Changes to OIS Certifications Affect New Applicants and Recertification

Beginning in May 2023, changes to OIS certifications put new responsibilities onto course applicants. If you work with residents who have challenging behaviors, you need to be aware of these changes because they impact the training of you and your staff. These changes do not affect current OIS certification, but they will affect you when you get recertified.

Oregon Intervention System (OIS) is Oregon's system of training and implementing the principles of Positive Behavior Support and Intervention for people who support adults and children with intellectual/developmental disabilities who display challenging behaviors.

1. OIS General Certification no longer includes hands-on restraint techniques.

Now OIS General Certification only covers restrictive measures of body positioning/physical positioning. It no longer includes hands-on tactics. New applicants who receive OIS General Certification can no longer put their hands on a resident. They are not allowed to restrain residents.

2. OIS Crisis Certification applicants must choose to be trained in physical restraint techniques, and find an instructor who provides this level of training.

If you need to learn hands-on restraint techniques for your job, you will need to be clear with the instructor that you would like to be trained in those techniques before you sign up for the course. Restraint techniques will no longer be provided in all OIS Crisis Certification courses. You must communicate to the instructor the techniques you need to be trained in.

Some people may want OIS Crisis Certification without being trained in restraint techniques.

These optional restraint techniques are only trained if you serve a client with that technique built into a behavior support plan. These techniques will be listed on the back of your certificate and the OIS instructor will indicate you’ve been trained in those techniques.

• Limb shadowing/buffering
• 3 person standing/escort
• Limb control: arms/legs
• Wheelchair control variation
• Wheelchair variation escort
• 1 person one-arm/two arm
• 1 person lateral body mass control
• 2 person lateral body mass control
• 2 person belt/arm control
• 1 person one arm with a 1 person standing
• 1 person into a 2 person standing
• 2 person standing
• 2 person escort
• 2 person seated couch
• 2 person wall
• 2/3 person standing
• 2/3 person seated couch/wall

For Smaller Residents:

• Belt/arm pivot control
• 1 person lateral body mass
• Belt/Shirt: all 5 variations
• 2 person escort (no resistance)
• Bear hugs: arms trapped/attacker under arms lift and carry
• Hand choke: front/back the chair one or two arm
• Forearm choke from behind
• Approved O.I.S.-SC PPI modification

What Does this Mean for Adult Care Home Operators?

This change means that you must educate yourself and your staff on the techniques they need to learn to provide service to your residents. You or your staff must also communicate these needs to the instructor prior to signing up for the course to ensure your staff is adequately trained. Some instructors may not be clear that they provide OIS crisis level training up to the belt shirt only. You will have to ask the right questions to ensure your staff is adequately trained.

The ACHP recommends you save this list of restraint techniques and refer to it when signing up a staff member for OIS certification. Currently this list is not provided online.

Remember, you should not accept new residents if you and your staff are not already trained and approved to use the restraint techniques listed in the resident’s Positive Behavior Support Plan.

Does This Affect the ACHP’s Rules on Restraints?

This change in certification doesn’t affect the ACHP’s rules on restraints. Physical emergency restraint is still allowed to prevent immediate injury to a resident who is in danger of physically harming themselves or others. You may only use the degree of force reasonably necessary for protection for the least amount of time necessary. (See MCARs 023-080-705 to 775.)

Why Did This Change Happen?

In 2021 the Oregon Senate passed Bill 710, which changed the rules on restraining children. Additionally, some agencies want to have their staff trained in resolving conflicts and managing triggers, but they want to maintain a hands off policy. The state of Oregon responded to Senate Bill 710 and these requests by changing OIS certifications.