• Who We Help
• Autism
• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Specialty Mental Health
• Child Welfare
• LGBTQ

Who We Help

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is a national nonprofit partner for individuals, families, schools and communities, serving many of the most vulnerable members of our society in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, and child welfare. 

We operate a network of clinical, therapeutic, educational and employment programs that positively impact the lives of tens of thousands of children, adults – and their families – every year. 

Our extensive array of services include: acute care, treatment in residential settings, community-based living, special education day schools, foster care, autism assessments, employment and transition services, group homes, school and family consultation, traditional and therapeutic foster care, and outpatient/other specialized services. 

Choose from the following links to learn more about our programs and services:

• Autism
• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Specialty Mental Health
• Child Welfare

Keep reading to learn more about: 

• Devereux’s Advanced Model of Care
• Our use of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
• Who we treat
• How we support the LGBTQ community

Advanced Model of Care 

The Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Model of Care™ integrates the latest scientific and medical advancements with time-tested philosophies and compassionate family engagement to provide practical, effective and efficient care, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve, and the world around them. 

Our programs embrace four significant essentials of treatment: family engagement, functional behavior assessment, trauma-informed care and positive behavior support. 

It is also important to note that family engagement is one of the most important building blocks in successful treatment and outcomes. Learn more about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health’s Advanced Philosophy of Care. 

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports and Trauma-Informed Care 

As part of our continuum of care, Devereux provides multiple programs and support for children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and emotional and behavior disorders. Specifically, we are committed to implementing multi-tiered systems of behavioral and academic support including Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) across our treatment network. Note: PBIS is a framework that helps schools and other organizations adopt evidence-based behavioral interventions to enhance the academic and social behavior outcomes for all individuals.

Launched in 2011, “Devereux Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports” (D-PBIS) is a framework that combines several initiatives under one umbrella to create a seamless, multi-layered system of support for youth across all Devereux programs. D-PBIS was designed specifically for alternative settings including our Approved Private Schools, day / residential mental health treatment programs, child welfare settings, programs for adults with intellectual / developmental disabilities and autism and is currently being implemented across our organization. This trauma-informed model provides a prevention-oriented method that helps our staff:

• Organize and further enhance the implementation of evidence-based practices; and
• Maximize academic / vocational and social behavior outcomes for the individuals in our care.

D-PBIS focuses on the strengths of each individual; the program defines, teaches and supports desired behaviors to create a positive environment, thereby making problematic behaviors less efficient and less effective. Treatment intensity can be targeted based on the individual’s needs and level of risk to himself and / or others. As a result of implementing D-PBIS at our campuses, we have experienced a reduction in:

• Disruptive behaviors
• Emergency safety interventions
• Workers compensation claims

How it works: Devereux’s D-PBIS program provides individuals with the opportunity to learn and develop social / life skills and problem-solving skills, while rewarding them for demonstrating positive, pro-social behavior. This multi-tiered system of support increases appropriate behaviors and decreases problem behaviors by:

• Teaching expectations (e.g., being safe, being responsible, being respectful);
• Acknowledging individuals when they demonstrate desired behaviors; and
• Providing clear and consistent consequences when individuals demonstrate undesired behaviors.

Ultimately, D-PBIS emphasizes learning and prevention, and these interventions instill values that stretch beyond our treatment settings. The program also helps individuals understand the behavioral expectations needed in specific environments so they can learn to live and thrive in their communities. Click here to learn more.

Who we treat … 

At Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, it is our policy to practice nondiscrimination in services. All activities with regard to referrals, admissions, placement of individuals and provision of services are conducted without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health is proud to recruit, train and support LGBTQ foster parents, some of whom later become adoptive parents.

Supporting the LGBTQ community 

Devereux is proud to be a behavioral healthcare leader for the LGBTQ community. We have a rich history assisting diverse populations of individuals who need care, comfort and support – regardless of their ethnicity, race, religion or sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.  

Devereux supports educational, policy and clinical changes that create safe spaces to help these individuals strengthen their overall emotional health and well-being. We stand firmly alongside LGBTQ adolescents and adults, not only to help eliminate discrimination that exists in our society today, but to evolve our culture from one of tolerance > to acceptance > to affirmation.   

To help generate awareness and eliminate stigma, Devereux offers a series of training tools – to staff and foster parents – to provide education regarding cultural competency in the workplace. Specifically, Devereux:  

• Follows workplace policies that state LGBTQ staff are to be treated equally. Our employment policies protect staff from discrimination due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, even in states where there are no LGBTQ protections.
• Provides equal opportunity employment and benefits (including domestic partner benefits) to LGBT employees
• Displays images on our campuses that demonstrate inclusiveness.
• Participates in community events to promote our services to the LGBTQ community.
• Actively recruits, trains and supports LGBTQ staff members and foster/adoptive parents.
• Partners with other organizations to advance the equality of LGBTQ people. 

In addition, Devereux has adopted the American Psychological Association’s Gender Affirmative Model as its overarching clinical approach to supporting transgender and gender-expansive individuals in our care. This model is the emerging best practice treatment of choice, focusing on resilience, coping and wellness.  

Promoting inclusion with gendered and gender-neutral pronouns 

Knowing and using gendered and gender-neutral pronouns – words that take the place of names to identify someone – in the workplace is a simple and impactful way to show respect and support for our colleagues, as well as the individuals and families we serve. 

At Devereux, we recognize that the use of personal pronouns in email signatures promotes diversity and inclusivity. Staff are encouraged to use gendered pronouns in their email signatures such as: She / Her / Hers and He / Him / His, or gender-neutral pronouns including: They / Them / Theirs; Ze / Hir / Hirs; Ey / Em / Eir; or others in accordance with how they identify. 

Including these pronouns builds awareness of gender identity and gender expression, and demonstrates that Devereux is a safe, welcoming and affirming place for all. 

Learn more about gender and gender-neutral pronouns via the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee LGBTQ+ Resource Center. 

Our partnership with the Human Rights Campaign

Devereux is proud of its strong partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the leading LGBTQ rights and advocacy organization in the nation. The HRC provides valuable resources to agencies (like Devereux) to help craft policies and procedures that promote equality and acceptance. 

Our relationship with the HRC began when Devereux Arizona earned the “HRC All Children – All Families Seal of Recognition” in 2012. The All Children – All Families initiative provides a comprehensive framework for agencies to establish policies and practices that welcome, support and affirm LGBTQ foster and adoptive parents. 

In 2020, the following centers achieved the HRC’s All Children – All Families Tiers of Recognition noted below: