration and teamwork. It emphasizes the importance of working together, sharing information, and aligning efforts to support positive behavior change consistently across different settings.
5. Effective Practices: RAID is grounded in evidence-based practices. It emphasizes the use of interventions and strategies that have been shown to be effective in promoting positive behavior-change and improving outcomes for people.
6. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: RAID involves monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies and interventions. This allows for adjustments and refinements to be made based on feedback, ensuring that needs are being met effectively.
By adhering to these principles, RAID seeks to promote positive behavior change, improve quality of life, and foster inclusive and supportive environments for people with challenging behaviors.
RAID differs from traditional behavior management in several ways:
1. Focus on Positive Approaches: Traditional behavior management often relies on ‘consequences’ to address challenging (‘red’) behaviors. In contrast, RAID emphasizes positive approaches that focus on promoting desired behaviors rather than focusing on punishing or extinguishing challenging behaviors.
2. Understanding the Function: RAID seeks to understand the underlying functions that challenging (‘red’) behaviors serve for people. By identifying the function of the behavior, RAID aims to address those needs in more positive and appropriate ways. Traditional behavior management may not always consider the underlying function.
3. Systems-Level Approach: RAID aims to create supportive teams and environments and address factors that may contribute to people’s challenging behaviors. In contrast, traditional behavior management may focus primarily on the individual's behavior without considering broader contextual factors.
4. Collaboration: RAID is largely a whole team approach and so emphasizes collaboration and teamwork. This collaborative approach aims to create environments that encourage behaviors that work well for people rather than badly.
5. Long-Term Outcomes: RAID places emphasis on long-term outcomes and quality of life improvements for people. It aims to promote people’s strengths, skills, and independence, while also addressing challenging behaviors. Traditional behavior management may be more focused on short-term behavior control.
Overall, RAID offers a proactive, and collaborative approach to addressing challenging (‘red’) behaviors, with a focus on promoting positive (‘green’) behaviors and improving overall well-being.
Using RAID offers several benefits for people. Some key benefits include:
1. Promotes Positive Behavior: RAID focuses on promoting positive (‘green’) behaviors that displace the challenging (‘red’) behaviors. By creating an environment that encourages ‘green’ behaviors, people can develop new skills and a more rewarding life.
2. Enhances Quality of Life: RAID aims to improve the overall quality of life for people by addressing their needs and goals. By promoting positive (‘green’) behaviors throughout, RAID can help people build relationships, and participate in meaningful activities.
3. Diminishes Challenging (‘red’) behaviors: By promoting green behaviors, RAID seeks to diminish red behavior by the simple expedient of displacing it with the green. Through proactive strategies such as modifying environments, and teaching communication and coping skills, RAID can significantly reduce the occurrence of challenging (‘red’) behaviors.
4. Collaborative Efforts: RAID involves collaboration and teamwork. This collaborative approach ensures that interventions and strategies are tailored to people’s needs and implemented across different environments.
5. It gives the team a clear approach: The team, no matter who and where it is, has a clear positive approach that is summarized in one word, RAID. This invites a high degree of team cohesion and focus.
6. Long-Term Results: By addressing the underlying causes of challenging (‘red’) behaviors and promoting positive (‘green’) behaviors, RAID contributes to long-term behavior change and enhances sustainability. It is not solely focused on short-term behavioral control but aims to facilitate lasting improvements in behavior and overall well-being.
7. Non-Aversive Approach: RAID emphasizes non-aversive strategies to address behavior. RAID utilizes positive reinforcement, teaching alternatives, modifying environments, and addressing needs to bring about behavior change.
8. Effective: The strategies and interventions used in RAID have been shown to be effective in promoting positive behavior change and improving outcomes for people across various settings.
Overall, using RAID helps to create supportive environments, promote positive behavior change, and enhance people’s quality of life.
RAID can be implemented in various settings. While the specific strategies and approaches may vary based on the context, here are some general ways RAID can be implemented in each setting:
Schools:
1. Collaborative Team Approach: Establish a team including teachers, support staff, administrators, and families to collaborate on implementing RAID strategies.
