A Fort Lonesome Evidence-Based Practitioner

If you don't know where Fort Lonesome is, look 9 miles east of Wimauma on CR 674. It looks a lot different than it did in 1953. But it is still 9 miles east of Wimauma.


Who would have thought that a country cracker would become an Evidence Based Practitioner. I may not be one yet, but I am pretty far down the railroad tracks. Having been a mental health counselor and then owner/operator/teacher/"behavior specialist" of a pre-school for 30+ years provides a base of experience. Having been the parent of a multiple disabled kid for 24+ years provided a real life learning environment that far surpassed any classroom or practicum experience by far.

I've lived it 24/7 for 24+. And I am still learning and thriving.

I don't know if I can claim to be a validated Evidence Based Practitioner, but I am getting close.


Click on the link and then click on what an Evidence Based Practitioner is. Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior - Resources

And then click on the link to see what I will have after some professional tweaking: Program Practices for Promoting the Social Development of Young Children and Addressing Challenging Behavior.

What should be noted is that the key to providing a successful path for children is to develop their social-emotional skills, for without these skills, educational benefit is severely hampered, no matter what the "educational setting" is. What should be noted is that the key to developing adequate social-emotional skills means the children must have a nurturing and responsive relationship with the caring adults.

What should be noted is that evidence based research shows that it costs less money (time and effort) to build a strong relationship than the time required to implement more elaborate and time consuming strategies. Read the link "The Teaching Pyramid: A Model for Supporting Social Competence and Preventing Challenging Behavior in Young Children".

So word to the professionals that are in charge of the business of educating our children: Working on nurturing and responsive relationships with children and their parents is cheaper and provides better results.

Unlike this approach.