An Introduction to the Science and Skills of Wellbeing

Original Air Date: July 19, 2023

CEU offered: 1.0 Learning CEU

Webinar Duration: 60 minutes

CE Instructors:

  • Patricia Wright, Ph.D., MPH, BCBA-D
  • Katie Curren, MAPP


Abstract:

Autism service professionals are the backbone of our system of care; championing their well-being is imperative to assuring autistic individuals achieve a high-quality life. Burnout and stress are rampant in the social service professions, resulting in a workforce recruitment and retention crisis (Medicaid, 2021). 

The World Health Organization’s recent amendment to the International Classification of Diseases included Burnout as a classification (WHO, 2019); employee well-being has become a primary concern to society. PERMA is a model of well-being that has been implemented across many social service professions (Nuemeirier, 2017; Bazargan-Hajazi, 2021). The intentional application of the science and skills of PERMA can elevate the well-being of professionals, resulting in greater opportunity for effective intervention delivered by those professionals. Individuals being served by behavior analysts have a right to effective treatment (ABAI, 1999). A workforce prepared to serve is required for the delivery of effective treatment. In addition, there is a paucity of research in the assessment of mood in behavior analytic research addressing the needs of autistic individuals themselves (Ramey et al, 2022). PERMA+ may have applications in the autistic population.

This session will explore the PERMA theory of well-being and the application of this theory to autism services and supports. Some initial data will be shared from ongoing feasibility work with autism service providers.



Instructor(s)

Patricia Wright

Dr. Patricia Wright’s commitment to ensuring all individuals with autism have access to effective services and supports has guided her work for more than 30 years, from her earliest responsibilities as a special educator to state and national-level program management, her advocacy includes the management in the design of a statewide system of support for children with autism for the state of Hawaii, several years as the National Director of Autism Services for Easter Seals, her industry positions leveraging technology, and her current role at Proof Positive spreading the science and skills of happiness. Patricia has held advisory roles for several professional associations and advocacy groups, including the Organization for Autism Research's Scientific Council, the Executive Committee for the Friends of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and the Autism Society Panel of Professional Advisors. She has been asked to provide expert testimony at Congressional Hearings and is a frequent contributor in the media, raising awareness of effective intervention for those living with disabilities. Patricia completed her Ph.D. and Master of Public Health from the University of Hawaii. Her research focuses on the delivery of evidence-based interventions in community-based settings and healthcare access for people with disabilities.