2. Assess and Identify: Conduct functional behavior assessments to understand the functions of challenging (‘red’) behaviors among students.
3. Individualized Behavior Plans: Develop individualized behavior support plans for students based on assessment results, incorporating proactive strategies and teaching replacement behaviors.
4. Teach and Reinforce Desired Behaviors: Use positive reinforcement techniques and provide explicit instruction to help students develop behaviors that work well for them.
5. Modify Environment: Create supportive environments by structuring classrooms, implementing visual supports, providing clear expectations, using preventative strategies, and creating positive reinforcement systems.
Workplaces:
1. Leadership Support: Ensure leadership buy-in and support for RAID implementation, emphasizing the importance of positive and supportive work culture.
2. Training and Education: Provide training and workshops on RAID principles and practices, targeting both managers and employees to create a shared understanding and common language.
3. Addressing Work Environment: Modify the workplace environment by promoting clear communication, setting realistic expectations, offering opportunities for employee input, and creating supportive policies and procedures.
4. Recognition and Reinforcement: Recognize and reinforce positive (‘green’) behaviors and contributions through acknowledgment and feedback.
5. Coaching and Support: Provide ongoing coaching and support for managers and employees to facilitate the implementation of RAID strategies and address any challenges that arise.
Homes and Residential Treatment facilities including secure facilities:
1. Collaborative Planning: Involve all relevant people in developing a RAID environment, and Behavior Support plans for individuals.
2. Establish Predictable Routines: Establish consistent routines and structures that provide clarity and predictability for people, reducing anxiety and promoting positive (‘green’) behavior.
3. Clear Expectations: Establish clear expectations for behavior, communication, and problem-solving within the environment.
4. Reinforcement and Rewards: Use positive reinforcement and rewards to motivate and reinforce adaptive behaviors.
5. Communication and Collaboration: Maintain open and effective communication among everyone, ensuring consistent implementation of RAID strategies and addressing any concerns or challenges that arise.
It is important to note that implementation of RAID may require ongoing training, support, and adjustments based on the needs and characteristics of each setting. Using a positive approach and constantly assessing effectiveness are key to successful implementation.
Yes, there are specific strategies and techniques used in RAID to promote positive (‘green’) behaviors and address challenging (‘red’) behaviors. Some common strategies and techniques include:
1. Noticing and Reinforcing ‘green’ behavior: Reinforcement (either positive or negative) increases the occurrence of desired behaviors. Positive reinforcement does so by adding consequences that the individual finds positive, and negative reinforcement does so by taking away from the person things they find negative. Both are the opposite of punishment and both lead to an increase in the person’s quality of life.
2. Replacement Behaviors: Teach people alternative or replacement behaviors that serve the same function as the challenging behavior but are more appropriate. For example, teaching a child to use words instead of hitting when they are frustrated.
3. Functional Analysis: Conducting a Functional Analysis helps identify the function of challenging (‘red’) behaviors. This information guides the development of appropriate interventions to help the person achieve the same function in a way that works better for them.
4. Environmental Modifications: Modify the physical and social environment if necessary to reduce triggers or barriers that may contribute to challenging (‘red’) behaviors.
5. Communication and Social Skills Training: Teach people effective communication and social skills to enhance their ability to express their needs, wants, and feelings appropriately, and to interact positively with others.
6. Collaborative Problem-Solving: Involve people in identifying and solving problems or conflicts, allowing them to provide input and participate in decision-making processes. This increases their sense of ownership and promotes positive (‘green’) behavior.
7. Data Collection and Analysis: Collect and analyze data on behaviors to track progress, identify patterns, and determine the effectiveness of interventions. This helps in making data-driven decisions to modify or refine strategies as needed.
These are just a few examples of the strategies and techniques used in RAID. The selection of specific strategies will depend on people’s needs and the context in which RAID is being implemented.
