Behavioral Concerns and Children

Working with parents to understand problems children face so they are able to work with them at home

The Regional Intervention Program (RIP) is an early intervention program for families with children ages 2 to 6 who display any kind of behavior concern from tantrums and non-compliance to bedtime and mealtime routines. At RIP the primary client is the parent as RIP helps parents understand the behavioral problems their children face, in hopes that they can serve as primary therapists for their own children while at home. This goal is accomplished through a consistent course schedule and peer support from families experiencing similar journeys and veteran RIP families assisting parents through the process. Families actively participate in the program for two-hour sessions twice a week, and it can take anywhere from 6-9 months to complete. Each year, around 5-10 families graduate, with parents more equipped than ever to work with their child, or children, during this crucial time of early development.

RIP’s Program Coordinator is Jennifer Davis.  As a parent that graduated the program herself, she is keenly aware of how challenging parenting can be and the need for support systems like RIP.  “There are many resources available to help children but not as many to support parents. RIP’s unique program gives parents strategies that can be immediately put into practice and parents become a part of a community where they no longer have to feel alone.  The most rewarding part of helping families at RIP is watching them realize how much impact they can have as a parent and seeing them grow in confidence.”  As a former parent mentioned, “life is not perfect, but it is so much more manageable.” Dr. Laura Casey, a professor in the College of Education, is the principal investigator (PI) of RIP. She is a leading figure in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and early childhood.

RIP was recently re-funded through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services for another three years, which makes the program available to parents at no cost. Of the nine RIP programs in the state, UofM is the only one in West Tennessee. RIP is under the Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership at University of Memphis’s College of Education. It’s house at UofM’s Park Avenue Campus within Building 48 but has plans to relocate to another building in Spring of 2024.

Dr. Laura Casey, professor in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership, is the PI on this award. For more information, contact Casey at lpcasey@memphis.edu.