What Is Project Optimal? | Non-Public Agency Directory | Contact Us

What is Project Optimal?

Bob Farran, Director, Southwest SELPA, and Annette Dahlman, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation, will present "Improving your Services to Students with ASD" at the Association of California School Administrators, Monterey, CA, on January 15, 2009.

To download a copy of the 2009 ACSA presentation, "Research to Practice", click here:

Mission Statement

Project Optimal is dedicated to ensuring optimal behavioral educational opportunities for all children and their families through collaboration and capacity building.

Goals

Project Optimal is a Southwest SELPA project, directed by Annette Dahlman PhD. Project Optimal’s goals include reviewing various aspects of behavior intervention services provided by public and private agencies to:

• Increase the use of best practices related to IDEA
• Increase accountability for student outcomes
• Improve contracted relationships
• Create a training continuum to support approved practices
• Collect and use data to improve practices
• Develop systems to increase accountability

Strategies to Accomplish Project Goals

Project Optimal has developed a variety of strategies to create systemic change and meet its goals identified above. These include:

• Support of district and Non-Public Agency (NPA) collaboration related to implementation of contracts for student support services, through recommendations for contract changes, and staff training
  
• Data collection from Non-Public Agencies (NPA) to create a published version, and soon an Online version, of information about each agency to assist in district and NPA collaboration to improve services to students and their families
  
• Support enhancement of systems and processes to monitor progress of students supported by NPAs, including:
  • Review of behavior support plans developed by NPAs
  • Review pf progress reports submitted by NPAs (analyzing assessment procedures, student progress and NPA reports)
  • Piloting of data collection to assess student progress on behavioral goals and determination of recommendations for scale-up
  • Analysis of information and development of recommendations for quality monitoring procedures to be implemented
  
• Creation of a staff professional development continuum based on “best practices” of IDEA, researched practices and criteria set through legal requirements and professional organizations.

Project Elements

• ASD Training and Materials
• New Teacher Training (8 days and LACASA)
• BICM Training
• Diagnostic Center Training
• Visual Supports
• Ongoing SELPA Discussion Group

• ACT
• CPI-Autism
• OT/AT
• Preschool Managers Roundtable

• ADOS Training
• OBARS Development
• Assessment Protocols
• Monitoring of Outcomes

Optimal Partnerships:

• Lovaas Institute
• Optimal AID

Optimal Advanced Behavior Training:

• BCBA
• BCABA

Optimal Coordination and Collaboration:

• Westside Regional Center Learning Collaboration
• ADR
• LACOE Team Connect
• SLPs via Roundtable

Optimal Resources:

• Autism Resources at SELPA FRC
• Family Support Group
• SELPA Website

Click here for a chart of the elements of Project Optimal