RAID reduces challenging (‘red’) behaviors through several mechanisms:
1. Positive Approach: RAID recognizes and addresses the needs, strengths, and goals of people. By adopting a positive approach, RAID ensures people are cared for in an environment where positive behavior is everyone’s main focus, people are talking about it and encouraging it, promoting inclusion and a sense of belonging.
2. Noticing and Reinforcing ‘green’ behavior: Reinforcement (either positive or negative) increases the occurrence of desired behaviors. Positive reinforcement does so by adding consequences that the individual finds positive, and negative reinforcement does so by taking away from the person things they find negative. Both are the opposite of punishment and both lead to an increase in the person’s quality of life.
3. Collaborative Teamwork: RAID involves collaboration. This collaborative approach promotes open communication, shared decision-making, and a coordinated effort to support positive (‘green’) behaviors and create inclusive environments.
4. Environmental Modifications: RAID focuses on modifying the environment to minimize barriers and maximize opportunities for positive (‘green’) behavior. By creating supportive environments that meet people’s needs, RAID promotes green behavior and contributes to a sense of acceptance, reduced stress, and enhanced participation and engagement.
5. Teaching Appropriate Behaviors: RAID involves teaching people alternative, desired behaviors to replace challenging (‘red’) behaviors. By providing people with the necessary skills and tools to communicate, cope, and interact effectively, RAID increases their ability to engage in positive (‘green’) behaviors and reduces the need for challenging behaviors.
6. Functional Analysis: RAID invites an assessment of challenging behaviors, including understanding the underlying functions or reasons behind them. This helps identify the specific triggers and needs driving the behaviors, enabling the development of targeted interventions that address those underlying issues rather than just addressing the behaviors themselves.
7. Proactive Strategies: Rather than reactive approaches that may focus on consequences for challenging (‘red’) behaviors, RAID emphasizes proactive strategies to prevent challenging behaviors from occurring in the first place. This includes creating supportive routines, clear expectations, and effective supports, which promote inclusion and reduce the need for challenging behaviors.
By promoting a positive approach, involving collaboration and teamwork, modifying environments, teaching appropriate behaviors, and using positive reinforcement, RAID creates inclusive environments that support positive (‘green’) behaviors while reducing the occurrence of challenging (‘red’) behaviors. This not only benefits the individual but also enhances the overall experiences for everyone involved.
Yes, RAID can be used with people of all ages, its principles and techniques can be applied to people across the lifespan. RAID has been successfully implemented with adolescents and adults, in various contexts, in both community and residential settings.
As it title suggests, RAID focuses extensively on Reinforcing Appropriate behavior, and this principle holds good across the age range, even though what we agree as ‘Appropriate’ varies across ages, as does what constitutes effective Reinforcement.
The strategies and interventions used in RAID can be adapted to meet the specific needs and developmental stages of people. RAID recognizes that behavior is influenced by environmental, social, and biological factors, regardless of age. The focus remains on promoting positive (‘green’) behaviors, minimizing challenging (‘red’) behaviors, and creating supportive environments.
It's important to note that when implementing RAID with people of different ages, the strategies and approaches may be modified to suit their abilities and preferences. The collaboration and involvement of everyone concerned is important, regardless of the age group to ensure a holistic approach to behavior support.
RAID is a flexible framework that can be tailored to the needs of people from childhood through to adulthood. By focusing on positive behavior change and promoting inclusion, RAID can support people of all ages in improving their quality of life and achieving their goals.
Yes, there can be potential challenges and limitations when implementing RAID. Here are some of them:
1. Staff Training: To effectively implement RAID, staff members need to be trained on the principles involved. However, providing thorough and ongoing training can be somewhat time-consuming, and there might be difficulties ensuring that all staff members are knowledgeable and skilled in implementing RAID.
2. Individualization: Generally RAID focuses a lot on the importance of the team, the system, the organization, yet sometimes tailoring interventions to meet individual needs. However, it can be challenging to do this in settings with limited resources or low staff-to-individual ratios.
3. Overgeneralization: Sometimes, people may have difficulty generalizing the RAID strategies they learn in one setting to other settings or situations. This can pose a challenge, as it requires additional effort to ensure that the learned behaviors are exhibited across different contexts.
4. External Factors: External factors, such as cultural or socioeconomic influences, can impact the implementation of RAID. These factors may require adaptations or modifications to the strategies and interventions to ensure they are effective and culturally responsive.
Despite these challenges, RAID has been found to be effective in promoting positive (‘green’) behaviors and reducing challenging (‘red’) behaviors. With reasonable planning, training, and support, these challenges can be minimized, allowing for successful implementation.
Communication and collaboration can be enhanced when using RAID through several strategies:
1. Clear Communication Channels: This can include regular meetings, newsletters, emails, and shared documents to ensure everyone is informed and updated on the progress and strategies being implemented.
2. Shared Goals and Expectations: Collaboratively establish shared goals and expectations for RAID. This involves involving everyone in setting goals that are meaningful and relevant to people’s needs and aspirations. Clearly communicate these goals and expectations to ensure everyone is working towards the same outcome.
3. Collaborative Problem-Solving: Encourage collaboration in problem-solving by involving everyone in identifying and addressing challenging (‘red’) behaviors and what their function may be. This can be done through regular team meetings where concerns and ideas are openly discussed and brainstormed. By actively involving everyone, diverse perspectives and expertise can contribute to effective solutions.
4. Regular Communication and Feedback: Foster regular and ongoing communication between everyone involved in RAID. Share progress updates, successes, and challenges, and seek feedback from others. This can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that everyone is on board in implementing the strategies effectively.
5. Professional Development and Training: Provide training and professional development opportunities for everyone involved in RAID. This can include workshops, webinars, or conferences that focus on enhancing communication and collaboration skills. When people have the knowledge and skills to effectively communicate and collaborate, the implementation of RAID becomes more seamless.
6. Data Sharing and Analysis: Share data and analysis related to RAID behavior support. This includes collecting and sharing data on behaviors, interventions, and outcomes. Analyzing this data collaboratively can help identify patterns and trends, inform decision-making, and adjust strategies as needed. Sharing data also promotes transparency and accountability.
By implementing these strategies, communication and collaboration can be enhanced, leading to more effective and coordinated RAID practice.
Yes, there are several evidence-based interventions and concepts associated with RAID. Some of the notable ones include:
1. Functional Analysis: Functional Analysis is a process of gathering information to understand the underlying function or purpose of challenging (‘red’) behaviors. It helps in determining why a behavior occurs and guides the development of effective intervention strategies.
2. Reinforcement: Reinforcement (either positive or negative) increases the occurrence of desired behaviors. Positive reinforcement does so by adding consequences that the individual finds positive, and negative reinforcement does so by taking away from the person things they find negative. Both lead to an increase in the person’s quality of life.
3. Differential Reinforcement: Differential reinforcement involves reinforcing alternative or desirable behaviors while withholding reinforcement for challenging (‘red’) behaviors. This approach aims to replace unwanted behaviors with more appropriate behaviors.
4. Interpersonal Skills Training: Interpersonal skills training focuses on teaching people the necessary skills for effective social interactions and communication. This intervention helps people develop adaptive social behaviors and improve their relationships with others.
5. Noncontingent Reinforcement: Noncontingent reinforcement is where good things happen even though they have not been ‘earned.’ This is particularly effective in lifting mood and promoting positive (‘green’) behaviors in a variety of settings.
6. Constructive Criticism: This contrasts with ‘standard’ criticism in that instead of highlighting what the person did wrong it highlights what the person could do to benefit themselves. It is particularly powerful for those who have been exposed mainly to ‘standard’ criticism.
7. The Constructional Approach. The Constructional Approach refers generally to approaches that involve mainly focusing on building (constructing) positives in people’s lives rather than focusing too much on trying to remove negatives in their lives. This is central to the RAID approach.
8. Positive Psychology. Positive psychology emphasises Strengths and Virtues, takes an Holistic Perspective, focuses on Positive Emotions and Subjective Well-Being, seeks Positive Interventions and positive Relationships, concentrates on Real Life, and takes a Cross-Cultural Perspective. Overall, like RAID, positive psychology seeks to enhance the quality of life and promote human flourishing by focusing on the positive aspects of human existence and providing evidence-based strategies to improve well-being.
Yes, and here are some examples of how RAID can be integrated with other approaches:
1. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): RAID shares many principles and strategies with ABA, and they can be effectively integrated. ABA focuses on analyzing and modifying behavior through the application of behavior principles, while RAID emphasizes the use of positive reinforcement and environmental modifications to promote desired behaviors.
2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): RAID can be integrated with CBT, which, amongst other things, focuses on identifying and modifying thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to challenging (‘red’) behaviors. By combining the principles of positive reinforcement and environmental modifications with cognitive restructuring and skill-building techniques, a more comprehensive intervention can be developed.
3. Trauma-Informed Care: for people who have experienced trauma, integrating trauma-informed care principles with RAID can be crucial. This involves creating a safe and supportive environment, understanding how trauma affects behavior, and adopting strategies that promote healing and resilience. The positive nature of RAIDing naturally complements TIC.
4. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): The core of DBT is to teach the skills of Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, Mindfulness, and Interpersonal Effectiveness, which are important skills to develop and blend very well with the ‘constructional’ positive nature of the RAID approach.
It's important to note that successful integration of different approaches and interventions requires careful consideration of people’s needs.
For some people, families and caregivers play a vital role in supporting positive (‘green’) behaviors at home. Here are some strategies they can use:
1. Establish Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate and establish expectations for behavior at home. Set consistent rules and boundaries to provide structure and guidance for people. Try to ensure that everyone in the family understands and follows these expectations.
2. Reinforce Positive Behavior: Use reinforcement strategies to acknowledge and reward desired behaviors. Provide verbal praise, tokens, or privileges when the individual demonstrates positive (‘green’) behaviors. This encourages them to continue exhibiting those behaviors in the future.
3. Provide Consistency and Routine: Establish a consistent routine at home, as it can help people feel secure and understand what is expected. Consistency in daily activities, mealtimes, and bedtime routines can create a sense of predictability and reduce anxiety or challenging (‘red’) behaviors.
4. Encourage Independence and Choices: Allow people to make choices within appropriate boundaries. Offer them opportunities to make decisions based on their abilities and preferences, which helps promote independence and empowerment.
5. Use Visual Supports: Visual supports, such as schedules, charts, or visual cues, can assist people in understanding expectations and following routines. Visual supports can provide a clear and tangible representation of the desired behaviors and help people navigate daily tasks and activities.
6. Collaboration and Communication: Maintain open and effective communication with the individual and other family members. Encourage active listening and express concerns or ideas without judgment. Collaborate with the individual and involve them in decision-making and problem-solving processes.
7. Seek Professional Support: If needed, consult with professionals such as therapists, behavior analysts, or educators who can provide guidance and strategies specific to people’s needs. These professionals may be able to offer recommendations for RAID techniques that can be implemented at home.
8. Self-Care for Caregivers: Taking care of oneself is important to providing effective support at home. Caregivers should prioritize their physical and emotional well-being, engage in self-care activities, seek support from others when needed, and practice stress-management techniques.
By implementing these strategies, families and caregivers can create a positive and supportive environment that promotes the development and maintenance of positive behaviors at home.
A 3-day course.
A relentlessly positive approach to working with disturbed and challenging behavior.
The 3-day RAID® course is a leading positive psychology approach for tackling challenging behavior at source: over 20,000 professionals have attended it. It is a comprehensive approach which teaches staff a philosophy and practice not only to deal with challenging behavior when it occurs, but also to prevent it by tackling it at source. Staff feel pleased to share a unified system and to know what they are doing and why they are doing it, while clients delight in a relentlessly positive and empowering approach. The essence of the RAID® approach is to play down challenging behavior as far as safety allows, and to nurture and develop positive behavior so that it systematically overwhelms and displaces the challenging behavior.